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.
The Vision Of The Lady Of The Lake
Strawbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The boatman rose to the sound of his heartbeat
Loud in the silent approach of the dawn
He glanced through the window at mist on the lake
Which hung like a shroud in the still of the morn
The silver cobwebs spun with the dew
Hung from the bushes in filigree splendour
Were reflected so delicate, tranquil and tender.
The boat man sighed as he strode through the woods
To the place where his boat lay moored to a stake
The hollow sound as his footsteps echoed
Until the sound was lost on the lake
He cast off, poling the boat from the shore
Peering a head through damp clinging haze
He thought that he saw strange swirling shapes
A trick on the eyes that the mist often plays.
So intent was the boatman on crossing the lake
That he failed to notice the current that flowed
Leading his boat from familiar parts
He was firmly, yet somehow unknowingly, towed
All at once the mist seemed to lift
Sufficient to show the boatman a pool
That he'd never seen in the whole of his life
Unnaturally deep, black and silent, and cool.
The boatman's shirt clung to his back
He was sweating both from exertion and fear
He had the sensation that someone was watching
He felt the presence of somebody near
An invisible force prevented him moving
The strength of his arms was utterly sapped
The twisted bushes converged round the lake
Like a fish in a net he was trapped.
Suddenly out of the water before him
The wraith-like form of a maiden appeared
Clad in shimmering radiant robes
The maiden materialised as she neared
The hair which finely crowned her head
Was a halo of golden reflecting the sun
All of the beautiful women of time
Were formed all at once into one.
She handed the boatman the sword she was holding
Which flashed irridescent before his eyes
Excalibur surely was hardly a match
For a sword that simple description defies
The boatman stood transfixed by her gaze
Which reached to the depths of his very soul
To he who could conquer the evils of life
She offered herself as a whole.
The maiden vanished before his gaze
Leaving him clutching the sword in his fist
The hairs on the nape of his neck seemed to stiffen
A creature approached him from out of the mist
It was powerful, huge and yet stupid indeed
For it held right back and failed to attack
The boatman struck at its small stupid eyes
And it crashed to the ground and lay on its back.
Without a warning the sky seemed to blacken
As though the sun were in total eclipse
The boatman crouched low as a vast eagle swooped
And a horrified cry escaped from his lips
It strutted before him with pride in its bearing
Admiring its talons both vicious and cruel
Taking advantage the boatman struck fast
And the eagle slid to the depths of the pool.
The terrified boatman tried moving his boat
But his pole had grown roots in the watery deep
The bank grew alive with the coils of a snake
And all you could hear was its slither and creep
It cast an envious stare at the boatman
Slid into the water and swam to the boat
He stood hypnotised by its green jealous eyes
As it came from the water and coiled round his throat.
As its coils tightened slowly his breath came in gasps
As he choked so he lifted the sword in despair
As the snake was still gloating he severed its head
And in death the snake's coils thrashed wild in the air
The boatman wiped the sweat from his brow
His heart was pounding as never before
His eyes like a lizard's tongue darted around
Not daring to rest for a minute or more.
An involuntary shiver went up his spine
As he heard the sound of eerie howls
A wolf appeared on the banks of the pool
Saliva dripped from its loathsome jowls
Hatred smouldered deep in his eyes
Which glowed like coals from Hades fire
It seemed to grow as it crouched and snarled
And watched as the boatman began to tire.
It was almost as though the wolf had learned
For it did not attack as the others had done
But bided its time until the moment was right
And sprang as the boatman stared into the sun
But the boatman too had learned to hold back
And holding his sword as though a knife
He plunged it deep into the wolf's heart
Then fell to his knees and prayed for his life.
As he felt a hand on his shoulder he whirled
To find the maiden by his side
She smiled and the world seemed to open before him
He tried to speak but his tongue was tied
You must plunge the sword deep into my heart
Lest I should crumble into dust
She offered the boatman the meaning of life
And love, if he could but conquer lust.
She bared her breasts before his eyes
The boatman still was stricken dumb
He flung the sword back into the water
Back to the depths from which it had come
The water around him began to boil
The maiden began to wither away
His boat was swamped as the creatures arose
And evil lived for another day.
"The Vision of the Lady of the Lake" is a poetic narrative about the transformative journey of a boatman, who navigates through the misty lake and encounters various creatures, eventually meeting the enigmatic Lady of the Lake. The lyrics provide vivid imagery of the tranquil yet eerie ambiance of the lake at dawn, with the silver cobwebs spun with the dew and water lilies reflecting delicately. The boatman's journey becomes perilous as he faces menacing creatures such as a snake, a wolf, and a giant eagle. The lyrics convey a sense of danger and apprehension as the boatman's strength is sapped, and he feels someone watching him.
The Lady of the Lake appears when the boatman is struggling with his life, and offers him the transcendent power of the sword that she holds, a sword that goes beyond Excalibur. The Lady of the Lake represents the divine feminine force, exuding a powerful aura that penetrates the boatman's soul. She offers him not just the sword but also the meaning of life and love, provided he can conquer lust. However, the boatman fails to grasp the profundity of the moment and throws the sword back into the water, signifying the refusal to accept the transformative power that the Lady of the Lake offers.
Line by Line Meaning
The boatman rose to the sound of his heartbeat
The boatman woke up, aware of his own existence and the rhythmic beating of his heart.
Loud in the silent approach of the dawn
The sound of his heartbeat echoed through the stillness of the early morning.
He glanced through the window at mist on the lake
He looked out of the window and saw a fog hovering over the lake's surface.
Which hung like a shroud in the still of the morn
The mist enveloped the lake, creating an atmosphere of stillness and quietude.
The silver cobwebs spun with the dew
The delicate spiderwebs glistened with the moisture of the morning dew.
Hung from the bushes in filigree splendour
The intricate webs were suspended from the bushes, displaying their intricate beauty.
And water lilies asleep on the lake
The water lilies floated peacefully on the surface of the lake, seemingly in slumber.
Were reflected so delicate, tranquil and tender.
Their reflection on the water was gentle, serene, and full of tenderness.
The boat man sighed as he strode through the woods
Embracing a sense of weariness, the boatman walked through the forest.
To the place where his boat lay moored to a stake
He made his way to the spot where his boat was tied to a post.
The hollow sound as his footsteps echoed
Each step he took created an empty, reverberating sound in the surroundings.
Until the sound was lost on the lake
Gradually, the sound of his footsteps faded away in the silence of the lake.
He cast off, poling the boat from the shore
He pushed away from the shore, using a pole to navigate the boat.
Peering a head through damp clinging haze
He strained his eyes, trying to see through the clinging mist.
He thought that he saw strange swirling shapes
In the mist, he believed he caught glimpses of unusual, swirling forms.
A trick on the eyes that the mist often plays.
The mist had a tendency to deceive one's vision, creating illusions.
So intent was the boatman on crossing the lake
The boatman was completely focused on reaching the other side of the lake.
That he failed to notice the current that flowed
He was oblivious to the movement of the water, its hidden flow beneath the surface.
Leading his boat from familiar parts
Unbeknownst to him, the current was taking him away from familiar territory.
He was firmly, yet somehow unknowingly, towed
The current pulled his boat with a strong grip, though he remained unaware of it.
All at once the mist seemed to lift
Suddenly, the mist started to dissipate.
Sufficient to show the boatman a pool
The clearing mist revealed a pool before the boatman's eyes.
That he'd never seen in the whole of his life
He had never laid eyes upon this particular pool, its existence completely unfamiliar to him.
Unnaturally deep, black and silent, and cool.
The pool seemed to possess an unusually profound, black, and serene nature, exuding a coolness in its ambiance.
The boatman's shirt clung to his back
His shirt clung tightly to his skin due to sweat and anxiety.
He was sweating both from exertion and fear
The boatman perspired heavily due to both physical exertion and a sense of fear.
He had the sensation that someone was watching
A feeling crept upon him, as if there was an unseen presence observing his every move.
He felt the presence of somebody near
He was certain that there was someone in close proximity to him.
An invisible force prevented him moving
A hidden power restrained him from making any movement.
The strength of his arms was utterly sapped
His arms felt completely drained of strength, rendering him helpless.
The twisted bushes converged round the lake
The gnarled bushes encircled the lake, forming a converging pattern.
Like a fish in a net he was trapped.
Similar to a captured fish, he found himself ensnared and unable to escape.
Suddenly out of the water before him
Abruptly emerging from the water in front of him
The wraith-like form of a maiden appeared
The ethereal figure of a maiden materialized, seeming almost ghostly in nature.
Clad in shimmering radiant robes
She was dressed in resplendent and luminous garments.
The maiden materialised as she neared
As she drew closer, the maiden became more tangible and distinct in form.
The hair which finely crowned her head
Her hair, gracefully adorning her head
Was a halo of golden reflecting the sun
Resembling a golden halo, her hair reflected the sunlight.
All of the beautiful women of time
All the stunning women who existed throughout history
Were formed all at once into one.
They amalgamated into a single entity in that instant.
She handed the boatman the sword she was holding
She extended her hand, presenting the boatman with the sword she possessed.
Which flashed irridescent before his eyes
The sword emitted a shimmering, multicolored glow in front of his eyes.
Excalibur surely was hardly a match
Compared to this sword, Excalibur was undoubtedly inferior.
For a sword that simple description defies
This sword was indescribable, transcending any simplistic explanation.
The boatman stood transfixed by her gaze
Her gaze captivated the boatman, freezing him in place.
Which reached to the depths of his very soul
Her gaze penetrated to the very core of his being, touching his soul deeply.
To he who could conquer the evils of life
To whoever could overcome the hardships and wickedness of existence
She offered herself as a whole.
She presented herself entirely, offering her essence and companionship.
The maiden vanished before his gaze
The maiden disappeared from his sight, evaporating into thin air.
Leaving him clutching the sword in his fist
She left him holding the sword tightly in his hand.
The hairs on the nape of his neck seemed to stiffen
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, as if alerting him to danger.
A creature approached him from out of the mist
An entity emerged from the mist, gradually making its way towards him.
It was powerful, huge and yet stupid indeed
The creature possessed immense strength and size, but lacked intelligence.
For it held right back and failed to attack
Oddly, it hesitated and refrained from launching an assault.
The boatman struck at its small stupid eyes
The boatman attacked the creature's insignificant, vacant eyes.
And it crashed to the ground and lay on its back.
As a result, the creature collapsed and fell helplessly on its back.
Without a warning the sky seemed to blacken
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the sky appeared to darken.
As though the sun were in total eclipse
The sight resembled a complete solar eclipse, blotting out the sun's light.
The boatman crouched low as a vast eagle swooped
Bending down and seeking protection, the boatman witnessed a massive eagle descending from above.
And a horrified cry escaped from his lips
Overwhelmed with terror, he let out a cry of deep fear.
It strutted before him with pride in its bearing
The eagle displayed an air of superiority and confidence as it stood before him.
Admiring its talons both vicious and cruel
The boatman observed the creature's sharp and merciless talons with a mix of awe and dread.
Taking advantage the boatman struck fast
Seizing the opportunity, the boatman quickly launched a counterattack.
And the eagle slid to the depths of the pool.
The eagle slid down and sank into the profound depths of the pool.
The terrified boatman tried moving his boat
Frightened, the boatman attempted to maneuver his boat.
But his pole had grown roots in the watery deep
However, his pole had become firmly lodged in the deep waters, as if it had sprouted roots.
The bank grew alive with the coils of a snake
Suddenly, the edge of the lake came alive with the slithering and coiling of a snake.
And all you could hear was its slither and creep
The only sound that filled the air was the hissing and gradual movement of the snake.
It cast an envious stare at the boatman
Envy emanated from the snake's gaze, directed towards the boatman.
Slid into the water and swam to the boat
The snake slithered into the water and approached the boat through swimming motions.
He stood hypnotised by its green jealous eyes
Mesmerized, he was captivated by the snake's envious green eyes.
As it came from the water and coiled round his throat.
Then, the snake emerged from the water and wrapped itself tightly around his throat.
As its coils tightened slowly his breath came in gasps
Gradually, as the snake's grip tightened, the boatman's breath became labored and difficult.
As he choked so he lifted the sword in despair
Struggling to breathe, he raised the sword in desperation.
As the snake was still gloating he severed its head
While the snake revelled in its dominance, he swiftly cut off its head.
And in death the snake's coils thrashed wild in the air
With its demise, the snake's coils thrashed violently in the air.
The boatman wiped the sweat from his brow
Wiping away the perspiration from his forehead
His heart was pounding as never before
His heart beat with an unprecedented intensity.
His eyes like a lizard's tongue darted around
His eyes rapidly scanned the surroundings, resembling the swift movement of a lizard's tongue.
Not daring to rest for a minute or more.
He did not dare to remain still, not even for a moment longer.
An involuntary shiver went up his spine
He involuntarily shuddered, feeling a chill traveling up his spine.
As he heard the sound of eerie howls
He became aware of the unsettling sound of eerie howling.
A wolf appeared on the banks of the pool
A wolf materialized on the edge of the pool.
Saliva dripped from its loathsome jowls
Disgustingly, saliva drooled from the wolf's repulsive jaws.
Hatred smouldered deep in his eyes
The wolf's eyes blazed with a profound and intense hatred.
Which glowed like coals from Hades fire
Its eyes exuded a fiery glow akin to burning coals from the depths of Hades.
It seemed to grow as it crouched and snarled
The wolf appeared to grow in size as it crouched down and emitted menacing snarls.
And watched as the boatman began to tire.
It observed intently as the boatman started to become weary.
It was almost as though the wolf had learned
Curiously, it seemed as if the wolf had gained knowledge and understanding.
For it did not attack as the others had done
Unlike the previous creatures, it did not immediately lunge to attack.
But bided its time until the moment was right
Instead, it waited patiently for the opportune moment.
And sprang as the boatman stared into the sun
The wolf pounced as the boatman fixated his gaze upon the sun's rays.
But the boatman too had learned to hold back
However, the boatman had also acquired the wisdom to exercise restraint.
And holding his sword as though a knife
Gripping the sword tightly, as if it were a knife
He plunged it deep into the wolf's heart
He drove the sword forcefully into the wolf's heart.
Then fell to his knees and prayed for his life.
Subsequently, he collapsed onto his knees and fervently prayed for his own survival.
As he felt a hand on his shoulder he whirled
Sensing a touch on his shoulder, he swiftly turned around.
To find the maiden by his side
To his surprise, he discovered that the maiden stood beside him.
She smiled and the world seemed to open before him
Her smile caused the world to appear as if it was unfurling graciously in front of him.
He tried to speak but his tongue was tied
Despite his attempt to communicate, he found his tongue unable to move, rendering him speechless.
You must plunge the sword deep into my heart
She instructed him to thrust the sword deep within her own heart.
Lest I should crumble into dust
Otherwise, she warned that she would disintegrate into a mere pile of dust.
She offered the boatman the meaning of life
She presented the boatman with the essence and significance of life.
And love, if he could but conquer lust.
Furthermore, she offered him the opportunity to experience love, provided he could overcome his desires of lust.
She bared her breasts before his eyes
She exposed her breasts directly in front of his gaze.
The boatman still was stricken dumb
Despite the enticing sight, the boatman remained mute, overwhelmed by the moment.
He flung the sword back into the water
In a sudden motion, he threw the sword back into the depths of the water.
Back to the depths from which it had come
Returning it to its original source, the sword sank down to the deep.
The water around him began to boil
The water surrounding him started to bubble and boil.
The maiden began to wither away
Concurrently, the maiden's appearance began to fade and deteriorate.
His boat was swamped as the creatures arose
As various creatures emerged, his boat was overwhelmed and flooded.
And evil lived for another day.
Evil persisted and continued its existence, thriving for yet another day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John LaStrada
I like the slow build and storytelling by Dave Cousins, the deep cello and the myth-inspired feel of the entire tune. Could have become boring in the hands of artists who are pretentious...but this never runs out of gas. Suddenly, at just the right moment, the incredible drums kick in and the drama goes right into your pores as the snake coils into your ears. This was recorded before similar epics: Sweet Thursday's "Gilbert Street," also excellent. Love's "You Set the Scene," a classic. I am convinced songs like "The Battle of Evermore," by Led Zeppelin are influenced by these early story-like myth-inspired songs by artists like Strawbs, Amazing Blondell & Procol Harum ("In Held 'twas an I"). This even pre-dates anything similar by Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull. Songs like this gave rock music -- credibility and disc jockeys a chance to take a whizz.
bbooz
I saw these guys a few weeks ago , they still have it . Daves voice was so incredible .. loved that electric show.. the house was rumbleing
greg raines
Great song. Listening to it at least once a day.
bbooz
Greg I dig you favs list check my stuff out if you like
greg raines
bbooz Thanks man, I appreciate that.
tesserakt54
Heard this live long ago.
Jeff J
Happy Birthday Rick Wakeman born on May 18, 1949. He is an English keyboardist and composer best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004, and for his solo albums released in the 1970s. Wakeman's prominence rose during his tenure with the folk rock group The Strawbs. He had played the piano as a session musician on Dragonfly (1970), which was the first album released with Wakeman's name on its credits, and joined the band as a full-time member in March 1970. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Wakeman
Infinite Awareness
David Cousins is a Poet...
DarkeningSkies1
Absolutely lovely song. Not crazy about the lead vocalist's phrasing and presentation, but only a small quibble, that.
bruce neil
are u kidding dave is one great storyteller