Graham first heard the guitar at the age of 12, when a family friend played him a song on his instrument. As legend would have it, the friend went out for a while, and Graham, who had never picked up a guitar in his life, stayed at home "to play on the guitar". To the amazement of the friend, when he returned Graham could play the song he had performed earlier exactly. Buying his first guitar at age 16, Graham exhibited unnatural talent in playing the instrument and in picking up tunes - a skill he attributes to his being blind in one eye. Graham was to perfect an eclectic style over the next few years, travelling abroad to pick up new styles and ways of playing. After a trip to Morocco, hearing the Oud, Graham introduced and popularised the DADGAD tuning of the Oud, now common amongst Celtic musicians especially, to western guitarists. He released his first LP, The Guitar Player, (after two EPs) in 1963. From this time until the early 1970s, Graham would release a range of albums, ranging in style and content album-to-album and even within albums. Towards the end of the 1970s, Graham stopped recording and faded into obscurity. However, Graham became active again in the mid nineties.
Davy Graham died on December 15th 2008 of lung cancer.
Exodus
Davy Graham Lyrics
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This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
Then I see a land where children can run free
So take my hand and walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
To make this land our home
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
Until I die, this land is mine
The lyrics of "Exodus" by Davy Graham symbolize one's deep attachment and ownership to their land. The opening lines "This land is mine, God gave this land to me," reflect the extent to which one would go to protect their ancestral home. It's said that the land is "brave and ancient," carrying a rich history and culture, and it's this land that one vows to protect and make a living on. The second and third lines "And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain, Then I see a land where children can run free," denotes the beauty of that land and the aspirations to pass it down to future generations.
The call to "take my hand and walk this land with me, and walk this lovely land with me," shows the connection that one holds with the land and desires to share it with their loved ones. The lyrics convey that while one is just a man, having someone by their side can provide strength and hope. There's a sense of loyalty and togetherness in the words when it says "With the help of God, I know I can be strong." The final lines "If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own, Until I die, this land is mine," concludes the song on a determined and passionate note, where the singer is willing to go to great lengths to protect their land and make it their own.
Line by Line Meaning
This land is mine, God gave this land to me
I believe this land is my inheritance bestowed by God himself
This brave and ancient land to me
The land I inherited is enduring and full of history
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
As the sun rises, the natural beauty of this land is illuminated
Then I see a land where children can run free
I envision a land where children can live freely without fear or limitations
So take my hand and walk this land with me
Join me on this journey and let's experience this land together
And walk this lovely land with me
Walk beside me and witness the beauty of this land
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With your presence, I feel empowered even though I'm just a man
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
I believe that God's assistance will give me strength
To make this land our home
I'm determined to make this land our permanent dwelling place
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
I'll defend this land with all I have, even if it means fighting for it
Until I die, this land is mine
I'll cherish and protect this land until the day I die
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERNEST GOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind