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.
song
The Pentangle Lyrics
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Trains are carrying me
One and a two, three and a four thousand miles
Miles from you1
Thought I tried my best
To be your man
Can't you see, can't you feel that burning into my soul?
* * *
Love is a basket of light
Grasp it so tight
Shining bright just ain't right to be caught in the night
Caught in the basket of light2
1) Marie suggests
There they were little lady:
Trains a-gatherin' near
One and a two, three and a four,
Thousand a miles
Miles from you...
D. Payne suggests
Fare thee well, little lady.
Trains are carrying me
One and a two, three and a four thousand miles
Miles from you.
2) Marie suggests
Love is a basket of light
Graspin' so tight
Shinin' bright just ain't right
To be caught in the night...
Caught in a basket of light...
D. Payne suggests
Love is a basket of light.
Grasping [grasp it?] so tight.
Shining bright just ain't right to be caught in the night.
Caught in a basket of light.
* With assistance from emails f
rom two different transcribers, it seems there are slightly different interpretations of the lyrics to The Pentangle's "Basket of Light," but some common themes emerge in both. The song seems to be about a man who is leaving a woman, but still deeply loves her and wishes they could be together. He is boarding a train and heading thousands of miles away from her, despite having tried his best to be her partner. The love they share is described as a "basket of light," something to hold on to tightly, but also a delicate and fleeting thing that can be easily lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Fare thee well, little lady
Goodbye, my love
Trains are carrying me
I am leaving on a train
One and a two, three and a four thousand miles
I am traveling a great distance away from you
Miles from you
I am far away from you
Thought I tried my best
I did everything I could
To be your man
To be the one you love and rely on
Can't you see, can't you feel that burning into my soul?
Don't you understand how much I love you?
Don't you understand?
Why can't you see how much I care?
Love is a basket of light
Love is radiant and precious
Grasp it so tight
Hold onto it tightly
Shining bright just ain't right to be caught in the night
It's not enough to keep it hidden away
Caught in the basket of light
Embrace and cherish love while you have it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERT JANSCH, DANNY THOMPSON, JACQUI MCSHEE, JOHN RENBOURN, TERRY COX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidlee6720
she looks like a figure staight out of a medieval painting. an unmatchable pure voice as well, best in her genre.
@marklimbo5272
Absolutely.
@seanbrou-bj9ob
Totally agree.the pure voice that has no equal to this day .
@williamcarrington61
A special type of beauty to behold .
@mackritete3386
My thoughts exactly 💯
@mackritete3386
Fully agree 👍
@Rog5446
When a group of musicians transport you to another place without you moving, you know something special is going on.
@john80396
Absolutely,
@MrSteve_Luddite.
And another time..
@agentorange153
@@MrSteve_Luddite. In this case, a darker time when a woman having sex before marriage could lead to her being disgraced or worse, and when they even made them undergo visual examinations for virginity!