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.
When The Music Starts To Play
The Incredible String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've met the happy and the sad together.
I chased the soft warm air that flew before me,
And through the storm on wings of love,
the song of life bore me.
And when the music starts to play let me be around, (I said)
When the music starts to play let me be around.
Oh, can't you see how my heart soars high,
When I hear that music.
When the music starts to play let me be around.
When sadness lays his cold fist on my shoulder,
And pushes me in icy waters drowning,
The gentle hand of music lifts me smiling,
And through these sounds my heart takes bounds,
I happy am.
And when the music starts to play let me be around, (I said)
When the music starts to play let me be around.
Oh, can't you see how my heart soars high,
When I hear that music.
When the music starts to play let me be around.
The Incredible String Band's "When The Music Starts To Play" is a beautiful song that celebrates the power of music in lifting up and inspiring individuals. The song speaks to the idea that music can be a powerful force that can help people navigate through the complex emotions of life. Through the song, the singer reflects on the journey of their life, which has been both happy and sad. They mention chasing the soft warm air, a metaphor for the pursuit of happiness. They also acknowledge that life, at times, can be stormy and challenging.
Nevertheless, the singer finds solace in the moving strains of music that accompany them through life. The song of life bears them on wings of love, and the music lifts them up when they are drowning in sadness. In this way, the singer sees music as a journey of the soul, capable of guiding individuals through the ups and downs of life. The song recognizes the power of music in healing, transforming, and energizing individuals. It is a celebration of the beauty of music and its ability to enrich the human experience.
The lyrics of "When The Music Starts To Play" are poignant and heartfelt, providing a rare glimpse into the mind of an artist deeply connected to the power of music. The song has become a classic in the folk music scene, inspiring many artists over the years. It remains a powerful expression of the transformative and inspiring magic of music.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life and it's been a short one;
Despite having a short life, I have experienced happiness and sadness.
I've met the happy and the sad together.
I have encountered both happy and sad moments in my life.
I chased the soft warm air that flew before me,
I have pursued the things that bring me joy and inspiration.
And through the storm on wings of love,
Despite facing difficult times, love has carried me through.
the song of life bore me.
Life itself has served as the anthem to which I dance.
And when the music starts to play let me be around, (I said)
I want to be present when music is playing.
When sadness lays his cold fist on my shoulder,
During times of despair...
And pushes me in icy waters drowning,
...when I feel like I'm drowning in sorrow...
The gentle hand of music lifts me smiling,
...music has the power to lift my spirits and make me smile...
And through these sounds my heart takes bounds,
...and my heart leaps with joy.
I happy am.
Music makes me happy.
Oh, can't you see how my heart soars high,
I am deeply moved by music
When I hear that music.
and it has a profound effect on me.
When the music starts to play let me be around.
I want to be present whenever music is playing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MIKE HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind