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
What Will We Do?
June Tabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
I will walk through the town for a hungry crown
And we'll yodel it over again
What will we do if we marry a tinker?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
I will sell a tin can and walk on with me man
What will we do if we marry a soldier?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
All me handle is gone and I will fight for the fun
And we'll yodel it over again
What will we do if we have a young daughter?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
I will take her in hand and we'll walk on with me man
And we'll yodel it over again
What will we do if we have no money?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
I will walk through the town for a hungry crown
And we'll yodel it over again
The lyrics of June Tabor's song, What Will We Do?, speak to the challenges and uncertainties faced by true lovers as they navigate the harsh realities of life. The repeated refrain, "And we'll yodel it over again," adds a sense of determination and resilience, suggesting that no matter what obstacles come their way, these lovers will find a way to carry on.
The first verse poses the question of what will happen if they have no money, a common concern for many couples. The response is that they will walk through the town looking for work or sustenance, all while continuing to yodel, or sing out their love and commitment to each other.
The following verses present different scenarios, such as marrying a tinker or a soldier, and having a young daughter. In each case, the lovers acknowledge the potential difficulties, but affirm their willingness to support each other through whatever challenges may arise.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of partnership and resilience in the face of adversity, highlighting the power of love to sustain and inspire even in the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
What will we do if we have no money?
In the event that we have no money, what actions should we take?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
O beloved pair, what are our possible choices?
I will walk through the town for a hungry crown
I will wander the streets to seek sustenance from passersby
And we'll yodel it over again
And after obtaining what we need, we will celebrate with lively singing
What will we do if we marry a tinker?
Suppose we wed a wandering tinsmith, then what?
I will sell a tin can and walk on with me man
I will peddle wares and travel alongside my partner
What will we do if we marry a soldier?
In the instance of marrying a military man, what course of action should we be prepared for?
All me handle is gone and I will fight for the fun
All I possess has been taken but I will still take up arms for amusement
What will we do if we have a young daughter?
What actions should be taken if we were to have a young girl?
I will take her in hand and we'll walk on with me man
I will guide her through life's journey alongside my partner
And we'll yodel it over again
And at every triumph or accomplishment, we will joyously sing together once more
What will we do if we have no money?
At times of financial hardship, what solutions can we come up with?
Oh true lovers, what will we do then?
O dear sweethearts, what plans can we make together to remedy our situation?
I will walk through the town for a hungry crown
I will pursue charity among the townspeople to ease our hunger
And we'll yodel it over again
And having succeeded, we shall feel overjoyed and sing in jubilation
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
P OR
I love this. She's a brilliant singer and this is a fabulous song.
Circumpunk
Interesting visuals. Wonderful song.
Travis Roth
This is wonderful! listen England! you scarcely know the beauty of the realm!
vanu49again
Tks for your comment. Glad you like it. Have a nice day. Vanu.
Fred Fat
definitive version - costello fucks it up
DANIEL BRADY
I know he wrote it specifically for her. I'm up on my Costello and June Tabor. I didn't argue that she or he recorded it first. Only that in my opinion he make a much better job of it than she does. With the emphasis on the word personal. I do appreciate June Tabor. I have much of her music as well as Costello's and therefore Declan would approve. It still doesn't change my opinion that I can criticise where I believe criticism is due as I have done many times in the past on Costello himself. He to my mind does a much better and more heartfelt version of a great song.
Usted Mismamente
Two facts: Actually, Elvis Costello wrote this song for June Tabor to sing it. Specifically for her. So she recorded it first. Also, Costello said: "If you can't appreciate June Tabor, you should just stop listening to music"
DANIEL BRADY
Costello puts more passion into it. Sings it as it should be sung. Tabor makes it sound like something from a West End show. Great Costello song but as much as Like June Tabor she makes an arse of this.