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.
Winter Winds
Fotheringay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The time of year, it is chosen.
Now the frost and fire,
And now the sea is frozen.
He who sleeps he does not see
The coming of the seasons,
The filling of a dream
When she walked through evil
O'er the paths of broken illusions,
Carefully now she lives,
For she has mended her confusion.
The lyrics of Fotheringay's Winter Winds show a reflection on the passing of time and the cyclical nature of the seasons. The song begins with the description of the chilly winter winds which mark the end of a year and the beginning of another. The singer notes that this time of year is special and has been chosen for its significance. The second verse then reflects on the idea that those who are asleep will not be aware of the changing seasons, leaving them unaware of the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter winds they do blow cold,
The cold winds of winter are blowing,
The time of year, it is chosen.
It is the chosen time of this year.
Now the frost and fire,
There is frost and fire at this moment,
And now the sea is frozen.
The sea has also been frozen.
He who sleeps he does not see
Those who sleep cannot see
The coming of the seasons,
When the seasons are approaching
The filling of a dream
The dream is being fulfilled
Without a time to reason.
Without any time to think or reason.
When she walked through evil
When she dealt with evil on her path,
O'er the paths of broken illusions,
Along paths filled with shattered illusions.
Carefully now she lives,
Now she lives her life with care,
For she has mended her confusion.
As she has fixed the state of confusion she was once in.
Contributed by Lila L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kostasbr51
Two minutes of pure beauty. We love you, Sandy.
anonymous anonymous
I hate being OLD but, I am SO glad I grew up in the time of Fotheringay, Pentangle, Nick Drake,
Andy Waters
I am addicted to Sandy's voice. Always have been. it just takes me to a different zone. And she is still there, in that place.
MUSICALX57
Fantástica Sandy Denny. Uma das grandes vozes de sempre.
johnthefinn
I was blessed to see Sandy on stage a couple of times. Miss you, lady.
Dodô Alencar
Very very beautiful! A flawless voice and interpretation of the Sandy Denny phenomenon, coupled with this breathtaking instrument, transported me to a dimension I didn't know. A beautiful experience!
gibberth
Winter winds they do blow cold, The time of year, it is chosen. Now the frost and fire, And now the sea is frozen. He who sleeps he does not see The coming of the seasons, The filling of a dream Without a time to reason. When she walks through evil O’er the paths of broken illusions, Carefully now she lives, For she has mended her confusion
Marvox_03
Sandy: what a beautiful voice
boretti1307
Beautiful this!!!
jeff zeppelin
such a beautiful song.....way too short !!!! I COULD LISTEN TO THIS FOR AN HOUR !