The band consisted of two of the superstars of British folk guitar, Bert Jansch (3rd November 1943 - 5th October 2011) and John Renbourn (8 August 1944 - 26 March 2015) both of whom also sang, singer Jacqui McShee, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox. The original line-up lasted until the early 70s. They then split acrimoniously, but reformed by mutual consent around 15 years later. The original lineup worked together briefly but Renbourn left to pursue studies and other projects, leading to a succession of lineup changes and erratic output, which continued through the 80s and 90s with Jansch and McShee the only constant members. When Jansch eventually left, McShee continued to lead a distantly-related group under the name Jacqui McShee's Pentangle.
The core of the band's identity was the eclectic virtuosity of Jansch and Renbourn, who added elements of Middle Eastern music, blues, jazz and Classical to their style. At various times, they also experimented with electric guitar and sitar.
The Trees They Do Grow High
The Pentangle Lyrics
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Many is the time my true love I've seen
Many an hour I've watched him all alone
He's young but he's daily growing
Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong
You have married me to a boy who is too young
I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen
Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong
I've married you to a great Lord's son
He'll be a man to you when I am dead and gone
He's young, but he's daily growing
Father, dear father, if you see fit
We'll send my love to college for one year yet
Tie blue ribbons all around his head
To let the ladies know that he's married
One day I was looking over my father's castle wall
Saw all the boys aplaying with the ball
My own true love was the flower of them all
He's young, but he's daily growing
At the age of fourteen he was a married man
Age of fifteen the father of a son
Age of sixteen on his grave the grass was green
Cruel death had put an end to his growing
I'll make my love a shroud at the hole in so fine
Every stitch I put in it, the tears come trickling down
Once I had a true love but not narrow one
But I'll watch out his son 'cause he's growing
The Pentangle's "The Trees They Do Grow High" is a powerful ballad about young love and the bittersweet nature of life. It begins with the singer admiring the trees and her true love's youth and beauty. She watches him mature day by day, but their love is ultimately doomed. The singer tells her father that she's been wronged by him, as she has been forced into a marriage with a boy much younger than herself. The father insists that he has done nothing wrong and that by marrying her to a lord's son, she will be taken care of after he passes away.
The song focuses on the growth and change that happens in our lives, contrasting the beauty of youth with the inevitability of death. At the song's climax, the singer's true love dies at only sixteen years old, leaving his wife and child behind. The singer is left to mourn him and make a shroud for him, but she vows to watch over his son as he grows. Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of the contradictions of life and the joys and sorrows of love.
Line by Line Meaning
The trees they grow high and the leaves they do grow green
Nature flourishes with life and foliage, just as my memories of my beloved have grown and prospered.
Many is the time my true love I've seen
I have spent countless moments gazing upon my love, admiring his youthful beauty.
Many an hour I've watched him all alone
When I am alone, I still find myself lost in thoughts of my beloved, watching his image in my mind.
He's young but he's daily growing
My love is still young but he is growing and maturing with each passing day.
Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong
My father has harmed me by making me marry a boy who is much younger than me.
You have married me to a boy who is too young
My marriage has robbed me of a life of passion and love because my husband is still immature.
I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen
I am twenty-four, while my beloved is only fourteen, further emphasizing the inappropriateness of our union.
Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong
Father believes he has done nothing wrong, and that marrying me to a noble family is a great achievement.
I've married you to a great Lord's son
Father believes that marrying me to the son of an influential lord will benefit me in the future.
He'll be a man to you when I am dead and gone
Father hopes that my husband will mature and become a true man after he is gone.
Father, dear father, if you see fit
If possible, I request that my husband be given the opportunity to be educated for another year.
We'll send my love to college for one year yet
I believe that education will help my beloved mature and become a better husband.
Tie blue ribbons all around his head
I suggest that blue ribbons be tied around his head to indicate that he is happily married and off-limits to other women.
To let the ladies know that he's married
The blue ribbons will serve as a sign to women that my beloved is no longer available.
One day I was looking over my father's castle wall
One day, while gazing out over the walls of my father's castle, I saw a group of boys playing ball.
Saw all the boys aplaying with the ball
I saw all the young men of the village playing together, but none compared to my beloved.
My own true love was the flower of them all
I considered my own beloved to be the most beautiful and perfect among them all.
At the age of fourteen he was a married man
Even though my beloved was still very young at the age of fourteen, he was already married.
Age of fifteen the father of a son
By the age of fifteen, my beloved had already become a father to a newborn son.
Age of sixteen on his grave the grass was green
Sadly, by the age of sixteen, my beloved had passed and was buried in a grassy grave.
Cruel death had put an end to his growing
Death had cut short my beloved's life, preventing him from growing any further and achieving greatness.
I'll make my love a shroud at the hole in so fine
I am so heartbroken by my beloved's death that I will make a shroud for him myself, with the finest of materials.
Every stitch I put in it, the tears come trickling down
As I sew each stitch of the shroud, the tears never stop flowing down my face.
Once I had a true love but not narrow one
I once had a true and passionate love, unlike my current husband who is still too immature to show me such love.
But I'll watch out his son 'cause he's growing
Although I have lost my beloved, I will watch over and protect his son, who is still growing and has the potential for greatness.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TRADITIONAL, SIMON FOWLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind