While most commonly labelled a folk musician, Renbourn's musical tastes and interests take in early music, classical music, blues and world music. His most influential album, Sir John Alot (1968), featured his take on songs from the Medieval era.
He died on March 26, 2015.
Career
John Renbourn studied classical guitar at school and it was during this period that he was introduced to Early Music. In the 1950s, along with many others, he was greatly influenced by the musical craze of "Skiffle" and this eventually led him to explore the work of artists such as Leadbelly, Josh White and Big Bill Broonzy.
In the 1960s the new craze in popular music was Rhythm and Blues, also the impact of Davey Graham was being felt. In 1961 Renbourn toured the South West with Mac MacLeod and repeated the tour in 1963. Renbourn briefly played in an R'n'B band while studying at the Kingston College of Art in London. Although the British 'Folk Revival' was underway at this time, most folk clubs were biased towards traditional, unaccompanied folk songs and guitar players were not always welcome. However the Roundhouse in London had a more tolerant attitude and here, John Renbourn joined Blues and Gospel singer Dorris Henderson, playing backing guitar and recording two albums with her.
Possibly the best known London venue for contemporary folk music in the early 1960s was "Les Cousins" in Greek Street, Soho, which became the main meeting place for guitar players and contemporary singer-songwriters from Britain and America. Around 1963, Renbourn teamed up with guitarist Bert Jansch who was visiting London from Edinburgh and together they developed an intricate duet style that became known as "folk baroque". Their album "Bert and John" is a fine example of their playing.
Renbourn released several albums on the Transatlantic label during the 1960s. Two of them, "Sir John Alot" and "Lady And The Unicorn" sum up Renbourn's playing style and material from this period. "Sir John Alot" has a mixture of jazz/blues/folk playing alongside a more classical/early music style. "Lady And The Unicorn" is heavily influenced by Renbourn's interest in early music.
At around this time, Renbourn also started playing with Jacqui McShee who sang traditional British folk songs. Together with Bert Jansch, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox, they went on to form Pentangle. The group became very successful, touring America in 1968, playing at the Carnegie Hall and at the Newport Folk Festival.
Renbourn went on to record more solo albums in the Seventies and Eighties. Much of the music is based on traditional material with a Celtic influence, interwoven with other styles. He also collaborated with American guitarist Stefan Grossman in the late 1970s recording two albums with him, which at times hark back to the folk baroque days with Bert Jansch.
In the mid-1980s Renbourn went back to university to earn a degree in composition, since which time he has focused mainly on writing classical music, while still performing in folk settings.
Renbourn continues to record and tour. In 2005 he toured Japan (his fifth tour of that country) with Tokio Uchida and Woody Mann. In 2006 he played at number of venues in England, including appearances with Robin Williamson and with Jacqui McShee. He is working on a new solo album and collaborating with Clive Carroll on the score for the film Driving Lessons directed by Jeremy Brock. In 2008, he toured with the reformed Pentangle.
John Renbourn Group
Bert Jansch & John Renbourn
Dorris Henderson & John Renbourn
John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee
John Renbourn & Stefan Grossman
John Renbourn & Robin Williamson
Clive Carroll & John Renbourn
Buffalo Skinners
John Renbourn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Xanadu
Suspended In Time (Olivia Newton-John)
A child and a fool in one, so sure I could need no one
My heart always on the run to nowhere
Now as you're holding me, my heart is reminding me
That now I could never be without you
But how can our love succeed, a miracle is what we need, and so I appeal to you
To keep me suspended in time with you, don't let this moment die
I get a feeling when I'm with you, none of the rules apply
But I know for certain, goodbye is a crime
So love if you need me, suspend me in time
Wasted the time away, holding our love at bay
Now I can't last a day without you
Your smile is a thrill to see, eyes hold me tenderly
They'll shine in my memory forever
chorus - in time
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The John Renbourn's song Buffalo Skinners describes a group of buffalo hunters, known as skinners, who work hard to provide for their families despite being exploited and treated poorly by their bosses. The lyrics highlight the dangerous and grueling work involved in the hunt, with lines like "the ground was quaking, the air hard to breathe, and the buffalo thundered on." Despite the difficult conditions, the skinners continue to persevere and toil on, hoping to earn enough to provide for their families.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the exploitation of laborers and the struggle of the working class to earn a fair wage. The skinners are depicted as heroic figures who are willing to risk their lives in order to provide for their loved ones. The chorus of the song reinforces the theme of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity, as the skinners sing "we'll change the world, it's true, just by being who we are."
Overall, Buffalo Skinners is a powerful and emotional representation of the struggles faced by the working class, and the resilience and determination required to overcome these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
A child and a fool in one, so sure I could need no one
At one point in my life, I was both naive and arrogant, believing that I was self-sufficient and didn't need anyone else.
My heart always on the run to nowhere
I used to be emotionally unavailable, always running away from anything that threatened to tie me down in a relationship.
Now as you're holding me, my heart is reminding me
Now that I have found someone who makes me feel safe and loved, my heart is finally acknowledging the importance of having a partner.
That now I could never be without you
I have come to the realization that I can't imagine my life without you by my side.
Chorus: But how can our love succeed, a miracle is what we need, and so I appeal to you
Despite my newfound appreciation for being in a relationship, I still worry that our love won't be enough to overcome the challenges we may face, so I am asking you for help and support.
To keep me suspended in time with you, don't let this moment die
I want to hold onto this feeling of love and happiness forever, and I need you to help me make that happen by being emotionally present and committed to our relationship.
I get a feeling when I'm with you, none of the rules apply
Being with you is different from anything I've experienced before, and it's as if I am living in a world where none of the usual limitations or boundaries exist.
But I know for certain, goodbye is a crime
I am so convinced of the value of our relationship that I see leaving each other as a serious transgression against our love.
So love if you need me, suspend me in time
I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this relationship work, so if you need me to be emotionally present and committed, I am asking you to keep me 'suspended in time' with you.
Wasted the time away, holding our love at bay
In the past, I avoided committing to a relationship and missed out on the opportunity to experience real love.
Now I can't last a day without you
After finding you, I know that I can't imagine my life without you and want to spend every moment by your side.
Your smile is a thrill to see, eyes hold me tenderly
Your presence, your smile, your gaze - all of these things fill me with joy and remind me how lucky I am to have you in my life.
They'll shine in my memory forever
I know that the memories of our time together will stay with me for the rest of my life, no matter what happens in the future.
chorus - in time
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of staying together and keeping our love alive 'in time'.
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
speleojazzer
on Can't Keep from Crying
These are NOT the lyrics to JR's Can't keep from Crying