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/
Polish Plain
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of a country that's not yet born
O but its colours they are worn
We're riding in darkness
our papers might not be right
O but the banners will he bright
across the Polish plain
your heart is a sealed compartment
on that train
We're riding on tickets
the price was: everything
O but they'll know us when we sing
The lyrics of Oysterband's song Polish Plain explores the journey of a group of people who are travelling on "passports of a country that's not yet born." The notion of carrying passports of a non-existent country suggests a sense of hope and optimism, as the travellers envision the birth of a new nation that will one day recognize their identity. The use of the word 'colours' in the lyrics symbolizes the diverse cultures and identities that these travellers represent. The line "we're riding in darkness, our papers might not be right" hints at the struggles and difficulties these people may face as they embark on their journey towards self-discovery and self-identification. Despite these challenges, the banners that these travellers carry are depicted as bright, which could symbolize the energy, hope, and optimism they possess.
The song further delves into the theme of travel and journey through the lyrics, "The track goes on forever across the Polish plain, your heart is a sealed compartment on that train." Here, the "Polish plain" could symbolize the vast and diverse world that these travellers are exploring, and their "sealed compartment" could signify the personal and emotional journeys that they are undertaking. The final line of the song "We're riding on tickets, the price was everything, O but they'll know us when we sing," suggests that the travellers have invested everything they have to embark on their journey, and their voices and identities will be recognized and acknowledged through their songs.
Line by Line Meaning
We travel on passports
We journey with the official documents that permit our movement across borders
of a country that's not yet born
But these passports belong to a nation that is yet to come into existence
O but its colours they are worn
Even though this country doesn't exist, we still wear its symbolic colors proudly
We're riding in darkness
We travel in obscurity and uncertainty, with little knowledge of what lies ahead
our papers might not be right
It's possible that our travel documents aren't accurate, putting us at risk of being detained or deported
O but the banners will he bright
But regardless of our situation, we will raise our flags high and proudly proclaim our identity
The track goes on for ever
The journey seems endless, with no clear end or destination in sight
across the Polish plain
We travel across the vast and open terrain of Poland
your heart is a sealed compartment
Emotionally, we keep our feelings guarded and compartmentalized, hidden from others
on that train
During this journey, as we travel on this train
We're riding on tickets
We travel with our tickets, representing the cost we've paid for this journey
the price was: everything
And that price was everything we had - materially and spiritually - to make this journey and pursue our aspirations
O but they'll know us when we sing
But no matter how dire our circumstances may be, our spirit and character will shine through as we proclaim our identity through song
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.