1) singer, writer and concertina player based in the North East of England<… Read Full Bio ↴1) singer, writer and concertina player based in the North East of England
2) US ; country singer

1) Singer, writer and concertina player based in the North East of England. With a BBC Folk Award nomination for her work with harmony trio The Devil’s Interval, Emily is already an established musician on the UK folk scene, commended by Shirley Collins and annually touring with Waterson:Carthy. Emily has recently appeared at The Southbank Centre as part of their ‘Folk Roots, New Routes’ series and debuted her new songs at The Sage Gateshead. She is also fast making waves beyond the folk scene, being featured as a soloist on the BBC's adaptation of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' as well as appearing on alt-folk songwriter Alasdair Roberts’ forthcoming album.

Emily originally hails from Glastonbury, where, raised on a diet of fairytales and deep Somerset folklore she began songwriting at the age of six, starting out with a keyboard, a tape recorder and a thirst for blood-curdling stories. After years immersed in traditional songs, Emily's return to songwriting has already grabbed the attention of the BBC, with Radio 3’s 'Late Junction' recently previewing her new music and ‘Words and Music’ broadcasting live performances of songs from the album at their 'Free Thinking' Festival. Inspired by folktales and Ballads, Emily weaves harmony-rich narratives relaying female experience, accompanied by Viola player Lucy Farrell (fresh from touring with The Unthanks) and Harpist Rachel Newton of BBC folk Award Nominees The Shee. These visceral visions of a darker Albion conjure landscapes where mythical sirens collide in urban backstreets. Emily's debut solo album ‘The Glamoury’ was released in March 2010.

2) US ; country singer : http://www.last.fm/music/Emily+Portman/Country+Girl+Like+Me

Old Mother Eve
Emily Portman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The apple tree stood in the garden
Its blossoms as white as the snow
And there in the cool of the evening
Adam and Eve they did go

For Old Mother Eve she liked apples
And Adam he liked them too
He liked them too

He liked them too

The Serpent he hid in the garden
Entwined all about the tree
"You never did eat such a wonderful meat
And honey so sweet," said he

For Old Mother Eve she liked apples
And Adam he liked them too
He liked them too
He liked them too

They turned them both out of the garden
Turned out with a fiery key
But Adam and Eve they rolled up their sleeves
And planted an apple tree
Planted an apple tree

There are apple trees out in the garden
And orchards in valleys below
In autumn and spring, the apple is king
And we bless it wherever we go

For Old Mother Eve she liked apples
And Adam he liked them too
He liked them too
He liked them too

For Old Mother Eve she liked apples
And Adam he liked them too

Overall Meaning

The song "Old Mother Eve" by Emily Portman is a poetic retelling of the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The song describes the apple tree in the garden with its white blossoms and Adam and Eve going to it in the cool of the evening. The lyrics suggest that Old Mother Eve was fond of apples, and Adam liked them too. However, the serpent in the tree enticed Eve to eat an apple with promises of wonderful meat and honey so sweet.

The song goes on to describe how Adam and Eve were turned out of the garden with a fiery key, but instead of despairing, they rolled up their sleeves and planted an apple tree. The final verse talks about how apple trees can now be found in gardens and orchards all over the world, and how people still bless and enjoy them.

The lyrics of "Old Mother Eve" are rich in symbolism and allegory. The apple tree represents the Garden of Eden and all that is idyllic and perfect about it. Old Mother Eve is a symbol of temptation and desire, while the serpent is a symbol of deception and cunning. Adam and Eve themselves are symbols of human nature, with their subsequent fall from grace representing the inherent flaws in all humans.

Line by Line Meaning

The apple tree stood in the garden
There was an apple tree that grew in the garden.

Its blossoms as white as the snow
The tree had white flowers that resembled snow.

And there in the cool of the evening
During the cool evening time,

Adam and Eve they did go
Adam and Eve went there.

For Old Mother Eve she liked apples
Old Mother Eve had a fondness for apples.

And Adam he liked them too
Adam also had an affection for apples.

He liked them too
Adam really liked apples.

The Serpent he hid in the garden
A serpent was hiding in the garden.

Entwined all about the tree
The serpent had wrapped itself around the tree.

"You never did eat such a wonderful meat
The serpent enticed Eve by saying she had never tasted something so wonderful.

And honey so sweet," said he
The serpent said it was as sweet as honey.