English was acclaimed for his starring role in the 1978 Australian TV series Against the Wind - he won the TV Week Logie Award for 'Best New Talent in Australia'. He also co-wrote and performed the score with Mario Millo (ex-Sebastian Hardie). The series had international release, known as Mot alla vindar (1980) in Scandinavia,[7] where both "Six Ribbons" and "Against the Wind" were released as singles, both singles and the soundtrack album peaked at #1 on the Norwegian charts; the first single, "Six Ribbons" and the album, peaked at #4 on the Swedish charts.
During 1983-1985, English won four Mo Awards with three consecutive 'Entertainer of the Year' awards and a further 'Male Vocal Performer' in 1985. English has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and HMS Pinafore from 1984. Performances of Essgee Entertainment's productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan trilogy from 1994 to 1997 were broadcast on Australian TV, they were all released on VHS and subsequently on DVD.
Six Ribbons
Jon English Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To tell all the world, of the love that we share
If I were a merchant, I?d bring you six diamonds,
With six blood red roses, for my love to wear
But I am a simple man, a poor common farmer,
So take these six ribbons, to tie back your hair
Yellow and brown, blue as the sky,
If I were a nobleman, I'd bring you six carriages
With six snow white horses, to take you anywhere
If I were the emperor (yellow and brown),
I'd build you six palaces (blue as the sky),
With six hundred servants (red as my blood)
For comforting fare (green as your eyes)
But I am a simple man, a poor common farmer,
So take these six ribbons, to tie back your hair
If I were a minstrel, I?d sing you six love songs,
To tell all the world, of the love that we share
So be not afraid my love, you?re never alone love,
While you wear my ribbons, tyin? back your hair
Once I was a simple man, a poor common farmer,
I gave you six ribbons, to tie back your hair
Tooralee, tooralie, all I can share,
Is only six ribbons, to tie back your hair
Tooralee, tooralie, all I can share,
I gave you six ribbons, to tie back your hair
The lyrics to Jon English's song "Six Ribbons" tell the story of a man who may not have the wealth or power to give his love extravagant gifts or experiences, but instead chooses to give her six ribbons to tie back her hair. The song is written in the form of a hypothetical scenario, with each verse beginning with "If I were..." followed by descriptions of lavish offerings he would give his love if he were a minstrel, merchant, nobleman, or emperor. However, he acknowledges that he is a "simple man, a poor common farmer" and can only offer the six ribbons.
Despite his lack of material wealth, the man expresses his deep love for his partner through the symbolism of the ribbons. The colors of the ribbons are described in the chorus, with yellow, brown, blue, red, and green each representing different aspects of their love. The lyrics suggest that the ribbons are a constant reminder of their love for each other, with the lines "So be not afraid my love, you’re never alone love, while you wear my ribbons, tyin' back your hair" serving as a reassurance that their love will endure.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a minstrel, I'd sing you six love songs,
If I had the talent of a minstrel, I would use it to express my love for you by singing six songs.
To tell all the world, of the love that we share
I would use these songs to let everyone know about the love we share.
If I were a merchant, I'd bring you six diamonds,
If I had the wealth of a merchant, I would bring you six diamonds as a token of my love.
With six blood red roses, for my love to wear
I would also bring you six roses to wear as a sign of how deeply I love you.
But I am a simple man, a poor common farmer,
However, I am not wealthy or talented, just a simple farmer.
So take these six ribbons, to tie back your hair
So I offer you these simple ribbons as an expression of my love.
Yellow and brown, blue as the sky,
These ribbons come in multiple colors, including yellow and brown, and blue like the sky.
Red as my blood, blue as your eye
They also come in red like my blood, and the same blue as your eyes.
If I were a nobleman, I'd bring you six carriages
If I were very wealthy and noble, I would bring you six carriages to ride in.
With six snow white horses, to take you anywhere
And six snow white horses to pull the carriages, so you could go anywhere you like.
If I were the emperor (yellow and brown),
If I were the emperor, I would offer you even more than six carriages.
I'd build you six palaces (blue as the sky),
I would build you six palaces, and they would be as blue as the sky.
With six hundred servants (red as my blood)
And six hundred servants who would be as devoted to you as I am.
For comforting fare (green as your eyes)
And provide you with delicious food and drinks that are as calming as green.
So be not afraid my love, you're never alone love,
So don't be scared, my love. You're never alone when you have these ribbons to remind you of my love.
While you wear my ribbons, tyin' back your hair
These ribbons will always be with you, tied back in your hair, and I will always love you.
Once I was a simple man, a poor common farmer,
I will always be a simple farmer, but my love for you will never change.
I gave you six ribbons, to tie back your hair
All I can offer you are these six ribbons to remind you of my love.
Tooralee, tooralie, all I can share,
Tooralee, tooralie, all I have to offer,
Is only six ribbons, to tie back your hair
Are these six ribbons, but they are given with all my love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JONATHAN JAMES ENGLISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JRalloveragain
I am the proud owner of the DVD box set of this wonderful Australian series. I watched in the 70's as a young lad. Loved it then, love it now. I also went out of my way to learn how to play this song on guitar. Timeless.
@MarioKangaroo
I am from Iran, we used to watch it on tv with persian translation 20 years ago, and we liked it very much, very inspiring, song is still in my head
@stevenguegens7047
G'day from Australia you liked this song and mini series even In IRAN how did yous get to watch IT over their from TV and station well I'm intrigued ????🤔?????
@javanehabbaspour2780
@@stevenguegens7047 Yes, this is true! I am from Iran too. And, I clearly remember the TV show. It aired on our national TV. More than 30 years ago!! I was a little child! Maybe just around 5 years old, but remember the series vividly. "Against the Wind"!! I remember that I was in love with Jon English at that age. What a beautiful memory of those days!! Still love him! Wonderful actor and musician!! What a brilliant song he composed and sang! Miss him so much! May his soul rest in peace!
@stevenguegens7047
@@javanehabbaspour2780 G'day 👍 from 🇦🇺 Australia Yes Jon English was a BRILLIANT SINGER and ACTOR But MUSIC can bring PEOPLE together with peace and harmony I hope that YOU are able to have PEACE in your COUNTRY and ALWAYS have a STRONG MIND with HAPPINESS and I mean THIS I would like to meet YOU one-day just so I can say G'day 👍 because I have MET PEOPLE especially DOCTORS from middle eastern COUNTRIES and THEY are just the same as YOU and ME have a good weekend I love the game of RUGBY LEAGUE in AUSTRALIA the BRISBANE Broncos and the SOUTH SYDNEY Rabbitohs and MELBOURNE Storm and PENRITH Panthers..... wonderful game to play and watch
@zuzanasemkova2809
Hello my friend, we are sharing the same experience. I am originally from Czechoslovakia and I have the same experience like you..
@mandydilley3735
Aye I remember this series as a child in South Africa, and yes, the sudden wave of nostalgia was huge.
@bronwynlangley2041
My dad went and bought six ribbons for my mum after hearing this. Thanks for the memories and beautiful songs Jon. RIP
@kye3849
love valued, matters
@Ecthelion1967
That is true love sir! A gift of the heart is always better than diamonds.