Jo Serrapere left in 2003 and plays now with the Willie Dunns. By the end of 2003 the line-up became KC Groves on mandolin and guitar, Abigail Washburn on banjo, Rayna Gellert on fiddle and Kristin Andreassen, guitarist, fiddler, and clogging. All the band members are co-vocalists. There was no permanent bass player.
Call it old-time for our times: with their infectious energy, undeniable charisma, sharp musicianship, and unique repertoire of original and traditional songs, Uncle Earl is bringing the string band legacy proudly into the modern era.
Willie Taylor
Uncle Earl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full of mirth and loyalty,
They were going to the church to be married,
He was pressed and sent on sea.
Dolly dilly dum dilly dum dum day
She dressed herself up like a sailor
Her lovely fingers long and slender
She gave them all just a smear of tar.
Dolly…
On the ship there being a skirmish
She was one amongst the rest
A silver button flew off her jacket
There appeared her snow-white breast.
Dolly…
Said the captain to this fair maid
What misfortune has took you here
I'm in search of my true lover,
Who you pressed on the other year.
Dolly…
If you're in search of your true lover
Tell me what might be his name
Willie Taylor's what they call him,
But Fitzgerald is his name.
Dolly…
If you'll get up tomorrow morning
Early as the break of day
There you'll spy your Willie Taylor
Walking along with a lady gay.
Dolly…
So she got up the very next morning
Early as the break of day
And there she spied her Willie Taylor
Walking along with a lady gay.
Dolly…
So she pulled out a brace of pistols
That she had at her command
And there she shot her Willie Taylor
With his bride at his right hand.
Dolly…
When the captain came to hear
Of the deed that she had done
He made her a ship's commander
Over a vessel for the Isle of Man.
Dolly…
The song "Willie Taylor" by Uncle Earl tells the story of a young couple in love who were planning to get married. However, right before the wedding, Willie Taylor was drafted and sent off to sea. The young woman, determined to be with her love, disguised herself as a sailor, including wearing a star on her chest, and joined the same ship. There, during a skirmish, a button came undone from her jacket, revealing her breast. Later, when the captain asked her how she ended up on the ship, she revealed that she was searching for her lover, Willie Taylor, who had been drafted the previous year. The captain claimed he didn't know him by that name, but when she mentioned that Fitzgerald was his real name, he told her that she would find him walking with another woman early the next morning.
Line by Line Meaning
Willie Taylor and his youthful lover,
This song is about Willie Taylor and his young lover who were set to be married but got separated when Willie was taken away by the authorities.
Full of mirth and loyalty,
Willie and his lover were very happy and devoted to each other.
They were going to the church to be married,
Willie and his lover were headed to the church to get married.
He was pressed and sent on sea.
Willie was conscripted and taken away to serve in the military.
Dolly dilly dum dilly dum dum day
This is a nonsense refrain that has no particular meaning.
She dressed herself up like a sailor
Willie's lover dressed up as a sailor to follow him to sea.
On her breast she wore a star
She wore a star on her breast as a symbol of her love and devotion to Willie.
Her lovely fingers long and slender
The singer describes the physical appearance of Willie's lover's fingers.
She gave them all just a smear of tar.
She gave her fingers a coating of tar to make them look like those of a sailor.
On the ship there being a skirmish
There was a battle on the ship.
She was one amongst the rest
Willie's lover was one of the sailors fighting in the battle.
A silver button flew off her jacket
During the battle, one of the silver buttons on her jacket came off.
There appeared her snow-white breast.
As her jacket opened up, her breast was briefly exposed.
Said the captain to this fair maid
The captain of the ship spoke to Willie's lover.
What misfortune has took you here
The captain asked what had caused her to be on his ship.
I'm in search of my true lover,
Willie's lover told the captain that she was looking for Willie.
Who you pressed on the other year.
She explained that Willie had been conscripted the previous year.
If you're in search of your true lover
The captain suggests a way for Willie's lover to find him.
Tell me what might be his name
The captain asked for Willie's name.
Willie Taylor's what they call him,
Willie was the name by which Willie's lover knew him.
But Fitzgerald is his name.
The captain learns that Willie's real name is Fitzgerald.
If you'll get up tomorrow morning
The captain gave Willie's lover some instructions to follow.
Early as the break of day
She was to get up very early in the morning.
There you'll spy your Willie Taylor
She would be able to see Willie walking with his new bride.
Walking along with a lady gay.
Willie was walking with his new bride who appeared to be very happy.
So she got up the very next morning
Willie's lover followed the captain's instructions.
And there she spied her Willie Taylor
She saw Willie walking with his new bride.
Walking along with a lady gay.
Willie's new bride appeared to be very happy.
So she pulled out a brace of pistols
Willie's lover took out two pistols.
That she had at her command
She had the pistols with her and ready to use.
And there she shot her Willie Taylor
She shot and killed Willie.
With his bride at his right hand.
Willie was killed while walking with his new bride.
When the captain came to hear
The captain heard about what had happened.
Of the deed that she had done
The captain learned of the murder of Willie.
He made her a ship's commander
Despite committing murder, the captain rewarded Willie's lover.
Over a vessel for the Isle of Man.
She was given command of a ship that sailed to the Isle of Man.
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vaelkyrja
This song is so much more amazing than anyone knows. Wow <3
Justin Myslive
the fiddle playing is just phenomenal
Keys of the Kingdom Bible -- Christopher Sparkes
This is absolutely fantastic. I love everything about it, and I love how you get the rhythm with the percussion.
Linda Hornig
Very touching.Beautifullly load, especially the fiddlle, the way it wails
Dylan Shannon
What a class tune i heard this on "Clare FM" and thought to myself jeez... thos is a fantastic bit of trad. Unreal!!!
Sam Vidovich
Very great
Bill Starkowski
Nothing is more engaging than a woman claiming her power!