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/
Rambling Irishman
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Ulster I was born
And many's the happy hours I spent
On the banks of sweet Lough Erne
But to live poor I could not endure
As others of my station
To America I sailed away
And left this Irish nation
Ry tan tin-a-na, tan tin-a-na
Ry tan tin-a-noora nandy
The night before I went away
I spent it with my darling
From three o'clock in the afternoon
Till the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part
We lay in each others' arms
You may be sure and very sure
It wounded both our charms
The very first night I slept on board
I dreamt about my Nancy
I dreamt I held her in my arms
And well she pleased my fancy
But when I woke out of my dream
I found that my bed was empty
You may be sure and very sure
That I lay discontented
When we arrived at the other side
We were both stout and healthy
We dropped our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphia
For to live poor I could not endure
Like others of my station
To America I sailed away
And left this Irish nation
The lyrics to Oysterband's song "Rambling Irishman" are a reflection of the tumultuous history of Ireland and the struggles of the Irish people through colonization and poverty. The song paints a picture of a young Irishman who, despite loving his homeland and spending countless happy hours by the serene waters of Lough Erne, could not withstand living in poverty and decided to sail away to America. It is a tale of sadness and longing, as the singer is forced to leave behind his loved ones and everything he has ever known in search of a better life.
The song is deeply rooted in Irish tradition, as evident by the use of a traditional Irish tune, "Ry tan tin-a-na, tan tin-a-na, Ry tan tin-a-noora nandy". The tune adds an additional layer of emotion and nostalgia to the song, emphasizing the longing and sadness felt by the singer. The first verse illustrates the happy memories the singer has of his homeland, while the second verse delves deeper into the pain caused by separation from loved ones. The final verse talks about the singer's arrival in America and his determination to live a better life, despite the hardships he endured.
Overall, "Rambling Irishman" is a poignant and emotional song that delves into the turbulent history of Ireland and the struggles faced by its people. It is a reminder of the pain and suffering caused by poverty and colonization and the determination of the Irish people to persevere and overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a rambling Irishman
I am an Irishman who likes to wander or travel
In Ulster I was born
I was born in the region of Ulster, which is part of Ireland
And many's the happy hours I spent
I have spent many happy hours
On the banks of sweet Lough Erne
Next to the beautiful Lough Erne lake
But to live poor I could not endure
I couldn't bear the idea of living in poverty
As others of my station
Like other people with my job or position
To America I sailed away
I sailed to America
And left this Irish nation
And left my home country, Ireland
The night before I went away
The night before departing
I spent it with my darling
I spent it with my beloved
From three o'clock in the afternoon
From three in the afternoon
Till the break of day next morning
Until the sun rose the next morning
But when that we were going to part
But when we were about to say goodbye
We lay in each others' arms
We held each other tightly
You may be sure and very sure
I can assure you
It wounded both our charms
It hurt both of our feelings
The very first night I slept on board
The first night I slept on the ship
I dreamt about my Nancy
I had a dream about my beloved Nancy
I dreamt I held her in my arms
I dreamed that I was holding her
And well she pleased my fancy
I was very pleased with the dream
But when I woke out of my dream
When I woke up from the dream
I found that my bed was empty
I realized she wasn't there
You may be sure and very sure
Again, I can assure you
That I lay discontented
That I was unhappy
When we arrived at the other side
When we arrived at our destination
We were both stout and healthy
We were both strong and healthy
We dropped our anchor in the bay
We anchored the ship in the bay
Going down to Philadelphia
On our way to Philadelphia
For to live poor I could not endure
I couldn't bear to live in poverty
Like others of my station
Like other people with my job or position
To America I sailed away
I sailed to America
And left this Irish nation
And left my home country, Ireland
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.