In 1966 the pair teamed up and began a significant influence on the folk music scene of the time. For contractual reasons, Swarbrick was given second billing on Carthy’s first three albums, but they shared the credits on the next album, But Two Came By (1968).
For many critics, Prince Heathen from 1969 was their finest recording together.
In 2006, the duo released "Straws in the Wind". In 2007, they won the 'Best Duo' Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Jack Orion
Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he could drive young women mad by the tune his wires would sing
But he would fiddle the fish out of salt water, water from bare marble stone
Or the milk from out of a maiden's breast though baby she had none
And there he played in the castle hall and there he played them fast asleep
Except it was for the young countess and for love she stayed awake
And first he played there a slow slow air and then he played it brisk and gay
And it's, "O dear love," behind her hand the lady she did say
"Ere the day has dawned and the cocks have crown and flapped their wings so wide
It's you must come up to me chamber there and lie down by me side"
So he lapped his fiddle in a cloth of green and he stole out on his tip toe
And he's off back to his young boy Tom as fast as he could go
"Ere the day has dawned and the cocks have crown and flapped their wings so wide
I'm bid to go up to that lady's door and stretch out by her side"
"Lie down, lie down, me good master and here's a blanket to your hand
And I'll waken you in as good a time as any cock in the land"
So Tom took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he sang for a full hour
Until he played him fast asleep and he's off to the lady's bower
And when he come to the countess' door he twirled so softly at the pin
And the lady true to her promise rose up and let him in
Well he did not take that lady gay to bolster nor to bed but down
Upon the hard cold bedroom floor right soon he had her laid
And neither did he kiss her when he came nor when from her he did go
But in at the lady's bedroom window the moon like a coal did glow
"Oh ragged are your stockings love and stubbly is your cheek and chin
And tousled is that yellow hair that I saw late yestre'en"
"Me stockings belong to my boy Tom but they were the first came to my hand
And the wind did tousle me yellow hair as I rode over the land"
Tom took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he played so saucily
And he's off back to his master's house as fast as go could he
"Then up then up my good master why snore you there so loud for there
Is not a cock in all this land but has clapped his wings and crowed"
Jack Orion took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he played so merrily
And he's off away to the lady's house as fast as go could he
And when he come to the lady's door he twirled so softly at the ring
Saying, "Oh me dear it's your true love, rise up and let me in"
She said "Surely you didn't leave behind a golden brooch nor a velvet glove
Or are you returned back again to taste more of me love?"
Jack Orion he swore a bloody oath by oak, by ash, by bitter thorn
"Lady I never was in this room since the day that I was born"
"Oh then it was your own boy Tom that cruelly has beguiled me
And woe that the blood of that ruffian boy should spring in my body"
Jack Orion took off to his own house saying, "Tom my boy come here to me"
And he hanged that boy from his own gatepost as high as the willow tree
The song "Jack Orion" by Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick tells the story of a fiddler named Jack Orion, who is renowned for his skill in playing the fiddle. He can play any tune he wishes and his music has a bewitching power over women. One particular night, he is playing at a castle hall, where all the guests except the young countess fall asleep. She asks him to play slower and faster tunes, and then invites him to her chamber. Jack Orion leaves his fiddle with his assistant Tom to keep playing while he goes to the countess's chamber. Tom continues playing until Jack Orion returns, saying that the countess accused Tom of lying with her, when in fact it was Jack Orion himself. Jack Orion hangs Tom from the gatepost of his own house.
The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of temptation and betrayal. Jack Orion's music represents his power over women, which ultimately leads to his downfall. He is also a victim of his own arrogance, thinking that he can get away with betraying the countess with no consequences. The song may suggest that people should be wary of their own power and be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Jack Orion was as good fiddler as ever fiddled on a string
Jack Orion was a talented fiddler
And he could drive young women mad by the tune his wires would sing
His playing could make women fall in love with him
But he would fiddle the fish out of salt water, water from bare marble stone
He could make the impossible happen through his playing
Or the milk from out of a maiden's breast though baby she had none
He could coax milk out of a maiden's breast even though she had no baby
And there he played in the castle hall and there he played them fast asleep
He played his fiddle in the castle hall and put everyone to sleep
Except it was for the young countess and for love she stayed awake
The young countess stayed awake because she was in love with him
And first he played there a slow slow air and then he played it brisk and gay
He played both slow and fast tunes
And it's, "O dear love," behind her hand the lady she did say
She expressed her love for him
"Ere the day has dawned and the cocks have crown and flapped their wings so wide
Before dawn, she asked him to come to her chamber and lie down with her
It's you must come up to me chamber there and lie down by me side"
She asked him to come to her chamber and lie down with her
So he lapped his fiddle in a cloth of green and he stole out on his tip toe
He wrapped his fiddle in a cloth and left quietly
And he's off back to his young boy Tom as fast as he could go
He went back to his young boy Tom quickly
"Ere the day has dawned and the cocks have crown and flapped their wings so wide
Before dawn, he was asked to go back to the lady's chamber and lie down with her
I'm bid to go up to that lady's door and stretch out by her side"
He was asked to go to the lady's chamber and lie down with her
"Lie down, lie down, me good master and here's a blanket to your hand
His servant asked him to lie down and gave him a blanket
And I'll waken you in as good a time as any cock in the land"
He promised to wake him up at the crack of dawn
So Tom took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he sang for a full hour
Tom played and sang for an entire hour
Until he played him fast asleep and he's off to the lady's bower
Tom played until Jack Orion fell asleep, then went to the lady's chamber
And when he come to the countess' door he twirled so softly at the pin
He knocked gently on the lady's door
And the lady true to her promise rose up and let him in
She kept her promise and let him in
Well he did not take that lady gay to bolster nor to bed but down
He didn't take her to bed, but instead laid her down on the floor
Upon the hard cold bedroom floor right soon he had her laid
He laid her down on the hard bedroom floor
And neither did he kiss her when he came nor when from her he did go
He didn't kiss her when he arrived or when he left
But in at the lady's bedroom window the moon like a coal did glow
The moon shone through the window
"Oh ragged are your stockings love and stubbly is your cheek and chin
The lady commented on his appearance
And tousled is that yellow hair that I saw late yestre'en"
She noticed that his hair was messy
"Me stockings belong to my boy Tom but they were the first came to my hand
He explained that he was wearing Tom's stockings
And the wind did tousle me yellow hair as I rode over the land"
He explained that the wind had made his hair messy
Tom took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he played so saucily
Tom played the fiddle boldly and cheekily
And he's off back to his master's house as fast as go could he
Tom returned to his master's house quickly
"Then up then up my good master why snore you there so loud for there
His servant asked him why he was sleeping so loudly
Is not a cock in all this land but has clapped his wings and crowed"
The roosters had already crowed
Jack Orion took the fiddle into his hand and he fiddled and he played so merrily
Jack Orion played the fiddle joyfully
And he's off away to the lady's house as fast as go could he
He went to the lady's house quickly
And when he come to the lady's door he twirled so softly at the ring
He knocked gently on the lady's door
Saying, "Oh me dear it's your true love, rise up and let me in"
He told the lady he was her true love and asked to be let in
She said "Surely you didn't leave behind a golden brooch nor a velvet glove
She asked if he left anything behind
Or are you returned back again to taste more of me love?"
She wondered if he came back for more
Jack Orion he swore a bloody oath by oak, by ash, by bitter thorn
He swore a solemn oath
"Lady I never was in this room since the day that I was born"
He denied ever being in her room before
"Oh then it was your own boy Tom that cruelly has beguiled me
She realized that it was Tom who played the fiddle instead of Jack Orion
And woe that the blood of that ruffian boy should spring in my body"
She regretted having Tom's child
Jack Orion took off to his own house saying, "Tom my boy come here to me"
Jack Orion went home and called for Tom
And he hanged that boy from his own gatepost as high as the willow tree
He punished Tom by hanging him on a tree
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
onesecbeforetheend
So many great versions of this track! Glasgerion by The Trees is another
Eileen Hack
Yes! And Bert Jansch’s Jack Orion is sublime.
Aaron Kravitz
1:40 Shit gets real.
Dara Gildea
Jack O'Rion. Fairport Convention did a better version as part of a medly 10 years later.