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.
Reynard The Fox
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That takes delight in fox hunting by every degree
A story I will tell to you, concerning of a fox
Near royston woods and mountains high and over stony rocks
Bold Reynard, being in his hole and hearing of these hounds
Which made him for to prick up his ears and tread upon the ground
"Methinks me hears some jubal hounds a-pressing upon the life
Before that they should come to me, I'll tread upon the ground"
We hunted for four hours or more and came by Parkworth Green
"Oh, if you'll only spare my life, I promise and fulfil
To touch no more your feathered fowl or lambs on yonder hill"
Bold Reynard, spent and out of breath and treading on this ground
Thinking he must give up his life before these jubal hounds
"So here's adieu to ducks and geese, likewise to lambs also"
They've got poor Reynard by the slabs and will not let them go
The song "Reynard The Fox" by Fairport Convention is a narrative about fox hunting. The lyrics describe a fox named Reynard who is hiding in his hole in Royston woods and mountains. He hears the hounds approaching and he prepares himself to fight back. Reynard leads the hunters on a four-hour-long chase through sixteen parishes until he is caught at Parkworth Green. He pleads for his life promising not to harm any birds or lambs again, but in the end, he is caught by the hounds and killed. The song tells the story of the chase and its outcome, highlighting the brutality and violence of fox hunting.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the class divide and the bloodlust of the aristocracy. The hunters, being "gentlemen of high renown," take pleasure in the barbaric act of fox hunting, a pastime that is still popular in England today. Reynard, on the other hand, represents the lower classes who are powerless against the brutality of the upper classes. His plea for mercy falls on deaf ears, and he is killed mercilessly. The song is a reflection of a society where the powerful dominate the weak, and cruelty is celebrated as a sport.
Line by Line Meaning
Ye gentlemen of high renown, come listen unto me
Listen up, distinguished gentlemen who enjoy fox hunting in every way.
That takes delight in fox hunting by every degree
Those who enjoy fox hunting to the fullest extent.
A story I will tell to you, concerning of a fox
I'll share a story with you about a fox.
Near royston woods and mountains high and over stony rocks
The story takes place close to Royston Woods, on high mountains, and over stony rocks.
Bold Reynard, being in his hole and hearing of these hounds
Reynard the Fox was hiding in his hole and heard the hounds.
Which made him for to prick up his ears and tread upon the ground
This caused him to perk up his ears and carefully step on the ground.
"Methinks me hears some jubal hounds a-pressing upon the life
"I think I hear some dogs hunting me down.
Before that they should come to me, I'll tread upon the ground"
Before they can catch me, I'll move on.
We hunted for four hours or more through parishes sixteen
We hunted for over four hours through sixteen different parishes.
We hunted for four hours or more and came by Parkworth Green
On the hunt for over four hours, we arrived at Parkworth Green.
"Oh, if you'll only spare my life, I promise and fulfil
"Please spare my life, I promise I won't harm your birds or lambs again.
To touch no more your feathered fowl or lambs on yonder hill"
I won't harm your birds or lambs on that distant hill.
Bold Reynard, spent and out of breath and treading on this ground
Exhausted and struggling to breathe, Reynard was still stepping on the ground.
Thinking he must give up his life before these jubal hounds
He felt like he was going to die at the paws of the pursuing hounds.
"So here's adieu to ducks and geese, likewise to lambs also"
"Now I say goodbye to the ducks, geese, and lambs I've chased."
They've got poor Reynard by the slabs and will not let them go
The hounds caught Reynard and refused to let him go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DP, BRUCE KENNETH ROWLAND, DAVID PEGG, DAVID ERIC SWARBRICK, SIMON NICOL
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...