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/
We Could Leave Right Now
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We could just walk away
It wouldn't cost a thing
Hardly anyone would see
The wind would hide our tracks
The clouds would fill our shoes
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
we could leave right now
Any step could be the first
Any word could be the last
Any door would do
We can forget our names
Forget each other's faces
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
put down the music and talk
Your rumors and regrets
Fading silhouettes
All you need to do is walk away...
We could leave right now
Maybe it's getting light out there
Papers in the alley
Just a little rain
We can forget our names
Forget each other's faces
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
The song "We Could Leave Right Now" by Oysterband is a captivating exploration of the possibilities that life holds when we are willing to let go of the things that inhibit us. The song starts with the words "We could leave right now, we could just walk away." The singer is posing the idea that no matter how trapped we may feel in our current situation, we always have the option to break free from it.
The lyrics paint a picture of a world where we are not defined by our circumstances, where every step could be the first, and any door would do. The singer invokes the imagery of the wind hiding our tracks, and the clouds filling our shoes, creating a sense of adventure and freedom.
The mood of the lyrics takes a turn from being introspective to being a call to action - "put down the music and talk, your rumors and regrets, fading silhouettes, all you need to do is walk away." The singer is urging the listener to not be afraid, to forget their names and faces, and to take the leap into the unknown.
The song is a testament to the power of letting go of our fears and taking risks to create the life we want. It is a reminder that we always have choices and opportunities, and that even the smallest step can lead us towards a different path.
Line by Line Meaning
We could leave right now
We have the freedom to leave immediately, without any prior notice or explanation.
We could just walk away
We don't need a plan or a destination, we can simply start moving in any direction.
It wouldn't cost a thing
There are no financial or material barriers preventing us from leaving.
Hardly anyone would see
We would not be noticed or missed by many people, and our absence would not cause a significant disruption.
The wind would hide our tracks
Nature would conceal any traces of our departure, making it difficult to follow or find us.
The clouds would fill our shoes
The sky would shield us from any pain or discomfort we might encounter, and give us a sense of buoyancy.
Don't be afraid
There is no need to be fearful or hesitant about leaving, as we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Any step could be the first
Every new action we take has the potential to lead us down a different path, and we should not be afraid to take a chance or start over.
Any word could be the last
Our words have power, and we should be mindful of their impact, as any one of them could change our lives forever.
Any door would do
We don't need a specific entrance or exit, any opportunity or option is worth considering and exploring.
We can forget our names
We have the freedom to shed our past identities and start fresh, unencumbered by our previous experiences and assumptions.
Forget each other's faces
We can let go of other people's judgments and expectations of us, and focus on creating our own path and vision for the future.
put down the music and talk
We should communicate openly and honestly with each other, without distractions or barriers, in order to truly understand each other's desires and motivations.
Your rumors and regrets
We should not be influenced or weighed down by other people's opinions or our own past mistakes.
Fading silhouettes
The people and situations we are leaving behind will eventually fade into the past, and our future is open and undefined.
All you need to do is walk away...
The decision to leave is simple and straightforward, and we should not let fear or uncertainty hold us back from pursuing our dreams and freedom.
Maybe it's getting light out there
Leaving behind the darkness and negativity of our current situation, we can find hope and optimism in the new opportunities and experiences waiting for us.
Papers in the alley
The mundane objects and details of our current environment will no longer define or limit us, and we have the chance to create a new reality for ourselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PROSSER, IAN TELFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sally Claire Wentworth
Deserters . one of the band's best . " The best damn band , nobody's heard of "
Georgina Jennings
Written by Telfer (lyrics) and Prosser (music) - love it!
Jens Metje
Yes, best band in the world AND I heard of them :-). And this song is one of my personal "national anthems": Don´t be afraid!
Julian Meek
I have met John Jones - who wrote and sang this - and he is one of the most upbeat people I have encountered. Deep soul though - Go the Oysters!
SlightlySusan
@julesthemadman I think John and Ian are gifted wordsmiths. This is a special band.
Basset Zerka
c'est de la bonnnne music
Henk Loobuyck
Superb !
Jens Barrit Laursen
The Music ever!!!!
Cooper Clark
endlich jemand, der etwas von musik versteht ;-)
Derrick
;-)