Fairport Convention is often credited with being one of the first English f… Read Full Bio ↴Fairport Convention is often credited with being one of the first English folk rock bands. Formed in 1967, Fairport rapidly developed from playing cover versions of American 'west coast' music to an individual style which melded rock music with traditional English folk tunes and songs.

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.

Bonny Bunch Of Roses
Fairport Convention Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Near by the swelling ocean,
One morning in the month of June,
While feather'd warbling songsters
Their charming notes did sweetly tune,
I overheard a lady

Lamenting in sad grief and woe,
And talking with young Bonaparte

Concerning the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.

Thus spake the young Napoleon,
And grasp'd his mother by the hand:-
"Oh, mother dear have patience,
Till I am able to command

I'll raise a numerous army,
And through tremendous dangers go,
And in spite of all the universe,
I'll gain the bonny Bunch of Roses, O."

Oh, son, speak not so venturesome
For England is the heart of oak
Of England, Scotland, and Ireland,
The unity can ne'er be broke.
And think you on your father

In the Island where he now lies low,
He is not yet interred in France,
So beware of the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.

Your father raised great armies,
And likewise kings did join the throng,
He was so well provided.
Enough to sweep the world along.

But when he went to Moscow,
He was o'erpower'd by drifting snow,
And though Moscow was blazing
He lost the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.

"Oh, mother, adieu for ever,
I am now on my dying bed,
If I had liv'd I'd have been brave
But now I droop my youthful head.

And when our bones do moulder,
And weeping-willows o'er us grow,

Its deeds to bold Napoleon
Will stain the bonny Bunch of Roses, O."

Overall Meaning

The Bonny Bunch Of Roses is a song that tells a story about a conversation between Napoleon Bonaparte and his mother regarding their plans to invade England. The song begins on a peaceful morning in June, where the singer overhears a lady lamenting about the "bonny Bunch of Roses." The conversation between the young Napoleon and his mother then unfolds as he expresses his desire to command an army and conquer England to obtain the "bonny Bunch of Roses."

However, his mother warns him not to be venturesome and reminds him of the strength of England and the unity of the three countries - England, Scotland, and Ireland. She further reminds him of his father's failed attempt to invade Russia and how he lost the roses. The song concludes with Napoleon on his deathbed, lamenting that his deeds will stain the "bonny Bunch of Roses."

Line by Line Meaning

Near by the swelling ocean,
I found myself near the vast sea

One morning in the month of June,
It was a pleasant June morning

While feather'd warbling songsters,
As I listened to the sweet melodies of birds,

Their charming notes did sweetly tune,
I heard a lady crying in sadness

I overheard a lady,
A lady's sorrowful voice caught my attention

Lamenting in sad grief and woe,
She was crying and grieving

And talking with young Bonaparte
She conversed with young Napoleon

Concerning the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.
About the beautiful bouquet of roses

Thus spake the young Napoleon,
Napoleon spoke out

And grasp'd his mother by the hand:-
He held his mother's hand

"Oh, mother dear have patience,
He requested his mother to be patient

Till I am able to command
Until I am in a position to lead

I'll raise a numerous army,
I'll raise an army

And through tremendous dangers go,
Braving great peril

And in spite of all the universe,
And despite the world's opposition,

I'll gain the bonny Bunch of Roses, O."
I'll obtain the beautiful bouquet of roses.

Oh, son, speak not so venturesome
"Oh, son, don't be so reckless

For England is the heart of oak
England is steadfast and unwavering

Of England, Scotland, and Ireland,
A united force of England, Scotland, and Ireland,

The unity can ne'er be broke.
A unity that cannot be broken

And think you on your father
Remember your father

In the Island where he now lies low,
Where he rests on an island

He is not yet interred in France,
He is not buried in France yet

So beware of the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.
Beware of the beautiful bouquet of roses.

Your father raised great armies,
Your father raised great armies

And likewise kings did join the throng,
Kings also joined him

He was so well provided.
He was well-equipped

Enough to sweep the world along.
His strength was enough to conquer the world

But when he went to Moscow,
However, during his Moscow campaign

He was o'erpower'd by drifting snow,
He was defeated by the harsh winter

And though Moscow was blazing
Despite burning Moscow

He lost the bonny Bunch of Roses, O.
He lost the beautiful bouquet of roses.

"Oh, mother, adieu for ever,
"Goodbye forever, Mother

I am now on my dying bed,
As I lay dying

If I had liv'd I'd have been brave
If I had survived, I would have been brave

But now I droop my youthful head.
But alas, now I cannot

And when our bones do moulder,
And when we decompose

And weeping-willows o'er us grow,
And weeping willows grow over us

Its deeds to bold Napoleon
Bold Napoleon's deeds

Will stain the bonny Bunch of Roses, O."
Will tarnish the beautiful bouquet of roses.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON NICOL, DAVID PEGG, BRUCE KENNETH ROWLAND, DAVID ERIC SWARBRICK, DP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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