They released three albums to considerable acclaim: Made In Cape Breton (2002), On Fire (2004), and Forerunner (2006). In 2006, they toured extensively with the well-known Irish band The Chieftains. However, the founding members of the band split up in 2006, either because of artistic differences, or health problems, according to different reports.
The band began to appear without the Mackenzie siblings, and after experimenting with various fill-ins, settled upon fiddler Claire Pettit and fellow Cape Bretoner Bruce Timmons on guitar. They are currently working on a new studio album for release in Summer 2008.
Official website: http://www.thecottars.ca
Seagull
The Cottars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With another resting beside her
Maybe the light one will come back tonight
With the memories she carries inside her.
Seagull, Seagull, Three three in a bed.
Seagull, Seagull, Three three in a bed.
The gold watch she gave me I'll treasure
They say that it's only a game after all
Apart from the pain it's a pleasure.
Penny is silent when fortunes are lost
She knows there is nothing worth saying
You're all alone when you're counting the cost
Is it more than a game you've been playing?
The lyrics of The Cottars' song "Seagull" are open to interpretation but the essence of the song seems to revolve around the idea of a woman named Penny who has experienced both good and bad luck in love. The opening line describes Penny in a vulnerable and exposed state, "Penny is shining beneath a bright light." The line suggests that Penny is in the spotlight, possibly under scrutiny or vulnerable to judgment. The next line, "With another resting beside her," could mean that Penny has moved on from past relationships and found someone new, but the "light one" that left earlier may still hold a place in her heart.
The chorus of the song goes "Seagull, Seagull, Three three in a bed," which is a curious line. Seagulls are known for their playful natures and social organization, and three in a bed could indicate a ménage à trois situation. However, the lines' actual meaning remains interpretation as it is left to the audience to creatively interpret.
The rest of the song goes on to describe Penny as both a hero and a fool, and her ability to deal with losses in love. When she gives the singer a gold watch that's valuable to her, he treasures it. The line "They say that it's only a game after all, Apart from the pain it's a pleasure" suggests that love is like a game, and while it can cause pain, there is a delight to it as well. The song's final lines, "You're all alone when you're counting the cost, Is it more than a game you've been playing?" asks Penny, and by extension, the listener, to question whether love and relationships are worth the pain and cost that come with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Penny is shining beneath a bright light
Penny is being highlighted by a bright light
With another resting beside her
There is another person with Penny, who is resting beside her
Maybe the light one will come back tonight
Penny hopes that the person who left earlier will return tonight
With the memories she carries inside her.
Penny has some memories that she carries with her
Seagull, Seagull, Three three in a bed.
The song randomly shifts its focus to seagulls and a possible sleeping arrangement
Penny the hero, Penny the fool
Penny is seen as a heroic figure by some and a foolish one by others
The gold watch she gave me I'll treasure
The singer values the gold watch that Penny gave them
They say that it's only a game after all
Others suggest that whatever is going on is just a game
Apart from the pain it's a pleasure.
There is pleasure to be found in the situation, despite the pain that comes with it
Penny is silent when fortunes are lost
Penny does not speak when things go wrong
She knows there is nothing worth saying
Penny believes that there is no point in speaking at times like this
You're all alone when you're counting the cost
When one is calculating the cost of something, they are often alone
Is it more than a game you've been playing?
The singer questions whether what has been happening is more than just a game
Writer(s): Peter Knight, Nigel Pegrum, Robert Johnson, Maddy Prior
Contributed by Annabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PJ556666
on Home By Bearna
they are going home by another route to avoid something bad happening