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
Some Tyrant
Kate Rusby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And here in old England I can no longer stay
I'll cross the wide ocean, ne'er on my bed rest
In search of my true love that I love the best.
When that I've found out my joy and my delight
I will welcome her kindly by day and by night.
Here's a health to all others that are loyal and just
And here's confusion to the rivals that lives in distrust.
There's Venus and Volum they are both joined as one,
So keep yourselves single as you and I have done,
So keep yourselves single and constant I'll retire
Unto her like some Venus that flourishes like fire.
The bugle shall speak and the serpent shall sing
There'll be instruments of music for to make the valleys ring.
Oh the huntsman he'll holler and the hounds make their noise
For to fill my love's heart with ten thousand bright joys.
Repeat first verse
I know not where I'll find the one I love the best
The song "Some Tyrant" by Kate Rusby is a story about a man whose true love was taken away by a tyrant. He cannot stay in England and decides to cross the ocean in search of his love. He promises to welcome her kindly and to toast to all others who are loyal and just, while wishing confusion upon those who are not. The man then speaks of Venus and Volum, who are joined as one and advises others to stay single like he has done. He then talks about the bugle sounding, the serpent singing and instruments of music making the valleys ring to fill his love's heart with ten thousand joys. Finally, the man repeats the first verse, expressing his determination in finding his true love.
The lyrics of "Some Tyrant" are a beautiful and captivating story, painting the picture of a man on a journey to find his true love. It is a song about perseverance and the power of love. It emphasizes the importance of loyalty and honesty, while warning against distrust and those who wish harm upon others. It also acknowledges the beauty of music and how it has the ability to fill one's heart with joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Some tyrant has stolen my true love away
My true love has been taken away by a cruel ruler
And here in old England I can no longer stay
I cannot stay in England anymore since my true love is gone
I'll cross the wide ocean, ne'er on my bed rest
I will travel across the sea without a moment of rest
In search of my true love that I love the best.
I am looking for my beloved whom I love the most
When that I've found out my joy and my delight
When I finally find my love, I will be overjoyed
I will welcome her kindly by day and by night.
I will show love and kindness to my beloved at all times
Here's a health to all others that are loyal and just
I raise a toast to those who are trustworthy and fair
And here's confusion to the rivals that lives in distrust.
May confusion befall those who live in suspicion and enmity
There's Venus and Volum they are both joined as one,
Venus and Volnus are united as a couple
So keep yourselves single as you and I have done,
We should remain single like we have chosen to do
So keep yourselves single and constant I'll retire
I will retire to continue being single and steadfast
Unto her like some Venus that flourishes like fire.
I will love her passionately like Venus, the goddess of love
The bugle shall speak and the serpent shall sing
There will be music and fanfare to celebrate our love
There'll be instruments of music for to make the valleys ring.
Music will fill the valleys to mark our happiness
Oh the huntsman he'll holler and the hounds make their noise
Even the excitement of a hunt will not compare to my love's joy
For to fill my love's heart with ten thousand bright joys.
I want to bring immense happiness to my beloved's heart
Repeat first verse
I repeat the first verse about my lost love
I know not where I'll find the one I love the best
I am uncertain about where I will find my beloved
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eddie Saripo
What a clever Barnsley girl she is. I saw her at the Halifax gig and was quite emotional after doing all my homework and buying the Leeds DVD and the new album. Then actually seeing her walk on stage was very special. and I had frog in my throat, I was enjoying every second of what she was doing. a joy to be a part of her gig.
Trung Dang
Her voice represents the whole United Kingdom's fairness!
JamesStuart Brice
a beautiful song. I often listen to her songs simply for the beautiful melody, vocals,the backup and mood, without really hearing the text. A really great song.
adam wiggins
Love her music. Many times I've caught myself screenshotting my Pandora app when a song of hers comes on and I'm like I need to listen to that again later!
Hiopee NiLa
This is such a great song, with a tremendous and anytime living lyrics. People, who say they do not listen to the words she is singing, do so!!! And think about what you feel when you understand what she is singing!!
oldfriendjohn1
Absolutely beautiful
Ted Zeppelin
A very pure voice, puts me in mind of Anne Briggs
JamesStuart Brice
like all her other songs she has such beautiful melodies and accompaniments. Such a great mood and feeling!!!
Christopher Sparkes
Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Repeat, repeat, repeat ...
Anonymous Person
😍😍😢😢❤️💕