Vin Garbutt was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, the son of an English father and an Irish mother. He discovered folk music while he was still at school, and began visiting and performing at the Rifle Club in Cannon Street, Middlesbrough. After leaving school he was encouraged to become an apprentice at the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) Wilton chemical plant, near to his home. During this period he often visited Ireland in search of his musical roots. At the age of 21, he threw caution to the winds and became a professional musician. Armed with the rich repertoire of songs he had amassed, he spent the first summer busking his way around the bars of Spain's Mediterranean coast, and on to Morocco via Gibraltar. It was then that he found he had a talent for songwriting.
Back in England in 1972 he recorded his first album for Bill Leader, The Valley of Tees. This firmly established him as a singer and songwriter of well-crafted, socially conscious and environmentally aware songs.
During 1999 Garbutt celebrated his 30th year as a professional performer. He spent the early part of the year on a world tour, playing extensively in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. As soon as he got back to England he set off on his “Take It Easy after 30 Years on the Road” tour. To coincide with the tour he released his Word of Mouth CD, playing in various British venues to packed theatres. His rambling patter between the songs can take longer than the amount of time singing.
During 2001 Garbutt published the first collection of his songs, The Vin Garbutt Songbook. The collection spans his career from "The Valley of Tees" written in 1971 to "The Troubles of Erin'" written in 1999. Shortly afterwards, the companion CD was issued, Garbutt's first ever compilation CD and another world tour followed in 2004. A health check highlighted a minor health problem but in early 2005, whilst on a sabbatical trip to Spain, Garbutt's condition deteriorated. On his return he was hospitalised and a repair made to one of his heart valves. He made a full recovery and was back on the road. In his recuperation period he worked on his album Persona … Grata which was launched at The Sage Gateshead on 6 October 2005.
In 2001 Garbutt won the "Best Live Act” award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and was also nominated for "Folk Singer of the Year" (with the award going to Norma Waterson). Later that year, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Master of Arts by the University of Teesside. In 2007 he was nominated for "Best Live Act" again at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with the award going to Bellowhead.
Discography
The Valley of Tees (1972)
The Young Tin Whistle Pest (live) (1974)
King Gooden (1976)
Eston California (1977)
Tossin' a Wobbler (1978)
Little Innocents (1983)
Shy Tot Pommy (1985) (live - Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia)
When The Tide Turns (1989)
The By-Pass Syndrome (1991)
Bandalised (1994)
Plugged! (1995) (live - Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham, UK.)
When the Tide Turns Again (1998) (reissue of 1989 album with one additional track)
Word Of Mouth (1999)
The Vin Garbutt Songbook Vol 1 (2003)
Persona ... Grata (2005)
Teesside Troubadour documentary & live DVD (2011)
Synthetic Hues (2014)
In 2009 The Land of the Three Rivers from Eston California was included in Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as track fourteen on the fifth CD.
Man of the Earth
Vin Garbutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's not much to do since he turned 65.
So he took to his garden to keep him alive its his only joy and his pride.
Every day as I go through the old shanty town where the sheds and alotments all stand I see the old man of the land with a rake or a spade in his hand.
He's there in all weather in sunshine or rain
The song "Man of the Earth" by Vin Garbutt tells the story of an elderly man who, after turning 65, finds solace in gardening. In his lonely allotment, he works hard to till the soil and grow his plants. Despite having little to do, he finds joy and pride in his garden. The lyrics suggest that this man of the earth has a deep connection to nature and finds fulfillment through hard work and perseverance.
The song also touches on the concept of seeing beauty in the ordinary or overlooked things in life. Garbutt sings about passing through an old shanty town and noticing the man of the land working in his allotment. The imagery suggests that even though the man's surroundings may not be glamorous, his commitment to his garden is admirable and inspiring. The song celebrates the simplicity and resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
A man of the earth, a man of the soil in his lonely allotment he labours and toils.
This man works hard on his garden, cultivating the earth and taking pride in what he grows.
He's not much to do since he turned 65.
Since he's reached retirement age, he's found joy in tending to his garden.
So he took to his garden to keep him alive its his only joy and his pride.
His garden gives him a sense of purpose and pride, and keeps him going in life.
Every day as I go through the old shanty town where the sheds and allotments all stand I see the old man of the land with a rake or a spade in his hand.
This man is a familiar sight in his community, tending to his garden every day.
He's there in all weather in sunshine or rain.
This man is dedicated to his garden, working in it no matter what the weather conditions are.
Contributed by Annabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.