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
Lady Of The Sea (Hear Her Call
Seth Lakeman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This ship would take her last breath.
Her full mast it was draping,
Like a mermaid she was dressed.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
As all her cares they went sailing out to sea.
And flocked to view that lovely sight.
And all young maidens they came to town,
They waved her out on through the night.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
As all her cares they went sailing out to sea.
She tried to clear the rocks with swelling
Sails,
The ocean beat her everytime,
And with a crack her body failed.
But the sea engulfed and filled her eyes.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
As all her cares they went sailing out to sea.
I can hear her calling,I can hear her calling,
I can hear her calling back to me.
And when the news returned to the town,
Well every maid sat on the pier,
If lovers lost and fathers never found,
For now that mermaid's dressed in tears.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
As all our prayers they went sailing out to
Sea.
I can hear her calling,I can hear her calling,
I can hear her calling back to me,
Now that mermaid's dressed in tears,
I feel that mermaid's dressed in tears,
I see that mermaid's dressed in her tears.
The song "Lady of the Sea (Hear Her Call)" by Seth Lakeman is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a ship that sank in the month of May. The ship can be seen as a metaphor for a person - specifically a woman - who is facing her final moments. The ship is described as being dressed like a mermaid, which is a powerful image that seems to suggest the ship is not simply a vessel, but an entity in her own right. The ship's full mast is "draping" - it is clear that she is in distress. Despite this, the ship's "lonely heart is setting free," as if the ship is finally finding peace in her final moments.
The second verse speaks of the people who come to witness the ship's demise. The image of young maidens waving the ship out "through the night" is particularly poignant. The ship's inability to "clear the rocks with swelling sails" is a metaphor for a person who cannot overcome their struggles. The ship's body finally cracks, and the sea takes her under. In her final moments, the ship's "lonely heart" is finally free, and she calls out to those left behind.
The final verse speaks of the impact of the ship's sinking on the town. The idea that every maid sat on the pier, waiting for news of their loved ones, is a powerful image. The ship's final fate is compared to that of a mermaid, which is again a metaphor for a woman. The mermaid is "dressed in tears," suggesting that the ship's loss is deeply felt.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lady of the Sea (Hear Her Call)" are poignant and powerful. The imagery used throughout the song is evocative and haunting, and the message of finding peace in one's final moments is a universal one.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the moonlight in the month of May,
The ship met its ill fate in the month of May, under the moon's glow.
This ship would take her last breath.
The ship met its end.
Her full mast it was draping,
The ship was adorned with full sails.
Like a mermaid she was dressed.
The ship appeared like a mermaid.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
The ship's spirit has been liberated.
As all her cares they went sailing out to sea.
All the ship's worries have been left behind.
And all those people they gathered round,
The ship attracted an audience.
And flocked to view that lovely sight.
The people were enchanted by the ship's beauty.
And all young maidens they came to town,
Even the young women were drawn to the spectacle.
They waved her out on through the night.
They bid the ship farewell as it sailed away into the night.
She tried to clear the rocks with swelling sails,
The ship attempted to avoid the rocks with its sails.
The ocean beat her every time,
The ship was no match for the power of the sea.
And with a crack her body failed.
The ship's body was damaged and eventually failed.
But the sea engulfed and filled her eyes.
The ship sank and was swallowed by the sea.
I can hear her calling, I can hear her calling, I can hear her calling back to me.
The singer feels a connection to the ship's spirit or legacy.
And when the news returned to the town,
Word of the ship's fate spread to the town.
Well every maid sat on the pier,
The women of the town mourned for the lost ship.
If lovers lost and fathers never found,
If sailors lost their loved ones and their bodies were never found.
For now that mermaid's dressed in tears.
The ship's spirit is now a sorrowful mermaid.
I feel that mermaid's dressed in tears,
The artist empathizes with the mermaid's sadness.
I see that mermaid's dressed in her tears.
The artist observes the mermaid's sorrow.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giuseppefurio4814
TESTO
ASCOLTA
ALTRE RICERCHE DEGLI UTENTI
Testo
Out of the moonlight in the month of May,
This ship would take her last breath.
Her full mast it was draping,
Like a mermaid she was dressed.
Her lonely heart is setting free,
All her cares they went sailing out to sea.
All those people gathered round,
Flocked to view that lovely sight.
All young maidens came to town,
They waved her out into the night.
She tried to clear the rocks with swelling
sails,
The ocean beat her everytime,
And with a crack her body failed.
Sea engulfed and filled our eyes.
When the news returned to the town,
Every maid sat on the pier,
With lovers lost and fathers never found,
For now that mermaid`s dressed in tears.
Her lonely heart has set us free,
As all our prayers they went sailing out to
sea.
You can hear her calling,
Now that mermaid`s dressed in tears
@chrisjp100
First time i heard this tune, i was in a warehouse i was working in, it was playing full blast. Never forgot it since. Bloody love it.
@KernowFishy
Seth deserves so much more fame than he has got. A brilliant musician and singer.
@angelamills980
Re deserving fame, I love you both for being satisfied that others appreciate your talents. Makes you both far more positive role models.
@ForkyMusic
Im in a Folk Rock band, all 16, from essex and its actually made me feel so much better watching this, that this type of music is finally being recognised!!
@ellievisionog
Hows the band going, 11 years on?
@fenris78uk
How are you doing at 27 mate?
@mikeyirish1967
This man is crazy talented.
@louisetaylor4658
So talented and just amazing live!
@Norkeiber
This is totally fantastic. Really love this! Such a talented mix of voice and string.
@EmillieKey
Love his singing and his talented playing! Proud to be from Devon! inspires me every time i hear this :)