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.
Stranger To Himself
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A spy in his own camp
And his money was his health
All thrown to the dust by his very own hand
Yet his beauty lingered still
Beyond the draining of the sand
But greener was the other side of the hill
But we loved him, loved him just like brothers would
We loved him, loved him like no others could
And she loved him, loved him like a lover should
Take good care of an aching heart
You never can replace it
You know you are the master of your heart
You'll realise that when you think it fit
Those orbs of blue are jading away
No laughter from them dances
Yet you're bound to remember this one day
Hazards are risks and risks are chances
You can run for cover, run for cover like a frightened hare
Till it's all over, all over and there's no-one there
'Cause you daren't discover, daren't discover that we really care
The lyrics of Fairport Convention's Stranger To Himself convey a sense of inner turmoil and self-estrangement. The first stanza describes a person who is lost and disconnected from himself, living in a state of inner conflict. He is struggling with the consequences of his own actions, which have caused him to lose his health and his financial stability. The second stanza contrasts the singer's state of being with a more alluring and prosperous alternative, presented through the metaphor of the green other side of the hill.
Despite his inner struggles, the singer is surrounded by people who care for him deeply. The chorus of the song emphasizes the love and care that the singer receives from his friends and loved ones. The last stanza reinforces the idea that risks and challenges are a natural part of life. It advises that the singer should not run away from these challenges, but rather embrace them and the love of those around him.
Overall, the lyrics to Stranger To Himself present a complex portrait of inner conflict and external support in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a stranger to himself
He didn't know himself very well
A spy in his own camp
He was keeping secrets from himself
And his money was his health
He was sacrificing his well-being for money
All thrown to the dust by his very own hand
He was responsible for his own downfall
Yet his beauty lingered still
Despite his flaws, he still had admirable qualities
Beyond the draining of the sand
Even as time passed, he remained appealing
But greener was the other side of the hill
Other people seemed to have it better than him
Richer was the other man's land
Other people seemed to have more money and success than him
But we loved him, loved him just like brothers would
The people close to him cared for him deeply
We loved him, loved him like no others could
Their love for him was unique and strong
And she loved him, loved him like a lover should
His romantic partner cared for him deeply
Take good care of an aching heart
Be kind to someone who is hurting
You never can replace it
You can't just get rid of emotional pain easily
You know you are the master of your heart
You have control over your own feelings
You'll realise that when you think it fit
You'll understand that when you're ready
Those orbs of blue are jading away
His eyes are losing their brightness and hopefulness
No laughter from them dances
He's lost his sense of joy and humor
Yet you're bound to remember this one day
He will be remembered fondly by those who cared for him
Hazards are risks and risks are chances
Taking risks can be dangerous or rewarding
You can run for cover, run for cover like a frightened hare
You can try to avoid danger, but it may not be possible
Till it's all over, all over and there's no-one there
You may feel alone in the face of danger
'Cause you daren't discover, daren't discover that we really care
You may be hesitant to accept help from those who care about you
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny
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...