Martin Carthy (born May 21, 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist w… Read Full Bio ↴Martin Carthy (born May 21, 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days of the folk revival.

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 January Man
Martin Carthy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, the January man, he walks the road in woollen coat and boots of leather.
The February man still shakes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands.
Oh, the man of March he sees the Spring and wonders what the year will bring
And hopes for better weather.

Through April rain the man comes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer.
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day.
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand

And grins at each newcomer.

And in July the man in cotton shirt, he sits and thinks on being idle.
The August man in thousands takes the road to watch the sea and find the sun.
September man is standing near to saddle up another the year
And Autumn is his bridle.

And the man of new October takes the reins and early frost is on his shoulder.
The poor November man sees fire and rain and snow and mist and wintry gale.
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know
They're all a little older.

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well.

For the January man is here for starting each and every year
Along the road for ever.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Martin Carthy's song "The January Man" depict the passing of time through the changing of seasons and months. The first stanza introduces the January man, who walks down the road in his woollen coat and leather boots. The second stanza references February, still shaking snow from his hair and trying to warm his hands in the cold. The third stanza introduces the man of March, who sees the arrival of spring and wonders what the year will bring. In April, the man watches the birds come in and shares the summer, while May sees the man standing still, watching children dance away the day.

June sees the man inside feeling young and eager to help, while July depicts the man in a cotton shirt, idling away the days. August sees many men taking to the roads to find the sun, while September gears up to saddle up another year, with autumn serving as the bridle. October sees the new man taking reins as the early frost bites his shoulders, while November sees snow, rain, mist, and wintery gale. Finally, December sees the man looking through the snow, acknowledging that the eleven others he shares this journey with are all a little older.

The song continually brings the listeners back to the January man, who is always here for starting each and every year along the road, for the journey through the passage of time is never-ending. The song remains open to interpretation, with the lyrics leaving an impression of the cyclical nature of life and time, and how each season brings forth a different experience and emotion.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, the January man, he walks the road in woollen coat and boots of leather.
The January man begins each year with his warm coat and sturdy boots, ready to face the journey ahead.

The February man still shakes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands.
Even in February, the cold lingers, and the man must shake off the snow and blow warmth into his fingers.

Oh, the man of March he sees the Spring and wonders what the year will bring
March brings the first signs of Spring and hope for the coming year.

And hopes for better weather.
But the man also hopes for better weather to come.

Through April rain the man comes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer.
In April, the man observes as the birds return and prepare to share the summer ahead.

The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day.
May brings playful children, and the man stands still, taking in the joy and innocence of their dance.

In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand
June brings a rejuvenation in the man, and he seeks to help those around him.

And grins at each newcomer.
He greets each newcomer with a grin and invitation into his world.

And in July the man in cotton shirt, he sits and thinks on being idle.
By July, the man takes a break, and with a cotton shirt in the warm weather, ponders the joys of idleness.

The August man in thousands takes the road to watch the sea and find the sun.
August draws many travelers to the sea to bask in the sun and beauty of nature.

September man is standing near to saddle up another the year
In September, the man prepares to start another year and takes care of the important details before moving forward.

And Autumn is his bridle.
He uses the season of Autumn as his guide and structure to steer him through the journey ahead.

And the man of new October takes the reins and early frost is on his shoulder.
By October, the man takes control and carries the weight of an early frost upon his shoulders.

The poor November man sees fire and rain and snow and mist and wintry gale.
November can be harsh and difficult, with fire, rain, snow, mist, and wintry gales, testing the man's strength and resilience.

December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know
In December, the man looks back to his eleven brothers, now a year older, as he prepares to say goodbye to the old year.

They're all a little older.
He sees that, like him, they have grown and changed over the past year.

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather
And so the cycle begins again, with the January man donning his familiar coat and boots for another journey through the year.

To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well.
He walks the familiar icy road, knowing the twists and turns that lie ahead.

For the January man is here for starting each and every year
The January man knows that he is here to begin each new year, ready to face whatever challenges and joys may come his way.

Along the road for ever.
And he will continue on this road, year after year, always moving forward and embracing the journey ahead.

Contributed by Cooper C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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