Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.
Nettle Wine
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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With dead-nettles growing all around the door
Early every morning the sun comes up the mountain
Setting in the sea in the evening once more.
Take some water from the brook
Wondering who it was that took the stones from the mountain to build the cottage here
Two up and two down, miles from the nearest town
Take a bunch of nettles, add a little water
Drawn from the stream running outside the door
Leave it for a month or two, bottle it and drink the brew
Watch the suns go down in the sea once more.
Take some wood to build a fire
Could you really get much higher than standing in the doorway with a glass of nettle wine
My lady beside me, the mountain behind me
Before me the sea and the red skyline.
Ralph McTell's song 'Nettle Wine' is a beautiful ode to the simple pleasures of rural life. The lyrics describe a country garden, situated under a mountain, where dead-nettles grow around the door. This idyllic scene is enhanced by the recurring motif of the sun rising over the mountain in the morning before setting in the sea in the evening. McTell creates a sense of wonder and awe at the natural world, evoking a feeling of peace and contentment.
The lyrics also hint at a sense of nostalgia, as the singer wonders about the people who built the cottage in which he now lives. McTell describes the cottage as 'two up and two down' and situated miles from the nearest town, implying a locale far removed from modernity. However, the reason for this retreat from civilization is 'clear' - the singer is content to live in harmony with the natural world, enjoying the beauty of the garden around him and the simple pleasure of nettle wine.
The final verse of the song brings together all the elements of the idyllic setting - the mountain, the sea, the sunset, and the nettle wine. The singer is standing in the doorway with his lady beside him, feeling a sense of happiness and contentment. The chords to this song are simple and acoustic, adding to the sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
In my country garden, underneath the mountain
I have a lovely garden in the countryside at the foothills of a mountain
With dead-nettles growing all around the door
The entrance to my garden is surrounded by dead-nettles
Early every morning the sun comes up the mountain
Every morning, the sun rises over the mountain, bringing light to my garden
Setting in the sea in the evening once more.
During the evening, the sun dips below the horizon and disappears into the sea
Take some water from the brook
I collect water from the nearby stream
Wondering who it was that took the stones from the mountain to build the cottage here
I often contemplate who built my cottage and where they sourced their materials
Two up and two down, miles from the nearest town
My house has two floors, and it's situated far from the closest town
I wonder who it was but the reason why is clear
Although I don't know who built my cottage, I understand why they chose this location
Take a bunch of nettles, add a little water
I use nettle and water to make wine
Drawn from the stream running outside the door
The water I use for my wine comes from the stream located near my house
Leave it for a month or two, bottle it and drink the brew
After letting the wine ferment for a month or two, I bottle it and enjoy it
Watch the suns go down in the sea once more.
While sipping my wine, I enjoy watching the sun go down over the sea
Take some wood to build a fire
I often gather wood to create a fire
Could you really get much higher than standing in the doorway with a glass of nettle wine
There's no better feeling than standing in my doorway, sipping my homemade nettle wine
My lady beside me, the mountain behind me
I am accompanied by my beloved and can see the beautiful mountain scenery
Before me the sea and the red skyline.
In front of me is a breathtaking view of the sea and the vivid red sky
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RALPH MC TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind