The obituary in the UK's "The Independent" newspaper for Tony Rose said "A beautifully relaxed interpreter of traditional song, with rare warmth and intimacy, Tony Rose made an indelible mark on the British folk scene. Emerging during the 1970s when folk clubs were still a force to be reckoned with, he was wholly committed to the grass roots scene, eschewing the seemingly sexier terrain of folk rock bands, modern song and political material that seduced so many of his contemporaries.
He loved traditional music and while it never brought him riches – indeed he returned to his first job as a teacher when the folk clubs themselves hit a recession in the late 1980s – he saw no reason to deviate widely from it. Accompanying himself on guitar and English concertina, he established an easy style that was instantly identifiable, putting him on a par with such giants of the era as Martin Carthy and Nic Jones.
Born in Exeter in 1941, Rose was smitten by folk song at Oxford University in the early 1960s, where he had won a scholarship to study Modern Languages at Queen's College. He first heard the British folk pioneers Louis Killen, Shirley Collins, Alex Campbell and Johnny Handle at the university's Heritage Society. He was also profoundly influenced by another West Country singer, Cyril Tawney, the ex-Navy man turned songwriter. Rose cut his musical teeth at his local folk club, the Jolly Porter in Exeter, where he became an occasional member of the resident band the Journeymen.
He moved to London to become a teacher in 1965 but, offered more and more gigs on the burgeoning folk scene, he became a professional singer in 1969. His first album, Young Hunting, in 1970 had a huge impact, mixing West Country songs like "The Bellringing" and "Tavistock Goosey Fair" with comic ditties and testing ballads like "Golden Vanitee" and "Blackwater Side".
With his rich, lyrical voice, a repertoire of largely unfamiliar material and erudite introductions, the long-haired Rose swiftly became an important member of the second wave of the folk revival. The subsquent albums Under The Greenwood Tree in 1971 (with more complex arrangements and also involving Dolly Collins and Peter Knight) and On Banks Of Green Willow in 1976 enhanced his reputation further. On Banks Of Green Willow particularly confirmed his status as a great singer, tackling epic ballads like "The Bonny Hind", "Lord Randall" and "Fanny Blair". Of all his recorded work this was his tour de force.
In the late 1970s he formed a folk "supergroup", Bandoggs, with Pete and Christine Coe and his close friend Nic Jones, in which Rose played, among other things, mouth organ and performed a storming version of Loudon Wainwright's "Swimming Song". Despite acclaimed live work, the group suffered financial and logistical problems, and split up without recording.
Rose returned to his solo career, releasing the 1982 album Poor Fellows (the title track was drawn from Peter Bellamy's groundbreaking folk opera The Transports). This encompassed contemporary song for the first time with thoughtful arrangements of Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather" and Richard Thompson's "Down Where The Drunkards Roll". While the album also featured traditional material like "The Yarmouth Tragedy" and "Clerk Saunders", Rose's sense of the absurd was illustrated by the inclusion of his grave interpretation of the kitsch pop standard "The Three Bells," a song he was even occasionally prevailed upon to sing in French as an encore at gigs.
But as the folk scene constricted, artists relying exclusively on the club circuit struggled and Rose ultimately returned to teaching. However, he remained a familiar figure on the scene, gigging occasionally and regularly turning up at West Country folk events such as the Padstow May Day celebrations and Sidmouth Folk Festival. He also worked as a folk journalist.
In 1999 he retired from teaching and made an unlikely return with a new album, Bare Bones, released on his own Boneshaker label, which largely featured new versions of old songs no longer available. Sounding as good as he ever did, he was still easing himself back into the circuit when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. He died in June 2002."
He recorded several LPs for the Trailer label in the 1970s, which outrageously have remained unavailable since Trailer's bankruptcy.
Searching For Lambs
Tony Rose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One May morning betime,
I met a maid, from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.
"What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
"I'm going off to feed my father's flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams."
"O stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
And rest you here a while.
For there is none save you alone
That I do love so dear."
"And how gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I'd rather rest on a true love's breast
Than any other where."
"For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We'll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we will be."
The lyrics to Tony Rose's song, "Searching for Lambs," tell the story of a chance encounter between a young woman and a young man on a May morning. The young woman is on her way to tend to her father's flock of lambs, while the young man is smitten with her beauty and asks her to stay with him a while. Despite the beautiful weather and the stunning surroundings, the young woman insists on continuing her journey.
When the young man declares his love for her and asks her to stay, she responds that she would rather rest on the breast of a true love than anywhere else. The young man then proposes they be married, and the young woman accepts, declaring that she belongs to him and he to her, and that no one will come between them.
Overall, the lyrics to "Searching for Lambs" convey a message of love, beauty, and the unbreakable bond between two people who are meant to be together. They also highlight the importance of following one's path and staying true to oneself, even in the face of temptation and distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
As I went out one May morning,
One day in May, I went outdoors
One May morning betime,
It was early in the morning in May
I met a maid, from home had strayed
I came across a young girl who had wandered away from her home
Just as the sun did shine.
It was a bright sunny day
"What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
Strike off the morning dew."
He asked her why she was up so early to begin her journey, complimented her on her delicate steps, and observed that they were disturbing the morning dew.
"I'm going off to feed my father's flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams."
She was going to feed her father's flock of young lambs who were eagerly waiting for their mothers on the hills and in the valleys.
"O stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
And rest you here a while.
For there is none save you alone
That I do love so dear."
He asked her to stay and rest awhile, telling her that she was the only one he loves.
"And how gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I'd rather rest on a true love's breast
Than any other where."
She agreed that it was a beautiful day, and that she would rather rest on her true love's chest than anywhere else.
"For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We'll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we will be."
They agreed to marry and promised to take care of each other.
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hopeful Guitarist
Ethereal concertina and bowed psaltry. Superlative singing. In a league of its own. Perfectly moving and relaxing at the same time.
Jessie Skinner
Probably the most perfect rendition of the most perfect folk song, ever. Wonderful.
Jacki Page
Glorious singing & playing. Tony's talent is sadly missed. RIP, lovely man!
tommo903
Probably my favourite folk song of all time...it has everything. Just wonderful
tommo903
Possibly the most beautiful of all folk songs...just fantastic
Hans Fried
Great singer, Tony and good friend.
merelyanopinion
Well came to this via 'the long memory' film. Always liked folk music from my school days (a long long time ago) . Sorry to see Tony Rose died of cancer at 61 on the 6th June 2002. The comments following his death say it all. Obviously just a real nice guy. RIP Mike.
kaz yoshida
I bought this record about 30 years ago! fantastic british traditional music 30年前 仙台で大学生だったときに1番町近くのアサイラムという中古輸入盤ショップで2000円ぐらいで買いました。宝物です。tonyroseもお亡くなりになって久しいですね。
California Dreamin'
Wow... The concertina is not in concert pitch ( I think ) ...really adds to the quality .