Like their peers The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane they were blessed with several considerable individual talents and produced music that -at least initially- was eclectic, as well as exploratory. This side of the band may best be heard on Heyday, a collection of tracks broadcast by the BBC. The move to a more British form of folk rock came primarily as a result of the enthusiasm of bassist Ashley Hutchings and producer Joe Boyd. Original singer Judy Dyble was replaced on their second LP What We Did On Our Holidays by Sandy Denny, an experienced folk singer and excellent composer in her own right. Fiddle virtuoso Dave Swarbrick joined, initially as sessioneer, on their third, Unhalfbricking. That LP has arguably their first two bona fide masterpieces. One is their version of the Sandy Denny song, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, popularized by Judy Collins, but characterised on their version by a perfect balance between Denny's vocals and the exquisite support of the group as a whole, and lead guitarist Richard Thompson in particular. The other is A Sailor's Life, the first to demonstrate the potential power of folk rock, the song exploding in an improvised and sophisticated instrumental coda that reaches beyond the words through the impassioned interplay of the whole band, led by the virtuosity of Thompson and Swarbrick in particular. Thompson also soon showed that he could create his own distinctive songs, notably the anthemic Meet on the Ledge, on Holidays.
The following LP Liege and Lief is perhaps Fairport's finest hour. Liege and Lief is generally remembered for its virtuoso versions of traditional folk songs but it also contains beautiful originals by Thompson and Denny. However the next, Full House -deliberately rockier in tone- has its particular gems, most notably Sloth, for its extended guitar/ fiddle duel and Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman, a perfect expression of Thompson's mordant humour; along with the sleeve notes, surely amongst the strangest and funniest ever.
The band continued with a series of personnel changes and albums, all with at least some high points, until it was temporarily disbanded in 1979, but played annual reunion concerts until it reformed in 1985. Since then, it has enjoyed stability and continues to tour and record regularly.
In part, the continuing success of Fairport Convention is due to the annual music festival it organizes. Cropredy Festival has been held every year since 1974 near Cropredy, a village five miles north of Banbury, Oxfordshire and can attract upwards of 20,000 fans.
In 2002 the band was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2006 Radio 2 listeners voted their 1969 album Liege & Lief as the Most Influential Folk Album of All Time. A mass reunion of living Fairport members performed at the ceremony.
Autopsy
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But why must you bore me to tears?
You're red around the eyes
You tell me things no one else hears
You spend all your time crying
Crying the hours in tears
Crying the hours in tears
Come lend your time to me
And when you look at me
Don't think you're owning what you see
For remember that you're free
And that's what you want to be
So just lend yoru time to me
You must philosophise
But why must you bore me to tears?
You're red around the eyes
You tell me things no one else hears
You spend all your time crying
Crying the hours in tears
Crying the hours in to ears
The lyrics of 'Autopsy' by Fairport Convention depict a person who is constantly philosophizing and introspecting, but at the same time, they are exhausting and burdening those around them with their thoughts. The singer of the song appears to be trying to offer some form of comfort or solace to the person, urging them to share their time with him/her to attain freedom. The lines "Come lend your time to me And you will know that you are free" may be interpreted as the singer trying to provide an alternate perspective to the person and let them know that their freedom lies in sharing their time with others rather than getting lost in their thoughts.
The lyrics also suggest that the person is struggling with emotions and is in a constant state of tears. The lines "Crying the hours in tears" and "You spend all your time crying" repeatedly highlight this aspect. The singer acknowledges the person's emotional turmoil but at the same time, tries to snap them out of it by reminding them that they are still free and not bound by their feelings.
Overall, ‘Autopsy’ is a reflective ballad with a melancholic melody that probes the thoughts and emotions of a person who overthinks and struggles with their feelings. It urges them to seek a balance between their inner thoughts and finding solace in the company of others.
Line by Line Meaning
You must philosophise
You have a philosophical nature and enjoy discussing deep topics.
But why must you bore me to tears?
However, when you talk to me, you tend to be dull and uninteresting, causing me to lose interest.
You're red around the eyes
You appear to have been crying, indicating that you are in a state of emotional distress.
You tell me things no one else hears
You confide in me and share personal information that you don't discuss with others.
You spend all your time crying
You devote most of your time to being sad and crying.
Crying the hours in tears
You are so consumed with grief that you cry for hours on end, unable to stop the tears from falling.
Come lend your time to me
I am offering support and asking you to spend time with me.
And you will know that you are free
By spending time with me, you will realize that you are not trapped in your sadness and there are other possibilities.
And when you look at me
As you interact with me, observe that...
Don't think you're owning what you see
...you shouldn't assume that you have complete control over what is happening or that I am entirely responsible for your well-being.
For remember that you're free
Remember that you have the power to make choices and take actions that will help you overcome your sadness and find freedom from it.
And that's what you want to be
Ultimately, your desire is to be free from the burden of sadness that is consuming you.
So just lend yoru time to me
Therefore, I urge you to spend time with me, so that we can talk and you can find the support and hope you need.
You must philosophise
I'm repeating that you tend to be philosophical in your approach to life.
But why must you bore me to tears?
However, you have trouble expressing yourself in an engaging way and can come across as tedious and long-winded.
You're red around the eyes
You continue to be visibly upset and emotional.
You tell me things no one else hears
Despite this, you still trust me and open up to me in ways you don't with others.
You spend all your time crying
Your sadness and grief are still central to your life and occupy most of your time and attention.
Crying the hours in tears
You continue to cry for extended periods, unable to alleviate your pain.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sandy Denny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ronno
on Book Song
Beautiful song, even if I can't understand what's going on: she's reading a book, he's writing one (and playing) .. I wanted it to be abouth former FC singer Judy Dyble , who would knit on stage if she wasn't singing. The girlfriend theory makes some sense, but if Ian said it was about his daughter...