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.
If I Had A Ribbon Bow
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a gown of calico for me to wear
I'd surely get a sweetheart, a prince or a king
A palace home where I could have everything
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
This old world could come and go, I wouldn't care
I'd stay up in my castle and I'd always wear
All the live long day to the Lord above me
All I do is pray for someone to love me
If I had ribbon bow all nice and clean
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
There's a story of a girl, a story seldom told
What she wanted from this world was not of gems or gold
Her wishes were quite plain as you will see
For often she would simply make this plea
All the live long day to the Lord above me
All I do is pray for someone to love me
If I had ribbon bow all nice and clean
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
If I had a ribbon bow
A pretty little ribbon bow
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
The lyrics of "If I Had A Ribbon Bow" by Fairport Convention describe the desires of a young girl who dreams of finding true love and a happy home. She imagines herself dressed in a gown of calico and wearing a ribbon bow in her hair, the epitome of innocence and purity. She believes that if she had these things, she would be desirable to a prince or a king, and she could live in a palace where she would have everything she could ever want. The girl's prayers are answered in the form of a prince charming, who would court her and give her his love, if only she had the ribbon bow in her hair. The girl's simple dreams and innocent hopes are set against a backdrop of a world that doesn't always care about such things.
On one level, the song seems to be a commentary on society's emphasis on image and material possessions. The girl is focused on how she looks, rather than who she is, and thinks that having the right clothes and accessories will bring her happiness. However, the song can also be read as a sweet and tender love story. The girl's dreams may be simplistic, but her desire for love and companionship is genuine and relatable.
Overall, "If I Had A Ribbon Bow" is an enchanting song that captures the yearning of youth and the desire for love and romance. It is a timeless classic that speaks to both the innocence of childhood and the complexities of adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had ribbon bow to tie my hair
Having a ribbon to tie her hair would make her more attractive to potential suitors.
And a gown of calico for me to wear
In addition to the ribbon, having a simple dress would complete her desirable appearance.
I'd surely get a sweetheart, a prince or a king
Her desired appearance would attract high-ranking suitors who could offer her a lavish lifestyle.
A palace home where I could have everything
Her ideal partner would provide her with a luxurious lifestyle and all her desires fulfilled.
This old world could come and go, I wouldn't care
If she had her ideal partner and lifestyle, the rest of the world would not matter to her.
I'd stay up in my castle and I'd always wear
She would choose to live a life of leisure and constant luxury.
All the live long day to the Lord above me
She spends her days praying for someone to love her and fulfill her desires.
If I had ribbon bow all nice and clean
Maintaining her appearance is crucial to attracting her ideal partner.
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
With the right appearance and partner, she could live out a fairy tale fantasy.
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
Her ideal partner would be willing to make grand declarations of love and romance.
There's a story of a girl, a story seldom told
The song tells the story of a girl with simple desires who dreams of a lavish lifestyle.
What she wanted from this world was not of gems or gold
Her desires are not materialistic, but focused on finding love and happiness.
Her wishes were quite plain as you will see
Despite her simple desires, she dreams of a grand lifestyle and fairy tale romance.
A pretty little ribbon bow
The ribbon symbolizes the physical attribute that would make her more attractive to suitors, and ultimately lead to her happiness.
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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...