Swan Arcade was led by Yorkshire native Dave Brady, who began singing traditional folk songs in local pubs while still in his teens. After losing an arm in a motorcycle accident at age 19, he was forced to abandon the guitar but was still able to play the concertina. At a Leeds folk club Brady met his future wife, Heather, and together they began performing as a duo. With the 1970 addition of bass singer Jim Boyes, the couple launched Swan Arcade, taking the name from a Bradford-area shopping district recently demolished per the order of city officials.
Considered direct descendants of the unaccompanied close-harmony approach of mid-'60s acts like The Young Tradition and The Watersons, Swan Arcade nevertheless presented an eccentric and confrontational interpretation of folk traditions, including in their repertoire such rock & roll hits as the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and the Kinks' "Lola" alongside more conventional protest anthems. Upon signing to the Trailer label, Swan Arcade issued their self-titled debut LP in 1971. Despite critical acclaim the record fared poorly, and when relocation forced Boyes to resign, the group's continued future looked dim.
Instead, former Young Tradition bass Royston Wood agreed to assume Boyes' position, exiting a year later to make way for Brian Miller. Despite the admiration of the influential BBC Radio DJ John Peel, who played Swan Arcade regularly and hosted three live broadcast sessions, their sophomore album, Matchless, was not released until 1976, by which time Boyes had returned to active duty. The trio split two years later.
Swan Arcade reunited in 1983, releasing Together Forever to critical favor and commercial shrugs. The trio nevertheless remained a fixture of the folk festival circuit, and during an August 1986 appearance at Whitby Folk Week teamed with members of The Watersons as the Boggle Hole Chorale, delivering an impromptu charity performance for a local school. The gig proved such a success that in 1987 the Bradys and Boyes agreed to revisit the experience, teaming with The Watersons and Martin Carthy to form the folk revival supergroup Blue Murder.
Upon releasing the LP Diving for Pearls later in 1987, Swan Arcade dissolved for good, and as the Bradys began channeling more of their time and energy into politics, they did not contribute to subsequent Blue Murder performances and recordings.
The Bradys ended their marriage in 1998.
Shortly after retiring from being transport manager for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Brady died of a chest infection in London on May 29, 2006.
Band Members:
Dave Brady (died 2006)
Heather Brady
Jim Boyes
as well as...
Jack French
Kevin Hingston (died 2011)
Brian Miller
Chris Taylor
Royston Wood
lots more : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Arcade
Shipbuilding
Swan Arcade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy′s birthday
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon we′ll be shipbuilding
Well i ask you
The boy said 'dad they're going to take me to task
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of this shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
It′s just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture postcard
Within weeks they'll be reopening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
It′s all we're skilled in
We will be shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
The lyrics of Swan Arcade’s “Shipbuilding” are a poignant commentary on the societal costs of war and the military-industrial complex. The song outlines the sacrifices and hardships faced by a working-class family in wartime Britain. The singer wonders whether it’s worth it to buy a new coat and shoes for his wife and a bicycle for his son, knowing that soon they will be caught up in the manufacturing of warships. The title itself is a metaphor for this process, as “shipbuilding” is a euphemism for the production of weapons of war.
Throughout the song, rumors of violence and death are interspersed with descriptions of mundane everyday life in a small town. The children are aware of the impending danger and the singer’s son even predicts that he will be “taken to task,” but assures his father that he will return by Christmas. The chorus repeats the idea that people are “diving for dear life” when they could be “diving for pearls,” highlighting the senselessness of war.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it worth it
Is it really worth it to build these ships when it means sacrificing so much?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
We have to spend a lot of money on basic necessities, leaving little for anything else.
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday
We can barely afford to give our child a simple birthday present, let alone something more significant.
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
This news is not yet certain; it may just be a false rumor.
By the women and children
The spread of this news is mostly due to those who are not directly involved in the shipbuilding business.
Soon we'll be shipbuilding
Despite the uncertainty, it seems likely that we will indeed be building ships.
Well I ask you
It's a rhetorical question - there's really no choice but to build the ships, even if the cost is high.
The boy said 'dad they're going to take me to task
The boy is worried that he will be drafted to work at the shipyard when he is of age.
But I'll be back by Christmas'
He's trying to reassure his father and himself that he won't be away for too long.
Somebody said that someone got filled in
There are rumors of violence and conflict related to the shipbuilding industry.
For saying that people get killed in
These rumors suggest that working at the shipyard is dangerous and deadly.
The result of this shipbuilding
Building ships takes a significant toll on both individuals and communities.
With all the will in the world
We will do our best, but it will still be difficult.
Diving for dear life
We are struggling to survive and provide for our families in the harsh realities of shipbuilding.
When we could be diving for pearls
There are opportunities for better lives and prosperity beyond the shipyard, but they are out of reach for many of us.
A telegram or a picture postcard
The news that someone has been injured or killed on the job is likely to come in an impersonal and distant form.
Within weeks they'll be reopening the shipyards
The cycle of building ships and the accompanying consequences will soon begin again.
And notifying the next of kin
The families of those affected by the dangers of shipbuilding will be contacted and informed of their loss.
Once again
The song repeats the cycle of shipbuilding and its negative effects on society.
It's all we're skilled in
Despite the difficulties and drawbacks, building ships is one of the few job opportunities available to many people in this community.
We will be shipbuilding
Even though it is hard, we will continue to build ships because we have no other option.
Writer(s): Elvis Costello, William Langer Clive, Scott William Matthew
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.