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
The Maid Of Llanwellyn
Kate Rusby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No coin in my coffer to keep me awake
Nor corn in my garner, nor fruit on my tree,
Yet the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
No sheep on the mountain nor goats,
No horses to offer nor boats,
Only hens I have by me,
Yet the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
Rich Owen will tell you, with eyes full of scorn,
Threadbare is my coat and my hosen are torn.
Scoff on, my rich Owen,
For faint is thy glee
When the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
CHORUS
The farmer rides proudly to market and fair
Whilst the clerk at the ale house still claims the great chair,
But of all our proud fellows, oh the proudest I'll be,
When the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
CHORUS
The Maid of Llanwellyn is a song by Kate Rusby, which tells a tale of a poor shepherd who is smitten with the beautiful Maid of Llanwellyn. Although the shepherd barely has enough to get by, he is content in his simplicity because he has the love of the maid. The first verse sets the scene for the shepherd's humble life, as he has no sheep on the mountain, no boat on the lake, no coin in his coffer, and no corn in his garner. However, despite his lack of material wealth, he is uplifted by the thought of the Maid of Llanwellyn smiling sweetly upon him.
The second verse is a direct response to Rich Owen, who scoffs at the poor shepherd's meager possessions. The shepherd is unbothered by Owen's disdain, as he knows that Owen cannot match the joy that he feels when the Maid of Llanwellyn looks upon him with affection. The chorus serves as a statement of the shepherd's desires, as he wishes to be the proudest person in the land simply because he has won the heart of the Maid of Llanwellyn.
Overall, The Maid of Llanwellyn is a romantic ballad that celebrates love over material possessions. The song reminds us that true happiness can be found in the simplest of things and that love is the most valuable treasure of all.
Line by Line Meaning
No sheep on the mountain nor boat on the lake
I have no possessions to offer, no cattle nor vessels to transport them, only the bare necessities.
No coin in my coffer to keep me awake
There is no money in my wallet, keeping me up at night with worry and anxiousness.
Nor corn in my garner, nor fruit on my tree,
I have no stored grains of wheat or fruit hanging from my trees, nothing to give me sustenance.
Yet the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
Despite my possessions being few, the Maid of Llanwellyn still shows me kindness with her sweet smile.
Rich Owen will tell you, with eyes full of scorn,
My lack of wealth and possessions causes ridicule from the wealthy and privileged, like Rich Owen.
Threadbare is my coat and my hosen are torn.
My clothes are worn and tattered from use and lack of funds to replace them.
Scoff on, my rich Owen,
Despite the mockery from Rich Owen, I will hold my head high and remain true to myself.
For faint is thy glee
The satisfaction and joy that Rich Owen claims to have from his wealth is temporary and fleeting.
When the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
The kindness and love shown to me by the Maid of Llanwellyn is worth more than any wealth or possessions.
The farmer rides proudly to market and fair
The wealthy farmer goes out to sell his goods with pride and confidence.
Whilst the clerk at the ale house still claims the great chair,
Meanwhile, the lowly clerk at the ale house sits in the most important seat, enjoying a sip of ale and feeling his power.
But of all our proud fellows, oh the proudest I'll be,
Despite the pride shown by others, I will be the proudest when the Maid of Llanwellyn shows me her affection and kindness.
When the Maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
The simple joy and comfort of the Maid of Llanwellyn's smile surpasses all prestige and wealth.
CHORUS
Refrain of the song.
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bas Shardmind
The Maid of Llanwellyn
Joanna Baillie (1762–1851)
I ’VE no sheep on the mountain, nor boat on the lake,
Nor coin in my coffer to keep me awake,
Nor corn in my garner, nor fruit on my tree,—
Yet the maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
Soft tapping, at eve, to her window I came, 5
And loud bayed the watch-dog, loud scolded the dame;
For shame, silly Lightfoot; what is it to thee,
Though the maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me?
Rich Owen will tell you, with eyes full of scorn,
Threadbare is my coat, and my hosen are torn: 10
Scoff on, my rich Owen, for faint is thy glee
When the maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
The farmer rides proudly to market or fair;
The clerk, at the alehouse, still claims the great chair;
But of all our proud fellows, the proudest I ’ll be, 15
While the maid of Llanwellyn smiles sweetly on me.
For blithe as the urchin at holiday play,
And meek as the matron in mantle of gray,
And trim as the lady of gentle degree,
Is the maid of Llanwellyn who smiles upon me.
Bob Leslie
How to pronounce "LL" in Welsh: it's like two sounds glued together.
The first part is like saying (lightly - don't force it!) the "CH" of "Bach" or Scottish "Loch" but pronounced further forward in your mouth with your tongue touching your palate just above your teeth.
For the second part you say a normal "L" sound. You run these two sounds into each other.
So, this would be pronounced Chlahnwechllin (but remember, it's a "lighter" ch than the Scottish one, and pronounced in the mouth not the throat).
Non-Celts will probably make a hash of this and say Klanweklin - close, but no coconut! Kate just about gets the "Llan" part right, but sings an English "well" in the second part. She does sing it beautifully though (even if mispronounced).
JamesStuart Brice
One thing I love about Kate Rusby is that she does so much without the drama and dazzle of Celtic Woman or similar recordings and shows. Deceptively simple but always moving. I can listen to her for hours on end. Beautiful, wistful, sensitive, beautiful background accompaniment. A wonderfully haunting atmosphere.
malcolm mee
Well said, beautiful songs sung with a natural beautiful voice.
Peter Maddison
I have been fortunate to see Kate and Celtic Woman several times and enjoy them both.
Benedict Wesson
I read this as someone stating that regardless of how worthless they see themselves, the smile of the Maid of Llanwellyn reminds them that they're still worth something and have something to live for.
Mike R
Lovely song, but . . . I can count 9 or so of her best songs. With her it is often whatever song of hers you are listening to at the moment is her best.
PaddyB PaddyB
It's been taken down now, but her & Kate Catrell back stage at CFF was quite OK
Ronald Strange
Just love Kate's wonderful voice and her diction. Keep singing Kate. January, 2023.
Ralph Gaskin
So beautiful, I just can't stop listening to it.
Sophie Schönfeld
The pictures of the Lady of Shallot tore my heart in pieces...I love the poem..
Sameoldfitup
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."