The project started in 2004 and led to the release of an eponymous album in 2007 on Real World Records. Some of the tracks on the album are modern re-interpretations of traditional folk songs.
While primarily the project of Simon Emmerson, the band includes contributions from: The Copper Family, Sheila Chandra, Benjamin Zephaniah, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Paul Weller, Transglobal Underground, Tunng, Chris Wood, Billy Bragg, Tiger Moth, The Gloworms and Dhol Foundation.
The Imagined Village E.P. was released earlier in 2007, and is a remix of the album tracks. The 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards voted "Cold, Hailey, Rainy Night" as best traditional track of the year.
In 2009, the project moved to a new record label, ECC Records, and a second album, Empire & Love was released in January 2010. In 2012 they released the album, Bending The Dark.
Official website: www.theimaginedvillage.com
Death And The Maiden Retold
The Imagined Village Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cars and the cold had conspired with the rain
She pulled up her coat and she tightened her scarf
She felt afraid and she stifled a laugh
Clouds moved across and the light slipped away
And there stood an old man dressed strangely in gray
She asked him through closed lips, "Where are you from?
"My name is The Reaper, The Leveler, The Light
I come here to claim you and make you my wife
Lords, Dukes and Ladies all bow down to me
But I've no care for them, I crave only thee"
Said "I'll not come with you for I am not done
My arms still hold lovers, my pure heart still burns
My skin glows with red blood that flows in my veins
But lie with me once if it's life that you crave"
And there in the night came a mighty great storm
And Death and the lady held tightly 'till dawn
Deep in the morning they parted and prayed
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
And then the good lady she went on her way
The Imagined Village's "Death and the Maiden Retold" recounts a haunting tale of a young woman who encounters Death himself in the form of an old man dressed in gray. It was a cold and rainy May morning when Death appeared before her, and she was understandably afraid. Death introduced himself as "The Reaper, The Leveler, The Light" and revealed that he had come to claim her as his wife. But the young woman was not ready to leave behind her mortal life. She still had lovers to hold and a pure heart that burned with passion. Death persisted, insisting that he craved only her, but the young woman offered a compromise – she would lie with him once if he would spare her life. Death agreed, and a great storm raged around them as they came together. But when it was over, the young woman emerged alive, and Death let her go on her way.
At its core, "Death and the Maiden Retold" is a meditation on mortality and the fear of death. The young woman is tempted by Death's offer, but she ultimately chooses life, clinging to her earthly existence and her human desires. Death, meanwhile, is portrayed as a complex figure – both alluring and terrifying, an embodiment of both darkness and light.
The song is notable for its haunting melody and evocative lyrics, which weave together elements of folk, rock, and traditional British music to create a unique sound. It also features a number of different vocalists, each of whom brings their own style and personality to the song. Overall, "Death and the Maiden Retold" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with listeners around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
She walked out quietly one morning in May
The lady left without any noise in May
Cars and the cold had conspired with the rain
The weather was bad, and she had to face it
She pulled up her coat and she tightened her scarf
She covered herself more to keep warm
She felt afraid and she stifled a laugh
She was scared but tried to hide it
Clouds moved across and the light slipped away
The weather got worse and it got darker
And there stood an old man dressed strangely in gray
An old man was standing there, dressed oddly in gray clothes
She asked him through closed lips, "Where are you from?
The lady asked him where he came from in a low voice
What strange distant country do you beckon from?"
She wondered what kind of faraway land he came from
"My name is The Reaper, The Leveler, The Light
The man introduced himself as The Reaper, The Leveler, The Light
I come here to claim you and make you my wife
He came to take her away and make her his wife
Lords, Dukes and Ladies all bow down to me
He said that everyone, including important people, bow down to him
But I've no care for them, I crave only thee"
He didn't care about anyone else, just her
Said "I'll not come with you for I am not done
The lady refused to go with him because she wasn't ready
My arms still hold lovers, my pure heart still burns
She still had love and passion in her life
My skin glows with red blood that flows in my veins
She was still alive and had blood flowing through her veins
But lie with me once if it's life that you crave"
She offered to be with him if he wanted to experience life
And there in the night came a mighty great storm
A big storm came during the night
And Death and the lady held tightly 'till dawn
She and Death held each other closely till dawn came
Deep in the morning they parted and prayed
They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways
And then the good lady she went on her way
The lady continued on her journey
And then the good lady she went on her way
She moved forward and didn't look back
And then the good lady she went on her way
She continued on her path
And then the good lady she went on her way
She left Death behind and walked away
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.