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/
Early Days of a Better Nation
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake with an ache it's another week gone
And consider how my light was spent
And where it was that the real thing went
I asked a wise man for advice
I told him once and I told him twice;
My life is one long damage limitation
He handed me a card that read:
Work like you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in the early days of a better nation
Play that tune again! I cried
It's dead and gone the band replied
But as they slowly tried it through
The hands remembered what they had to do
Give it poke and give it licks
The name of the tune is Laying The Bricks
I Stood outside the Albert Hall
And wept, and wrote upon the wall;
Work like you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in the early days of a better nation
We take the water to the tree
She says, Now do the same for me
It takes your sweat as well as art
To dig a channel for the human heart
There is no garden of delight
Unless you weed it day or night
Don't leave your life a lifelong long vacation
I hear her whisper when we meet
And when I crawl between the sheets, she says;
Work like you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in the early days of a better nation
The lyrics of Oysterband's song "Early Days of a Better Nation" convey a sense of nostalgia for a time when the world was a more hopeful and optimistic place. The song begins with the singer falling asleep to the TV, waking up feeling unfulfilled and questioning where the true meaning of life went. He seeks advice from a wise man who gives him a card with the words "Work like you were living in the early days of a better nation". This phrase becomes a recurring theme throughout the song, encouraging the singer to strive for a better world and not settle for a life of complacency.
The song then shifts to memories of a band playing a familiar tune, "Laying The Bricks", outside the Albert Hall. The singer is moved by the music and writes the phrase "Work like you were living in the early days of a better nation" on the wall, a clear nostalgic nod to the 1960s and 70s era of political and social upheaval. The song also touches on the themes of perseverance and hard work, with the singer referencing the effort it takes to dig a channel for the human heart and how important it is to weed one's own garden of delight.
Overall, "Early Days of a Better Nation" is a song that evokes a sense of longing for a time when society felt more optimistic and hopeful, and encourages the listener to reflect on the choices they make and the work they do to build a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
I fall asleep with the TV on
I go to bed after watching TV and fall asleep.
Wake with an ache it's another week gone
I wake up with a feeling of discomfort, realizing another week has passed and I have not accomplished much.
And consider how my light was spent
I reflect on how I have spent my time and energy.
And where it was that the real thing went
And wonder where the true purpose of my life went.
I asked a wise man for advice
I sought guidance from a wise person.
I told him once and I told him twice;
I told him my troubles twice.
My life is one long damage limitation
I see my life as an ongoing effort to minimize harm.
He smacked me hard around the head
He hit me hard on the head.
He handed me a card that read:
He gave me a card with these words on it:
Work like you were
Work as if you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in a time when people were building a better country.
Play that tune again! I cried
I exclaimed, asking them to play the song again.
It's dead and gone the band replied
The band answered saying the song is over and cannot be played again.
But as they slowly tried it through
But as they tried to play it slowly
The hands remembered what they had to do
Their hands remembered how to play the song.
Give it poke and give it licks
Play the song with energy and skill.
The name of the tune is laying the bricks
The song is called 'Laying the Bricks'.
I stood outside the Albert Hall
I stood outside the famous concert hall.
And wept, and wrote upon the wall;
I cried and wrote on the wall:
Work like you were
Work as if you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in a time when people were building a better country.
We take the water to the tree
We bring water to the tree.
She says, now do the same for me
She asks me to do the same for her.
It takes your sweat as well as art
It requires both hard work and creativity.
To dig a channel for the human heart
To create a path to people's emotions.
There is no garden of delight
There is no pleasant garden.
Unless you weed it day or night
Unless you work hard to maintain it.
Don't leave your life a lifelong long vacation
Don't waste your life by not doing anything.
I hear her whisper when we meet
I hear her whisper when we meet.
And when I crawl between the sheets, she says;
And when I go to bed, she says:
Work like you were
Work as if you were
Living in the early days of a better nation
Living in a time when people were building a better country.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PROSSER, IAN TELFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mike goldberg
Work like you are living in the early days of a better nation - these are powerful words of hope and inspiration.
RKS1030
Great video and song - next album just have to be an double pack with cd and dvd. Looking forward to Big Session 2008 Ronald
rockweaver
Oh this is brilliant!! Thankyou :)
roger segee
Great job guys
Valerie Donnelly
Awesome!!!
Bill Door
pure quality
SlightlySusan
I heard them do this uptempo as a dance number. Its a great song but the problem is uptempo, the audience dances and doesn't listen to the great lyrics. Nothing like a good leftie band from the British Isles to get one thinking sweet thoughts of revolution. And, finally, it is sexier this way if the band can be sexy!
LstCowboy
Please, please make sure your promoters do a better job with the next album\single release.
irishlad6
And this band is a sexy band
henry Woolley
Never thought of them like that , come to think of it ?!🤨😎