1) Magna Carta… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Magna Carta was a British progressive folk-rock group originally formed in London in April 1969.
2) Magna Carta was a Greek progressive metal band that released just one album in 1990.
3) Magna Carta was an American post-punk band from Saskatoon SK.
1) Magna Carta was a British progressive folk-rock group originally formed in London in April 1969 by Chris Simpson (guitar, vocals), Lyell Tranter (guitar, vocals) and Glen Stuart (vocals). Their first concert was on 10 May 1969. They played their final farewell concert on 25 January 2020.
The band were renowned for their gentle ballad style and mythical subject matter. Although never purely a folk band, they managed to successfully bridge the gap between folk and folk rock. The trio released albums for Fontana Records and Vertigo Records, enjoying particular success with 1970s Seasons before Tranter returned to Australia. Davey Johnstone joined the line-up as his replacement, recording Songs From Wasties Orchard and In Concert with the band before leaving to work with Elton John.
Simpson and Stuart were then joined by Stan Gordon recording and releasing the much-lauded Lord Of The Ages (texts from this album and Seasons were used as part of the English syllabus in several European countries). Graham Smith who had played on the sessions for Lord Of The Ages, was also added to the line-up but shortly afterwards both he and Gordon left.
There followed a period of much change and upheaval as Simpson and Stuart added a new rhythm section, but Glen Stuart did not feel comfortable with the new direction. This short-lived set-up soon gave way to Simpson and Stuart being joined by Tommy Hoy (ex-Natural Acoustic Band), before Stuart left to run a pet shop in Richmond, Surrey.
Nigel Smith joined in time to help record 1976's Putting It Back Together. In 1977 Hoy's former bandmate in the Natural Acoustic Band, Robin Thyne joined the band, along with Lee Abbott. Soon afterwards, Pick Withers was added. Withers stayed only briefly, leaving to join Dire Straits. Amid much acrimony Thyne and Hoy left in 1979 to form Nova Karta. Tom McConville appeared on the Live In Bergen release, before the line-up changed again to include Al Fenn and George Norris.
Between 1980 and 1982, Doug Morter was added to the line-up, together with a variety of drummers, including Paul Burgess. The 1981 release, Midnight Blue, contained "Highway To Spain", a popular track on radio station playlists around the world. Norris, Burgess and Morter all left, the latter moving on to the Albion Band.
Chris Simpson's solo release, Listen To The Man, came out during this period and featured backing from Abbott, Linda Taylor and Willie Jackson. Between 1984 and 1986, Simpson and Taylor went to the Middle East to run a music club, before returning home to re-form Magna Carta. By 1986 the extremely fluid line-up now included, in addition to Simpson, Taylor and Abbott, Gwyn Jones, John Carey , Paul Burgess, and Simon Carlton. In 1988, One To One was released on the Tembo label, Jones left the band the same year.
In 1990, Simpson and Taylor married, and, with the semi-retirement of Lee Abbott, they continued to play as Magna Carta as a duo, as well as with a larger line-up for extensive touring.
The 1992 Dutch release, Heartlands, was followed by a sell-out tour of the Netherlands. The duo continued to maintain a busy live schedule. Several live albums appeared over the course of the decade.
In 2001, Seasons In The Tide was released on the Gold Circle label.
In early 2011, Midnight Blue was released in a double album package with the live album Live & Let Live
The final album, "The Fields of Eden", was released in 2015.
They played their final farewell concert on 25 January 2020.
2) Magna Carta was a Greek progressive metal band that released just one album in 1990. Marked with a sound not too dissimilar to bands such as Fates Warning or Magellan.
3) Magna Carta was an American post-punk band from Saskatoon SK.
Line-up was Ethan Mierau (Vocals), Justin Cyr (Guitar), Nicole Sanderson (Bass), Travis Becker (Drums). Their debut album was Crisis & Debt
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Jonah
Magna Carta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A glass of booze and a clutch of songs, let him in he'll string you along for a while
Put your heart on the line
Jonah was born an a working farm, a child of the winter sun
A gypsy eye for the open road and a woman's love never owed or bought
Never lost or won
Oh tomorrow, Jonah smile wide as the July sun your
Heart is warm and your hands have won you friends, but your
Dreams are as cold as ice, Jonah my old friend
When the wind comes through November and the nights are crackling cold he'll
Hang out in the bar room with the blues if you've got a mind to listen then he'll
Tell you how it is, for making it is just around the corner
Jonah's been faking it all his days, playing a part time game
He ain't looking to sink or swim and he don't mind if he lose or win, it's all the same,
Playing a part time game
Oh tomorrow, it's a fools paradise
Oh tomorrow, Jonah smile wide as the July sun your
Heart is warm and your hands have won you friends
Jonah my old friend
The song Jonah by Magna Carta tells the story of a man named Jonah who possesses a talent for playing the guitar and singing, but who also has a carefree and reckless attitude towards life. The first verse describes Jonah's character, highlighting his charming persona and his ability to lure people with his music and lyrics. The line "put your heart on the line" can be interpreted as a warning to those who fall under Jonah's spell, as he may not always have their best interests at heart.
The second verse provides more insight into Jonah's upbringing and personality. He was born on a farm and has a wanderlust that has led him down various paths in life. He has had many lovers, but he does not seem to prioritize them over his own desires. The line "never lost or won" suggests that Jonah may not have a clear idea of what he wants in life and is content to go with the flow.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the theme of illusion and how tomorrow is unpredictable. Jonah's optimistic outlook on life may not always lead him to where he wants to go, but he still maintains a positive attitude. The last verse touches on Jonah's tendency to "fake it" and not take life too seriously. He is not concerned with success or failure and plays the game of life at his own pace.
Overall, the song Jonah provides a glimpse into the life of a carefree musician who is content with living in the moment and taking life as it comes.
Line by Line Meaning
Jonah got a talent and an old guitar and a smiling sweet beguile
Jonah possesses a unique set of skills and an old guitar that he beautifully strums, those create the sweetest music to beguile anyone who gets a moment of his time.
A glass of booze and a clutch of songs, let him in he'll string you along for a while
Once Jonah has a glass of booze in his hand and a clutch of songs in his head, he'll lure you in with beautiful melodies and keep you hanging on for the magic in his strings for a while.
Put your heart on the line
Jonah isn't afraid to show his emotions and he encourages you to do the same as he serenades you with his heart-melting guitar.
Jonah was born an a working farm, a child of the winter sun
Jonah's humble beginnings were in a working farm, but he was no ordinary son; his unique character shone through, even in the winter sun.
A gypsy eye for the open road and a woman's love never owed or bought
Born with a gypsy soul, Jonah's heart yearns for the open road, and he cherishes every bit of love he receives, believing it's never owed or bought.
Never lost or won
Whether it's winning or losing, Jonah doesn't take it too hard; he knows that life is a cycle and what goes around comes around, never leaving him lost or won.
Oh tomorrow, it's a fools paradise
Jonah knows that tomorrow's uncertainties tend to be quite elusive, and too much hope in them can be a fool's paradise.
Oh tomorrow, Jonah smile wide as the July sun your
Although, tomorrow's uncertainties can weigh heavily on others, Jonah carries on with the spirit of the July sun, smiling as wide as ever.
Heart is warm and your hands have won you friends, but your
Jonah loves the warmth of the heart; it has brought him more friends than he can ever count, but the uncertainty of the future makes him wary.
Dreams are as cold as ice, Jonah my old friend
While Jonah's heart is open to all, his dreams remain as cold as ice; something he wishes he could change.
When the wind comes through November and the nights are crackling cold he'll
During the coldest months of November, when the wind is howling and the nights are frosty, Jonah will seek warmth and solace in the nearest barroom where he can play his guitar and sing the blues.
Hang out in the bar room with the blues if you've got a mind to listen then he'll
If you find yourself in the barroom listening to the blues, Jonah will take you on a soulful journey with his mesmerizing tunes, transporting you to another realm.
Tell you how it is, for making it is just around the corner
As he plays his heart out, Jonah will share his wisdom on how to make it in life, forever the optimist, he believes that success is just around the corner waiting for those with a steadfast spirit.
Jonah's been faking it all his days, playing a part-time game
Despite his unique talents and gypsy soul, Jonah has been going through life without a clear sense of purpose, been playing a part-time game to cope.
He ain't looking to sink or swim and he don't mind if he lose or win, it's all the same, playing a part-time game
Jonah is not keen on the idea of being either a loser or a winner; his part-time game soothes his soul, and he's happy to go wherever life takes him.
Jonah my old friend
Despite his quirks, idiosyncrasies, and uneventful life, Jonah's friends continue to cherish and adore him just the way he is.
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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