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/
Ship Sets Sail
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll wipe the sweat away
all your life you travel blind
not a peace, not resigned
at least you get to leave the pain behind
when you, ship sets sail
And when your work is done do not hurry
40 years the mills grind slow
take your pay, before you know
they're telling you it's time to go
when your ship sets sail
And nothing much you taught us turned out useful in the end
maybe the world was bigger then and easier to mend
And when your ship sets sail do not worry
I'll wipe the sweat away
the street was dark, the dark was sweet
the boy still running up the street
to grip the hand that grips this sheet
when your ship sets sail
And can you scrape the patience up to stand in one more line?
You haven't lost your ticket, look, you had it all the time…
boy still running
The song "Ship Sets Sail" by Oysterband is a beautifully poignant song about letting go, leaving behind the baggage of life and moving on to the next journey. It talks about the different moments when we leave, and the emotions that come with those moments.
The first stanza of the song talks about the idea of leaving behind the troubles that have plagued us in life. The lyricist talks about wiping the sweat away, which may signify the desire to erase the pain and the anxiety that come with the journey. The second stanza speaks to the idea of transitions – moving from one phase of life to the next. It talks about the slow grind of labor and the fact that despite the passing of time, life doesn't change for the better.
The third stanza of the song is a call to accept the reality of life and to let go of the things that we thought would matter. It talks about how we often hold onto to things that are of little importance in the grand scheme of things. The last stanza, with the powerful image of a boy still running up the street, signifies the never-ending cycle of life, and the constant search for meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
And when your ship sets sail do not worry
When you embark on a new journey in life, don't fret because I will be there to comfort and support you.
I'll wipe the sweat away
I'll be your pillar of strength and help you overcome any obstacles that come your way.
all your life you travel blind
Throughout your life, you are never quite sure of what the future holds, but it's not always a bad thing to seize new opportunities.
not a peace, not resigned
You may not be satisfied with your current situation, but that doesn't mean you should give up on seeking change and growth.
at least you get to leave the pain behind
When you depart from the past, you can leave behind the hurt and pain of previous experiences and start fresh.
when your, ship sets sail
The act of sailing away serves as a metaphor for leaving behind one's past and striving for a better future.
And when your work is done do not hurry
Once you have fulfilled your responsibilities, there is no need to rush because you have earned the right to slow down and enjoy life.
don't pack your things away
Avoid rushing through life and take the time to enjoy the moment before moving on to the next phase.
40 years the mills grind slow
Working hard for 40 years, the daily grind takes its toll on a person, finding leisure is important for retaining happiness.
take your pay, before you know
Time can pass by quickly, so it's important to focus on the things that matter and not get hung up on details.
they're telling you it's time to go
No matter how much you enjoy your work, there comes a time when it's time to retire and move on to a new chapter of life.
when your ship sets sail
This phrase serves as a reminder that life is a journey, and there is always something new waiting for us in the future.
And nothing much you taught us turned out useful in the end
Sometimes, it is easy to forget that we learn the most from our mistakes, and the lessons we learn are always useful in the end.
maybe the world was bigger then and easier to mend
The world was simpler, and problems weren't as complex in the past, maybe what we lacked in technological advancements, we made up for in human kindness towards one another.
the street was dark, the dark was sweet
The past was filled with both good and bad memories – leaving behind both the good and bad times in order to embrace the future.
the boy still running up the street
This is an iconography of youthfulness we carry within our personality and how it keeps us moving forward.
to grip the hand that grips this sheet
Taking responsibility for your actions and seizing the reins of life gives you control of the direction in which you want to head.
when your ship sets sail
This phrase serves as a reminder that life is a journey, and there is always something new waiting for us in the future.
And can you scrape the patience up to stand in one more line?
It takes patience to wait in line and attend to life's responsibilities, but it's a small price to pay to achieve success.
You haven't lost your ticket, look, you had it all the time…
Sometimes, the answer to our problems is closer than we think. It may just take a little patience and introspection to find it within oneself.
boy still running
This final line serves as a reminder of the youthfulness and ever-evolving nature of life – never stay stagnant and always strive for progress.
Contributed by Layla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.