With some mild success with singles during the mid-late 1960s, Bunyan released the LP, Just Another Diamond Day, in 1970. This consisted of songs written while traveling in a horse drawn gypsy cart. Critics panned the album and a discouraged Vashti soon disappeared from the music scene. However, by the 2000s her work had finally been finding an audience among contemporary artists and fans of folk music.
In 2002, she was invited by Piano Magic musician Glen Johnson to sing guest vocals on his song "Crown of the Lost", her first recording in over 30 years. After guesting on Piano Magic's album 'Writers Without Homes', she released her critically-acclaimed second album, Lookaftering, 35 years after its predecessor.
In 2006 she collaborated with Adem and began to tour for the first time, accompanied by various musicians including Jo Mango and Gareth Dickson. She collaborated with Animal Collective on the Prospect Hummer EP. Vashti also sang with Devendra Banhart on his album Rejoicing in the Hands.
Bunyan's cover of the late John Martyn's "Head and Heart" appeared on the 2011 tribute album, Johnny Boy Would Love This...A Tribute to John Martyn.
Trawlerman's Song
Vashti Bunyan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pick my little wee wifey up
And set her on my knee
See how my eldest boy has grown
Whilst I've been away
See here's a boat I've whittled for thee,
Especially for thee
I've thought of you everyday
I love coming home from far across the sea
And taking up my walking cane
And passing through the trees.
I wander on the hillside,
The doggie at my heel,
The bracken waves a welcome to me
'Where have you been
We've missed you a great deal'
I love coming home from far across the sea
I pick my little wee wifey up
And set her on my knee
The Trawlerman's Song by Vashti Bunyan is a heartwarming tune that expresses the joy of coming home after a long journey at sea. The song is narrated by a sailor who is excited to return to his family after months away. He is filled with adoration for his wife and children as he takes in how much they have grown and matured in his absence. As he embraces his family, he presents a wooden boat that he had constructed just for them, an act that reveals both his love and commitment to them.
The sailor takes time to appreciate the scenic beauty of the countryside as he takes a walk with his dog. He revels in the welcoming embrace of nature and feels a sense of belonging that he had missed dearly. The harmonious interplay between the sailor’s voice and a simple guitar melody creates an idyllic atmosphere that paints a perfect picture of the joys of family life, nature, and homecoming.
Overall, the Trawlerman's Song is a tender ode to the simple pleasures of life that so often go unnoticed. It highlights the power of simple gestures, such as carving a little boat, or taking a walk with one’s pet, to bring immense joy and fulfillments. The song is a beautiful reminder of the importance of appreciating the little joys of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I love coming home from far across the sea
Returning home after being at sea brings joy and happiness
And taking up my walking cane
Upon returning, the singer picks up their cane and goes for a walk
And passing through the trees.
The singer walks through a wooded area on their way home
I wander on the hillside,
The artist walks up the hills near their home
The doggie at my heel,
The artist's dog follows them on their walk
The bracken waves a welcome to me
The plants seem to welcome the singer back home
'Where have you been
The singer imagines the plants are asking where they have been
We've missed you a great deal'
The plants have missed the artist while they were away at sea
See how my eldest boy has grown
Upon returning home, the artist notices how much their son has grown
Whilst I've been away
The artist has been away at sea for some time
See here's a boat I've whittled for thee,
The singer has made a boat for someone special in their life
Especially for thee
The boat was made specifically for the person it is for
I've thought of you everyday
The person the singer made the boat for was on their mind every day they were away at sea
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
justakeris
I love coming home from far across the sea
I pick my little wee wifey up and set her on my knee
See how my eldest boy has grown
Whilst I've been away
See here's a boat I've whittled for thee, especially for thee
I've thought of you everyday
I love coming home from far across the sea
And taking up my walking cane
And passing through the trees
I wander on the hillside, the doggie at my heel
The bracken wave's a welcome to me
"Where have you been?
We've missed you a great deal"
I love coming home from far across the sea
I pick my little wee wifey up
And set her on my knee
Kaylee McCrea
i listen to this song everytime i miss my husband
astro boi
beautiful