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'.
The Dominion Of The Sword
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn all your studies down, and throw away your reading
Small power the word has, and can afford us
Not half so much privilege as the sword does
It'll the foster the master, plaster disaster
This'll make a servant quickly greater than the master
Ventures, enters, seeks and it centres
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, whither do you wander?
Gone to the suborning of Hastings Banda
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, tear you all asunder
Beira to Luanda, Gabarone to Nyanga
Talks of small things, it sets up all things
This'll master money, though money masters all things
It is not season to talk of reason
Never call it loyal when the sword says treason
Balm for the worrier, the whaler, the furrier
This'll get the measure of a Rainbow Warrior
Incognito, come and sink a Rainbow
President will never know, I should bloody coco
Subtle deceiver, turns calm to fever
See the pilgrim flay the unbeliever
It'll make a lay man, preach and to pray man
It'll make a Lord of him that was but a drayman
Conquers the crown too, grave and the gown too
Set you up a province, but it'll pull it down too
No gospel can guide it, no law decide it
In church or state, till the sword sanctified it
Take books, rent 'em, who can invent 'em?
When that the sword says there'll be no argumentum
Blood that is spilt, sir, has gained all the guilt, sir
Thus have you seen me run my sword up to the hilt, sir
The lyrics to Martin Carthy's "The Dominion of the Sword" present a scathing critique of the excessive power wielded by those who hold the sword. The song argues that the law and reason are impotent against the might of the sword, which can "make a servant quickly greater than the master" and "set you up a province, but it'll pull it down too." The sword can conquer not only kings and provinces but also the hearts and minds of individuals, turning "a lay man, preach and to pray man" and making "a Lord of him that was but a drayman." The lyrics depict the sword as a force that is simultaneously seductive and brutal, a "subtle deceiver" that can turn "calm to fever" and "make a servant out of every dissenter."
The song also alludes to specific historical events and figures, including the Krugerrand (a South African gold coin), the suborning of Hastings Banda (a political figure in Malawi), and the Rainbow Warrior (a Greenpeace ship that was bombed by French intelligence agents). These references serve to underscore the far-reaching and destructive power of the sword, which can extend its influence across oceans and continents.
Overall, "The Dominion of the Sword" presents a bleak view of human nature and the corrupting influence of power. The lyrics suggest that those who hold the sword are ultimately doomed to self-destruction, as their violence begets only more violence and their conquests inevitably lead to the erosion of their own power.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay by your pleading, law lies a-bleeding
Stop begging for mercy, the legal system is collapsing
Burn all your studies down, and throw away your reading
Destroy your knowledge, it won't help you against the might of the sword
Small power the word has, and can afford us
Speech is weak and powerless compared to the strength of weapons
Not half so much privilege as the sword does
Swords are much more powerful than any rights or advantages speech might provide
It'll the foster the master, plaster disaster
Obtaining power through violence only fosters tyranny and brings disasters
This'll make a servant quickly greater than the master
Violence can elevate someone to power faster than attaining it through hard work
Ventures, enters, seeks and it centres
The sword is always active and seeking to dominate, it always aims to be the center of attention
Ever the upper hand, never a dissenter
Violence always has the advantage and no one dares to stand up to it in dissent
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, whither do you wander?
A rhetorical question asking why Kruger and his money are moving around
Gone to the suborning of Hastings Banda
Kruger's money is being used to bribe Hastings Banda
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, tear you all asunder
Kruger and his money are tearing everyone apart
Beira to Luanda, Gabarone to Nyanga
Kruger's money is spreading across Africa
Talks of small things, it sets up all things
Violent actions in small matters can lead to greater things
This'll master money, though money masters all things
Violence can dominate even money, which usually dominates everything else
It is not season to talk of reason
In times of violence, reason cannot prevail
Never call it loyal when the sword says treason
When violence dictates loyalty and treason, there is no true loyalty
Balm for the worrier, the whaler, the furrier
Violence is a relief for those oppressed or struggling for survival in harsh industries
This'll get the measure of a Rainbow Warrior
This violence will gain power and control over peaceful protesters like the Rainbow Warrior
Incognito, come and sink a Rainbow
Sneakily act with violence to destroy a peaceful movement like the Rainbow Warrior
President will never know, I should bloody coco
The President will never find out about the violent act, and I am sure about it
Subtle deceiver, turns calm to fever
Those who use violence can manipulate calm situations into chaotic ones
See the pilgrim flay the unbeliever
Violence can be used by religious pilgrims to punish non-believers
It'll make a lay man, preach and to pray man
Violent conquest can turn anyone into a preacher or religious leader
It'll make a Lord of him that was but a drayman
Violent conquest can elevate anyone to a position of power, regardless of their previous status
Conquers the crown too, grave and the gown too
Violence is so powerful it can even conquer royalty, the final resting place, and academia
Set you up a province, but it'll pull it down too
Violent conquest can build provinces up, but it can also destroy them
No gospel can guide it, no law decide it
Violent acts cannot be justified by religious or legal reasoning
In church or state, till the sword sanctified it
Violence has been used to justify actions in both religious and political settings throughout history
Take books, rent 'em, who can invent 'em?
Knowledge can be borrowed, but it cannot be invented
When that the sword says there'll be no argumentum
When violence decides there is no need for debate or discussion
Blood that is spilt, sir, has gained all the guilt, sir
Anyone responsible for violence is guilty, regardless of the reason behind it
Thus have you seen me run my sword up to the hilt, sir
This line is meant to be taken literally, indicating that the artist has killed someone with their sword
Contributed by Elizabeth S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@reynardinegreencastl
This appears to me to be an expansion of an old quatrain of Pushkin's:
Всё моё, сказало злато
Всё моё, сказал булат
Всё куплю, сказало злато
Всё возьму, сказал булат
All is mine, said the gold
All is mine, said the sword
I buy all, said the gold
I seize all, said the sword
@RedStateSecession
This song for the English Civil War would be great for the next civil war. It was written at the end of the English Civil War apparently as a rueful criticism of the upending violence of the Puritans and other opponents of the crown. Yet to our generation, more accustomed to rebellion, the song sounds like a forceful assertion of the importance and efficacy of rebellion.
The YouTube version is a new version of the lyrics. Martin Cathy says the regime wants us to believe that violence gets us nowhere, but that his song refutes that. Listen to the YouTube version and read both lyrics below.
Lyrics as recorded in the Loyal Garland, 1686:
Lay by your pleading,
Law lies a bleeding;
Burn all your studies down, and
Throw away your reading.
Small pow'r the word has,
And can afford us
Not half so much privilege as
The sword does.
It fosters your masters,
It plaisters disasters,
It makes the servants quickly greater
Than their masters.
It venters, it enters,
It seeks and it centers,
It makes a'prentice free in spite
Of his indentures.
It talks of small things,
But it sets up all things;
This masters money, though money
Masters all things.
It is not season
To talk of reason,
Nor call it loyalty, when the sword
Will have it treason.
It conquers the crown, too,
The grave and the gown, too,
First it sets up a presbyter, and
Then it pulls him down too.
This subtle disaster
Turns bonnet to beaver;
Down goes a bishop, sirs, and up
Starts a weaver.
This makes a layman
To preach and to pray, man;
And makes a lord of him that
Was but a drayman.
Far from the gulpit
Of Saxby's pulpit,
This brought an Hebrew ironmonger
To the pulpit.
Such pitiful things be
More happy than kings be;
They get the upper hand of Thimblebee
And Slingsbee.
No gospel can guide it,
No law can decide it,
In Church or State, till the sword
Has sanctified it.
Down goes your law-tricks,
Far from the matricks,
Sprung up holy Hewson's power,
And pull'd down St Patrick's.
This sword it prevails, too,
So highly in Wales, too,
Shenkin ap Powel swears
"Cots-splutterer nails, too."
In Scotland this faster
Did make such disaster,
That they sent their money back
For which they sold their master.
It batter'd their Gunkirk,
And so it did their Spainkirk,
That he is fled, and swears the devil
Is in Dunkirk.
He that can tower,
Or he that is lower,
Would be judged a fool to put
Away his power.
Take books and rent 'em,
Who can invent 'em,
When that the sword replies,
NEGATUR ARGUMENTUM.
Your brave college-butlers
Must stoop to the sutlers;
There's ne'er a library
Like to the cutlers'.
The blood that was spilt, sir,
Hath gain'd all the gilt, sir;
Thus have you seen me run my
Sword up to the hilt, sir.
@RedStateSecession
Lyrics by Martin Cathy, 1966:
Lay by your pleading, law lies a-bleeding
Burn all your studies down, and throw away your reading
Small power the word has, and can afford us
Not half so much privilege as the sword does
It’ll the foster the master, plaster disaster
This’ll make a servant quickly greater than the master
Ventures, enters, seeks and it centres
Ever the upper hand, never a dissenter
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, whither do you wander?
Gone to the suborning of Hastings Banda
Kruger, Krugerrand-a, tear you all asunder
Beira to Luanda, Gabarone to Nyanga
Talks of small things, it sets up all things
This’ll master money, though money masters all things
It is not season to talk of reason
Never call it loyal when the sword says treason
Calm for the worrier, the whaler, the furrier
This’ll get the measure of a Rainbow Warrior
Incognito, come and sink a Rainbow
President will never know, I should bloody coco
Subtle deceiver, turns calm to fever
See the pilgrim flay the unbeliever
It’ll make a lay man, preach and to pray man
It’ll make a Lord of him that was but a drayman
Conquers the crown too, grave and the gown too
Set you up a province, but it’ll pull it down too
No gospel can guide it, no law decide it
In church or state, ’til the sword sanctified it
Take books, rent ’em, who can invent ’em?
When that the sword says there’ll be no argumentum
Blood that is spilt sir, has gained all the guilt, sir
Thus have you seen me run my sword up to the hilt sir
@gabriellepeacock2709
This is insanely beautiful. Every part of my head is tingling.
@matthewrance2818
This is my favorite folk song ever followed closely by Sovay. Martin Carthy is the true backbone of English folk.
@stepgios
Thanks for "Sovay"
@hoodieninja4983
Sovay is my favourite, followed by this.
@altairaquila7175
I'd say Peter Bellamy is the true back bone if English folk music but Martin Carthy, the Watersons, and the Carthy Waterson are excellent too! Oak ash and Thorne is my favourite.
@TheFolkRevivalProject
@Hoodie Ninja I'd say Sovay and Famous Flower of Serving Men are better than this.
@martynovd.i.6269
I just went to YouTube to listen to music and relax. You know, I just happened to come across this tune and I immediately fell in love with it. Now I'm listening to the fifth song of English folklore, and it's amazing, even though I'm not English.
Health wishes from Russia
@altongatsby105
Health back at you from England.
@myrianasupyk4813
We could do with some of that now! A proud Ukrainian!
@groveavenue
I am an Asian but have to admit that English folk music is one of the things that make life worth living :)