The band expressed Denny's vision of the potential of folk rock to express complex meaning and deep personal emotion, using traditional ballad forms, but with the power of a rock band. Their self-titled first album (Fotheringay) was also only one of two albums, as they broke up a year later, in January 1971, while working on their second (recently released). The cause appears to have been personal difficulties, made worse by lack of success and thus income! Oddly for such talented musicians the band were widely reported to have been poor in live performance, which may well have also contributed to their short life as a band. Tracks later surfaced on her three-disc compilation.
The rhythm section was formed by Gerry Conway and Pat Donaldson, lauded by Denny as the best in the business. In the absence of Richard Thompson, who was prepared to tour with her, and act as session musician but wanted to follow his own career, lead guitar was taken by Jerry Donahue, whose transatlantic country roots and softer personality brought a different, less edgy feel to the music. However he was a skilled technician, with great feel, as he showed on their album, and later Fairport Convention records. The group was completed by rhythm guitarist and second lead vocalist Australian Trevor Lucas, whom Denny was to marry, and who also later accompanied her back into Fairport.
Fotheringay contains a majority of tracks by Sandy Denny, with one each by Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot and Trevor Lucas, as well as the atmospheric trad arr. Fotheringay, The Banks of the Nile.
In 2007 the BBC announced that Donahue would be attempting to complete the abandoned project (which he accomplished using previously unheard takes from the original archived tapes). Permission had finally been granted and the work was completed by summer of the following year. The resulting album, titled Fotheringay 2, was released by Fledg'ling Records on 29 September 2008.
10Two Weeks Last Summer
Fotheringay Lyrics
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Painting embers start to glow
The pictures soon will fade
Pictures that the flames have made
Your hazy whisper fades
Suddenly is gone without a trace
Reminiscing summer walks
Promises that mean so much
Broken with a single touch
Passing fancies fly away
Meeting shadows on the sunlit bay
Summer days I float downstream
Wondering where the day has been
Boats that sail away at night
Come the dawn
Have sailed far out of sight
Deserted evening warm and still
Strangers come and go at will
Driftwood on the silent shore
Laughter from an open door
Friendly faces once again
Come inside before it starts to rain
Summer days I float downstream
Wondering where the day has been
Boats that sail away at night
Come the dawn
Have sailed far out of sight
"Two Weeks Last Summer" is a song about summer memories fading away. The first verse describes a fire that is burning out, leaving only embers and fading images behind. This symbolizes the fleeting nature of memories, which can be bright and vivid for a time, but ultimately fade with time. The singer's whisper fades away, suggesting that even their voice may become a memory.
The second verse describes summer walks and moonlit talks that were filled with meaning and promises, but ultimately broken with a single touch. Passing fancies fly away and are replaced by meeting shadows on the sunlit bay, suggesting that the singer may find comfort in the passing of time and the beauty of new experiences.
The third verse describes floating downstream, wondering where the day has been, and watching boats sail away at night. The boats have sailed far out of sight come dawn, indicating that time has passed and things have changed. The deserted evening is warm and still, but strangers come and go at will, and laughter from an open door can be heard. Friendly faces come inside before it starts to rain, suggesting that despite the changing nature of time and memory, there is always the possibility of connection and renewed relationships.
Overall, "Two Weeks Last Summer" is a bittersweet lament about the transience of summer memories, the way that time changes everything, and the small moments of connection that make the passing of time bearable.
Line by Line Meaning
The dancing flames grow low
The fire is dwindling down and losing its strength
Painting embers start to glow
The burning wood pieces create a color palette of soothing hues
The pictures soon will fade
The mental images from memories will soon vanish
Pictures that the flames have made
The visions in the mind that the flickering fire brought about
Your hazy whisper fades
The faint sound of your voice disappears softly
Suddenly is gone without a trace
All of a sudden, completely vanished without any sign or signal
Reminiscing summer walks
Recalling strolls from the past summer
Pentagon says moonlit talks
Craving for late night conversations under the moon as much as loving geometry
Promises that mean so much
Commitments that held a lot of significance
Broken with a single touch
Destroyed by a single action
Passing fancies fly away
Fleeting desires come and go without leaving any trace
Meeting shadows on the sunlit bay
Encountering vague shapes that appear and disappear on the bright ensconced water
Summer days I float downstream
Drifting aimlessly on a river on long and warm summer days
Wondering where the day has been
Pondering the elapsed time and where it went
Boats that sail away at night
The boats that depart in the night
Come the dawn
As morning arrives
Have sailed far out of sight
Have disappeared out of vision
Deserted evening warm and still
Unpopulated, balmy, and stagnant night
Strangers come and go at will
Unknown individuals arrive and depart as they please
Driftwood on the silent shore
Pieces of wood carried by the current piled up on the mute beach
Laughter from an open door
Joyful sounds come from a house with no barrier
Friendly faces once again
Amicable countenances once more
Come inside before it starts to rain
Enter indoors to avoid the forthcoming rainfall
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COUSINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Casey Pons
@Earp John, great song and excellent quality as usual. Thanks for sharing.