Lakeman grew up with his two brothers Sean and Sam in the village of Buckland Monachorum in West Devon, England. He began playing music with his parents and two brothers at an early age. As The Lakeman Brothers, the three brothers released their debut album Three Piece Suite in 1994. Later that same year they were invited by two Yorkshire based singers Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby to join them as a backing group on a tour of Portugal. After the tour the five musicians became a permanent group and called themselves Equation. The group were signed in a record deal with Time Warner in 1995. After three full albums (Return to Me in 1996, Hazy Daze in 1998, and The Lucky Few in 2000), and tours in the UK, Europe and the United States, Lakeman left Equation in 2001. With his brother Sam he appeared on Sam's wife Cara Dillon's eponymous debut album, which featured Lakeman on fiddle, guitar and vocals. The album won two awards at the 2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
In 2002 Lakeman released his first solo album, The Punch Bowl, which received wide critical acclaim including a review in fRoots magazine which said: "The songs don't just glide smoothly by.....they get their claws into you".
Kitty Jay, Lakeman's second solo album was released in 2004. The title track of the album tells the story of Jay's Grave, a well known location on Dartmoor. That same year he collaborated with Devon singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and young local singer Jenna Witts on the album Western Approaches.
A UK tour in Autumn 2005 followed his Mercury Music Prize nomination, after which Lakeman and his band (regularly brother Sean on guitar, Ben Nichols on bass, Andy Tween on drums), toured extensively with folk-rock band The Levellers, who took to closing their set with a "fiddle off" between Lakeman and Levellers' fiddler Jonathan Sevink. Other support tours with Billy Bragg and Jools Holland brought Lakeman's music to a wider audience.
In March 2006 Lakeman began a UK tour in order to promote his new album Freedom Fields which was released on iScream. He signed to a new major record label, Relentless Records, promptly releasing a new single "Lady of the Sea" in early August 2006.
His fourth solo album, Poor Man's Heaven, was released on 30 June 2008 with an accompanying tour. It introduced a rockier edge to the folk of the previous albums. His fifth solo album, Hearts & Minds, was released on 19 July 2010. Lakeman released his sixth album called Tales From The Barrel House on 18 November 2011.
www.sethlakeman.co.uk
April Eyes
Seth Lakeman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Summer sings and Winter shouts.
Seasons breaking over me,
All I do is sit and dream.
Before my face her picture hangs,
A brighter image of this land.
Step it up or speed me through,
April in your eyes
I search through the sunshine,
For April is your time,
As the world passes by.
Go out to meet, but stay within,
I can see that beauty begin.
The view is free, so much to see,
The best of summers waiting with me.
The song April Eyes by Seth Lakeman is a reflective and introspective piece that takes the listener on a journey through the changing seasons and the poet's emotions. In the opening verse, we see the girl walking out, and the seasons change from Summer to Winter, signifying a sense of loss and a new beginning. As the poet sits and dreams, he is reminded of the girl whose image he keeps before him, a brighter image of the land. He asks her to "step it up or speed me through," indicating his desire for the girl to take him along with her, away from his troubles and into a new world.
The chorus of the song is April in your eyes, and the poet searches for that month's sunshine, as April is the time that belongs to the girl. He reflects on the beauty within and without, urging himself to go out and meet the world but also stay within himself to see the beauty that begins within him. The view is free, and the best of summers is waiting for him with her.
Overall, April Eyes is a song about the changing of seasons, the inner and outer beauty of the world, and the longing for a brighter future. The poet is reflective, looking back on his past and dreaming of a better tomorrow, and the song's melody and lyrics weave together to create an evocative, moving piece.
Line by Line Meaning
The day comes in, the girl walks out,
As another day starts, the woman leaves, signifying a recurring pattern in the singer's life.
Summer sings and Winter shouts.
Summer brings joy and happiness, while Winter represents stress and hardship.
Seasons breaking over me,
The change of seasons affects the singer profoundly, highlighting the transience of life.
All I do is sit and dream.
The artist spends his time daydreaming, unable to take action and move forward.
Before my face her picture hangs,
The artist keeps the woman on his mind with a vivid image constantly in front of him.
A brighter image of this land.
The woman embodies everything good in life, making the world a better, brighter place for the singer.
Step it up or speed me through,
The singer feels stuck and wants to break free, asking for help in moving forward.
Come along and take me with you.
The artist desires companionship and support in his quest for a better life.
April in your eyes
The woman represents a beacon of hope and renewal in the artist's life.
I search through the sunshine,
The artist actively pursues this renewal, searching for it even in the brightest, happiest times.
For April is your time,
April symbolizes the start of a new, hopeful season, embodied by the woman in the singer's life.
As the world passes by.
Despite the changes happening around him, the artist's focus remains on finding this renewal and new beginning.
Go out to meet, but stay within,
The singer wants to be more outgoing, but is held back by fear.
I can see that beauty begin.
Despite his fears, the singer recognizes the beauty around him and is inspired to seek it out.
The view is free, so much to see,
The singer realizes that there is so much in the world to explore and appreciate.
The best of summers waiting with me.
By overcoming his fears, the artist believes he can find the best that life has to offer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SETH LAKEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind