Individually, the band members are tremendously revered English folk musicians in their own right, but together they form one of the most sought bands available. Commonly found to be headlining folk festivals through Europe, they are known for their welcoming manner and determination to keep English folk music alive.
They were awarded Best Group in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2000.
Norwegian Wood
Waterson:Carthy Lyrics
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Or should I say she once had me
She showed me her room
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?
She asked me to stay
And she told me to sit anywhere
So I looked around
I sat on a rug biding my time
Drinking her wine
We talked until two and then she said
"It's time for bed"
She told me she worked
In the morning and started to laugh
I told her I didn't
And crawled off to sleep in the bath
And when I awoke I was alone
This bird had flown
So I lit a fire
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?
The first verse of Waterson:Carthy's Norwegian Wood tells the story of a man who had a brief romantic encounter with a woman. He refers to her as "a girl," but notes that she once had him, suggesting that the relationship was more complicated. She then shows him her room, which he comments is good Norwegian wood. The use of the term Norwegian wood could be symbolic of the encounter having been pleasant and memorable, like the fine wood from Norway.
In the second verse, the woman invites the man to stay and sit anywhere, but he notices there is no chair, causing him to sit on a rug instead. The two spend hours talking and drinking wine until the woman mentions she has to work in the morning. The man decides to sleep in the bathtub, and when he wakes up, he finds that the woman has left. He then lights a fire and comments once again on the quality of the Norwegian wood in the room. Overall, the lyrics suggest a brief encounter that was enjoyable but ultimately unfulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
I once had a girl
I had an experience in the past where I was involved with a girl.
Or should I say she once had me
Rather, it was the girl who had more control over the situation.
She showed me her room
The girl gave me a tour of her personal space.
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?
The room was beautifully furnished and decorated with Norwegian wood.
She asked me to stay
The girl requested that I spend the night.
And she told me to sit anywhere
She invited me to sit in any available seat.
So I looked around
I observed my surroundings.
And I noticed there wasn't a chair
I realized that there were no chairs available to sit in.
I sat on a rug biding my time
I sat on a rug and waited for something to happen.
Drinking her wine
I was enjoying a glass of the girl's wine.
We talked until two and then she said
We conversed until very late, and then the girl determined that it was time to retire for the night.
"It's time for bed"
She announced that it was time for us to go to bed.
She told me she worked
The girl informed me that she had work in the morning.
In the morning and started to laugh
She began to chuckle at the irony of the situation.
I told her I didn't
I confessed that I had no pressing engagements for the next day.
And crawled off to sleep in the bath
Instead of sleeping next to the girl, I slept in the bathroom tub.
And when I awoke I was alone
When I woke up the next morning, the girl had already left.
This bird had flown
She had flown away like a bird.
So I lit a fire
In the absence of the girl, I decided to light a fire.
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?
The fire was made even better by the use of Norwegian wood.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: GARY R. STROUTSOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind