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/
Little Brother
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every space is just a box
First he's happy Like a puppy
Then he's hurting Like an ox
Tips the scales at ninety kilos
Seventeen and six foot two
Little brother runs his mother down
Just passing through
Tender-minded, oh so kind
He Loves to be with you
Anywhere you go he'll stick like glue
Does he love me, does he know me?
Smacks me in the head to show me
Living for the moment but the never comes
Living for the moment but the moment…
Never comes
She lays her head down in the kitchen
All the things she's thinking of
Mother sighs and wonders why
She's stuck with everlasting Love
Any awkward time or place
His eyes'll start to drift
Then he bites his lip and will not shift
Does he love me, does he know me?
Smacks me in the head to show me
Does he know me, does he hear me
Even when he stands so near me?
Living for the moment but the moment never comes
Living for the moment but the moment…
And he's watching the birds
They're swooping in clouds, like words
They come to rest in someone else's tree
And I'm down on my knees
Give me the patience please
Not to fly away and think I'm free
Does he love me, does he know me?
Smacks me in the head to show me
Does he know me, does he hear me
Even when he stands so near me?
Living for the moment but the moment never comes
Living for the moment but the moment never comes
He's living for the moment but the moment never comes
Living for the moment but the moment…
All that hunger, Love and anger bottled up in eyes of blue
that can't see someone else's point of view
The lyrics to Oysterband's "Little Brother" convey a sense of restlessness, frustration, and melancholy. The first stanza establishes the theme of running up against limitations, with every path eventually coming to a dead end, and every space feeling confining. The titular character is introduced as a young man with a fluctuating emotional state -- at times, he's as happy and carefree as a puppy, but other times he's beset by the pains of an ox. He's a big guy, tipping the scales at ninety kilos and standing at six foot two, but despite his imposing physical presence, he's still just passing through life without any clear sense of direction or purpose.
The song goes on to describe Little Brother's relationships with family members. He's kindhearted and loves spending time with others, but he can also be impulsive and violent, as evidenced by the line "smacks me in the head to show me." His mother is described as resigned to the enduring nature of love, even though she may not always understand it. Little Brother himself seems to be torn between wanting to fly free and seek his own destiny, and needing the stability and comfort of others. In the final stanza, the singer kneels down and asks for patience, suggesting that perhaps Little Brother is not the only one who struggles with feelings of entrapment and dissatisfaction.
Overall, "Little Brother" offers a poignant meditation on the complexities of human emotion and the struggle to find meaning in an often unpredictable and frustrating world. It suggests that even those with seemingly boundless physical strength can still be weighed down by the burdens of the heart and soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Every path will hit a brick wall
Life is unpredictable and full of obstacles that one must overcome.
Every space is just a box
Society imposes limitations and boundaries that constrain individuality.
First he's happy like a puppy
The little brother experiences moments of pure joy and innocence.
Then he's hurting like an ox
The little brother also experiences intense pain and suffering.
Tips the scales at ninety kilos
The little brother is a large and imposing physical presence.
Seventeen and six foot two
Despite his youth, the little brother is already very tall and physically imposing.
Little brother runs his mother down
The little brother is a burden to his mother and causes her stress and anxiety.
Just passing through
The little brother is transient and does not stay in one place for long.
Tender-minded, oh so kind
Despite his physical size, the little brother has a gentle and caring nature.
He loves to be with you
The little brother craves human connection and seeks out companionship.
Anywhere you go he'll stick like glue
The little brother is fiercely loyal and will follow his loved ones anywhere.
Does he love me, does he know me?
The artist questions whether the little brother truly understands and cares about her.
Smacks me in the head to show me
The little brother expresses his affection through physical gestures, which can be painful or uncomfortable at times.
Living for the moment but the moment never comes
The little brother is focused on the present and does not think about the future, but he also fails to fully enjoy the present because it slips away too quickly.
She lays her head down in the kitchen
The mother is exhausted and overwhelmed by the stress of caring for the little brother.
All the things she's thinking of
The mother is preoccupied with worries and concerns about the little brother's well-being and future.
Mother sighs and wonders why
The mother questions why she has been entrusted with such a difficult child and struggles to cope with the challenges he presents.
Any awkward time or place
The little brother may become distracted or unsettled at any moment, regardless of the social context.
His eyes'll start to drift
The little brother becomes unfocused and distracted easily.
Then he bites his lip and will not shift
The little brother attempts to control his behavior and emotions, but sometimes he is unable to
And he's watching the birds
The little brother finds joy and fascination in observing the natural world.
They're swooping in clouds, like words
The birds' movements are poetic and beautiful, and the little brother appreciates this.
They come to rest in someone else's tree
The birds belong to the wider world, and the little brother recognizes that they are not his to keep.
And I'm down on my knees
The artist feels overwhelmed and helpless in the face of the little brother's difficulties.
Give me the patience please
The singer prays for the strength to endure and persevere in caring for the little brother.
Not to fly away and think I'm free
The singer resists the temptation to escape from her responsibility to the little brother, recognizing that true freedom lies in fulfilling one's obligations to others.
All that hunger, love and anger bottled up in eyes of blue
The little brother's complex and intense emotions are evident in his gaze, which reflects his longing, his passion, and his frustration.
That can't see someone else's point of view
Despite his sensitivity and empathy, the little brother struggles to understand other people's perspectives and experiences.
Contributed by Hannah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.