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.
John Lee
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the sea's without a ripple
John Lee, your forehead's damp, your muscles cramp
And the sea can't use a cripple
(Chorus)
John Lee, you're turning around your plate again
Oh, John Lee
Oh, John Lee
John Lee's been made a freeman, his heart's a seaman
But his flesh won't make a sailor
Working in a big hotel, waiting for the bell
That's ringing for his labour
(Chorus)
John Lee, your chances are good, you better touch wood
We think things must get better
John Lee, you've a friend so true, she wants to help you
Miss Keyes has sent a letter
(Chorus)
"Dear John, come and work the Glen, just write me when
And I'll send someone to meet you"
John's gone to where he started from, he's not worked long, just beginning to belong
"It hasn't been a very good day, the missus wants to halve my pay
Close the door and douse the light, it's quiet at night when she's tucked in tight
Sometimes I feel, when they're all in bed, it's almost like the whole world's dead
So I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep"
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
"The customary quiet of Babbacombe, a residential suburb of
Torquay, was greatly disturbed early on Saturday morning
and the peaceful inhabitants roused to a state of intense
alarm and terror by one of the most frightful tragedies
that human devilment could plan or human fiend could perpe-
trate. The name of the victim was Miss Emma Anne Whitehead
Keyes, an elderly lady of some sixty-eight years. The name
of her home, the scene of her tragedy, was 'The Glen'. She
was found early in the morning, lying on her dining room
floor. Her throat had been horribly cut and there were three
wounds on her head. It was evident that her murderer had also
attempted to burn the corpse
The song John Lee by Fairport Convention tells the tragic story of a man named John Lee who works at a big hotel and dreams of becoming a sailor, but his physical disability prevents him from achieving his goal. John Lee is suffering from headaches and muscle cramps, but despite this, he continues to work hard and hope that his situation will improve. The chorus of the song reflects John Lee's frustration and despair as he turns around his plate, feeling stuck in his current situation.
The lyrics take a dark turn with the mention of Miss Keyes, a friend who offers John Lee a job at "The Glen" and sends him a letter. The song ends with a chilling reference to the murder of Miss Keyes, who was found with her throat cut and her body burned. The lyrics suggest that John Lee may have been a suspect in the crime, or at least knew the victim, as he speaks of her in the past tense and mentions her final resting place. The song thus becomes a haunting reflection on the tragedy of a life unfulfilled and the senseless violence that can shatter it.
Line by Line Meaning
John Lee, your headache's growing, the cold wind's blowing
John Lee, you're feeling worse and the weather outside is harsh
But the sea's without a ripple
Although the sea is calm outside, your situation is not
John Lee, your forehead's damp, your muscles cramp
You're sick and tired, John Lee
And the sea can't use a cripple
You won't be able to handle the sea in your condition
(Chorus)
Refrain
John Lee, you're turning around your plate again
You're nervous and restless, John Lee
John Lee's been made a freeman, his heart's a seaman
John Lee has gained his freedom and his heart is set on the sea
But his flesh won't make a sailor
However, his physical state won't allow him to become a sailor
Working in a big hotel, waiting for the bell
You're currently employed at a hotel, waiting for work
That's ringing for his labour
The bell is ringing for you to start working
(Chorus)
Refrain
John Lee, your chances are good, you better touch wood
Your prospects are looking up, John Lee, but don't jinx it
We think things must get better
We believe things will improve for you
John Lee, you've a friend so true, she wants to help you
You have a loyal friend, Miss Keyes, who wants to assist you
Miss Keyes has sent a letter
She has written a letter to you
(Chorus)
Refrain
"Dear John, come and work the Glen, just write me when
Miss Keyes invites you to work at her estate, The Glen
And I'll send someone to meet you"
She will arrange for someone to meet you
John's gone to where he started from, he's not worked long, just beginning to belong
You've returned to your hometown and are settling in at The Glen
"It hasn't been a very good day, the missus wants to halve my pay
You're having a rough day, as your employer wants to cut your wages in half
Close the door and douse the light, it's quiet at night when she's tucked in tight
You close the door and turn off the light, enjoying the peace and quiet at night
Sometimes I feel, when they're all in bed, it's almost like the whole world's dead
You reflect on how quiet and still everything is when everyone is asleep
So I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep
You go to bed, saying your nightly prayer
(Chorus)
Refrain
(Chorus)
Refrain
Contributed by Kaylee R. 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...