Seth Bernard Lakeman (born 26 March 1977) is an English folk singer, songwr… Read Full Bio ↴Seth Bernard Lakeman (born 26 March 1977) is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but also plays the viola and banjo. Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005, Lakeman has belonged to several musical ensembles, including The Lakeman Brothers with his two brothers (both fellow folk musicians) Sam Lakeman and Sean Lakeman and subsequently with Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby in the folk 'supergroup' Equation. After leaving Equation in 2001, Lakeman quickly established himself as a popular solo act.

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

Portrait of My Wife
Seth Lakeman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In vain, I try to dry a tear which falls down from my eyes
It makes me think of the one I love who in the cold grave lies
My heart is very sad, I vow on thing cheers me through my life
The only merit I have left, the portrait of my wife

Roll away those lonely days, roll from up above
Raise your glass to the one you love
Roll away those lonely days, roll from up above

Raise your glass to the one you love

She gave it with the parting kiss, she gave it with a sigh
And said "Dear husband, do take this before I say goodbye"
And let me place it round your neck while I've got one breath of life
And I hope you'll never once forget, this portrait of your wife

Roll away those empty days, roll from up above
Raise your glass to the one you love
Roll away those empty days, roll from up above
Raise your glass to the one you love

I see her in my dreams at night, I think of her by day
To me she was an angel bright, but now she's far away
I wear her portrait near my heart, I'll treasure it through life
And with it, I will never part his portrait of my wife

Roll away those hollow days, roll from up above
Raise your glass to the one you love

Roll away those hollow days, roll from up above
Raise your glass to the one you love

Overall Meaning

Seth Lakeman’s song, “Portrait of My Wife” tells a story of a man who has lost his wife and treasures her portrait as the only thing left of her. The poignant verses begin with the singer’s failed efforts to contain his tears as he remembers his departed wife, who lies in a cold grave. Despite his sadness, the singer finds comfort in the portrait that his wife gave him before she departed. The portrait is a constant reminder of her love and a treasure that he holds close to his heart.

The chorus is an expression of joy for love and the memories shared by the singer and his beloved. He calls on those present to raise their glasses and celebrate the one they love. As the song continues, it becomes clear that the singer’s memories of his wife are ever-present in his heart and mind. He sees her in his dreams at night and thinks of her every day as he wears her portrait near his heart, which he vows to treasure through his life.

Overall, “Portrait of My Wife” is a touching tribute to a love that endures beyond death. It reminds us of the power that memories and love can have on us even in death.

Line by Line Meaning

In vain, I try to dry a tear which falls down from my eyes
Despite my best efforts, I cannot control the tears that express my deep grief

It makes me think of the one I love who in the cold grave lies
The tears remind me of my beloved wife who has passed away and been buried

My heart is very sad, I vow on thing cheers me through my life
I am filled with profound sadness, and only the memory of my wife sustains me

The only merit I have left, the portrait of my wife
The only valuable possession I have left is the portrait of my beloved wife that she gave me before passing away

Roll away those lonely days, roll from up above
May the painful and isolating days pass quickly, with divine help

Raise your glass to the one you love
Let us honor and appreciate those we cherish

She gave it with the parting kiss, she gave it with a sigh
My wife gave me the portrait with a loving kiss and a heavy heart before leaving for the last time

And said "Dear husband, do take this before I say goodbye"
She urged me to keep the portrait as a reminder of our love long after she was gone

And let me place it round your neck while I've got one breath of life
She put the portrait around my neck herself, just before she passed away

And I hope you'll never once forget, this portrait of your wife
She hoped I would always value and treasure the portrait as a symbol of our enduring love

I see her in my dreams at night, I think of her by day
My wife is constantly on my mind, even as I sleep or go about my daily life

To me she was an angel bright, but now she's far away
My wife was the embodiment of goodness and grace to me, but now she has passed beyond my reach

I wear her portrait near my heart, I'll treasure it through life
I keep the portrait close to my heart and will always cherish it as a symbol of our unbreakable bond

And with it, I will never part his portrait of my wife
I will never let go of the portrait or the memories it represents

Roll away those hollow days, roll from up above
May the days of emptiness and longing be replaced by happier times, with divine help

Raise your glass to the one you love
Let us honor and appreciate our loved ones, especially those who have passed on

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Seth Lakeman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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