The group comprised Hank Marvin (born October 28, 1941), on vocals and lead guitar, Bruce Welch (born 2nd November 1941) on vocals and rhythm guitar, and John Farrar (born 8th November 1946) on vocals and guitar (both lead and rhythm).
Almost all the tracks recorded by the group were written by its members, with occasional contributions from co-writers.
The group recorded two albums, Marvin Welch & Farrar, and Second Opinion, before Bruce Welch left, leaving Hank Marvin and John Farrar to record a third album Marvin & Farrar on their own. The group did not enjoy conspicuous chart success and were further troubled by Hank Marvin's distinctive appearance, which, in live performances, led to audiences requesting Shadows numbers
Throw Down a Line
Marvin Welch & Farrar Lyrics
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Whos drowning in the stormy sea
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
Have you got a place for me
Men are tied in chains of silence
I look on violence, up, down, left and right
Is there no hope of light
Hurts like the rest, because its turned to stone
Talons of steel have grown
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos drowning in the stormy sea
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
Have you got a place for me
Yeah, oh help me, yeah
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos drowning in the stormy sea
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
Have you got a place for me
See the moon, its getting nearer
But no more clearer than the earth below
What do we really know
I feel the stab of pain returning
Despair is burning in my heart again
Why dont they see the end, ooooh
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos drowning in the stormy sea
Yeah, throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
Have you got a place for me
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos drowning in the stormy sea
Yeah, throw down a line, help a poor boy
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
Have you got a place for me
The lyrics to Marvin Welch & Farrar's song "Throw Down a Line" depict a desperate plea for help from someone who feels lost and alone. The repeated refrain of "Throw down a line, help a poor boy" emphasizes the singer's urgency and desperation. They feel like they're drowning in a stormy sea and hanging from a nowhere tree, and they're in need of someone to rescue them. The verses explore themes of violence, silence, and despair, suggesting that the singer has been hurt and isolated in some way. They're searching for a peaceful hand to help them, but it seems like everyone around them has turned to stone. Despite the darkness and pain of the singer's situation, "Throw Down a Line" is ultimately a hopeful song. The presence of the moon and the singer's plea for help suggest that they believe there's a way out of their current situation, and they're willing to reach out and ask for help to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw down a line, help a poor boy
Asking for help from someone to rescue a helpless boy who is struggling in difficult situations
Whos drowning in the stormy sea
The boy is struggling in the rough waters of life
Whos hanging in a nowhere tree
The boy is stuck in a difficult situation with no clear path forward
Have you got a place for me
Asking if there is any hope or possibility of getting out of the current situation
Men are tied in chains of silence
People are often silenced in the face of injustice or difficult circumstances
I look on violence, up, down, left and right
Witnessing violence around us from all directions
Is there no hope of light
Feeling hopeless and wondering if there is any way out of the difficult situation
The peaceful hand that once caressed me
The person who used to bring peace and comfort has become indifferent and unfeeling
Hurts like the rest, because its turned to stone
Their lack of compassion or empathy is causing just as much pain as active harm
Talons of steel have grown
The people who were supposed to help are now causing more harm and making the situation worse
See the moon, its getting nearer
Reflecting on the passing of time and wondering if there is any progress or change happening
But no more clearer than the earth below
Despite the passage of time, there is still no clear way forward, and the situation remains unclear
What do we really know
Questioning our understanding of the world, our circumstances, and what we can do to change or improve them
I feel the stab of pain returning
The pain and difficulty of the situation is coming back, and there seems to be no end in sight
Despair is burning in my heart again
Feeling hopeless and helpless in the face of difficult circumstances
Why dont they see the end, ooooh
Wondering why there is no clear solution or progress towards getting out of the current situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK MARVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Twirlyhead
Deserves to be better known this song, whichever version. It's a great bluesy rock song very much in the mode of Free or Led Zeppelin and if it had originated from either of them it would be a mega well known classic by now.
Stix
John Farrar is a genius.
Othello O
Lovely vocals by Farrar
Rob Burridge
I really love this LP, cheers Morton!
Pierre TEODORI
Thanks for sharing this great song Morten!
Morten Steen
***** It's actually John Farrar singing the lead on this one. Such a great and distinct voice.
Pierre TEODORI
Morten Steen Yes Morten you're right, this is John .
akulina mackenzie
soooo great.....💕👍
Philip Cox
wow, and none of this is on Apple Music. Gotta be a joke ?
Liam Evans
Is the Jeff Beck / Rod Stewart version the first recorded version? Beckola 1969?