Kate Rusby (born 4 December 1973 in Barnsley; currently based in Penistone,… Read Full Bio ↴Kate Rusby (born 4 December 1973 in Barnsley; currently based in Penistone, Yorkshire) is an English folksinger and one of the most popular folk singers of traditional English folk songs. She was at the centre of the folk revival in the 1990s which occurred with the coming of age of the children of those who were part of the 60s folk revival. In 2001 The Guardian described her as "a superstar of the British acoustic scene". In 2007 the BBC website described her as "The first lady of young folkies". She is one of the few folk singers to have been nominated for the Mercury Prize.
After learning to play the guitar, the fiddle, and the piano, as well as to sing, Rusby played at many local folk festivals as a child and adolescent. She came to wider attention through her duets with her friend and fellow Barnsley folk singer Kathryn Roberts on the 1995 album Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts.
At about this time she joined, and became the lead vocalist of, the all-female Celtic folk band The Poozies. This led to her becoming a founding member of the group Equation, which included Kathryn Roberts and Seth Lakeman. Rusby left Equation (being replaced by Cara Dillon) to follow a more traditional direction and, in 1997, released her debut solo album Hourglass produced by Scottish fiddler John McCusker (to whom Rusby was married for some time).
In 1999 Rusby recorded Sleepless which earned her a Mercury Music Prize nomination and the BBC Folk Award for Best Album and Best Folk Singer.
Rusby continues to release albums mixing traditional and self-penned songs on her own Pure Records, winning fans as diverse as Graham Coxon (who provided the illustration for her album The Girl Who Couldn't Fly) and collaborator Ronan Keating.
2008 saw the release of Sweet Bells, an album of traditional Christmas songs interpreted by Rusby.
In 2010, Rusby released the album Make the Light, a collection of self-penned songs, and in 2011 issued a second collection of Christmas songs titled While Mortals Sleep.
www.katerusby.com
After learning to play the guitar, the fiddle, and the piano, as well as to sing, Rusby played at many local folk festivals as a child and adolescent. She came to wider attention through her duets with her friend and fellow Barnsley folk singer Kathryn Roberts on the 1995 album Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts.
At about this time she joined, and became the lead vocalist of, the all-female Celtic folk band The Poozies. This led to her becoming a founding member of the group Equation, which included Kathryn Roberts and Seth Lakeman. Rusby left Equation (being replaced by Cara Dillon) to follow a more traditional direction and, in 1997, released her debut solo album Hourglass produced by Scottish fiddler John McCusker (to whom Rusby was married for some time).
In 1999 Rusby recorded Sleepless which earned her a Mercury Music Prize nomination and the BBC Folk Award for Best Album and Best Folk Singer.
Rusby continues to release albums mixing traditional and self-penned songs on her own Pure Records, winning fans as diverse as Graham Coxon (who provided the illustration for her album The Girl Who Couldn't Fly) and collaborator Ronan Keating.
2008 saw the release of Sweet Bells, an album of traditional Christmas songs interpreted by Rusby.
In 2010, Rusby released the album Make the Light, a collection of self-penned songs, and in 2011 issued a second collection of Christmas songs titled While Mortals Sleep.
www.katerusby.com
Big Brave Bill
Kate Rusby Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Kate Rusby:
A Ballad Take the robe from off thy form, And cease thine hair…
A Rose in April "Oh can I go to my love's side Oh let me…
All God's Angels Will you marry me sir Oh tether me down For I am…
Andrew Lammie At Fyvie's gate there grows a flower It grows both broad…
Annan Waters Oh, Annan Water's wonderous deep And my love Ann is wondrous…
As I Roved Out As I roved out one fine May morning, To view the…
Awake Arise Good Christians Awake, arise good Christians, let nothing you dismay, For u…
Awkward Annie I gave to you a hen, You gave it back again, Without…
Benjamin Bowmaneer Have you heard how the wars began, Benjamin Bowmaneer? Have …
Blooming Heather Oh the summertime is coming And the trees are sweetly bloomi…
Bold Riley Oh the rain it rains all day long, Bold Riley-o, Bold…
Bonnie House of Airlie It fell on a day, a bonnie, bonnie day When the…
Botany Bay Farewell to old England forever Farewell to me sweetheart as…
Bring Me a Boat Bring me a boat to cross to my dear, I stand…
Caanan's Land To Canaan's land I'm on my way Where the soul of…
Candlemas Eve Down with the rosemary and bay, Down with the mistletoe, I…
Cowsong There was a farm on yonder hill, up where the…
Cruel Cruel were my parents, To tear my love from me, Cruel…
Daughter Of Heaven Daughter of heaven Oh, daughter of now Drifting away and do…
Dilly Carol Come and I will sing you. Green grow the rushes, oh I…
Drowned Lovers Willie sits in his stable door, and he's combing his…
Elfin Knight The Elfin Knight stands on yon hill He blows his horn…
Falling Ya hear me shout when no one's about, You find me…
Fare Thee Well Hold on steady and strong, Here's the dawn coming on won't…
Farewell One dark and stormy winters night The snow lay on the…
Game of All Fours As I was walking one midsummer's morning, To hear the birds…
Gulf Coast Highway Gulf coast highway, he worked the rails He worked the rice…
Hail Chime On While shepherds watched, Their flocks by night, All seated…
Hark The Herald Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King, P…
Here We Come A-Wassailing Here we come a-Wassailing Among the leaves so green, Here …
High on a Hill High on a hill there's a sweet bird calling, All come…
Hundred Hearts If I had a hundred hearts Never would one stray from…
Hunter Moon Softly the morning light, Softly the dew, Softly my soul wil…
I Am Stretched on Your Grave I am stretched on your grave And I'll lie here forever. If…
I Courted a Sailor I courted a sailor for six months and many, I courted…
I Wish A bold young farmer courted me He gained my heart and…
I Wonder What Is Keeping My True Love I wonder what is keeping my true love this night I…
I'll Be Wise There, I see him, I swore I′d walk on by…
John Barbury There was a lady fine and gay, She looked so neat…
Let Me Be They say a girl like me should wed, And take a…
Let The Bells Ring Christmas is past now And the year is in its decline We…
Let the Cold Wind Blow Oh dear me what do mine eyes see James Renald…
Life in a Paper Boat A boat made of paper, it set sail with me And…
Little Jack Frost Here is a tale of the trees in a wood They…
Manic Monday Six o′clock already I was just in the middle of a…
Mary Blaize Good people all with one accord, Lament for Mary Blaize, She…
Matt Hyland There was a lord, lived in this town Who had a…
Merry Green Broom A wager with you my pretty fair maid Five hundred pounds…
Mocking Bird I can see that mocking bird For years he has followed Now…
Moon Shadow If the clouds would only clear, It won't be long…
My Young Man My young man wears a frown With his eyes all closed…
Night Lament I come to the O'Earth With thy gifts for every flower Gem…
Night Visiting Song I must away love, no longer tarry, This roaring tempest I…
No Names Take my hand my dear We know that the time it…
Old Man Time Old Man Time is a rare old man For a young…
Only Desire What You Have I was not born a queen or king I have no…
Our Town And ya know the sun's settin' fast And just like…
Over You Now Although I once feared I'd be lonely Although I once…
Planets I can see, The planets are aligning for me, But I cannot…
Playing of Ball It happened one evening At the playing of ball When first …
Polly Polly, she is fine, and she's kind, She's fallen for a…
Poor Old Horse We've got a poor old horse, He's standing at your door, An…
Radio Sweethearts One night, a long time ago Two lovers danced to an…
Santa Never Brings Me A Banjo Santa never brings me a banjo And I can never understand…
Serving Girl's Holiday I've waited longing for today, Spindle, bobbin and spool aw…
Sho Heen Sho heen sho lo, lu la lo, lu la lo Sho…
Sir Eglamore Sir Eglamore was a valiant knight, fa la lanky down dilly, …
Some Tyrant Some tyrant has stolen my true love away And here in…
Streams of Nancy O the Streams Of rovin' Nancy divide in three parts Where…
Sun Grazers Slow stargazing, light is blazing this will be forever mine …
Sweet Bells Kate Rusby Sweet Bells While shepherds watched, Their f…
Sweet Bride A lady was walking on a midsummer's day The birds they…
Sweet William's Ghost There came a ghost to Margaret's door With many a greivous…
The Blind Harper Have you heard of the blind harper, Now he lived in…
The Cobbler's Daughter I am a cobbler's daughter I'm thought of rude and mean But…
The Cobblers Daughter I am a cobbler's daughter I'm thought of rude and mean But…
The Collier Recruit "What's the matter with you, me lass, and where's your…
The Daughter of Megan The daughter of Megan, so lovely and blooming, I met in…
The Duke and the Tinker As fame reports a young duke kept a court He pleased…
The Fairest of All Yarrow Billy's fair and Billy's rare And Billy's wondrous bonny And…
The Goodman The good man he came home one night The good man,…
The Holly and the Ivy The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of…
The Lark Out in the field where the lark it flies Over the…
The Maid Of Llanwellyn No sheep on the mountain nor boat on the lake No…
The Miner's Dream Of Home "It's ten weary years since I left England's shore, For a…
The Old Man There was an old man who lived in a wood As…
The Recruited Collier "What's the matter with you, me lass, and where's your…
The Sleepless Sailor I once was a sailor, a young man and brave Da…
The Sleepless Sailor / I once was a sailor, a young man and brave Da…
The Unquiet Grave How pleasant is the wind tonight I feel some drops of…
The Village Green Preservation Society We are the Village Green Preservation Society God save Donal…
The White Cockade One day as I was walking all o'er yon fields…
The Wild Goose Did you ever see the wild goose sailing on the…
The Witch of the Westmorland Pale was the wounded knight, that bore the Roman shield, And…
Underneath The Stars Underneath the stars I'll meet you Underneath the stars I'll…
Unquiet Grave How pleasant is the wind tonight I feel some drops of…
Village Green Preservation Society We are the Village Green Preservation Society God save Donal…
Wandering Soul Winter comes around, And he knows he is homeward bound, His …
Who Will Sing Me Lullabies Lay me down gently, lay me down low, I fear I…
Who Will Sing Me Lullabies? Grab now this BONUS ringtone! Print Correct Lay me down g…
Wild Goose Did you ever see the wild goose sailing on the…
William and Davy William and Davy were born in one hall They grew side…
Withered and Died This cruel country has driven me down Teased me and lied,…
You Belong to Me See the pyramids along the Nile See the sunrise from a…
Young James Young James he has gone to the sea, And he promised…
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Chris Amos
In light of Orgreave..? "Tom and his mates stood on the picket line,
Things turning uglier all of the time.
Long sticks and short shields and snatch squads and dogs.
The miners stand firm, but they don't like the odds.
But here's Bill - Bill like a battering ram.
Here comes Bill - Thatcher, she upped stumps and ran.
Big Brave Bill - from Barnsley he came.
Big Brave Bill - from the mine.
Big Brave Bill - we'll remember his name.
And we'll have our public enquiry in time!"
SKANDRAL
how can you dislike this amazing song??? Crazy!
liz :D
I love that one of disasters includes weak tea, and uht milk. Kates version of santa never brings me a banjo is heart breaking good. X
Bbbandit 2000
Love it!! Heard you guys on the folk show whilst travelling across Yorkshire to look after kids who have been seriously let down and abandoned by every facet of society!!.. as an original Barnsley lass, you guys have done me so very proud!! So thanks very much! Big brave Bill amongst so many pertinent songs moved me to my very Barnsley foundations.... 😘😝😃
James Hughes
Love it
Slackie G
Heard you on the radio a few weeks back and I've been hooked on your stuff since! Magical!
Tricia Pavey
Love this song, the story, tune, vocals and illustrations, fantastic. Gonna recommend it! Time for a cuppa!
Holly Mayfield
Absolutely love your BBB songs and videos, Kate, and have shared them with friends and young folks many times. Thank you for sharing your gift of song with all of us. Just love you and listen to you all the time.
Bluebuthappy182
This song just makes me smile.
David Middleton
Wonderful! Thanks for a great concert on Sunday in Belfast
Aislinn Browne
pure class. I'm beginning to take a shine to this lass's music