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 Fire Is Burning
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were on the ball
We did not believe in the writing on the wall
We did our best work in the dark
We did our thinking on the run
We would hang together
Or they'd hang us one by one
A whisper on the wind
A lover was a comrade,
Was a stranger, was a friend
When we slept our eyes were open
And this thumping in our chest
Said there is no, there is no,
There is no rest
Because
A fire is burning in our house
A fire burning up the house of man
A fire raging in our house
Burning up the house of man
We are not beginners
We will not be fooled
The times have been our teachers
And they teach an iron rule
We do our best work in the dark
We do our thinking on the run
We will hang together
Till the longest day is done
Because
A fire is burning in our house
A fire burning up the house of man
A fire raging in our house
Burning up the house of man
The lyrics to Oysterband's "A Fire Is Burning" reflect a strong sense of unity and rebellion in the face of a greater societal challenge. The verse "We were young together, we were on the ball, we did not believe in the writing on the wall" reflects defiance and a rejection of conventional wisdom. The lines that follow, "We did our best work in the dark, we did our thinking on the run" suggest a certain amount of secrecy or subterfuge in their actions. The phrase "we would hang together, or they'd hang us one by one" expresses a sense of solidarity among the group, implying they view themselves as outsiders and must stick to together to survive.
The second verse emphasizes the group's fluidity and adaptability. "Names were gone like footprints" signifies the transience of identity, while the line "a lover was a comrade, was a stranger, was a friend" suggests that relationships have also been in a state of flux. Even when they sleep, they do so with eyes open, indicating a sense of danger or awareness that danger is always present.
The chorus "A fire is burning in our house" is the central metaphor for the song. The "fire" represents a force that is raging uncontrollably and threatens to destroy everything else around it. The metaphor is also extended to the "house of man", suggesting that the fire is a greater problem that transcends individual circumstance. Finally, the phrase "we will not be fooled" represents a further rejection of conventional wisdom or social norms and serves to reinforce the band's commitment to their cause.
Line by Line Meaning
We were young together
We were once young and together with a shared purpose.
We were on the ball
We were alert and attentive, always ready to act.
We did not believe in the writing on the wall
We didn't accept the warnings and predictions of a negative outcome.
We did our best work in the dark
We worked our hardest when no one was watching or when there was no chance of getting caught.
We did our thinking on the run
We made decisions while on the move or under pressure.
We would hang together Or they'd hang us one by one
We stuck together, knowing that if we didn't, we would face the consequences of failure alone.
Names were gone like footprints
People and their identities were quickly forgotten and disappeared over time.
A whisper on the wind
Their memories and legacies were as fleeting as a whisper carried away by the wind.
A lover was a comrade, Was a stranger, was a friend
Relationships were multifaceted and often blurred the lines between love, friendship, and alliance.
When we slept our eyes were open
They were always alert and vigilant, even in times of rest.
And this thumping in our chest Said there is no, there is no, There is no rest
Their hearts beat with a sense of urgency that left no room for rest or complacency.
We are not beginners
We are experienced and knowledgeable, not naive or gullible.
We will not be fooled
We won't be tricked or deceived by false promises or propaganda.
The times have been our teachers And they teach an iron rule
Through their experiences, they have come to understand a harsh truth or unbreakable principle.
We will hang together Till the longest day is done
We will stay united until the very end, no matter how long the struggle may be.
A fire is burning in our house A fire burning up the house of man A fire raging in our house Burning up the house of man
There is a fierce passion and determination driving them towards a common goal, even if it means challenging the status quo or societal norms.
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.