Tilston was a graphic designer before taking up music in 1971. In the early eighties he ran a folk club with Bert Jansch in New Kings Road, London. "In For A Penny - In For A Pound" was a rock album, but he soon reverted to quieter music. In 1985 he has toured with Ballet Rambert. It was his skill as a guitarist and mandolin player, not as a dancer, that brought this about. In 1987 he formed his own record label, called "Run River". He was a member of John Renbourn's group Ship of Fools who released one album on his label in 1988. In 1990 he was a session musician on Peter Bellamy's album "Soldiers Three". By the 1990s he performed frequently with Maggie Boyle, his partner (on and off stage) at that time. His 1992 album "Of Moor and Mesa" got very positive reviews in the States. This contained his compositions "Slip Jigs and Reels" and "Naked Highwayman", which were later recorded by Fairport Convention. In 1995 he formed another record label, "Hubris Records". Maartin Allcock (a member of Jethro Tull in the late eighties) recorded "All Under The Sun" with Tilston in 1996. By 1999 Tilston had separated from Maggie Boyle.
Tilston then joined WAZ! with Pete Zorn and Maartin Allcock. In 2003 there was a slight change of direction as he moved towards melodic jazz with "Such And Such", and album with saxophonist Andy Sheppard. "Live Hemistry" is not a mis-spelling for "Chemistry" but a live album with many of his best songs. The Tom Paine Society selected his song "Here's to Tom Paine" as their theme song. His song "Night Owl" was not only recorded by Dolores Keane, but was the title of her 1998 album. His songs have been recorded by The House Band, Peter Bellamy Bob Fox and others. His instrumental styles crosses classical music with Irish and English folk. He also plays a medieval instrument called an Arpeggione (bowed guitar). His daughter Martha Tilston is also a professional singer. He has been a tutor at summer camps. In 2007 "Reaching Back" was released as a box set of 5 CDs of his songs, with rarities and contributions from Wizz Jones, Ralph McTell and Coope Boyes and Simpson.
The Reckoning
Steve Tilston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet to be born great grand children.
All your sons and daughters,
And your own grand children too.
I offer you my hand.
Out across the age’s span.
A misbegotten plan
I must apologise,
if it’s written in the troubled skies.
We’ve been peddling lies,
Somehow forgotten what is true.
Though it’s buried deep.
Poison never sleeps.
Through the ages seeps,
To leave a reckoning for you.
We hang on to misguided dreams,
sleepwalk to the brink.
Hey ho, rue the day.
We’re going down in drink.
I have planted seed.
In vain to raise an apple tree.
To entice the bees
to sip the blossom on the bough.
But the bees don’t toil.
Around the tree a serpent coils,
Spits venom in the soil,
And leaves the reckoning to you
I raise to you a toast.
Should trouble come to roost.
For we ate the golden goose,
And left the reckoning to you.
The lyrics to Steve Tilston's song The Reckoning are a reflection on the state of the world and the legacy that we will leave for future generations. The first stanza acknowledges those future generations, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the responsibility that we have to them. The singer offers his hand across the ages, but admits that his plan to leave the reckoning to them is misbegotten. In the second stanza, he apologizes for the troubles that he sees in the world, which seem to have been written in the troubled skies. He acknowledges that we have been peddling lies and that we have forgotten what is true. The poison of our actions is buried deep, but it never sleeps and will leave a reckoning for future generations.
The third stanza contains a reference to the "golden goose," which is a metaphor for the earth and all its resources. We have eaten the golden goose and now must face the consequences of our actions. The fourth stanza contains a metaphor about planting a seed to raise an apple tree, but the bees don't toil and a serpent coils around the tree, leaving poison in the soil. The fifth stanza offers a toast to future generations, acknowledging that trouble may come to roost and that we have left the reckoning to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Here’s to all the grand children,
Cheers to the future generations that are yet to be born
Yet to be born great grand children.
Future great grand children who are yet to be born
All your sons and daughters,
All of your offspring
And your own grand children too.
Your own grand children
I offer you my hand.
I extend a symbol of friendship and support
Out across the age’s span.
Through time and generations
A misbegotten plan
A failed or flawed idea or strategy
To leave the reckoning to you
To leave the consequences to future generations
I must apologise,
I need to express regret or remorse
if it’s written in the troubled skies.
If it's predetermined and unavoidable
We’ve been peddling lies,
We've been spreading falsehoods
Somehow forgotten what is true.
Lost sight of what is genuine or authentic
Though it’s buried deep.
Even if it's hidden or repressed
Poison never sleeps.
The harmful effects never disappear
Through the ages seeps,
Over time, it slowly infiltrates
To leave a reckoning for you.
To leave the consequences for future generations
We hang on to misguided dreams,
We cling to unrealistic or naïve hopes
sleepwalk to the brink.
We unconsciously approach disaster
Hey ho, rue the day.
Expressing regret or warning of consequences
We’re going down in drink.
We're headed towards our own demise, potentially through drinking or other self-destructive behavior
I have planted seed.
I have attempted to create something good
In vain to raise an apple tree.
Without success in nurturing growth
To entice the bees
To attract pollinators
to sip the blossom on the bough.
To consume the sweetness of the flowers
But the bees don’t toil.
The necessary workers are missing
Around the tree a serpent coils,
There is a lurking danger or deceitful presence
Spits venom in the soil,
Causing harm and toxicity
And leaves the reckoning to you
Leaving the consequences to future generations
I raise to you a toast.
I make a celebratory gesture with my drink
Should trouble come to roost.
If negative consequences arrive
For we ate the golden goose,
We consumed or destroyed something valuable
And left the reckoning to you.
Shifting the consequences to future generations
Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angy Lopez
His music is the result of passion and commitment. I love their music.
Setareh Ghareh bagh nejad
following Danyy Collins, I got introduced with his music. I love it.
luna Rodriguez
Hermosa su musica
Claire B
Beautiful song....a job well done!
Owen Morgan
Lovely ... nice one Steve. See you in Llandeilo tonight ....cant wait
qjanica
Glad I met you on Danny Collins. Long live Mr. Steve 😍
Александр Татур
очень круто!!!!
Luke Patterson
Awesome mate!! :-)
Luke Patterson
Awesome mate!! :-)
cin na
Linda voz.. su música muy bonita