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
Judy
John Renbourn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to find that girl of mine, she could not be found
All her things were gone, she just left a note
It don't take no mastermind to figure what she wrote
She said, "Dear John, I'm moving on
By this time I'm gonna be long gone
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
So long, you've seen the last of me"
This time ain't just au revoir, this time it's goodbye
We could not go on, livin' like we were
I was just about to write a 'Dear John' note to her
I was gonna say, "Dear John, I'm moving on
By this time I'm gonna be long gone
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
So long, you've seen the last of me"
She said, "Dear John, I'm moving on
By this time I'm gonna be long gone
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
So long, you've seen the last of me"
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
The lyrics of John Renbourn's "Judy" tell a story of a relationship that has come to an end. The singer arrives home to find that his girlfriend, named Judy, has left him. Her belongings are gone, and she has left a note explaining her departure. The lyrics of the note are the chorus of the song: "Dear John, I'm moving on. By this time, I'm gonna be long gone. Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John. So long, you've seen the last of me."
The singer realizes that the relationship was not working and that he was about to write a "Dear John" note to Judy himself. Despite this, he is still hurt when she leaves him. However, he accepts that the breakup is final and that there is no going back. The lyrics emphasize the finality of the situation, with phrases like "this time it's goodbye" and "you've seen the last of me."
Overall, "Judy" is a poignant and relatable song about the end of a relationship. The lyrics capture the mix of emotions that come with a breakup, including sadness, frustration, and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
I got home today, took a look around
Upon arriving at my residence, I surveyed my surroundings.
Tryin' to find that girl of mine, she could not be found
Attempting to locate my significant other, she was nowhere to be found.
All her things were gone, she just left a note
All of her belongings were absent, she solely left a written message.
It don't take no mastermind to figure what she wrote
No extensive intellectual capacity is required to decipher her words.
She said, "Dear John, I'm moving on
She communicated to me, "Beloved John, I am relocating on.
By this time I'm gonna be long gone
As of this moment, I will have already departed for some time.
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
"Beloved John, that's life, beloved John.
So long, you've seen the last of me"
Farewell, you have viewed the final instance of myself."
I don't want her back, I won't even try
I am not interested in reconciling, nor will I make an effort to do so.
This time ain't just au revoir, this time it's goodbye
This instance is not merely a temporary farewell, it is a permanent goodbye.
We could not go on, livin' like we were
Our relationship could not persist with our former pattern of living.
I was just about to write a 'Dear John' note to her
I had almost composed a "Beloved John" letter directed towards her.
She said, "Dear John, I'm moving on
She declared to me, "Beloved John, I am relocating on.
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
"Beloved John, that's life, beloved John.
She said, "Dear John, I'm moving on
She stated to me, "Beloved John, I am relocating on.
Dear John, c'est la vie, dear John
"Beloved John, that's life, beloved John.
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
"Beloved John, I am relocating on, by now I will.
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Have been departed for a while, beloved John, such is life, beloved John, farewell.
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
"Beloved John, I am relocating on, by now I will.
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Have been departed for a while, beloved John, such is life, beloved John, farewell.
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
"Beloved John, I am relocating on, by now I will.
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Have been departed for a while, beloved John, such is life, beloved John, farewell.
Dear John, I'm moving on, by this time I'm gonna
"Beloved John, I am relocating on, by now I will.
Be long gone, dear John, c'est la vie, dear John, so long
Have been departed for a while, beloved John, such is life, beloved John, farewell.
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@oldbladderhorn949
come on Donn Judy is not really that hard, honestly.
( as you might already know, if you want to hear hard. you have a listen to anything by julian bream
and all the tunes you might hear him play are also available in manuscript for any one to practise and play
but i doubt if you or I lived to be a thousand that we'd ever get them to sound anywhere near
julian bream's perfection. or there's Ted Greene but that's a kind of fingerpicking jazz (or is it finger licking).
while this tune can be played near enough exactly like or even better than mr renbourn's recording
with a little bit of study, and with practise and patience.
judy is just a warm up exercise and you will laugh at how easy it is to pick out it's basic folkie voice with practice. then you will, be able to lol .
sorry this this has become a bit of a rant paragraph. a lot can be deduced from a few words......he he).
any hoo all the best Donn it was that π lol β that did it
@oldbladderhorn949
we all strive for better, and there are, as good if not better. here on You Tube than JR's.
as this is just a nice warm up exercise kind of tune, and if you have the transcript/tab it will be easy to break it down into bite size chunks. and it will be easy! as the whole tune is less than two minutes long
there are also lots of repeats within the tune so breaking it down into its component parts is the trick having a real thorough listen to the original will also be a big help.
it doesn't have to be perfect, as that will come in time.
i'm working on the"lady goes to church" another by JR
it has a nice meaty middle bit to chew on!
it's a little hard to memorize and to get under the fingers at the moment
that middle bit is nasty nasty but not impossible it will come.
the worst bit is that there are so many many pretty tunes and not enough life time
too listen! let alone learn them all.
but that's just the way it is.
as for yourself Nic keep at it, and as your family matures in due course and in the fullness of time.
you will find the time and your technique it will without doubt blossom
and as for me having a snobbish attitude you are very much mistaken.
i'm no slouch on the guitar but i don't know everything. very weak on theory is me.
and certain techniques i just can't be bothered to learn at this point in my life.
there are youngsters who could run rings around me any day of the week.
i play for my own enjoyment a nice safe hobbie to keep the brain cells well
exercised and supple and also helps keep me stress free.
and, i know my limits, there are tunes i will never ever be able to play, ever".
and there are many i'm still half arsed at. and some i play and sing
that would scare the shit out of your average strummer, .
i give respect where it is due and encourage and never criticise, it's a good ploy .
people are all at different levels and abilities.
as for me, i think i've just an average, and nothing more ability, on the guitar.
far and away from the late mr Renbourn's technical and artistic genius.
PS
i hope this note does not offend in any way
but if it has. please accept my most
sincere apology OBH
@richardbanker3910
Still got my original John Renbourne LP with this as first track. It was on Transatlantic records.
@Eileenjennifer69
The original! Phew*!
@michelledenny2253
I'd hate to see his and Bert's talent become unknown by this generation.They were both magical.
@pricecassidy6460
im in my 20's and I love these guys!
@hollingselizabeth4722
My friend's sixteen-year-old (living in France) surprised and delighted me by playing John's music. His talent lives on !!
@connervickrage2742
I'm 25 and Roy Harper introduced me to a lot of these guys
@onehundredpicks5531
20 here. Love it
@Anzacky
Not on my watch
@robertliebert-hereth8218
This and Anji. Forever stuck playing in my head
@coreymihailiuk5189
John's right hand technique was incredible. I have been listening to him for eons and his work still inspires and impresses me.