He was born in Hatfield and grew up in Hampstead, London. After training as an actor he sang in coffee bars. He became a resident at the Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. He joined Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961. He is a renowned solo performer of traditional songs in a very distinctive style, accompanying himself on his trusty old Martin Guitar; his style is marked by the use of alternate tunings, and a strongly percussive picking style that emphasizes the melody. His debut album, Martin Carthy, was released in 1965, and also featured Dave Swarbrick playing fiddle on some tracks, although he was not mentioned in the album's sleeve notes.
He has also been involved with many musical collaborations. He has sung with The Watersons since 1972, was an early member of the UK folk rock group Steeleye Span, and was part of the innovative Brass Monkey ensemble, which mixed a range of brass instruments with Carthy's guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick's accordion, melodeon and concertina.
For many years Carthy has enjoyed a creative partnership with fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. More recently, Waterson:Carthy has provided the forum for a successful partnership with partner Norma Waterson together with their daughter Eliza Carthy.
In June 1998 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002, and again in 2005 when he also won the award for Best Traditional Track for 'Famous Flower of Serving Men'.
Eggs in Her Basket
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With their pockets a-being both lined with gold.
As they went a-walking and civilly talking,
Oh some fair pretty damsel they do behold.
Oh one of those young men
"Should I chance for to carry your basket?"
"Oh there's eggs in the basket oh do take care.
At the Half-way House you'll find me later there."
These two young men oh they start out boldly
Until they come to the Half-way House.
And it's: "Landlord, oh landlord, go start the kitchen,
Oh, for you'll need your saucepan and skillet now."
And it's: "Landlord, oh landlord, take back the blanket,
Oh, for we'll give you bacon and eggs to fry."
Oh that landlord went out to the basket,
A-thinking he'd got eggs to fry.
"Oh, say, young man, ain't you mistaken,
Oh, for in this basket we've got a child."
Up steps this young Nancy, o dearest Nancy,
That he'd taken to bed on last Whitsuntide.
"We got this young child since I take your fancy,
So now the gay fiddler you've got to pay."
"That child's not ours, lovely Nancy,
He's no babe of mine nor no friend's beside,
Here's fifty golds I'll give anybody
If she'll take care of this little child."
"Oh, I will take it, I'll kindly treat it
If you will say all my money's paid"
Oh that young man went up to the basket,
He's kicked it around and around the floor.
"Uh, since it is done I will surely pay it,
But damn me if I do eat eggs any more."
The folk song "Eggs in Her Basket" by Martin Carthy tells the story of two sailor lads who offer to carry a pretty damsel's basket, only to discover that it contains a baby instead of eggs. The young men try to distance themselves from the situation, but are forced to pay for the child's care when the woman threatens to expose them to the authorities. The song explores themes of responsibility, morality, and consequences.
The opening verses establish the innocence and ignorance of the young men, who are enjoying their wealth and the company of a pretty lady. However, their offer to carry her basket has unintended consequences, and the song shifts to a darker tone as the men are forced to confront their actions. The damsel, revealed to be a single mother, demands that the young men take responsibility for their actions and pay for the care of her child. The men are initially hesitant, but eventually agree to pay the woman, cursing eggs in the process.
The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the consequences of thoughtless behavior and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions. The abrupt shifts in tone, from lighthearted flirtation to serious moral reckoning, make "Eggs in Her Basket" a powerful and memorable folk song.
Line by Line Meaning
It is of two sailor lads both set out a-walking
The song starts by describing two young men who are sailors and are walking together.
With their pockets a-being both lined with gold.
They have a lot of money with them.
Oh some fair pretty damsel they do behold.
They see a beautiful girl.
Oh one of those young men
One of the young men asks the girl if he can carry her basket.
"Should I chance for to carry your basket?"
He asks the girl if he can carry her basket.
"Oh there's eggs in the basket oh do take care.
The girl warns him that there are eggs in the basket and he needs to be careful.
And if you should chance to out-walk me,
If he walks faster than her,
At the Half-way House you'll find me later there."
He will find her at the Half-way House.
These two young men oh they start out boldly
The two young men start walking together confidently.
Until they come to the Half-way House.
They reach the Half-way House.
And it's: "Landlord, oh landlord, go start the kitchen,
They ask the landlord to start cooking in the kitchen.
Oh, for you'll need your saucepan and skillet now."
They inform the landlord that he needs his saucepan and skillet now.
And it's: "Landlord, oh landlord, take back the blanket,
They ask the landlord to take back the blanket.
Oh, for we'll give you bacon and eggs to fry."
Instead, they will give him bacon and eggs to fry.
Oh that landlord went out to the basket,
The landlord goes to the basket.
A-thinking he'd got eggs to fry.
He thinks he has eggs to fry.
"Oh, say, young man, ain't you mistaken,
The landlord tells the young man that he is mistaken.
Oh, for in this basket we've got a child."
There is a child in the basket.
Up steps this young Nancy, o dearest Nancy,
A girl named Nancy steps forward.
That he'd taken to bed on last Whitsuntide.
He had slept with her on last Whitsuntide.
"We got this young child since I take your fancy,
She tells him that they have the child because he had slept with her.
So now the gay fiddler you've got to pay."
He has to pay the fiddler for their services.
"That child's not ours, lovely Nancy,
The young man denies that the child is his.
"He's no babe of mine nor no friend's beside,
He tells Nancy that the child is not his or his friend's.
Here's fifty golds I'll give anybody
He offers fifty golds to anyone who takes care of the child.
If she'll take care of this little child."
He asks Nancy to take care of the child.
"Oh, I will take it, I'll kindly treat it
Nancy agrees to take care of the child.
If you will say all my money's paid"
She agrees to take care of the child if he pays for the services.
Oh that young man went up to the basket,
The young man goes to the basket.
He's kicked it around and around the floor.
He kicks the basket around on the floor.
"Uh, since it is done I will surely pay it,
He agrees to pay for the services.
But damn me if I do eat eggs any more."
He says that he will never eat eggs again.
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel
on Lovely Joan
Hello ! The lyrics here art alle wrong. An' it's got tae be a frog-eater a-tellin' thee....