The duo's name is reputed to be an amalgamation of "Sally" (the female Oldfield's name) and "Angie", the name of a guitar instrumental written by Davey Graham and more commonly called Anji.
The duo recorded for Transatlantic Records, with the track 'Love in Ice Crystals' appearing on the Transatlantic sampler 'Listen Here!' early in 1968 to promote the album 'Children of the Sun' released later that year; there were also two singles: 'Two Ships' released in September 1969 and 'Child of Allah' which appeared in December 1972 - three years after the duo had split.
River Song
The Sallyangie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the hair of my killer
Pour flowers on his head
Help me give him some shelter
Come lie by the river
Rest your head don't you fear
Then sleep softly my baby
And Daddy forgive them
They've taken and murdered all that he loved
He came with a gun his mind all undone
Now he's weepin' they wanna hang him at morning.
Pretty stars drop your wonder
On the eyes of my killer
Blind him with lovelight
Help me give him some shelter
Come lie by the river
Rest your head don't you fear
Then sleep softly my baby
They won't find you here
And Daddy forgive them
They've taken and murdered all that he loved
He came with a gun his mind all undone
Now he's weepin' they wanna hang him at morning.
I will die on a mountain
When the evening is falling
Kill softly my baby
For I'll rise in the morning
Come take me by the river
Bring your gun don't you fear
Then sleep quiet my baby
They won't find my body here
And Daddy forgive them
They've taken and murdered all that he loved
He came with a gun his mind all undone
Now he's weepin' they wanna hang him at morning
The Sallyangie's "River Song" is a haunting, emotional ballad that tells a story of love, loss, and tragedy. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who has been driven to murder, seeking refuge and shelter by a river. The moon shines softly and the stars drop their wonder on the eyes of the "killer," while the singer pleads with them to forgive him for everything he has done. She pours flowers on his head, hoping to bring him comfort and ease his pain.
As the night continues, the father of the singer comes with a gun, seeking vengeance for all that he has lost. He is also driven to violence and seeks to hang the man at morning. The singer decides to sacrifice her own life, willing to die on a mountain as the evening falls. She pleads with her killer to kill her softly, for she knows she will rise in the morning. She hopes to offer herself as a sacrifice to provide some measure of peace and forgiveness for all those affected by the tragedy.
Overall, the song is captivating and heart-wrenching, exploring themes of love, grief, and sacrifice. It is a powerful reminder of the depth of human emotion and the lengths to which we will go for those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
My moon shines so softly
The singer's peaceful surroundings are intensified by the soft glow of the moon
On the hair of my killer
The singer is at peace despite the presence of someone who may harm them
Pour flowers on his head
The singer wants to offer comfort to the person who may harm them
Help me give him some shelter
The artist wants to help protect the person who may harm them
Come lie by the river
The artist invites the person who may harm them to rest and relax
Rest your head don't you fear
The singer reassures the person who may harm them that they are safe and need not worry
Then sleep softly my baby
The singer wants the person who may harm them to sleep peacefully
They won't find you here
The artist promises the person who may harm them that they are hidden and safe
And Daddy forgive them
The artist wants forgiveness for those who have caused them and their loved ones harm
They've taken and murdered all that he loved
The artist's loved ones have been killed by others
He came with a gun his mind all undone
The singer's loved one acted out of desperation and anger when seeking revenge for their loss
Now he's weepin' they wanna hang him at morning
The artist's loved one is facing punishment for their actions and is remorseful
Pretty stars drop your wonder
The beauty of the stars captivates the singer
On the eyes of my killer
The singer sees beauty in the person who may harm them
Blind him with lovelight
The singer wants the person who may harm them to experience the beauty and light of love
I will die on a mountain
The artist is accepting of their eventual death
When the evening is falling
The artist envisions a peaceful passing during a calm time of day
Kill softly my baby
The singer wants a peaceful death for the person who may harm them
For I'll rise in the morning
The singer believes in an afterlife where they will be reunited with their loved ones
Bring your gun don't you fear
The artist is willing to face death at the hands of the person who may harm them
Then sleep quiet my baby
The artist wants the person who may harm them to rest peacefully after their act of violence
They won't find my body here
The artist's body will be hidden from those seeking retribution
And Daddy forgive them
The singer again asks for forgiveness for those who caused harm
They've taken and murdered all that he loved
The artist's loved ones have been killed by others
He came with a gun his mind all undone
The singer's loved one acted out of desperation and anger when seeking revenge for their loss
Now he's weepin' they wanna hang him at morning
The singer's loved one is facing punishment for their actions and is remorseful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL GORDON OLDFIELD, SALLY ANNE OLDFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind