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/
Be My Luck
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world revolved around me
I don't know how she found me
But the bar stood still;
Drink in here on payday
The place would drive you crazy
Come over here and save me
Won't you say you will?
Here am I a free man
With nothing in the coffers
Open to offers
And I'm in my prime;
I'm too young to marry
Too old to mess about
Let me be your carry-out
At closing time
Be my luck and take the poor boy out of here
Be my luck forever and a day
Give me just one kiss and you can carry me away
Two moons are shining
Happiness is double
Hits you like the stubble
On a whisky kiss;
God bless the bouncers
And happy hour romances
Got to take your chances
In a life like this
Be my luck and take the poor boy out of here
Be my luck forever and a day
Give me just one kiss and you can carry me away
The song "Be My Luck" by Oysterband is a romantic ballad about a man who finds himself lost in a drunken haze until he is saved by a woman who seems to be his saviour. The opening lyric, "When I was drunk and handsome, the world revolved around me," indicates that the singer is not in his right mind and is in search of a way out of his current situation. The bar is his refuge, and he hopes that someone will come to his rescue. When the woman arrives, everything stands still, granting him an opportunity to escape. He then proceeds to ask the woman to be his good luck charm and take him far away from the place he finds himself in.
As the song develops, the singer depicts himself as a man in his prime, open to new opportunities, but unable to commit. He's not ready to get married, and he doesn't want to mess around either. He wants the woman to be his "carry-out" when the bar closes for the night. The second verse is a testament to his happiness after the woman rescues him from his drunken state. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that life can be tough, and people have to take their chances. The song's overall message is that anything can happen, but with good luck by his side, everything will be alright.
In summary, the song "Be My Luck" by Oysterband is a romantic tale about a man's search for salvation in a drunken state. The song's message is that luck can cure all woes and lead to true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was drunk and handsome
Back when I was young and a bit reckless, I felt invincible and attractive.
The world revolved around me
I felt like the center of the universe and that everything should revolve around me.
I don't know how she found me
I have no idea how this person came into my life or how we ended up meeting each other.
But the bar stood still;
I was so focused on this person that everything else around me seemed to disappear.
Drink in here on payday
This place is packed with people spending their hard-earned money on drinks after getting their paycheck.
The place would drive you crazy
The atmosphere here is wild and chaotic, it could easily get overwhelming.
Come over here and save me
Please come over and rescue me from this loud, crowded, and overwhelming environment.
Won't you say you will?
Please accept my request and agree to be my partner for the rest of the night.
Here am I a free man
I am currently unattached and available.
With nothing in the coffers
I don't have much money to my name right now, but I do have my youth and energy.
Open to offers
I am open to whatever opportunities or experiences come my way.
And I'm in my prime;
I am currently at the height of my youth and vigor.
I'm too young to marry
I am not yet ready to settle down and commit to a single person.
Too old to mess about
I also don't want to just fool around and waste my time anymore.
Let me be your carry-out
Let me be the one to take you home and keep you safe.
At closing time
When the bar is about to close and everyone is leaving.
Be my luck and take the poor boy out of here
Please be my good fortune and help me leave this place with you by my side.
Be my luck forever and a day
Please be with me and bring me happiness for eternity.
Give me just one kiss and you can carry me away
If you give me just one simple gesture of affection, I will be completely devoted to you and ready to go anywhere with you.
Two moons are shining
Everything currently feels perfect and the world is at peace, symbolized by the two moons shining.
Happiness is double
I have never been happier, and with you by my side, it just gets better.
Hits you like the stubble
The feeling of happiness and contentment is palpable and intense, like the roughness of a man's beard.
On a whisky kiss;
This feeling is made even more intense with the warmth and fiery passion of a kiss flavored with whisky.
God bless the bouncers
I am grateful for the bouncers that kept us safe and made sure nobody got out of hand.
And happy hour romances
I appreciate the fleeting, but delightful romances that can be found during happy hour, despite their impermanence.
Got to take your chances
You have to take risks and grab opportunities when they come, despite the risks or unknown outcomes.
In a life like this
In this crazy life, it's important to take chances and enjoy the moment, no matter how fleeting it may be.
Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.