2 American/Swedish indie-pop duo … Read Full Bio ↴1 English folk band from the mid-1960s
2 American/Swedish indie-pop duo signed to Matinée Recordings in 2003
1. The 1960s Young Tradition apparently was formed by chance when Peter Bellamy and Royston Wood met when they were camping on a friend's floor, and started making harmonies together. Heather Wood (no relation to Royston) ran into them at a folk club and just joined in from the audience. Their harmonies, owe much to The Copper Family , but also came from their other musical loves. For Royston, it was classical music. For Heather, it was the Everly Brothers and years of school and church choirs.
2. The more recent Young Tradition consists of Californian-based songwriter Brent Kenji of The Guild League and Swedish musician Erik Hanspers, collaborating remotely through the post and the internet.
They have released an EP, California Morning, and an album, Northern Drive, on Matinée Recordings.
The Cutty Wren
The Young Tradition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose.
And what will you do there said Milder to Moulder
We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose.
And how will you shoot us said Milder to Moulder
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will you do then said Festel to Fose
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose.
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose.
And how will you fetch her said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose.
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose.
Ah that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose.
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose.
Oh how will you cut her up said Milder to Moulder
With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose.
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose.
Oh how will you boil her said Milder to Moulder
In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose
O that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose.
Oh who'll get the spare ribs said Milder to Moulder
We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose.
The Cutty Wren is a traditional folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years, including The Young Tradition. The song tells the story of a group of men going into the woods to hunt the Cutty Wren, a small bird that was believed to bring bad luck. Milder and Festel question John the Red Nose and Fose about their plans, but they are not forthcoming with all the details. When asked how they will shoot the bird, John the Red Nose replies with bows and arrows, which is deemed insufficient. They then suggest using great guns and great cannon to bring it down.
When Milder asks how they will transport the bird, John the Red Nose suggests using four strong men's shoulders, which is again deemed insufficient. They then suggest using great carts and wagons instead. The group discusses how they will prepare the bird for eating, with John the Red Nose finally suggesting using great hatchets and cleavers to cut it up and large pans and cauldrons to boil it. When asked who will get the spare ribs, John the Red Nose says they will give everything to the poor.
The song is believed to be a traditional hunting song that dates back centuries. It is still sung in parts of England, notably in the southwest of the country, where the hunt for the Cutty Wren is often reenacted as part of traditional festivities. The song has also been recorded by a number of famous artists, including Martin Carthy, Steeleye Span and The Dubliners. The Cutty Wren has inspired a number of other folk songs and poems over the years, and remains an important part of England's folk music heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh where are you going said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked where John the Red Nose and his friends were headed
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
Festel declined to reveal their destination
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose
John the Red Nose announced that they were going into the woods
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose reiterates that they are going into the woods
And what will you do there said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked what John the Red Nose and his friends were planning to do in the woods
We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose declared they would hunt the Cutty Wren
And how will you shoot us said Milder to Moulder
Milder inquired how John the Red Nose and his friends would shoot the bird
With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose replied that they would use bows and arrows
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Milder disapproved of the method of their hunt
Oh what will you do then said Festel to Fose
Festel inquired what alternative plan they had
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose suggested using large guns and cannons
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose repeats the suggestion of using large guns and cannons
And how will you fetch her said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked how they would carry the bird
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
Festel declined to answer the question of how they would carry the bird
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose proposed that four strong men should carry the bird
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose reiterates that four men would carry the bird
Ah that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Milder objected to this method of carrying the bird
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Festel asked for an alternative way to carry the bird
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose suggested using large carts and wagons to carry the bird
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose restated that they would use large carts and wagons
Oh how will you cut her up said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked how they would cut the bird
With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose replied that they would use knives and forks
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Milder disapproved of this method of cutting the bird
Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose suggested using large hatchets and cleavers to cut the bird
Oh how will you boil her said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked how they would cook the bird
In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose
John the Red Nose replied that they would cook the bird in pots and kettles
O that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Milder disapproved of this method of cooking the bird
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose suggested using large pans and cauldrons to cook the bird
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose reiterates the suggestion of using large pans and cauldrons
Oh who'll get the spare ribs said Milder to Moulder
Milder asked who would get the spare ribs of the bird
We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose.
John the Red Nose replied that they would give all the spare ribs to the less fortunate
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALICE NUTTER, ALLEN WHALLEY, BRUCE DUNSTAN, DARREN HAMER, JUDITH ABBOTT, LOUISE WATTS, NIGEL HUNTER, PAUL GRECO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Baldricksturnip
Love it!
Sean Gillespie
this is just amazing, god bliss whatever those 2 are up to now
Theodore McGrath
I've met Heather not long ago. She's still singing, and she's one of the main organizers of the folk weekends of the Folk Music Society of New York now. I gather she lives in NYC. She's also put a couple of more recent albums: one called "The Love That I Have Chosen", as A. Heather Wood, and the other is called "The Curate's Egge" as Poor Old Horse (a trio of which she is a part). Perhaps you can find these somewhere online.
Atropus Arbaalish
@Theodore McGrath I grew up in Saratoga Springs. My parents used to hang out at Cafe Lena's, which is a famous spot for folk musicians across the US.
Graham Wood
Royston is not here anymore, but as his brother I still like listening to his and often play all of the young traditions music funny how time flies the only one left now is heather wood not related
Ian Padraig
His music ,the gift to us , continues to lift the spirit.And for that,your brother lives in our hearts.
Graham Wood
Thank you all for your wonderful replies, I'm sure Royston was still here he would have appreciated it, thanks again
Mark O'Sullivan
A bloody fine song. I sang it it the Spaniard Pub on Kinsale Co. Cork for many a year.
Steve King
I remember listening to this the first time at Pye Records pressing plant in Mitcham! A colleague was playing the test pressing...
A Nautical Gate
Spanning the centuries , to find it's way into my heart & being>to the point where will start in , a capella , as I go about my day.