The Bæbes's first album, Salva Nos (1997), shot straight to No 2 in the classical charts, a silver disc. Subsequent albums include Worldes Blysse (which went straight to No 1), Undrentide, (co-produced by John Cale), The Rose, and the Christmas-themed album Mistletoe & Wine.
Mirabilis (2005), was launched at a concert and party in London, August 2005. A self-titled DVD was released in July 2006. The first 300 preorders were autographed by the band and received a special mention in the DVD credits.
A live album was be released in December 2006 and featured two bonus studio tracks, An Itunes exclusive was also launched which added tracks not featured on the cd release and at this time still remain exclusive so is well worth tracking down.
The new album entitled Illumination was released via preorder on the bands website in Oct 2008 and as an added incentive to fans features two bonus tracks not included on the regular wholesale edition which has a Spring 2009 official release date. There has been concerns over the mastering of the album from fans which could account for the delayed release dates.
Each album features traditional medieval songs and poetry set to music, mostly arranged by Blake specifically for the ensemble, alongside varying numbers of original compositions. They sing in a variety of languages, including Latin, Middle English, French, Italian, Russian, Middle High German, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, modern English, Swedish and the nearly extinct Cornish. Their vocals are backed by medieval instruments, including the recorder and cittern, played by the singers or fellow musicians.
One of the group's founding musicians, Dorothy Carter, died of a stroke in 2003 at the age of 68. In addition to playing autoharp, hurdy gurdy, and dulcimer with the group, she performed the lead vocals on So Spricht Das Leben (Worldes Blysse) and L'Amour de Moi (The Rose).
Emily Ovenden, who sings with the group, is the daughter of artist Graham Ovenden.
The Bæbes' musical pieces run the gamut from extremely traditional, such as their version of The Coventry Carol on Salva Nos, to songs that feel traditional but are much more modern, such as their rendition of Summerisle, a song written for Robin Hardy's 1973 cult film Wicker Man. John Cale added non-medieval instruments, including saxophone and electric guitar, to some of the arrangements on Undrentide, although with subsequent albums the band returned to more traditional instruments. Even with these instruments, however, the band's current style is quite different from medieval authentic performance groups, as it displays significant modern influence.
Current Band Members:
Katharine Blake (Contralto, Recorders, Violin, Piano), Emily Ovenden (Soprano, Recorders, Concertina, Percussion), Ester Dee (Soprano), Claire Rabbitt (Contralto, Piano), Bev Lee Harling (Alto, Violin, Citern, Recorders, Guitar), Melpomeni Kermanidou (Mezzo Soprano, Piano)
former Band Members:
Dorothy Carter, Karen Lupton, Nicole Frobusch, Nichole Sleet, Carmen Schneider, Claire Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Teresa Casella, Rachel Van Ash, Audrey Evans, Marie Findley, Cylindra Sapphire, Sophie Evans, Maple Bee, Sofia Escobar, Maxine Fone
Official website: www.mediaevalbaebes.com
Care Away
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My wife it will both drinke and ete;
And I sey ought she wyl me bete-
Carfull is my hart therfor!
Care away, away, away-
Care away for evermore!
She loke on me as she war wood,
And will me clout about the hood-
Carfull is my hart therfor!
If she will to the gud ale ride,
Then me must trot all be her side;
And whan she drinke, I must abide-
Carfull is my hart therfor!
And if I say, "It shall be thus,"
She sey "Thou liest, charl, iwous!
Wenest thou to overcome me thus?"
Carfull is my hart therfor!
The lyrics to Mediæval Bæbes's song "Care Away" describe the singer's struggles within their marriage. They express the idea that all the work and effort they put into their relationship goes towards satisfying their wife's wants and needs, and if they make a mistake or say anything negative about her, they will face anger and punishment. The singer is constantly worried about upsetting their wife and must cater to her desires, even if it means sacrificing their own wants and needs.
The repeated phrase "Care away" serves as both a lamentation and a consolation for the singer. On one hand, it acknowledges the difficulties of their situation and the heaviness of their heart, but on the other, it suggests a surrender to the circumstances and a letting go of any hope for change or improvement.
Line by Line Meaning
All that I may swink or swet,
Anything I work hard for or sweat to accomplish,
My wife it will both drinke and ete;
My wife will freely consume anything I bring home,
And I sey ought she wyl me bete-
And if I say anything against her, she will beat me,
Carfull is my hart therfor!
So I am constantly anxious and worried!
Care away, away, away-
So I choose to forget my worries and push them away,
Care away for evermore!
And hope to let go of this anxiety forevermore!
If I sey ought of her but good,
If I say anything that is not in her favor,
She loke on me as she war wood,
She looks at me like she's crazy,
And will me clout about the hood-
And she will hit me on the head, causing injury,
If she will to the gud ale ride,
If she decides to go to the tavern,
Then me must trot all be her side;
I have to follow her around obediently,
And whan she drinke, I must abide-
And when she drinks, I have to stay and wait for her,
And if I say, "It shall be thus,"
And if I say, "This is how it should be",
She sey "Thou liest, charl, iwous!
She'll respond by saying, "You're lying, you idiot!"
Wenest thou to overcome me thus?"
Believe you can overcome me like this?"
Carfull is my hart therfor!
This makes my heart full of anxiety and worry!
Contributed by Caroline M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.