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.
Solo
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what have you got to say?
Well I'm waiting, but I can't stay long,
It's such a lovely day.
There's a time to be talking
And a time when it's no use.
Right now I think the things you say
Are liable to confuse.
I've just gone solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?
What a wonderful way to live,
She's travelling all over the world.
Why, the fame and all the golden
Opportunities unfurled.
No time for the gent with the mulliner bentley
And heaven knows what else.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance
With all his oil-wells.
She just went solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?
I've always lived in a mansion
On the other side of the moon.
I've always kept a unicorn
And I never sing out of tune.
I could tell you that the grass is really greener
On the other side of the hill,
But I can't communicate with you
And I guess I never will.
We've all gone solo.
We all play solo.
Ain't life a solo?
The lyrics to Fairport Convention's "Solo" pose an interesting commentary on life, fame, and individuality. The song starts with a greeting, almost as if the singer is addressing the audience or someone specific. The singer is waiting, but they can't stay long. The implication is that time is precious, and the singer has places to be and things to do. However, there's a sense that the singer may be somewhat disconnected from the person they are addressing or the audience. They note that there's a time to talk and a time when it's no use, and they feel that the things the other person is saying are liable to confuse. This creates a sense of distance between the singer and other people or society at large.
As the song progresses, we hear about someone who has "gone solo" and is traveling all over the world. This individual is experiencing a life of fame and fortune, and they don't have time for anyone else. There's a sense that they are living a life of flashy material success, but there's no real depth or connection. The comparison is drawn between this person and someone who has a Bentley and oil wells but still wouldn't stand a chance against the allure of the solo life. The singer notes that they've always lived on the other side of the moon, kept a unicorn and never sing out of tune. There's a sense of detached fantasy and a longing for connection in these words. The song concludes by reiterating the idea that everyone has gone solo and life is a solo. The final lines seem bittersweet, as if the singer is acknowledging the reality of their disconnected and individualistic existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning, good afternoon,
Greeting the person at different times of the day.
And what have you got to say?
Asking the person if they have something to say.
Well I'm waiting, but I can't stay long,
Implying that they don't have a lot of time to talk.
It's such a lovely day.
Commenting on the weather.
There's a time to be talking
Indicating that there is an appropriate time to talk.
And a time when it's no use.
Expressing that sometimes talking is meaningless.
Right now I think the things you say
Referring to the current time when the person is talking.
Are liable to confuse.
Referring to the possibility of being confused by the things that are being said.
I've just gone solo.
Saying that they are now on their own.
Do you play solo?
Asking the person if they are now also on their own.
Ain't life a solo?
Rhetorical question about the individual nature of life.
What a wonderful way to live,
Admiring the lifestyle of someone who is doing well.
She's travelling all over the world.
Describing the extent of this person's travels.
Why, the fame and all the golden
Implying that this person has fame and many financial opportunities.
Opportunities unfurled.
Suggesting that there are many opportunities available for this person.
No time for the gent with the mulliner bentley
Implying that this person doesn't have time for people who are not as successful as them.
And heaven knows what else.
Expressing that there could be many other reasons why they don't have time for others.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance
Suggesting that the person would have no chance with this other individual.
With all his oil-wells.
Implying that this person has many financial resources.
She just went solo.
Stating again that this person is now on their own.
Do you play solo?
Asking if anyone else is also on their own.
Ain't life a solo?
Reiterating that life is an individual experience.
I've always lived in a mansion
Describing their own personal living situation.
On the other side of the moon.
Using hyperbole to emphasize the distance of their living situation.
I've always kept a unicorn
Using hyperbole to describe the uniqueness of their personal belongings.
And I never sing out of tune.
Proudly stating that they always sing perfectly in tune.
I could tell you that the grass is really greener
Suggesting that they know something that the other person doesn't.
On the other side of the hill,
Using hyperbole to emphasize the geographic distance.
But I can't communicate with you
Explaining that they cannot properly convey what they know to the other person.
And I guess I never will.
Expressing a resigned attitude about the situation.
We've all gone solo.
Making a universal statement that everyone is usually on their own at some point in life.
We all play solo.
Reiterating the individual nature of life.
Ain't life a solo?
Final reiteration of the individual experience of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sandy Denny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Portcullis
Thanks for giving us the chance to see this.The picture quality may be poor,but there is so little surviving film of Sandy Denny that every clip is priceless,and the sound quality on this is surprisingly good.
Woowoo
I've not seen this version. So beautiful. Her voice is sublime.
Roger Proctor
good to see fotheringport confusion (not fairport confusion as used on documentaries) used. this was used at the time. i am behind sandy on the 'solo' clip, with hand on hip. myself and phil benton were sandy and then fairport live engineers/road managers for about 6 years 1971 on . by God i miss her. 'DOC' Proctor.
Jacob Marley
This is a perfect apparition.
How exquisitely measured, apt and eloquently unaffected she was when at her frequent best like this.
Philip Aerts
I really wish there was more footage of Fairport and especially Sandy Denny, as she is my all time favorite singer. It's baffling and frustrating to know so little video footage of her exists today. Having said that I am forever grateful even amateur footage of Sandy like this video has survived! Any video of Sandy to me is gold. To hear her lovely soprano is soothing to the soul. God bless her. Thanks for uploading this!
rca88
@roger proctor - it's an honor to hear from you! I only just now saw your comment, 3 years later, but maybe better late than never. It's hard to imagine how many amazing performances you must have booked/worked/heard from this evolving community. Since the 80s I have seen a number of Fairport-related concerts, especially RT, but that was too late to see Sandy. I missed one chance in LA around '75. Thanks also for validating the "fotheringport confusion" name I posted from @GinaInTheKingsRoad. (Hopefully you see this - somehow youtube doesn't let me reply directly to your comment.)
The Momur
Thank you for posting this. It's a shame, there is so little existing footage of FC with Sandy.
Bietel
This is very, very beatuful. Thank you for sharing this with us.
promerops
Wonderful. Hey Stuart, if you're out there, you were right all along. Well, you always did have excellent taste!
gutsfield
Could make out her faithful.friends Jerry Donahue, Dave Swarbrick and Roger who identified himself in the comments. Sandy had not lost her voice as evidenced by the shear power and vibrato. Amazing. Sad.