Strawbs were originally known as the Strawberry Hill Boys. Their long-time leader and most active songwriter is guitarist and singer Dave Cousins (guitar, dulcimer, banjo, vocals) (born David Joseph Hindson, 7 January, 1945, in Hounslow, Middlesex). In the early days Strawbs played with Sandy Denny (later lead singer of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay).
Although they started out in the sixties as a bluegrass band, the Strawberry Hill Boys' repertoire soon shifted to favour their own (mainly Cousins') material. They were the first UK signing to Herb Alpert's A&M Records and recorded their first single "Oh How She Changed" b/w "Or Am I Dreaming" in 1968, which was produced and arranged by two highly influential seventies’ producers, Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti, who also worked on their critically acclaimed first album, Strawbs, which was released in 1969. (Note: Although that first single was issued in the U.S. on A&M, neither of their first two A&M LP's were issued in the US until around 1975.)
After the folk-tinged Dragonfly, Cousins and Hooper added Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Richard Hudson and John Ford on drums and bass respectively. The new lineup had their London debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, where Wakeman was trumpeted as “Tomorrow’s Superstar” by Melody Maker. Their third album, Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios, the first to have a US release, was taken from that concert. Wakeman stayed with them for one further album, From the Witchwood, then departed to join Yes, being replaced by Blue Weaver who had previously been with Amen Corner and Fairweather. This lineup produced what many feel to be the archetypal Strawbs album Grave New World, before yet another change, the departure of founding member Hooper, who was replaced by rocker Dave Lambert, formerly of Fire and the King Earl Boogie Band.
Lambert’s arrival in 1972 coincided with a move towards a harder rock style, also evidenced by Cousins’ solo album recorded that summer, with guests such as Roger Glover from Deep Purple and Jon Hiseman from Colosseum. The first single with Lambert on board, "Lay Down", hit the UK charts at number 12, followed by a single from the album penned by Ford and Hudson, "Part of the Union", which went up to number 2. The album Bursting at the Seams also reached number 2 in the album charts and the band undertook a 52-date UK tour to packed houses.
However, during the course of a US tour, tensions came to a head and the Bursting At The Seams band did just that, with Hudson and Ford splitting off to record their own material, firstly as Hudson Ford, later as The Monks and High Society.[2] Weaver also left the band, eventually finding a comfortable (and highly lucrative) gig with the Bee Gees; he also played with Mott the Hoople.
Cousins and Lambert rebuilt the band, adding John Hawken (formerly of The Nashville Teens and Renaissance) on keyboards, Rod Coombes formerly with Stealers Wheel and Chas Cronk on bass. This line-up recorded Hero and Heroine and Ghosts, and tended to concentrate on the North American market with relatively little touring in the UK. Strawbs still retain a great fan-base today in the US and Canada. Hero And Heroine went platinum in Canada, and both albums sold extremely well in the US too. A further album, Nomadness, recorded without Hawken, was less successful, and was their last for A&M Records.
Signed to the Deep Purple-owned Oyster label, they recorded two more albums with two keyboardists replacing Hawken – Robert Kirby, also known for his string arrangements (notably Nick Drake) and John Mealing of jazz-rock group If. Coombes was replaced by Tony Fernandez for a further album Deadlines, this time on the Arista label.
Though recording was complete on a further album Heartbreak Hill, featuring Andy Richards on keyboards, Cousins’ decision in 1980 to leave the band to work in radio effectively signalled the band’s demise, and the album remained in the vaults for many years.
A reunion on Rick Wakeman’s TV show Gas Tank in 1983 resulted in an invitation to reform to headline 1983’s Cambridge Folk Festival. The Grave New World line-up plus Brian Willoughby (who had replaced Lambert when he left in 1978 during the making of Heartbreak Hill, and had also begun a partnership with Dave Cousins as an acoustic duo from 1979 onwards) went on from there to perform occasionally in the UK, US and Europe over the next few years, replacing Weaver with Chris Parren from the Hudson Ford band and Ford himself (when he relocated to the US) with bass player Rod Demick.
1993 saw the band touring in the UK for their 25th anniversary, but the next few years proved rather quiet. Until 1998, that is, when Cousins staged a 30th anniversary bash in the grounds of Chiswick Park in London, which saw several different line-ups of the band perform on a bright summer’s day in the open air. The final line-up of the night – the Bursting at the Seams line-up plus Willoughby – became the ongoing version of the band, with annual tours in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
An injury to Cousins’ wrist coinciding with a Cousins & Willoughby commitment brought Dave Lambert in to work with Cousins & Willoughby, which soon became Acoustic Strawbs, recording an album Baroque & Roll in 2001. That trio began to tour on a regular basis - first in the UK, then the US and Canada, and on into Europe. The three guitars of Acoustic Strawbs effortlessly reproducing much of the majesty and depth of the “big” Strawbs keyboard-laden instrumentation. Willoughby was replaced by Chas Cronk when Willoughby left in 2004 to spend more time working with his partner Cathryn Craig. Chas has brought bass and bass pedals, which further add to the depth of the Acoustic Strawbs sound.
2004 also saw the return of the Hero And Heroine line-up of the electric band, touring in tandem with the acoustic line-up, and recording their first new album for 25 years, Deja Fou, on the Strawbs own record label Witchwood Records.
Spin off bands
In 1973, Hudson and Ford then quit to form Hudson Ford, with the line-up of Chris Parren (keyboards), Mickey Keen (guitar and sound engineer), and Ken Laws (drums). They produced four albums, three for A&M - Nickeloedon, Free Spirit, Worlds Collide - and a fourth for CBS - Daylight. They also had hit singles with "Pick Up The Pieces" and "Burn Baby Burn", and toured extensively in the UK, US and Canada.
Switching genres in the late 70s, Hudson, Ford and Terry Cassidy combined together with Clive Pearce on drums (Hudson was then playing guitar, having switched from drums) to produce punk flavoured 1979 album Bad Habits as The Monks (not to be confused with the 1960s garage/beat group of the same name). The album spawned a number 19 hit in the UK singles chart — Nice Legs, Shame About The Face — which featured a mildly risquė cover. They dabbled with 1930s style music in 1980 as 'High Society' before returning to the pseudo-punk format of The Monks for a follow-up album released in Canada only, Suspended Animation, with the addition of Brian Willoughby on guitar and Chris Parren on keyboards.
While the album failed to produce further UK chart success, the band were huge in Canada particularly, playing stadium gigs; Suspended Animation went platinum in Canada too. The CD re-release of Suspended Animation includes six bonus tracks, recorded for a third album but never before released, by Hudson, Ford and Cassidy — Huw Gower guests on one track on lead guitar.
All details of Strawbs' activity and that of ex-members can be found at the official website.
A link can also be found to the Yahoo Strawbs-related discussion group called "Witchwood", together with links to "Witchwood Records" where the band's products and related merchandise such as band members' solo projects can be purchased.
Recently
Since 2007 Strawbs have been recording and touring in two formats: the acoustic format comprising Cousins, Lambert and Cronk and also as the entirely original Hero and Heroine/Ghosts line-up of the electric band from 1974 - Cousins, Lambert, Cronk, Coombes and Hawken. The line-up undertook two tours in 2006. Release of a live DVD recorded at the Robin 2, Bilston in March 2006 is hoped for before too long (delays owing to licensing difficulties). For that particular recording, and other concerts on the same tour, vocalist and bass player John Ford (member of an earlier Strawbs line-up) flew over from New York to perform with members of the Hero and Heroine line-up. The Hero and Heroine line-up toured again in 2007 in the UK, including gigs at the Robin 2, Bilston, The Stables, Wavendon, and several locations in Southern and South-Western England. This line-up also toured the UK and US in May-June 2008. Following the end of the US Tour, John Hawken announced his intention to leave the group. The remaining four members (the Nomadness line up) continued as the core of the electric band. In January 2009, it was announced that Oliver Wakeman, son of Rick Wakeman, would be playing keyboards with the band on tours of Canada, the UK and Italy.
In autumn 2006 Strawbs released a long-awaited 4-disc boxed set called A Taste of Strawbs which has been well-received - several reviews can be read at Strawbs website (http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/). The Hero and Heroine/Ghosts line-up recorded a new studio album, The Broken Hearted Bride, released in September 2008.
In 2007, as a three-piece acoustic format they played various gigs in Europe during the Spring, then the five-piece Hero and Heroine line-up got together once again to play several concerts in North America in late June/early July, including two appearances at the Stan Rogers Festival in Nova Scotia. As well as Strawbs, Dave Cousins put together a new set of musicians (Miller Anderson - guitar, Chas Cronk - bass, Ian Cutler - fiddle, Chris Hunt - drums) - initially for a one-off show in Deal - known as the Blue Angel Orchestra, who subsequently played at Strawbs' now-annual Christmas Party in 2006 and 2007.
Dave Cousins also found time to record a new solo album The Boy in the Sailor Suit with The Blue Angel Orchestra. In 2008, Dave Cousins released his third solo album, Secret Paths, with steel guitarist Melvin Duffy. Along with the album, Cousins toured the US in Spring 2008, (joined by Ian Cutler for the early part of the tour), a concert album from this tour, entitled Duochrome, was released in September 2008.
"Lambert Cronk" also released an album in April 2007 entitled Touch the Earth, on which former Strawbs drummer Tony Fernandez and former Strawbs keyboard player Andy Richards both play. Details can be found at www.strawbsweb.co.uk or LAMBERT CRONK MySpace.
Strawbs celebrated their 40th anniversary at Twickenham Stadium Sept. 12 and 13, 2009. Several Strawbs line-ups were playing, as well as Rick Wakeman, Acoustic Strawbs with Sonja Kristina, Blue Angel Orchestra, Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby, Cry No More, Fire, Zeus and John Ford.
The latest incarnation of the band with Oliver Wakeman on keys released a studio album Dancing to the Devil's Beat in late 2009.
The Strawbs' website has announced that neither Rod Coombes nor Oliver Wakeman are available for the upcoming October/November 2010 tours of Canada and the UK. (Coombes has educational commitments, and Wakeman is committed to recording a new Yes album) For these tours: Tony Fernandez (who played with Strawbs on Deadlines and Heartbreak Hill) will be on drums; and John Young will be on keyboards. As of 16 August 2010, it has not been announced whether these changes are just for these tours, or whether this represents a new permanent line-up for the band.
Blue Angel
Strawbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cousins
The gypsy girl stood quite alone
Her eyes were brightly shining
Her head was in the clouds
Where she had found the silver lining
And all the while the crippled boy
While I stood on the sidelines
Trying to make out that I wasn't there.
So loud the music grew and grew
With ever greater pain
I stepped back in the shadows
For I could not stand the strain
I tried to look, my eyes were blind
I tried to speak but could not find
The words to say.
They left me lying where I lay
I could not bear the light of day.
Treat me kindly dear blue angel
Deepest colour of the night
Be merciful, be gentle
For I have no strength to fight.
II - Half Worlds Apart
Cousins
So I lay in half world dream state
Pressed like a flower in the pages of a half book
Words in softly spoken whispers
Steal through the silence of the blue veiled half light
The best of questions have no answers
The best of answers need no questions
Born on the quest for a wave of half peace
Acquired in a Dresden china cuplet
Bound in the chains of the half book binding
Half way to my half life.
Treat me kindly dear blue angel
Deepest colour of the night
Be merciful, be gentle
For I have no strength to fight.
So she lay in half museum
Pinned like a butterfly which failed to reach its half life
Tender moments left half spoken
Lost like an orphan in the pleasures of the dream state
A man of honour has no secrets
How can I be a man of secrets
Trapped in the web of the woven blue veil
Peering to find the angel weaver
Most sacred saviour of the silver lining
Half way to my half life.
Treat me kindly dear blue angel
Deepest colour of the night
Be merciful, be gentle
For I have no strength to fight.
III - At Rest
Cousins
Sleep the sleep of peace my love
And I will let you be
I alone can comfort
I alone can set you free
I will be your healer
And give you back your pride
In times of need remember me
At rest here by your side.
When the hour of darkness comes
And time itself stands still
When voices from the future
Seem to come and go at will
I will be your servant
Your ever constant guide
When all is lost remember me
At rest here by your side.
The wisdom of the fool is such
That he alone is sane
So delicate the balance
That e'er the moon could wax and wane
I will be your teacher
And show you where to hide
When all else fails remember me
At rest here by your side.
Treat me kindly dear blue angel
Deepest colour of the night
Be merciful, be gentle
For I have no strength to fight
The lyrics to Strawbs' song Blue Angel tell a story of yearning, isolation, and emotional vulnerability. The singer is a watcher, standing on the sidelines, observing the people around him who are fully immersed in life - a gypsy girl dancing joyously with her partner, and a crippled boy who is also dancing with his lady fair. The music grows louder and the scene becomes overwhelming to the singer, who steps back into the shadows, unable to join in. The singer is left lying on the ground, feeling powerless and alone.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to a dreamlike state where the singer and the Blue Angel exist in a half world. The lyrics paint a picture of two beings who are caught between worlds, neither fully alive nor fully dead. The singer is pinned like a flower in a book, and the Blue Angel is pinned like a butterfly in a museum. They are both trapped between worlds, unable to fully exist in either one.
The final verse brings a shift in tone, as the singer becomes the comforter instead of the observer. The singer assures their loved one that they will always be there to comfort them, to be their healer, their servant, and their teacher. The singer's own vulnerability is still present in the words "Treat me kindly dear blue angel, deepest colour of the night, be merciful, be gentle, for I have no strength to fight."
Overall, the lyrics of Blue Angel convey a sense of longing, isolation, and vulnerability, with a hint of hope that comes from the singer's willingness to offer comfort and guidance to those in need.
Line by Line Meaning
The gypsy girl stood quite alone
The gypsy girl had no one around her
Her eyes were brightly shining
Her eyes were shining so bright
Her head was in the clouds
She was lost in thoughts
Where she had found the silver lining
She had found the positive in a negative situation
And all the while the crippled boy
The boy who was disabled
Was dancing with his lady fair
Was enjoying his time with his girlfriend
While I stood on the sidelines
I was watching them from the side
Trying to make out that I wasn't there.
I was trying to pretend that I wasn't present
So loud the music grew and grew
The music got louder and louder
With ever greater pain
Causing more agony to me
I stepped back in the shadows
I moved back into the darkness
For I could not stand the strain
The pressure was too much for me to handle
I tried to look, my eyes were blind
I attempted to see, but my eyes were not working properly
I tried to speak but could not find
I tried to talk, but I couldn't come up with any words
The words to say.
What to say to them.
They left me lying where I lay
They left me alone where I was
I could not bear the light of day.
I was unable to handle the harsh reality
So I lay in half world dream state
I was dreaming in a half-world state
Pressed like a flower in the pages of a half book
I was like a flower pressed in half a book
Words in softly spoken whispers
Whispers of soft words
Steal through the silence of the blue veiled half light
Whispers made their way through the silent bluish half-light
The best of questions have no answers
The most important questions do not have answers
The best of answers need no questions
The best answers don't need questions to support them
Born on the quest for a wave of half peace
Born in the search for partial peace
Acquired in a Dresden china cuplet
Gained in a small and delicate china cup
Bound in the chains of the half book binding
Restricted by the bindings of a half-book
Half way to my half life.
Halfway through my life
So she lay in half museum
She was placed in a partially decorated exhibit
Pinned like a butterfly which failed to reach its half life
Pinned like a butterfly that died before its full life cycle
Tender moments left half spoken
Sincere moments were left incomplete
Lost like an orphan in the pleasures of the dream state
Lost like an orphan in the enjoyment of a dream world
A man of honour has no secrets
A respectable person does not have secrets
How can I be a man of secrets
How can I have secrets and still be a respected person
Trapped in the web of the woven blue veil
Stuck in the web of the blue veil that was created
Peering to find the angel weaver
Trying to find the person who crafted the angel
Most sacred saviour of the silver lining
The person who saved the positive in a negative situation, is most sacred
Sleep the sleep of peace my love
Sleep, my love, and have a peaceful slumber
And I will let you be
I'll let you have your solitude
I alone can comfort
Only I can make you feel at ease
I alone can set you free
Only I can free you
I will be your healer
I'll be your caregiver
And give you back your pride
And restore your self-esteem
In times of need remember me
During hard times, keep me in mind
At rest here by your side.
Relaxing beside you
When the hour of darkness comes
When you face dark times
And time itself stands still
When even time stops
When voices from the future
When you hear voices from the future
Seem to come and go at will
Appearing and disappearing at their own will
I will be your servant
I'll be your helper
Your ever constant guide
Your steady companion
When all is lost remember me
When nothing else works, remember me
The wisdom of the fool is such
The foolish person has some kind of wisdom
That he alone is sane
He seems to be the only sane one among fools
So delicate the balance
The scale is so fragile
That e'er the moon could wax and wane
That the moon could change phases before the balance breaks
I will be your teacher
I'll be your instructor
And show you where to hide
And guide you where to find shelter
Treat me kindly dear blue angel
Please be kind to me, dear blue angel
Deepest colour of the night
The profound color of the night
Be merciful, be gentle
Be compassionate, be kind
For I have no strength to fight.
Because I don't have the power to fight
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jon Hooper
Absolutely unique. Does anyone sound like this man? Does anyone write like this man? They are obscure, but relatively small as the numbers may be, is there anyone out there who "quite likes" the Strawbs?
Neil Carlson
You're kidding ? Strawbs are unique , melodies of extreme beauty scattered through the 70s ,such albums that I especially treasure , always !
Larry S Wood
The Strawbs are magic, I don't understand why they were not more popular. On this song Mary Hopkin sings on the back vocals
boris baddenoff
The ghost lp by the strawbs was a masterpiece. You have to hear that one all the way thru!!
Pablo Malaga
Too good for the unlearned masses, give them reguetón
Victoria Rosario
Gorgeous song...so powerful, I felt this to my core. Yes, this band is sadly underappreciated. WE LOVE YOU STRAWBS, SHINE ON! 🤗🤩💖💯💥💫👏👏👏💐🎆🎼🎵🎸🎹🥁🎙
Derek Williams
Your absolutely right. its such a pitty that more people dont know about this great band and their awesome music. I can't understand why their never on the radio. I go to as many of thei concerts as i can.
Alessandro Pratolongo
I do not know why, but everytime i listen to their music, tears roll down my face. Their music is so full of deep lyrics that go straight to my heart and reminds me my younger years at the university back in the 80´s. I´m so glad i have discovered their music. It´s so sad that i couldn´t see them live. I hope people can enjoy their music for decades to come.
Stephen Lisson
A tremendous band who seemed to never get the huge recognition they deserved. I've followed them from their folk days with Sandy Denny and Rick Wakeman to their prog rock days. I was and still am a huge prog rock fan and I was a huge ELP, Genesis, King Crimson and Yes fan, but bands like Camel, Renaissance and especially Strawbs were right up there with the best of them.
deserthawk1
Great song. I listened to them so many years ago when they first came out and liked them very much --they always reminded me of a cross between the Moodies and Genesis. I'm not sure I've ever heard this song before. Nice quality upload