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
King and Country
Seth Lakeman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A weeping maid, an evening in the rain,
Roses ramble and the trees hang low,
We sit and drink to all good friends we
know.
`Tis I my love who'll leave in June,
For twenty five days no more.
It's for king and country I`ll come back
again.
The first season passed without news.
Two weeks gone and still no autumn
tune.
The leaves they weep for the loss of their
spring,
The dimming days they serve no better
king.
`Tis I my love who fought for you.
For twenty five weeks no more.
Now mark that spot from whence I came
It's for king and country I`ll come back
again.
The wind blew in a few small drops of
rain.
She followed them `til her tears ran down
again.
I`ll do as much as any young man may.
Please don`t sit and mourn I`ll come
back rich and brave.
`Tis I my love who fell for you,
After twenty five months no more.
Now mark that spot from whence I came
It's for king and country I`ll come back
again.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
I'll come back to you when I'm rich and
brave.
I'll come back to you.
Out of the doorway her hands upon her
head,
The weeping maid, her love was lost or
dead.
Her longest day had only just begun.
She cursed the man who favoured for
the gun.
`Tis I my love who fell for you.
For twenty five years or more
Now mark that spot from whence we
came
It's for king and country I`ll come back
again.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
I'll come back to you when I'm rich and
brave.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
I'll come back to you
Lyrics > Seth Lakeman Lyrics > Seth Lakeman King & Country Lyrics
The lyrics of Seth Lakeman's "King and Country" tell a story of love during wartime. The first stanza sets the scene with picturesque imagery of hills, lanes, and nature. A group of friends gather to enjoy each other's company and raise a toast to their bond. In the second stanza, we learn the singer is leaving to fight for their country for 25 days. The third stanza reveals that there is no news from the front lines, and the days are growing dimmer with the loss of spring. The fourth stanza indicates that the singer fights for his love, and he'll be gone for 25 weeks.
The song's mood turns somber when the singer falls and is gone for 25 months. The fifth stanza shows the weeping maid cursing the war and the man who favored the gun. In the final stanza, it's been 25 years since the singer left, and the longest day has begun for the weeping maid. Despite the time that has passed, the singer's love remains steadfast, and he promises to return, rich and brave, on the longest day.
Overall, the song highlights the sacrifices individuals make for their country and their loved ones during times of war. It portrays the anguish and pain experienced by those left behind and the hope for a reunion.
Line by Line Meaning
Folding hills and a silver lane
Describing the setting of the story with hills and a quiet road.
A weeping maid, an evening in the rain
Introducing a sorrowful woman and setting a sad atmosphere.
Roses ramble and the trees hang low
Further describing the scene with overgrown roses and drooping trees.
We sit and drink to all good friends we know.
The characters enjoy a drink in honor of their friends.
`Tis I my love who'll leave in June,
The artist shares that he will depart in June.
For twenty five days no more.
The singer will be gone for 25 days.
Now mark that spot from whence I came
Asking someone to remember where he came from.
It's for king and country I'll come back again.
The reason for his departure is for duty to his country.
The first season passed without news.
No communication comes from the artist after the first season.
Two weeks gone and still no autumn tune.
Two weeks have passed without hearing from him during the fall season.
The leaves they weep for the loss of their spring.
The foliage reference the sadness of the situation.
The dimming days they serve no better king.
The gloomy days offer no solace to anyone.
`Tis I my love who fought for you.
The singer reveals that they fought for their love interest.
For twenty five weeks no more.
The singer was away for a longer period of time, 25 weeks.
Now mark that spot from whence I came
Asking someone to remember where he departed from.
It's for king and country I'll come back again.
The reason for the absence remains for the good of the land.
The wind blew in a few small drops of rain.
A moment of weather foreshadows the sorrow to come.
She followed them `til her tears ran down again.
The woman trails the raindrops with her tears.
I'll do as much as any young man may.
The singer promises to do everything he can.
Please don't sit and mourn I'll come back rich and brave.
The artist asks the woman to have hope as he promises to come back a better man.
`Tis I my love who fell for you,
The artist has returned, but they have suffered a loss.
After twenty five months no more.
The artist has been gone a significant amount of time, 25 months.
Now mark that spot from whence I came
Asking someone to remember where he departed from.
It's for king and country I'll come back again.
The reason for the artist's absence continues to be the good of the land.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
The singer will return on the summer solstice.
I'll come back to you when I'm rich and brave.
The singer promises to come back a better man.
I'll come back to you.
The singer repeatedly assures their loved one of their return.
Out of the doorway her hands upon her head,
The woman expresses shock and sadness by putting her hands on her head.
The weeping maid, her love was lost or dead.
The woman is grieving a tragic event relating to her love interest.
Her longest day had only just begun.
The woman must now bear the emotional burden of the future without her love.
She cursed the man who favored for the gun.
Blaming the man who caused her love's death.
`Tis I my love who fell for you.
The artist reveals that they have returned after 25 years.
For twenty five years or more
The artist was gone for a significant period of time, 25 years or more.
Now mark that spot from whence we came
Asking someone to remember where they previously resided.
It's for king and country I'll come back again.
The reason for the singer's absence remains for the good of the land.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
The artist reiterates the promise to return on the summer solstice.
I'll come back to you when I'm rich and brave.
Repeating the promise to return improved and /or accomplished.
I'll come back to you on the longest day.
Restating the return on the summer solstice.
I'll come back to you.
Repeating the assurance of return.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SETH LAKEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ShizukuSeiji
Modern English folk at its finest. You can feel the good dark loam soil between your toes as you listen to this.
@11sriver40
I love how well Seth and Cara's voices are matched. It sounds amazing! 💖💜💙
@johnmccabe100
Absolute folkin genius, every track is a work of art.
@GwinnyMusic
I love the fact that Cara (Dillon) and Seth do backing vocals for eachother
@Vivimord
Good quality- Thanks uploader. Great track :)
@dogstar75
well Cara is married to one of Seths brothers, either sam or shaun. and of course they were all together in 'Equation' with Katherine Roberts who now plays with seths other brother when he's not playing as part of seths live band.
@dogstar75
@trevgk thanks for that.