Talbot grew up singing in the church choir that her mother directed, and first picked up the guitar at age 12. She later took voice lessons, sang at different events around Ireland, and joined the Whole Shabang! in 2001. The singer met Cherish the Ladies at a 2001 Shabang! show in New York City, and was soon asked to do guest vocals on their The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone album. After releasing a limited-run, self-titled solo album, Talbot was made an official member of Cherish the Ladies in 2003.
Talbot's second solo album, Distant Future, was released in 2004. In 2007, the recording of her third album In Love and Light (released in 2008) coincided with her decision to leave Cherish the Ladies.
In 2008 Talbot featured as a guest on albums by Radiohead drummer Philip Selway, and the collaboration of John McCusker, Kris Drever and Roddy Woomble. Since then she has sung on recordings by Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine, and Idlewild.
Talbot lives in Edinburgh with her husband, Scottish folk musician John McCusker.
Official website www.heiditalbot.com
Willie Taylor
Heidi Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He who courted a lady fair
Bells were ringing, sailors singing
As to church they did repair
Thirty couples were at their wedding
All were dressed in rich array
But instead of William being married
He was pressed and sent away
Man's apparel she put on
And she's gone to find her true love William
For to find him she is gone
Then the captain stepped up to her
Asking her "What's brought you here?"
"Oh, I have come to seek my true love
Who I've lately loved so dear."
"Well if you've come to seek your true love,
Tell me what his name may be."
"Oh, his name, it's William Taylor.
From the Irish ranks came he."
"You rise early tomorrow morning,
You rise up at break of day,
There you'll see your true love William
Walking with some lady gay."
So she rose up the very next morning
She rose up at break of day
And there she saw her true love William
Walking with some lady gay
Sword and pistol she then ordered
To be brought at her command
And she shot her true love William Taylor
With his bride on his right hand
Now if all young folks in Kells or Dublin
Were server the same as she served he
Then young girls would all be undone
How very scarce young men would be
The song "Willie Taylor" by Heidi Talbot tells a story of love and sacrifice. It starts with the introduction of Willie Taylor, a young sailor, who fell in love with a lady fair. They decided to get married, but instead of fulfilling their dreams, William was pressed and sent away. The lady decides to dress up in his clothes and set off to find him. Upon reaching the ship, she confesses her love to the captain and pleads for his help. The captain agrees to help and tells her to come early the next morning to see her true love walking with his new bride. She goes on to shoot him and his bride, indicating her devotion and love towards William.
The song focuses on the theme of sacrifice and love. The lady risking her life to find her true love is a significant sacrifice. The lyrics also highlight the consequences of true love in a restricted society. The lady faces punishment for her actions, indicating that love and desire always have a price to pay.
The song also touches upon the theme of gender roles and societal constraints. The lady dressed up as a man to reach her desired goal, indicating the limitations imposed upon women in society. The song talks about how women can only achieve their dreams by stepping out of their societal roles.
Overall, the song "Willie Taylor" is a beautiful tale of love, devotion, sacrifice, and societal constraints.
Line by Line Meaning
Willie Taylor was a brisk young sailor
Willie Taylor was an energetic and lively sailor
He who courted a lady fair
He had love affair with a beautiful woman
Bells were ringing, sailors singing
It was a joyous occasion with celebratory ringing bells and singing sailors
As to church they did repair
They went to the church for the wedding ceremony
Thirty couples were at their wedding
There were thirty pairs of people at their wedding
All were dressed in rich array
Everyone was fashionably and expensively dressed
But instead of William being married
William didn't get the chance to get married
He was pressed and sent away
He was forced to join the military and left abruptly
She dressed herself in man's apparel
She disguised herself in a man's clothing
Man's apparel she put on
She wore male clothing
And she's gone to find her true love William
She went to search for her beloved William
For to find him she is gone
She went to find him
Then the captain stepped up to her
The captain approached her
Asking her "What's brought you here?"
He asked her what brought her there
"Oh, I have come to seek my true love
"I came here to search for my one true love
Who I've lately loved so dear."
Whom I have loved so much recently."
"Well if you've come to seek your true love,
"If you came to search for your true love,
Tell me what his name may be."
Tell me his name."
"Oh, his name, it's William Taylor.
"His name is William Taylor.
From the Irish ranks came he."
He came from the Irish military."
"You rise early tomorrow morning,
"Wake up very early tomorrow morning,
You rise up at break of day,
Rise at dawn
There you'll see your true love William
There you will find your true love William
Walking with some lady gay."
Walking with another woman."
So she rose up the very next morning
The very next morning she woke up
She rose up at break of day
She woke up at dawn
And there she saw her true love William
She found her true love William
Walking with some lady gay
He was walking with another woman
Sword and pistol she then ordered
She called for a sword and a pistol
To be brought at her command
So they brought it to her
And she shot her true love William Taylor
And she shot William Taylor, her true love
With his bride on his right hand
While his bride was standing by his side
Now if all young folks in Kells or Dublin
If all young people in Kells or Dublin
Were server the same as she served he
Were to serve as she did
Then young girls would all be undone
Then young girls would all be in difficult or embarrassing situations
How very scarce young men would be
And there would be very few young men available
Contributed by Brody C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.