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
Streamers
Seth Lakeman Lyrics
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Where young men and maidens meet their long sweethearts,
It is drinking of good liquor that has caused my heart to sing,
And the noise in yonder village made the rocks ring.
At the bottom of this mountain runs a river clear,
A ship from the Indes did once anchor here,
With her red flags a`flying and the beating of her drum,
At the bottom of this mountain where the birds do fly,
There is one amoungst them that flies so very high,
If I had her in my arms near the diamond`s cold black land,
How soon I`d secure her by the kindness of my hands.
So come all you little streamers that walk the meadows gay,
Go write unto your love wherever she may lay,
With her rosy lips entice me and her tongue she tells me no
But the angels might direct us wherever we should go.
The song "Streamers" tells the story of a romantic setting where lovers meet by a stream that is divided into three parts, and then shifts to the bottom of a mountain where the river runs clear. The lyrics describe how good liquor has caused the singer's heart to sing, and how the noise of people in a nearby village made the rocks ring. The setting is further characterized by a ship that once anchored at the bottom of the mountain. The ship had red flags flying, a beating drum, sweet music instruments, and shot firearms.
The song's lyrics continually shift perspectives, moving from the environment around the singer to his own desires. He sees a specific bird among many that flies high, and he imagines having it in his arms near the diamond's cold black land. He concludes the song by speaking directly to the "little streamers" who walk the meadows, encouraging them to write to their love wherever they may be. He tempts his own love by describing her rosy lips and how they entice him, even though her words say no. He believes the angels might direct them wherever they should go.
The story that emerges from these lyrics is one of romantic longing and a desire to find love in a picturesque setting. The song emphasizes the beauty of nature and its potential for inspiring deep emotions. The image of the ship from the Indes contrasts with the natural setting and represents the outside world intruding on this idyllic environment. The shifting perspectives in the lyrics also suggest a fluidity of emotion, with the singer moving from describing his surroundings to expressing his own desires.
Line by Line Meaning
The streams of lovely Nancy are divided in three parts,
The river that Nancy adores is separated into three separate parts.
Where young men and maidens meet their long sweethearts,
Young couples often reunite and profess their love for one another near the river.
It is drinking of good liquor that has caused my heart to sing,
The consumption of high-quality alcohol has uplifted my mood and caused me to feel happy.
And the noise in yonder village made the rocks ring.
The loud sound of celebration and merriment in the nearby village is audible from the river, even resonating through the surrounding rocks.
At the bottom of this mountain runs a river clear,
A clear river flows at the base of a nearby mountain.
A ship from the Indes did once anchor here,
A ship from the East Indies docked at this river in the past.
With her red flags a`flying and the beating of her drum,
The ship displayed red flags and the drumming of a beat.
With sweet instruments of music and the firing of her gun.
The ship's music and the sound of its gun firing filled the surrounding area.
At the bottom of this mountain where the birds do fly,
Where the birds soar, at the foot of this mountain,
There is one amoungst them that flies so very high,
One bird in particular soars exceptionally high.
If I had her in my arms near the diamond`s cold black land,
If I was able to hold this bird close, near the diamond's dark and stark environment,
How soon I`d secure her by the kindness of my hands.
I would quickly capture her using gentle techniques.
So come all you little streamers that walk the meadows gay,
All who love to walk alongside the river located in the meadows, listen closely,
Go write unto your love wherever she may lay,
Contact your significant other, regardless of their location,
With her rosy lips entice me and her tongue she tells me no
My love refuses me with her words, yet her lips paint a different impression.
But the angels might direct us wherever we should go.
However, celestial beings may guide us towards the path we are meant to follow.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SETH BERNARD LAKEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind