The Incredible String Band was formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by folk musicians Robin Williamson, Mike Heron, and Clive Palmer (1943 - 2014). They recorded their eponymous debut album in 1966, a lighthearted affair which revealed only the merest hint of the psychedelic adventures to come. After that, the band broke up. Palmer decamped for the Trail to Afghanistan and Williamson visited Morocco from where he returned laden with exotic instruments like the famous gimbri, which was, much later, eaten by rats. In 1967 Heron and Williamson recorded 'The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion', an audaciously eclectic mix of bookish folk music, hippy love songs and Eastern modalities. They soon became the-name-to-drop-in-interviews for luminaries such as Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, and in their annum mirabilis of 1968 they practically defined the hippy counterculture in the extraordinary albums 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' and 'Wee Tam and the Big Huge'. By then the group consisted of Williamson, Heron, Rose Simpson and Licorice McKechnie - the same line up played at Woodstock in 1969 at the wrong time, having refused to play in the pouring rain the previous day (seen by manager Joe Boyd as a great missed opportunity).
In 1970 Robin Williamson attempted to fuse the music with his theatrical fantasies in a quixotic multi-media spectacular at London's Roundhouse called 'U'. It was "a surreal parable in dance and song" and highlighted the fact that they were never destined to make much money out of things. After that they lasted another four years. By 1974 tension between Williamson and Heron, who was pushing the band into prog-rock territory, had become unbearable and they split up.
Williamson soon formed "Robin Williamson and His Merry Band" which toured and released three albums of eclectic music with a Celtic emphasis. Within a few years, he went on to a solo career, moving increasingly into traditional Celtic styles. He also produced several recordings of humorous stories. Heron formed the rock group "Heron" and later released occasional solo albums. Responding to a comment by Joe Boyd in 1997 that they hadn't spoken since the breakup in 1974, the pair got back together for two concerts. This was followed by a full reunion of the original three members plus Williamson's wife Bina and Lawson Dando in 1999. By 2001 both Robin and Bina Williamson had left. Heron, Palmer and Lawson, and new member Fluff toured regularly around the United Kingdom and internationally until an end to the tour was announced in 2006.
The music of the ISB ranges from quite conventional folk songs to innovative “art song” and hybrid forms that were a precursor to World Music. In 1967-8 they were sometimes described as part of pop music's "avant-garde", which had emerged in the wake of the more adventurous work of The Beatles, with whom they were often compared. Although they lacked the Beatles' broad pop appeal, the ISB showed a similar interest in extending the boundaries of their music. Both Mike Heron and Robin Williamson would break apart a traditional song structure, inserting seemingly unrelated sections in a way that has been described as "always surprising, laughably inventive, lyrically prodigious". While at times this resulted in a lack of conventional unity, it also opened up the song musically and thematically to allow greater depth and exploration. This aspect of their music, combined with Williamson’s soaring melismatic vocal ornamentation (perhaps influenced by Islamic chanters heard during his visit to Morocco, as well as by the Scots-Irish traditional singing with which he had grown up) made for music that still sounds fresh forty years later.
Everything's Fine Right Now
The Incredible String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't see no-one right now.
Got my baby here by me,
can't stop, no, no, not now.
Oh, come a little closer to my breast,
I'll tell you that you're the one I really love the best,
and you don't have to worry about any of the rest,
And you don't have to talk and you don't have to sing,
You don;t have to do nothing at all;
Just lie around and do as you please, you don't have for to fall.
Oh, come a little closer to my breast,
I'll tell you that you're the one I really love the best,
and you don't have to worry about any of the rest,
'cause everything's fine right now.
Oh, my, my, it looks kind of dark.
Looks lie the night's rolled on.
Best thing you do is just lie here by me, of course only just until the dawn.
Oh, come a little closer to my breast,
I'll tell you that you're the one I really love the best,
and you don't have to worry about any of the rest,
'cause everything's fine right now.
The Incredible String Band's song Everything's Fine Right Now is a soothing and romantic piece that seems to be sung by someone who is content in the present moment, with a lover by their side. The song opens with the singer hearing a knock on their door, but not seeing anyone. However, this doesn't distract them from the company of their beloved, whom they are fervently holding onto.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrases "come a little closer to my breast" and "you don't have to worry about any of the rest" several times, giving the impression that the singer is trying to reassure their lover that for now, at this moment, everything is alright. The final verse seems to suggest that dawn is quickly approaching, but the singer wants their lover to stay with them just a little bit longer. The calmness and tranquility of this song give the impression of being wrapped in a warm, comfortable embrace, making it a perfect piece to listen to when one wants to unwind and feel loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that knocking on my door?
I hear a knock, but cannot identify the source.
Can't see no-one right now.
I am unable to visually identify the knocker.
Got my baby here by me,
I have my loved one with me.
can't stop, no, no, not now.
I am not able to halt my current actions.
Oh, come a little closer to my breast,
Draw closer to me.
I'll tell you that you're the one I really love the best,
I want to express my deep affection for you.
and you don't have to worry about any of the rest,
You need not concern yourself with anything else.
'cause everything's fine right now.
Things are currently going well.
And you don't have to talk and you don't have to sing,
You are under no obligation to converse or perform.
You don;t have to do nothing at all;
You can simply exist, without any expectations or requirements.
Just lie around and do as you please, you don't have for to fall.
You can relax and pursue your own desires without concern for failure.
Oh, my, my, it looks kind of dark.
The surroundings appear dim and obscure.
Looks lie the night's rolled on.
It seems that evening has passed and time has progressed.
Best thing you do is just lie here by me, of course only just until the dawn.
It would be beneficial to remain with me until morning arrives.
'cause everything's fine right now.
Presently, there are no issues to address.
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Crusty Acres
It's like the best hippie jam you've ever heard (and I heard a lot).
Televin V
👍🍺👍🙏🍺
whatevershebrings
Beat Club continues to amaze with their curation of the greatest 60s and 70s music.
Televin V
100% . Amazing stuff!
martifingers
Some viewers may be interested to know that Rose Simpson (here playing organ) has written a book about her time with the band. It looks like it will be an important record and reflection on those times. There will be a "virtual" book launch here on Sunday 13th December at 14.00 GMT.
Leonard Vernon
I had such a most different opinion and feeling for her in the 60-70s. Love Likky& 🌹
Leonard Vernon
@Benjamin Wescott she stated it wasn't really her. not totally into band
Benjamin Wescott
@Leonard Vernon what's wrong? Was she in a bad place during her time in the band?
Leonard Vernon
Shame she wasn't really there in spirit
joeb267382
Yeah. I have been reading the interviews she has given since it's publication and I definitely plan to read it.