Tabor's earliest public performances were at the Heart of England Folk Club (at the Fox and Vivian pub) in Leamington Spa in the mid 1960s. In the late 1960s an appearance at the Sidmouth Folk Festival led to folk club bookings and she contributed to various records. One of her earliest recordings was in 1972 on an anthology called Stagfolk Live. She also featured on Rosie Hardman's Firebird (1972) and The First Folk Review Record (1974). At the time she was singing purely traditional unaccompanied material but in 1976 she collaborated with Maddy Prior on the Silly Sisters album and tour, with a full band that included Nic Jones. It provided the launching pad that same year (1976) for her first album in her own right, Airs and Graces. She later joined again with Prior, this time using the name Silly Sisters for their duo. Starting in 1977 Martin Simpson joined her in the recording studio for three albums before he moved to America in 1987. (Simpson has returned from America to be a guest guitarist on albums in the 2000s.) After his departure, she started working closely with pianist Huw Warren.
In 1990, Tabor recorded an album with the folk-rock band OysterBand entitled Freedom and Rain. She went on tour with OysterBand, and the Rykodisc label published a limited-run promotional live album the following year. Many of her current fans first discovered her through this tour and album with the OysterBand. In 1992 Elvis Costello wrote "All This Useless Beauty" specifically for Tabor, and she recorded it on Angel Tiger.
Since then her solo albums have included:
A Quiet Eye (1999)
Rosa Mundi (2001)
An Echo of Hooves (2003)
At the Wood's Heart (2005)
Apples (2007)
Ashore (2011)
Ragged Kingdom is a 2011 album by June Tabor & Oysterband.
Since 2006, Tabor has also been working with Huw Warren and Iain Ballamy as Quercus.
Website: www.junetabor.co.uk
Sudden Waves
June Tabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are waves, sudden waves over me
There are days when the way that I want is not to be
And I am lost
There are days, broken days, when the gales we sail have blown
There are waves, sudden waves, over me
And the sea carries me on a course that's not my own
There are storms, sudden storms, when the form of life is lost
There are waves, sudden waves over me
And it's chance, not design, makes the line my life has crossed
And I may drown
There are bays, peaceful bays, in the harbour of your hand
Where the waves, sudden waves, cannot reach
There are days when the ways of your words can make dry land
And I can stay
There are bays, peaceful bays, in the harbour of your hand
Where the waves, sudden waves, cannot reach
There are days when the ways of your words can make dry land
And I can stay
In "Sudden Waves," June Tabor reflects on the unpredictability of life and the overwhelming nature of certain moments. She compares these moments to sudden waves that break over her and leave her lost and alone. The lyrics are open to interpretation but it's possible that the "waves" represent challenges, grief, or a feeling of being carried away by circumstances beyond our control.
The steady guitar comping gives the song a feeling of calmness despite the turmoil of the lyrics. The chorus offers some hope in the form of a safe harbor where the waves cannot reach, where the words of a loved one can provide stability and grounding. It's a simple but powerful message about the importance of human connection and support in tough times.
Fact #1: "Sudden Waves" was written by singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine, who has written songs for artists like Eddi Reader and Melrose Quartet.
Fact #2: June Tabor's version of the song appears on her 2005 album "At the Wood's Heart."
Fact #3: The album was produced by Huw Warren, who also plays piano on the track.
Fact #4: "At the Wood's Heart" was Tabor's first release in six years and was well-received by critics.
Fact #5: Tabor is known for her interpretations of traditional folk songs, but this album consisted primarily of original material.
Fact #6: Tabor has won multiple awards for her contributions to folk music, including the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Fact #7: "Sudden Waves" has been covered by other artists, including Karine Polwart and Heidi Talbot.
Fact #8: The song has been described as a "soothing balm" and an ode to resilience in the face of adversity.
Fact #9: The melody of the song is simple but effective, with a descending chord progression that adds to the feeling of being pulled under by the waves.
Fact #10: The repeated refrain of "there are waves, sudden waves over me" creates a haunting sense of inevitability that adds to the emotional impact of the song.
Chords: (Capo on 3rd fret)
Verse: Am - F - C - G
Chorus: F - C - G - F - C - G - Am
Line by Line Meaning
The waves, there are waves, sudden waves break over me
Sometimes unexpected and challenging situations suddenly arise and affect me deeply.
There are days when the way that I want is not to be
And I am lost
Sometimes I feel lost and directionless when things don't go as I had planned or hoped.
There are days, broken days, when the gales we sail have blown
And the sea carries me on a course that's not my own
And I'm alone
Sometimes external circumstances beyond my control push me in a direction I never intended to go, leaving me feeling isolated.
There are storms, sudden storms, when the form of life is lost
And it's chance, not design, makes the line my life has crossed
And I may drown
Sometimes life throws me unexpected and difficult challenges that leave me feeling vulnerable and uncertain about my future.
There are bays, peaceful bays, in the harbour of your hand
Where the waves, sudden waves, cannot reach
There are days when the ways of your words can make dry land
And I can stay
At times, the support and reassuring words of a loved one can offer me comfort and a sense of stability, even during difficult times.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.