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/
Voices
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make some bad connections when they call
Hiding out from the little lad and his famous poison arrow
Blind to where his idle shot may fall
Faded ghosts in photographs that ploughed a lonely furrow
Turn their tired faces to the wall
The iron kiss of sacrifice has chilled them to the marrow
CHORUS
Oh, the wolf's in the woods
And the children are heading for harm
But sometimes the wolf is just a false alarm
Sometimes the world just opens up its arms
Ah ... we can make it right tonight
Ah ... it's time our time began
Ah ... no more shame or stupid games
We've gotta use this power while we can
While we can
No more lies or alibis, we can wipe the slate of sorrow
Morning's still a million miles away
This world is only a harvest field, don't peck it like a sparrow
Make them scared of your hunger
Seize the day
CHORUS
Ah ... we can make it right tonight
Ah ... it's time our time began
Ah ... no more shame or stupid games
We've gotta use this power while we can
Ah ... (repeating)
We've gotta use this power while we can
While we can
The lyrics of Oysterband's "Voices" are a call to action to take control of one's life and not be swayed by outside pressures. The "voices" in the first verse represent societal expectations of walking the "straight and narrow," but the singer recognizes that making "bad connections" can lead to trouble. The "little lad" and his "famous poison arrow" are metaphors for the negative influences that can blind one to the consequences of their actions.
The second verse speaks to the sacrifices made by those who came before us and the importance of not repeating their mistakes. The "faded ghosts in photographs" represent those who "ploughed a lonely furrow" and suffered as a result. The singer sees that their sacrifices were unnecessary and that they did not have to "turn their tired faces to the wall." The chorus is a reminder that sometimes the dangers we envision are not as dire as we think and that the world can be a welcoming place. The message is one of empowerment and taking action to seize opportunities before they are lost.
Overall, "Voices" is a call to break free from the constraints of society and take control of one's life. It encourages the listener to be mindful of outside influences and to make conscious decisions that lead to a fulfilling and authentic life.
Line by Line Meaning
Voices in your lonely ear say "Walk the straight and narrow"
There are people who advise you to behave in a certain way, but they might not know what's best for you.
You make some bad connections when they call
Sometimes when you follow someone else's advice blindly, it could lead you to a wrong path.
Hiding out from the little lad and his famous poison arrow
Trying to avoid the consequences of your actions, especially when you know you've done something wrong.
Blind to where his idle shot may fall
Unaware of the negative effects your actions could have on yourself and others.
Faded ghosts in photographs that ploughed a lonely furrow
Memories of people who lived their lives unfulfilled, without reaching their potential.
Turn their tired faces to the wall
Feeling defeated and giving up on life.
The iron kiss of sacrifice has chilled them to the marrow
The burden of sacrifice has weighed them down and taken a toll on their spirit.
But it never had to be like that at all
The situation could have been different if they had taken control of their lives and made different choices.
Oh, the wolf's in the woods
There are threats in life that we can't always see or predict.
And the children are heading for harm
The younger generation is vulnerable and needs protection.
But sometimes the wolf is just a false alarm
Sometimes our fears are unfounded and we shouldn't let them control our actions.
Sometimes the world just opens up its arms
Good things can happen unexpectedly, and we should be open to them.
Ah ... we can make it right tonight
We have the power to change our situation and make things better, starting now.
Ah ... it's time our time began
It's time to take control of our lives and start living to our fullest potential.
Ah ... no more shame or stupid games
It's time to let go of past regrets and stop playing games with ourselves.
We've gotta use this power while we can
We have to take advantage of the opportunities we have now, because they may not come again.
No more lies or alibis, we can wipe the slate of sorrow
It's time to be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our actions, and start anew.
Morning's still a million miles away
The future is uncertain, but it's important to focus on the present moment and take action.
This world is only a harvest field, don't peck it like a sparrow
We have the power to make a difference in the world with our actions, so we shouldn't waste our potential.
Make them scared of your hunger
We should be passionate and driven to succeed, and let that drive us forward to achieve our dreams.
Seize the day
Carpe diem - take advantage of every opportunity and make the most of life.
Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.