The band is one of the few outfits still burning with the fire of punk, but managing to combine it with the ideals and knowledge of English folk music - a balancing act they've made into a fine art over the years. And they have deep roots in the U.K. folk scene, emerging from both the Whitstable Oyster Co. Ceilidh Band, which formed in 1975, and Fiddler's Dram, a group put together in 1973 by Dave Arbus, whose fiddle work had graced releases by East of Eden and the Who.
Prosser, Telfer, and Taylor were also in Fiddler's Dram, whose moment of fame arrived in 1979 with the British hit single "Day Trip to Bangor" - released after they'd split up. They reconvened for a last album when Kearey joined them. He also became part of the band's alter ego, the roots-oriented Oyster Ceilidh Band, as they'd now become. With Fiddler's Dram no longer extant, the members put their energies in the newly renamed Oyster Band in 1981, playing gigs around England and self-releasing albums on their own Pukka label.
The band returned in 2003 after the longest recording layoff of its career with Rise Above, which included eight originals and two English traditional numbers, and featured the work of Irish piper James O'Grady throughout.
In 1990, the band collaborated with renowned folk singer June Tabor for the album Freedom and Rain and a tour.
Current Lineup:
Chopper - bass guitar, cello, vocals
John Jones - melodeon, lead vocals
Alan Prosser - guitars, viola, vocals
Ian Telfer - fiddle, English concertina, vocals
Dil Davies - drums
http://www.oysterband.co.uk/
A Careless Life
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing is required
Sent early to bed
The boy never tired
Alone in the dark
He learned not to cry
Then in his dream
He could fall, he could fly
(The bird's on the wing
There's blood on the thorn)
Alone in the dark
He learned not to cry
Then in his dream
He could fall, he could fly
(The bird's on the wing
There's blood on the thorn
The snails on the runway
A comet is born)
It was a careless life in any sense
A long way out with no defense
Another careless life
Another tilt at staying free
Blessed are the poor in spirit
We'd better be
The women fell silent
When trouble began
They carried the babies
They carried the can
They carried his cases
Out to the car
Waving him off to
Another small war
(Everyone thinks and
No one knows
Everyone knows and
No one thinks)
It was a careless life in any sense
A long way out with no defense
Another careless life
Another tilt at staying free
Blessed are the poor in spirit
We'd better be
Trawling the desert
The whole press-card jive
Tempting the guns
To be sure he's alive
Dictating impressions
For memoirs to come
The sky held its breath
The stones were dumb
They blew his driver
Out of the jeep
Headlines on Sundays
Make editors weep
All these adventures
All of these rhymes
Don't stand a prayer
In desperate times
(The bird's on the wing
There's blood on the thorn
The snails on the runway
A comet is born
Everyone thinks and
No one knows
Everyone knows and
Nobody knows)
It was a careless life in any sense
A long way out with no defense
Another careless life
Another tilt at staying free
Blessed are the poor in spirit
We'd better be
The lyrics of Oysterband's song "A Careless Life" paint a picture of a young boy who is sent to bed early and learns not to cry in the darkness. The lyrics suggest that he escapes into his dreams where he is free to "fall" or "fly." This opening verse sets a tone of solitude and loneliness which is further explored throughout the song. The following verses detail the singer's experiences and the various hardships he faces during his life.
While the lyrics may seem disjointed at first, the song's sense of urgency and repetition tie it all together. The chorus repeats the phrase "It was a careless life in any sense, a long way out with no defense” multiple times and acts as a nod to the cyclical nature of life. The song suggests that life in many ways is carefree and yet, at the same time, there is a lack of control and agency over one's experiences. The closing stanza explores the idea that even in the face of danger, adventure, and chaos, one's dreams and aspirations may not be enough to survive.
Overall, "A Careless Life" is a poignant song that touches on themes of loneliness, longing, and the human experience. The lyrics are introspective and reflective, inviting the listener to contemplate the meanings behind the words.
Line by Line Meaning
If nothing is given
Without receiving anything, there is no obligation to give back
Nothing is required
There are no expectations or demands
Sent early to bed
Forced to go to bed earlier than desired
The boy never tired
The boy had an abundance of energy
Alone in the dark
Being by oneself without light or company
He learned not to cry
He was taught to suppress his emotions and not show vulnerability
Then in his dream
In his subconscious thoughts during sleep
He could fall, he could fly
He experienced freedom and adventure in his dreams
(The bird's on the wing
Metaphor for the natural, carefree state of birds
There's blood on the thorn)
Symbolism for the dangers and struggles of life
The snails on the runway
A random, unexpected obstacle
A comet is born)
A symbol of new beginnings and possibilities
It was a careless life in any sense
A life lived impulsively and recklessly
A long way out with no defense
Being too far gone to protect oneself
Another careless life
Another instance of living without caution or consideration for consequences
Another tilt at staying free
Another attempt to maintain independence and avoid commitment
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Those who are humble and lack material wealth are favored in the eyes of God
We'd better be
It is important for us to maintain this spiritual quality
The women fell silent
The women responded quietly to the commotion
When trouble began
When conflict or danger arose
They carried the babies
The women held and protected the infants
They carried the can
The women took on the responsibility or blame for the situation
They carried his cases
The women helped him with his luggage or possessions
Out to the car
Exit the building and head to the vehicle
Waving him off to
Saying goodbye to him as he leaves
Another small war
Another instance of conflict or struggle
(Everyone thinks and
Everyone has thoughts and opinions
No one knows
No one truly understands the situation or has all the answers
Everyone knows and
All are aware of the situation or issue
No one thinks)
No one is considering the consequences or seeking a solution
Trawling the desert
Traveling through the barren landscape
The whole press-card jive
The attempt to impress or intimidate through credentials
Tempting the guns
Provoking or daring the enemy to attack
To be sure he's alive
To ensure that he is still breathing and functioning
Dictating impressions
Controlling or influencing the perception of others
For memoirs to come
For the purpose of writing about or remembering later
The sky held its breath
The sky grew still or silent in anticipation or concern
The stones were dumb
Silent and unresponsive
They blew his driver
An attack on the driver, possibly fatal
Out of the jeep
Ejected from the vehicle during the attack
Headlines on Sundays
News stories or events that are particularly noteworthy or extreme
Make editors weep
Editors become overwhelmed by the amount of content or the severity of the news
All these adventures
All these experiences, including the joys and risks
All of these rhymes
All of these patterns and sequences of events
Don't stand a prayer
Have no chance of survival or success
In desperate times
During times of great need or danger
(The bird's on the wing
Metaphor for the natural, carefree state of birds
There's blood on the thorn
Symbolism for the dangers and struggles of life
The snails on the runway
A random, unexpected obstacle
A comet is born
A symbol of new beginnings and possibilities
Everyone thinks and
Everyone has thoughts and opinions
No one knows
No one truly understands the situation or has all the answers
Everyone knows and
All are aware of the situation or issue
Nobody knows
No individual has a full understanding of the situation
It was a careless life in any sense
A life lived impulsively and recklessly
A long way out with no defense
Being too far gone to protect oneself
Another careless life
Another instance of living without caution or consideration for consequences
Another tilt at staying free
Another attempt to maintain independence and avoid commitment
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Those who are humble and lack material wealth are favored in the eyes of God
We'd better be
It is important for us to maintain this spiritual quality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PROSSER, IAN TELFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind