The thread binding it all together is Ashley Hutchings himself... and the difficulty of getting lyrics for any of their works.
It is possible to see two phases in the career of the band, however. Broadly, when Hutchings had money to work with musicians established as the best, and after he finally ran out! Broadly in the first category from 1971 to 1979 there are the albums No Roses, Morris On, Battle of the Field, The Compleat Dancing Master, Son of Morris On, Kickin' up the Sawdust, The Prospect Before Us, and Rise Up Like the Sun, Lark Rise to Candleford: a Country Tapestry. And then everything else!
Of these, No Roses, Battle of the Field and Lark Rise are those where everything best comes together, as portraits of a vanished world, specifically English, without the Irish and Scots elements that Fairport cheerfully incorporated but with elements of the modern world too in the electric guitars and fiddle. The Prospect Before Us, and Rise Up Like the Sun are perhaps however the most accomplished as folk rock, although the arrangements may sometimes verge on the overblown to some tastes.
Rattlebone and Ploughjack also deserves honourable mention, in a third category, as probably the least commercially minded release ever by a major label! Find it (if you can) and wonder!
Band members supporting Hutchings are too numerous to list in full, but in the early years among the most notable are Mike and Lal Waterson, Tim Renwick, Maddy Prior, Shirley Collins, who headlined No Roses, Dolly Collins, Richard Thompson, John Kirkpatrick, Barry Dransfield, Simon Nicol, Martin Carthy, Peter Knight, and later John Tams, Phil Pickett, Graeme Taylor, Eddie Upton, Phil Beer and Rick Sanders.
2011
In July of 2011 Hutchings announced that the Albion Band would be forming again, and for the first time he himself would not be a member. Instead he passed the baton to his son - the guitarist and singer Blair Dunlop. This new line up also features a number of other current folk performers from a range of backgrounds reflecting earlier versions of the Albion Band. These members include Folk Award nominee Katriona Gilmore (Tiny Tin Lady, Gilmore/Roberts) on fiddle and vocals, vocalist, concertina player and guitarist Gavin Davenport (Crucible, Glorystrokes, Hekety), drummer Tom Wright (Eliza Carthy projects/Glorystrokes), and Tim Yates (Blackbeard's Tea Party/The QP) on bass - only the second bass player in the band's history, and lead guitarist and relative newcomer Benjamin Trott. This line up released an own label EP Fighting Room in 2011 and their first studio album Vice of the People in 2012.
In the Bleak Midwinter
The Albion Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him give my heart
"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a song that reflects on the humble circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening lyrics paint a vivid picture of a cold and desolate winter landscape, with frosty winds, frozen earth, and abundant snowfall. This evokes a sense of isolation and harshness in contrast to the warmth and comfort associated with the nativity.
The second verse explores the idea that heaven and earth are unable to contain God, reinforcing the theme of the divine breaking into the mundane. It highlights the contrast between the grandeur and glory of God's realm and the simplicity of the stable where Jesus was born. The mention of the stable as a "sufficed" place suggests that even in humble surroundings, God's presence is sufficient.
The third verse introduces the idea of celestial beings, angels, and heavenly creatures possibly being present at Jesus' birth. However, it emphasizes that it was Mary alone who truly worshipped and cherished the newborn Jesus. This further emphasizes the intimacy and closeness of the scene, where even heavenly beings acknowledge Mary's special connection to her child.
The final verse is a heartfelt reflection on what the singer can offer to Jesus, recognizing their own limitations and poverty. The imagery of a shepherd bringing a lamb and a wise man offering their part reflects the traditional gifts associated with Jesus' birth. Yet, the singer acknowledges that all they can give is their heart, emphasizing the importance of love and devotion rather than material possessions.
Overall, "In the Bleak Midwinter" beautifully captures the contrasting elements of harshness and tenderness surrounding the birth of Jesus, and invites listeners to reflect on what they can offer to Him in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Amidst the cold winter, the chilling wind howled and sighed.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
The ground became as solid as iron, and water froze into solid ice.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
Layers upon layers of snow had accumulated, covering the landscape.
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
During a time in the distant past, in the harshness of winter.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him nor earth sustain;
Our God is too great to be contained by heaven or supported by the earth.
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
When he comes to rule, both heaven and earth will tremble and vanish.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
Even in the desolation of winter, a humble stable was enough for him.
The Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.
The divine Lord God in human form, known as Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Celestial beings like angels and powerful archangels might have assembled in that place.
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
The heavenly beings, cherubim and seraphim, filled the air with their presence.
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
However, only his mother, in her pure state of happiness as a young woman,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
Expressed her devotion by lovingly kissing the cherished one.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
Being impoverished, what valuable gift can I offer him?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I had been a shepherd, I would present a lamb as my offering.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
If I possessed wisdom like the wise men, I would fulfill my role.
Yet what I can I give him give my heart
But all I can give him is my wholehearted devotion and love.
Writer(s): Gustav Holst, Christina Georgina Rossetti, Leslie Woodgate
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elton Laleham
Awesome song