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/
Blood Wedding
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said "Yes, I do"
I love her like crazy
I think she loves me too
But we'll do without the family
If it's all the same to you
Happy ever after
Your mother is a flake
My father's full of shite
Your sister says you married me in white
Just for spite
A party's not a party
Till it ends up in a fight
Happy ever after
CHORUS
And there's my lot and your lot
And us two in between
(Please God)
This is the last time I get married
(Please God)
This is the last time I get married
Me brother's never short
Of a substance to abuse
Rum, glue, Thunderbird
Wizz and Special Brew
Any minute now he'll show us
All of his tattoos
Happy ever after
Nephews are obnoxious
Nieces are too tall
A dozen drunken uncles
Are pissing up the wall
Granddad is grinning
But there's no one home at all
Happy ever after
CHORUS
For richer, for poorer, for better or worse
Now we are married, a blessing or a curse
Kiss me and don't forget
What you see is what you get
And the best man is the worst man
The best man is a beast
Underneath the table
With the sister of the priest
The way he's going at it
She's probably deceased
Happy ever after
Gran's on the brandy
Getting bleary-eyed
Guys I went to school with
Want to see me outside
Someone's pulled the bridesmaid
Has anyone seen the bride?
Happy ever after
CHORUS
The song "Blood Wedding" by Oysterband tells the story of a chaotic wedding that is far from the romantic bliss often portrayed in movies and pop songs. At the start of the song, the singer expresses his love for his bride-to-be and his willingness to forego the usual wedding traditions if necessary. However, the couple's families seem to be causing more harm than good with their various issues and antics. The singer's mother-in-law is unreliable, his father is untrustworthy, and his brother is an addict. Meanwhile, his new wife's sister accuses her of marrying him to spite someone else, and numerous drunk uncles and rowdy guests cause chaos throughout the ceremony. Despite all of this, the couple seems determined to make it work and looks forward to their "Happy ever after."
The lyrics of "Blood Wedding" present a sharp contrast to the usual portrayal of weddings in popular culture. Rather than depicting them as the ultimate declaration of love and commitment, the song shows how families and societal pressures can often detract from the romantic aspect of weddings, turning them instead into chaotic and stressful events that cause more harm than good. However, despite all of this, the couple remains determined to make their marriage work, suggesting that their love and commitment are ultimately more important than any outside factors.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you take this woman?
Will you marry this woman?
I said "Yes, I do"
I agreed to marry her.
I love her like crazy
I love her intensely.
I think she loves me too
I believe she loves me back.
But we'll do without the family
We'll get married without our families present.
If it's all the same to you
If you don't mind.
Happy ever after
We hope to live happily ever after.
Your mother is a flake
Your mother is unreliable.
My father's full of shite
My father talks nonsense.
Your sister says you married me in white
Your sister thinks you only married me to spite her.
Just for spite
Out of a desire to cause annoyance or harm.
A party's not a party
The gathering is not really enjoyable.
Till it ends up in a fight
Until people start arguing and fighting.
And there's my lot and your lot
There are our families and friends.
And us two in between
We are the ones getting married.
(Please God) This is the last time I get married
I hope this is the final time I have to get married.
Me brother's never short
My brother always has a supply.
Of a substance to abuse
Of a drug to misuse.
Rum, glue, Thunderbird
Alcohol, adhesive, cheap wine.
Wizz and Special Brew
Synthetic drugs and strong beer.
Any minute now he'll show us
He will soon reveal something to us.
All of his tattoos
All the tattoos on his body.
Nephews are obnoxious
My nephews are unpleasant.
Nieces are too tall
My nieces are too tall.
A dozen drunken uncles
Several drunken uncles.
Are pissing up the wall
They are urinating on the wall.
Granddad is grinning
Grandfather is smiling.
But there's no one home at all
But he's not really present or aware of the situation.
For richer, for poorer, for better or worse
Through good times and bad, through wealth and poverty.
Now we are married, a blessing or a curse
Being married could be either good or bad for us.
Kiss me and don't forget
Kiss me now and remember this moment.
What you see is what you get
I am who I am and you should accept me for that.
The best man is the worst man
The best man is the most terrible person.
The best man is a beast
The best man is behaving like an animal.
Underneath the table
Under the tablecloth.
With the sister of the priest
He's with the priest's sister.
The way he's going at it
The way he's behaving.
She's probably deceased
She's most likely dead from being mistreated.
Gran's on the brandy
Grandma is drinking brandy.
Getting bleary-eyed
Getting drunk and drowsy.
Guys I went to school with
Male friends from school.
Want to see me outside
Want to talk to me somewhere more private.
Someone's pulled the bridesmaid
Someone has seduced the bridesmaid.
Has anyone seen the bride?
Has anyone found the bride?
Contributed by Kayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.