In 2006 Isobel released a collaborative LP (Ballad of the Broken Seas) with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, a mixture of folk and more rock-orientated music. October 2006 also saw the release of her latest album, Milkwhite Sheets, a more acoustic folk album, consisting of a mixture of traditional songs alonside Isobel's own compositions.
Isobel's band The Gentle Waves released its first album on Jeepster Records, titled The Green Fields of Foreverland, in 1999. The second Gentle Waves record, Swansong For You came out one year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holliday songs, released by Creeping Bent.
In 2003 Campbell released Amorino, the first solo album under her own name, to very good reviews. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians.
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan form a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They have released three albums so far: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. And finally their third album Hawk was released in August 2010.
Beggar Wiseman or Thief
Isobel Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a Tuesday
Met a wolf king across a plain
And I kissed him
I caressed him
Will I see you again?
I shall roam far across the land
If you shan't be my husband
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman, or thief
So he led her 'Cross the river
To his kingdom
And back again
Played a fine lute
And as night fell
They returned to the plain
"Sweetest maid you are right for me
Though God wills me be free
Sweetest maid let a human boy
Gather roses for thee
To a wolf you cannot be wed
Choose a young man instead"
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman, or thief
No other one
I'd rather be blind
If I missed your eyes of rabbinic blue
You have caused me
Much despair, Sir
Since I lay here with you
To a beggar I shan't be wed
Wisemen live in their head
Dearest wolf king
Thou art the thief
Who has loved me so brief
And as night fell
Some folks looked as
She crossed a river
Down by the plain
'Twas there the current
Held her under
Never to be seen again
On the plain sprang
A red rose tree
The wolf was never so free
Now he roams far across the land
Howling for his bride-to-be
He shall roam far across the land
For he shan't be a husband
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman
Beggar, wiseman or thief
The song "Beggar Wiseman or Thief" by Isobel Campbell is a tragic tale of a woman who falls in love with a wolf king she meets one day. The lyrics describe how she is drawn to him and they spend time together, but he ultimately tells her that they cannot be together because she is human and he is a wolf. He advises her to choose a young man instead of a wolf as a husband. The woman is heartbroken but accepts his advice. However, as she crosses a river on her way home, she drowns and is never seen again. The wolf king roams the land, howling for his lost love, but he knows he cannot be her husband because of his wild nature.
This haunting story is a metaphor for the struggles that often arise in romantic relationships, where one person may be unable or unwilling to commit fully for various reasons. The wolf king cannot be with the woman he loves because of his animal nature, and she cannot be with him because he is not human. The song’s repeated refrain of “beggar, wiseman, or thief” emphasizes the theme of choices in love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Early one day
At the start of a new day
On a Tuesday
Specifically on a Tuesday
Met a wolf king across a plain
Encountered a powerful being in an open area
And I kissed him
Shared an intimate moment with this being
I caressed him
Tenderly touched this being
Will I see you again?
Expressing a desire for future contact
I shall roam far across the land
Travel great distances
If you shan't be my husband
Indicating a desire for a deeper commitment
Beggar, wiseman
Listing different types of people
So he led her 'Cross the river
He showed her the way over water
To his kingdom
To the place where he has power
And back again
Returning to their original location
Played a fine lute
Demonstrated musical skill
And as night fell
As darkness approached
They returned to the plain
Went back to a simple area
"Sweetest maid you are right for me
Complimenting her
Though God wills me be free
Acknowledging outside obligations
Sweetest maid let a human boy
Allowing someone else to have her
Gather roses for thee
Performing a small act of kindness
To a wolf you cannot be wed
Highlighting an obstacle to their relationship
Choose a young man instead"
Suggesting an alternative
No other one
Referring only to this specific person
I'd rather be blind
A strong preference
If I missed your eyes of rabbinic blue
The color of this person's eyes
You have caused me
The effects of their relationship
Much despair, Sir
Strong negative emotions
To a beggar I shan't be wed
Again, referring to potential partners
Wisemen live in their head
Describing a certain type of person
Dearest wolf king
Affectionate address
Thou art the thief
Accusing this person of wrongdoing
Who has loved me so brief
Reflecting on the brevity of their relationship
Some folks looked as
Observed by others
She crossed a river
Again, traveling over water
Down by the plain
Lower in elevation
'Twas there the current
Describing a specific location
Held her under
The water caused her death
Never to be seen again
Her ultimate fate
On the plain sprang
New growth in an open area
A red rose tree
A symbol of love and beauty
The wolf was never so free
His newfound freedom
Now he roams far across the land
Going on to live his life
Howling for his bride-to-be
A sense of longing
He shall roam far across the land
Repeating the previous line
For he shan't be a husband
Again, clarifying a relationship status
Beggar, wiseman
Repeating earlier lines
Beggar, wiseman
Repeating earlier lines
Beggar, wiseman or thief
Listing different types of people
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