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/
The Lost And Found
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the time of the lost and found
They loose the nutters in the Underground
Everything's far and nothing is true
When the streets don't feel like a neutral zone
Or the strangers eye like a neutral glance
The very next step might blow your chance
Look sharp
It's like an opening door, look sharp
It's what we came here for, look sharp
You never know what the wind may blow
And your life's like the voice in the room upstairs
Raised to someone you never hear
You can try and try, it never comes clear
Are you saying or swearing your prayers?
But the eyes are wide that were shut for shame
Dogs in their backyards jump up and bark
Hull and Halifax wake in the dark
Like someone was calling their name -
Look sharp
It's like an opening door, look sharp
It's what we came here for, look sharp
You never know what the wind may blow
This is the hour when the city turns blue
This is the time of the lost and found
There's no saviours hanging around
Keeping a watch over you
There's words on the wall and a stinking lift
I hold my breath to the 14th floor
Empty-handed I knock at your door
My empty hands are my gift -
Look sharp
It's like an opening door, look sharp
It's what we came here for, look sharp
You never know what the wind may blow
The lyrics to Oysterband's song "The Lost and Found" evoke a sense of disorientation and uncertainty in a big city. The first stanza sets the scene, describing a time when the city "turns blue" and the lost and found are in active operation, releasing "nutters" into the underground. The song then grapples with the feeling of being lost in such an environment, where nothing is true and even the streets don't feel safe. The second stanza urges the listener to stay alert and "look sharp," as the next step could be crucial in finding their way home alone.
The bridge of the song has a haunting quality, with lyrics that suggest a sense of desperation and lostness. Lines like "your life's like the voice in the room upstairs" and "are you saying or swearing your prayers?" paint a picture of a person lost in their own thoughts and unsure of what direction to take. However, the chorus's repetition of "look sharp" serves as a call to action, urging the listener to keep their wits about them and stay sharp, as the wind may blow them in any direction.
Overall, "The Lost and Found" offers a stark reminder of how disorienting a big city can be and the importance of staying alert and focused.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the hour when the city turns blue
The city is covered in a dark, blue light that signifies the change of time.
This is the time of the lost and found
This is a moment when things that were lost can be found and things that were found can be lost.
They lose the nutters in the Underground
The madness on the Underground trains make some commuters lose their mind.
Everything's far and nothing is true
Distance and disorientation overshadow any sense of truth.
When the streets don't feel like a neutral zone
The city streets feel more like an unknown and dangerous territory.
Or the strangers eye like a neutral glance
Even strangers eye contact feels threatening and not neutral.
The very next step might blow your chance
Every step taken could lead to disaster or missed opportunities.
Of finding your way home alone -
The prospect of getting lost and never finding one's way back home is likely.
Look sharp
Pay attention and be careful.
It's like an opening door, look sharp
Being alert is like opening up a new opportunity for survival.
It's what we came here for, look sharp
Being wary is the purpose for coming out to the city.
You never know what the wind may blow
Anything could happen at any moment and it's unpredictable.
And your life's like the voice in the room upstairs
One's life feels distant, unattainable, and unheard like a voice coming from another room.
Raised to someone you never hear
One's existence seems insignificant or unnoticed by others.
You can try and try, it never comes clear
Attempting to clarify one's purpose or message is futile.
Are you saying or swearing your prayers?
It's unclear what the individual is saying or confessing in public.
But the eyes are wide that were shut for shame
People who previously felt shame or guilt now appear alert or aware.
Dogs in their backyards jump up and bark
Animals seem to sense danger and bark loudly to warn their owners.
Hull and Halifax wake in the dark
Cities far away from London appear to awaken despite the distance.
Like someone was calling their name
The chaos in London feels like it is spilling out and engulfing other cities.
There's no saviors hanging around
Nobody is coming to save individuals from their problems or worries.
Keeping a watch over you
People are forced to watch out for themselves and be their only security.
There's words on the wall and a stinking lift
There are signs of vandalism and poor hygiene in the building.
I hold my breath to the 14th floor
The individual is in distress while climbing the stairs to the 14th floor.
Empty-handed I knock at your door
The individual has nothing of value to offer when seeking help from others.
My empty hands are my gift
The individual is only able to offer vulnerability when reaching out to others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PROSSER, IAN TELFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind