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.
Poor Old Horse
The Albion Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(And they say so, and we hope so)
They say, old man, your horse will die
(Oh poor old man)
And if he dies then we′ll tan his hide
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Aye and if he dies then we'll tan his hide
(Oh poor old man)
And if he lives then we′ll ride again
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Aye and if he lives then we'll ride again
(Oh poor old man)
And it's after years of much abuse
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Then we′ll salt him down for the sailors′ use
(Oh poor old man)
He's as dead as a nail in the lamp room floor
(And they say so, and we hope so)
He′s as dead as a nail in the lamp room floor
(Oh poor old man)
Aye and he won't bother us no more
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Aye and he won′t bother us no more
(Oh poor old man)
And it's Sally′s in the garden and she's picking the peas
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Aye and her long black hair's hangin′ down to her knees
(Oh poor old man)
And it′s Sally's in the kitchen and she′s baking the duff
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Aye and the cheeks of her a are going chuff chuff chuff
(Oh poor old man)
And it's down the long and the winding road
(And they say so, and we hope so)
And it′s down the long and the winding road
(Oh poor old man)
It's mahogany beef and the weevily bread
(And they say so, and we hope so)
It′s mahogany beef and the weevily bread
(Oh poor old man)
And I thought I heard the old man say
(And they say so, and we hope so)
Just one more pull and then belay
(Oh poor old man)
Just one more pull and that will do
(And they say so, and they hope so)
For we're the lads to kick her through
(Oh poor old man)
The lyrics to The Albion Band's song "Poor Old Horse" depict a narrative about an old man and his horse, with various verses reflecting different possibilities and outcomes. The repetition of the phrase "And they say so, and we hope so" highlights the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding the fate of the horse.
The song begins with the suggestion that the horse is nearing its end, with people saying that it will die and they even hope for it. This line captures a sense of resignation and acceptance of the natural progression of life. However, the following line introduces the possibility of the horse surviving, and if it does, they will continue to ride it. This verse conveys a mix of hope and willingness to continue despite the challenges they may face.
The subsequent verses mention the horse enduring years of abuse, which implies a difficult and hardworking life. If the horse does die, they plan to tan its hide for the sailors to use, indicating that even in death, the horse's body will be repurposed and serve a practical function. The repetition of the phrase "Oh poor old man" throughout the song evokes a sense of sympathy and perhaps empathy for the horse and its owner.
The latter verses introduce a shift in focus from the horse to a woman named Sally. It describes her picking peas in the garden, with her long black hair flowing down to her knees, and then baking in the kitchen, with her cheeks puffing as she works. These verses provide a glimpse into the daily life of Sally, adding a touch of realism and humanity to the narrative.
The song closes with the imagery of a long and winding road, symbolizing the journey of life. The mention of "mahogany beef and the weevily bread" suggests a meager existence, indicating that the characters in the song are not affluent or privileged. The final lines express the old man's words, stating that just one more pull is needed before they can stop, implying a sense of fatigue and yearning for rest. The line "For we're the lads to kick her through" reflects resilience and determination to persevere despite hardships.
Overall, "Poor Old Horse" portrays themes of aging, mortality, perseverance, and the cyclical nature of life. It delineates the struggles, hopes, and daily routines of ordinary people, capturing a poignant sense of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
They say, old man, your horse will die
People are saying, old man, that your horse is going to die
And they say so, and we hope so
They say so and we hope it to be true
Oh poor old man
Expressing sympathy for the old man
And if he dies then we'll tan his hide
And if the horse dies, we will preserve his hide
Aye and if he dies then we'll tan his hide
Yes, if he dies, we will definitely tan his hide
And if he lives then we'll ride again
And if the horse survives, we will ride him again
And it's after years of much abuse
After enduring years of mistreatment
Then we'll salt him down for the sailors' use
We will preserve him with salt for the sailors to use
He's as dead as a nail in the lamp room floor
He is completely dead, just like a nail on the floor of the lamp room
Aye and he won't bother us no more
Yes, he won't trouble us anymore
And it's Sally's in the garden and she's picking the peas
There's Sally in the garden, busy picking peas
Aye and her long black hair's hangin' down to her knees
Yes, her long black hair is flowing down to her knees
And it's Sally's in the kitchen and she's baking the duff
And Sally is in the kitchen, baking the duff (a type of dish)
Aye and the cheeks of her a are going chuff chuff chuff
Yes, her cheeks are puffing as she works
And it's down the long and the winding road
They are going down a long and winding road
It's mahogany beef and the weevily bread
They are having mahogany beef and bread with weevils
And I thought I heard the old man say
And I believe I heard the old man say
Just one more pull and then belay
Let's give it one final effort and then stop
Just one more pull and that will do
Only one more effort is needed
For we're the lads to kick her through
Because we are the ones who can accomplish it
Oh poor old man
Expressing sympathy for the old man
Writer(s): Simon Nicol, John Rodd, Eddie Upton, John Sothcott, John Tams, Shirley Elizabeth Collins, Ashley Hutchings, Graeme Taylor, Dave Mattacks
Contributed by Skyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.