Scottish folk singer John Martyn was originally hired to be his British wif… Read Full Bio ↴Scottish folk singer John Martyn was originally hired to be his British wife Beverley's back-up guitarist for recording sessions in America, the pair were signed up by Warner Brothers who sent them to Woodstock in 1969 to rehearse with producer Paul Harris. The actual recording at R&R Studios, New York, took only six days with two days mixing. The album was released in February 1970. Martyn was inspired by The Band's Music From Big Pink to experiment to find a distinctive guitar sound. Two tracks "Would You Believe Me" and "The Ocean" marked the tentative introduction to Martyn's pioneering guitar technique. Levon Helm guested on drums on the two tracks "Sweet Honesty" (Beverley Martin) and "John the Baptist" (John Martyn.)

Give Us a Ring
John & Beverley Martyn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well now, what's the food like
Have you slept well?
And do the bugs bite other people?
And did the banker give you money?
And I saw on the postcard that you wrote it
On a beach or on your pillow
Or on a book or something stiff

Give us a ring when you get back
Try to bring me something back
With the customs there
Make sure you don't get caught
With the things that you bought
Jeffrey, he bought a cactus for the kitchen
And the rabbit's been complaining
And we sat out on the lawn
Well now, I have to go to catch the postman
Cos I'm going to thе pictures
Lots of love, I bet you'rе brown

Give us a ring when you get back
Try to bring me something back
With the customs there
Make sure you don't get caught
With the things that you bought

Give us a ring when you get back
Try to bring me something back
With the customs there
Make sure you don't get caught
With the things that you bought

Give us a ring when you get back
Give us a ring when you get back

Give us a ring when you get back
Give us a ring don't get caught

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in "Give Us a Ring" by John & Beverley Martyn seem to explore several themes, including the cycle of life, the consequences of our actions, and the nature of relationships. The song begins with the lines "Zoom out, zoom in. Here we are again. I told you once, I mean it. Tie me up, that's cheating." The first two lines seem to refer to the cyclical nature of life, where we often find ourselves in the same place or situation, even if we try to escape it. The third and fourth lines suggest that the singer is serious about something but also that they feel restricted or not fully in control.

The song then moves on to more abstract imagery, with lines like "And I wear your ghost now. The one that survived when it didn't matter anyhow." This seems to suggest that the singer is haunted by memories or emotions that they can't shake off, even when they no longer have any real relevance. The lyrics "Retreat and then be gone, Who's got the soundtrack repeat on" suggest a desire to escape from something and to move on, but also a sense that one is trapped or constantly revisiting the same memories.

The chorus of the song ("Yeah, you know it's you. That I'm singing to. It's all shot to pieces. But look at all the faces") adds another layer to the song's themes. It seems to focus on the idea of a failed relationship or a relationship that has ended badly ("It's all shot to pieces"), and yet the music is still there to remind the singer of the person in question ("Yeah, you know it's you. That I'm singing to"). The final lines ("There's a ring around us. There's a ring around us now") seem to imply that despite everything, the relationship or the memory of it is still present, hovering around the singer and influencing their perception of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Zoom out, zoom in
Let's take a bigger picture and then focus on the details

Here we are again
We're back in the same place as before

I told you once, I mean it
I've said this before and I'm still being serious

Tie me up, that's cheating
Don't use unfair tactics to win or control me

So, what do headlines mean
What's the significance of news stories that grab our attention?

When ships are sunk over tea
When conflicts arise but seem trivial in the grand scheme of things

And I wear your ghost now
I'm haunted by memories of you

The one that survived when it didn't matter anyhow
The memory that endures despite its seeming insignificance

Retreat and then be gone
Withdraw and disappear

Who's got the soundtrack repeat on
Who's playing the same old tune?

Yeah, you know it's you
There's no mistaking that it's you