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.
Silver Threads And Golden Needles
Fotheringay Lyrics
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All I want's the love you promised beneath the haloed moon
But you think I should be happy with your money and your name
And hold myself in sorrow while you play your cheating game
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
And I dare not drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your wine
But you think I should be happy with your money and your name
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
And I dare not drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your wine
You can't buy my love with money for I never was that kind
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
The lyrics of Fotheringay's "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" speak about the insufficiency of material possessions and denial of love. The lyrics describe the singer's anger towards a wealthy lover who constantly inflicts emotional pain on her. The first verse highlights the singer's desire for love rather than the materialistic gifts that her wealthy lover offers her. She longs for the love promised beneath the haloed moon, which implies a pure and true love that transcends beyond mere material possessions. However, the singer's wealthy lover does not understand her desires and continues with his cheating ways, expecting her to accept his money and name instead of seeking true love.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that "silver threads and golden needles" cannot heal the singer's heart, indicating that no amount of wealth or gifts from her lover can compensate for the love that she craves. In the second verse, the singer reinforces her position and refuses to be bought with her lover's wealth. She highlights that her love cannot be bought with money and that she never was that kind. The song concludes with the repetition of the chorus, underscoring the message that the singer's heart cannot be mended by material gifts but can only be healed through genuine love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want your lonely mansion with a tear in every room
I don't want your empty, sad house that reflects your lonely heart
All I want's the love you promised beneath the haloed moon
I only desire the love you once promised me under the romantic moon
But you think I should be happy with your money and your name
You believe that I should be satisfied with wealth and status alone
And hold myself in sorrow while you play your cheating game
While you deceive me, I'm expected to suffer silently
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
No amount of riches or luxuries can heal my broken heart
And I dare not drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your wine
I won't let my pain be numbed by the temporary comfort of alcohol
You can't buy my love with money for I never was that kind
I cannot be won over by money, as I am not that shallow
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
Once again, it's reiterated that wealth cannot mend my shattered heart
Writer(s): Jack Rhodes, Dick Reynolds Copyright: Fort Knox Music Inc.
Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.