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.
Jane
The Incredible String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are trembling with emotion
Of grief or fear or joy.
Jane looks down at her brown shoes.
She knows that the shine upon them
Should please someone like you.
To run on sands so white.
To buy her boat trips if you could
And watch her drink tea.
Jane can't tell me if her heart
Is racing with emotion
Of grief or fear or joy.
The lyrics to The Incredible String Band's song "Jane" paint a portrait of a woman whose emotions are both intense and difficult for others to read. Jane's hands are trembling, but whether it's from grief, fear or joy is unclear. She looks down at her shoes, knowing that their shine might please someone else. The singer speculates that this "someone" would like to take Jane away to run on white sandy beaches, buy her boat trips and watch her drink tea. Yet despite all of this, Jane's heart races with emotions that remain a mystery.
The lyrics of "Jane" convey a sense of alienation and disconnection. Jane's feelings are unreadable, and there is a sense that she does not quite fit into the world around her. The singer tentatively speculates about what Jane might want or need, suggesting that she is perhaps misunderstood and underestimated by others. However, ultimately the singer is unable to penetrate the mystery of Jane's inner life.
Line by Line Meaning
Jane can't tell me if her hands
Jane is unable to communicate the emotional state of her trembling hands, whether it be grief, fear, or joy.
Are trembling with emotion
Jane's hands are shaking due to overpowering emotions.
Of grief or fear or joy.
Jane is experiencing some form of intense emotion, but isn't sure which one.
Jane looks down at her brown shoes.
Jane is staring at her brown shoes, indicating that she may be feeling anxious or uncertain about something.
She knows that the shine upon them
Jane is aware of how her shoes look and the impression they will make on others.
Should please someone like you.
Jane believes that someone like the listener would appreciate the cleanliness and shine of her shoes.
Someone like you would like to take Jane off
The singer is aware that the listener would like to take Jane away from her current situation.
To run on sands so white.
The listener would want to take Jane to a peaceful place like the beach.
To buy her boat trips if you could
The listener would like to spend money on Jane and her experiences, such as buying her a boat trip.
And watch her drink tea.
The listener would enjoy simple pleasures, such as watching Jane drink tea.
Jane can't tell me if her heart
Jane is incapable of expressing the emotional state of her racing heart.
Is racing with emotion
Jane's heart is beating rapidly due to overwhelming emotions.
Of grief or fear or joy.
Similar to before, Jane is feeling intense emotions, but isn't sure which ones.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKE HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kay- Lee
What an absolutely amazing piece of music!!!! I came across this song when i was 13, as part of a compilation 'hippy chick' cd, when cds first came out- attached to a magazine, and was mezmorized by it ever since- its really something special!!! i love it. Been hunting it forever!!
Roger Houdaille
their best...it's crazy how they could afford to never put it on an album!
teddy36912
I've only been searching for this song for 18 years, albeit not that hard I guess. Why did it never come up before? Brilliant.
Sandy Allan
Thought I had everything they ever put out on record (and some more besides) but don't think I have heard this before. Thanks for uploading!
Sandy Allan
+Sandy Allan Just realised I do have this song on CD - it's included on the On Air LP and CD that has been released by several labels over the years since 1991.
Gabriele Carena
always loved it!
spiralsplat
Hi,Nice little story of how you came across this track..wonderful!!
Bongle Phoenix
Think it was put out on a Q magazine compilation in the 90's - Beautiful song.
lennon _#9dream
This song was an outtake from "Earthspam" album. I miss you, Lic!!
okcorky
@Kay- Lee.... I remember that cd.. It had some great tunes on It. What magazine was it off again?