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'.
Geordie
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a misty morning early
I overheard a fair pretty maid
A cry for the life of her Geordie
"Go bridle to me a milk white steed
Bridle me a pony
I'll ride down to London town
"For he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
But when she rode down and in the king's hall
There were lords and ladies plenty
Down on her bended knee she fall
And she begged for the life of her Geordie
Cries, "Six pretty babes I had by him
Another one lies in my body
Freely I'd part with each one of them
If you'll give me the life of my Geordie"
"For he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
But the judge looked over his left shoulder
He cries, "I'm sorry for thee
Me pretty fair maid you come too late
For he's been condemned already"
"Oh my Geordie shall hang in a chain of gold
Such chains as never was any
Because he came of the royal blood
And he courted a fine young lady"
"Oh he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
"Oh I wish I had you in yonder grove
Where times I have been many
With my broadsword and a pistol too
I'd fight you for the life of me Geordie"
"For he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
Martin Carthy's song Geordie is a tragic ballad that tells the story of a woman who travels to London to plead for the life of her lover, Geordie, who is condemned to death for the theft of the King's wild deer. The woman, who has six children with Geordie and is carrying their seventh, braves the lords and ladies in the King's hall and falls on her knees to beg for Geordie's life. She pleads with the judge, saying that Geordie did not steal ox or ass or murder anyone, and that he only stole sixteen of the King's wild deer to sell them in Bohenny. However, her pleas come too late, as Geordie has already been condemned.
The woman's anguish and love for Geordie are powerfully conveyed through Carthy's narrative and his evocative and haunting lyrics. The woman's desperation and hopelessness are palpable, especially when she offers to give up her children in exchange for Geordie's life, and when she wishes she could fight for Geordie's life with her broadsword and pistol.
Overall, Geordie is a poignant and tragic ballad that highlights the power of love and the brutality of the justice system in medieval times.
Line by Line Meaning
Now as I rode out over London Bridge
On a misty morning early
As I began my journey across London Bridge on an early, foggy morning...
I overheard a fair pretty maid
A cry for the life of her Geordie
...I heard a beautiful woman crying out for the life of her lover, Geordie.
"Go bridle to me a milk white steed
Bridle me a pony
I'll ride down to London town
And I'll plead for the life of my Geordie"
She asked for a white horse and a pony to ride to London town to beg for the life of her love, Geordie.
"For he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
She claimed that while Geordie did steal sixteen of the King's wild deer and sold them in Bohenny, he never stole any other animals or committed murder.
But when she rode down and in the king's hall
There were lords and ladies plenty
Down on her bended knee she fall
And she begged for the life of her Geordie
She fell to her knees in front of the king, lords, and ladies and begged for Geordie's life.
Cries, "Six pretty babes I had by him
Another one lies in my body
Freely I'd part with each one of them
If you'll give me the life of my Geordie"
She pleaded that she had six children with Geordie and was pregnant with another, and would sacrifice all of them if it meant Geordie could live.
"But the judge looked over his left shoulder
He cries, "I'm sorry for thee
Me pretty fair maid you come too late
For he's been condemned already"
Unfortunately, the judge looked unyielding and informed the maid that it was too late, as her lover had already been sentenced to death.
"Oh my Geordie shall hang in a chain of gold
Such chains as never was any
Because he came of the royal blood
And he courted a fine young lady"
She lamented that, despite being of royal blood and courting a fine lady, Geordie would still hang in a chain of gold.
"Oh he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
She repeated Geordie's supposed crimes of stealing sixteen of the King's wild deer and selling them in Bohenny, but insisted that he never committed other crimes.
"Oh I wish I had you in yonder grove
Where times I have been many
With my broadsword and a pistol too
I'd fight you for the life of me Geordie"
She wished to fight for Geordie's life, saying she'd meet the judge in a grove where she has frequented and use her broadsword and pistol against him.
"For he never stole ox he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole sixteen of the King's wild deer
He sold them in Bohenny"
She repeated Geordie's supposed crimes one last time and insisted that he was not a murderer and had not stolen other animals.
Contributed by Austin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
House Carpenter Archives
One of the greatest guitarists we've known and one of the great interpreters and teller of the tale.
Michael Fisher
A master of nonstandard tunings.
Steve Allen
The first Martin Carthy I ever bought was this. I think I was 17 years of age at the time. Shortly after was the album "Because it's There". I have to admit he influenced my folk music career and here am I in Brazil and now I'm a 50+!
Edward Temple
I saw a small part of a live performance at the Philly Folk festival in the early 70's on TV. Someone played the most beautiful version of "Geordie" that I'd ever heard. I missed the name of the performer and for forty years I've been looking for him. Just found out by accident on YouTube that it was Martin Carthy! I am delighted to now have his music before me. Love it.
hilaritarious
+Edward Temple I must have seen the same thing, 1974. An awful time in my life, this made me feel there was hope.
Evan Clarry
I had this album twenty five years ago and lost it. It was played so hard it must have gotten thinner. Beautiful song.
Gillian Barnes
I had this album years ago. It's good to hear it again.
viking1au
Yes, this period for Martin Carthy was when Dave Swarbrick, with whom Martin played fpr several years, was poached by Fairport Convention. Fortunately Martin had always made sure that if anything happened to Dave, he could carry on as a soloist. Albums like Crown of Horn, Sweet Wivelsfield, Shearwater, Landfall, are the result. (Others as well). Equally, he has always made sure that he is "of use" to other musicians. -- Remarkable man, will record again soon with Dave Swarbrick. -- Regards.
Sabine Cudney
so beautiful to find this on youtube! can you/could you upload the worcestershire wedding from this same album??
Piano.Strings.Songs.
Pure genius X :-)