Tilston is the daughter of acclaimed songwriter Steve Tilston and step-daughter of singer Maggie Boyle. She began writing songs at an early age. After attending drama school, she formed Mouse with guitarist Nick Marshall. They released two albums: Helicopter Trees (2000) and Tales (2001), and played many gigs and festivals throughout the UK and Ireland. Martha's solo debut, Rolling, was self-released in 2003, followed by Bimbling in 2004. In 2005 she assembled The Woods, including members of Semble, to record Ropeswing, which was given away as a free download. 2006 saw a full UK tour and the release of Of Milkmaids And Architects, which earned her a nomination for best new act in the BBC Folk Awards.
Her album Lucy And The Wolves was released in April 2010, and she spent the remainder of that year spent playing live, including supporting Beth Nielsen Chapman on her UK dates.
Her album Machines of Love and Grace was released in 2012.
http://www.marthatilston.co.uk
Milkmaid
Martha Tilston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She one of seventeen children on the farm.
Grandpa fought in the war, and his father in the one before,
Three days in no-man's-land, no man ever should...
And when I look at grandpa's hands,
Pick me up and swing me round,
You and I have more than just blood in common.
Will you tell me more about your mum?
She and I have more than just a name in common.
And the cows come in and the cows go out.
Some of the lessons we learn, I could do without.
And the cows go out, and then come in.
And all that ends again must begin.
Yes, all that ends must begin.
All that ends must begin...
I am the daughter of the son of the son of a milkmaid with my name,
She one of seventeen children on the farm.
Grandpa was an engineer, old minstrels and milkmaids here.
Sometimes I feel too many tears.
When I look at grandpa's hands,
Pull the beans out from the land,
You and I have more than just blood in common.
Will you tell me more about your mum?
She was a milkmaid and she was a one,
She and I have more than just a name in common.
And the cows come in and the cows go out.
Some of the lessons I've learned, I could do without.
And the cows go out and then come in.
And all that ends must begin.
All that ends must begin.
All that ends will begin, will begin...
All that ends must begin.
All that ends must begin.
And all that ends must begin. Mm-mm.
The lyrics of the song Milkmaid by Martha Tilston have a strong connection with family ancestry and rural farming. The song portrays the singer's roots and heritage that stem from a long line of milkmaids. The song begins with the singer introducing herself as the daughter of the son of the son of a milkmaid, hence representing three generations of milkmaid ancestry. This is followed by the mention of her grandmother who was one of seventeen children raised on a farm. The lyrics then transition into the grandfather who fought in two wars, and the singer's curiosity about his mother who was also a milkmaid.
The song moves on to depict the memories the singer has of her grandfather's hands, and how he used to swing her around, signifying the close relationship they shared. It also talks about the singer's grandmother being a milkmaid and having more in common than just their name. The cows' coming and going symbolizes the cycle of life and the lessons one learns from it.
Overall, the song Milkmaid tells a story of family heritage, rural farming, and the connection between generations. It is a poignant reminder of how the lives of our ancestors shape our own.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the daughter of the son of the son of a milkmaid with my name,
I am the descendant of a milkmaid who had her name, and her offspring over multiple generations, including my father and grandfather.
She one of seventeen children on the farm.
My milkmaid ancestor was one of seventeen siblings who grew up and worked on a farm.
Grandpa fought in the war, and his father in the one before,
My grandfather and great-grandfather fought in different wars, which left them with memories and experiences they could not forget.
Three days in no-man's-land, no man ever should...
My grandfather spent three days in a deadly, uninhabitable war zone, an experience he and no one should have gone through.
And when I look at grandpa's hands,
Looking at my grandfather's hands reminds me of all the hard work, struggles, and sacrifices he has undergone.
Pick me up and swing me round,
Despite all that, he still has a playful spirit that leads him to pick me up and spin me around.
You and I have more than just blood in common.
Despite the generational differences, my grandfather and I share common experiences and struggles.
Will you tell me more about your mum?
I would like to know more about my grandfather's wife, who also happened to be a milkmaid like my ancestor.
She was a milkmaid and she was a one, and
My grandfather's wife had an independent and one-of-a-kind spirit, just like my milkmaid ancestor.
And the cows come in and the cows go out.
The cows' daily routine is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, and the repetition of daily chores on a farm.
Some of the lessons we learn, I could do without.
Not all of the experiences and lessons we go through in life are enjoyable or welcome.
And the cows go out, and then come in.
The cows' routine is like the cycle of life. Things go out, and they come back in, like the ebb and flow of existence.
And all that ends again must begin.
The end of one cycle marks the beginning of the next, the cyclical nature of existence.
Yes, all that ends must begin.
Life goes on in a cycle where ends automatically lead to new beginnings.
All that ends must begin...
All things are cyclical, and everything that comes to an end must inevitably begin again.
Contributed by Grace E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.