The band consisted of two of the superstars of British folk guitar, Bert Jansch (3rd November 1943 - 5th October 2011) and John Renbourn (both of whom also sang,) singer Jacqui McShee, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox. The original line-up lasted until the early 70s, when a series of ins and outs resulted in erratic output, which continued through the 80s and 90s.
The core of the band's identity was the eclectic virtuosity of Jansch and Renbourn, who added elements of Middle Eastern music, blues, jazz and Classical to their style. At various times, they also experimented with electric guitar and sitar.
In the UK, probably best known for providing 'Light Flight' as the theme to the BBC drama series 'Take Three Girls'.
Wedding Dress
Pentangle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you guess better be making your wedding dress
Wedding dress, wedding dress
Better be making your wedding dress
Well, It's already made
Trimmed in brown stitched around with golden crown
Golden crown, golden crown
Well, It's already made
Trimmed in red stitched around with golden thread
Golden thread, golden thread
Stitched around with golden thread
Well, It's already made
Drimmed in green prettiest thing you've ever seen
Ever seen, ever seen
Prettiest thing you've ever seen
Well, It's already made
Trimmed in white gonna be married on Saturday night
Saturday night Saturday night,
Gonna be married on Saturday night
Well, she wouldn't say yes
She wouldn't say no all she do is just sit and sew
Sit and sew, sit and sew
All she do is just sit and sew
The Pentangle's "Wedding Dress" is an old Appalachian folk tune featuring a timeless message of love and commitment. The song's narrator urges his lover, the "little Doney girl," to start making her wedding dress to prepare for their upcoming wedding. The song's verses detail how the dress is already made, trimmed with different colors of thread and crowned in gold. However, despite the singer's persistence in wanting to marry her, the girl only sits and sews, offering no indication of her feelings towards the proposal.
The song's message of love and commitment is conveyed effectively by the singer's urgency in the chorus. He repeatedly tells the girl to "better be making" her wedding dress, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The different colors and types of thread used to trim the dress also serve as a metaphor for the different experiences and emotions in life that the couple will share together. The golden crown symbolizes their shared commitment to each other and their enduring love.
Overall, "Wedding Dress" presents a timeless message about love and commitment that resonates with listeners of all ages. The song's simple yet evocative lyrics and gentle melody make it a beloved folk classic that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, my little Doney girl
Addressing a girl named Doney
Don't you guess better be making your wedding dress
Advising her to start making her own wedding dress
Wedding dress, wedding dress
Emphasizing the importance of the wedding dress
Better be making your wedding dress
Reiterating the importance of starting to make the dress
Well, It's already made
Contradicting the previous lines, as the dress is already made
Trimmed in brown stitched around with golden crown
Describing the dress as having brown trimming and a golden crown stitched onto it
Golden crown, golden crown
Emphasizing the golden crown as a notable feature of the dress
Stitched around with golden crown
Repeating the previously mentioned detail of the dress
Trimmed in red stitched around with golden thread
Describing another version of the dress with red trimming and golden thread
Golden thread, golden thread
Emphasizing the golden thread on this version of the dress
Stitched around with golden thread
Reiterating the previously mentioned detail of the dress
Trimmed in green prettiest thing you've ever seen
Describing yet another version of the dress, this time with green trimming and considered very beautiful
Ever seen, ever seen
Emphasizing the beauty of the dress
Prettiest thing you've ever seen
Reiterating how gorgeous the dress is
Trimmed in white gonna be married on Saturday night
Describing a different version of the dress, this time with white trimming, to be worn for the upcoming Saturday night wedding
Saturday night Saturday night,
Emphasizing the day of the wedding
Gonna be married on Saturday night
Reiterating the significance of the upcoming Saturday night wedding
Well, she wouldn't say yes
Referring to the girl who the previous lines were addressed to, who did not give a definitive answer on whether she was willing or not to make the wedding dress
She wouldn't say no all she do is just sit and sew
Indicating that the girl has been sewing instead of giving an answer
Sit and sew, sit and sew
Emphasizing the girl's activity of sewing
All she do is just sit and sew
Reiterating that the girl has been sewing and not giving an answer
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DavidCKendall
They are so comfortably casual about being technically excellent.
@AnthonyMonaghan
Terry Cox dropping the fresh beats... fantastic drummer, percutionist, singer songwriter.
@MrBeevon
That bowed bass is so cool
@OIP_1
this groove, performance and whole atmosphere is incredible. i've listened to this so many times!
@stacyblue1980
This little band was monumental. 🌹
@jamesrobert4106
A band comprised of NOTHING but the best. That much talent in one group is unlikely to ever be matched.
@jtrevino5268
She could sing the phone book and make me weep
@coralharvey7957
Effortlessly sublime.
@StrawberryMixALot
this started off sounding like a 90s jam, it's crazy
@mortalwombat2001
yeah that drumbeat was ahead of it's time