Ephemeron » Folk Rock

Fairport Convention – Matty Groves

Heather — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:55:42 +0000

Click to listen:

Fairport Convention – Matty Groves from Liege & Lief, 1969.

Fairport Convention – Matty Groves Lyrics
(Based on a 17th Century Folk Ballad)

A holiday, a holiday,
And the first one of the year.
Lord Darnell’s wife came into the church
The Gospel for to hear

And when the meeting it was done
She cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves
Walking in the crowd

“Come home with me, little Matty Groves,
Come home with me tonight.
Come home with me, little Matty Groves
And sleep with me ’til light”

“Oh I can’t come home, I won’t come home
And sleep with you tonight!
By the rings on your fingers I can tell
You are Lord Darnell’s wife”

“What if I am Lord Darnell’s wife,
Lord Darnell’s not at home.
He is out in the far cornfields,
Bringing the yearlings home”

And a servant who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Darnell he would know
Before the sun would set

And in his hurry to carry the news
He bent his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad mill stream
He took off his shoes and swam

Little Matty Groves he lay down
And took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Darnell
Was standing at his feet

Saying “How do you like my feather bed?
And how do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady
Who lies in your arms asleep?”

“Oh well I like your feather bed
And well I like your sheets
But better I like your lady gay
Who lies in my arms asleep”

“Well, get up! Get up!” Lord Darnell cried
“Get up as quick as you can!
It’ll never be said in fair England
I slew a naked man”

“Oh I can’t get up, I won’t get up
I can’t get up for my life!
For you have two long beaten swords
And I have but a pocket knife”

“Well it’s true I have two beaten swords
And they cost me deep in the purse.
But you will have the better of them
And I will have the worse

“And you will strike the very first blow
And strike it like a man!
I will strike the very next blow
And I’ll kill you if I can”

So Matty struck the very first blow
And he hurt Lord Darnell sore.
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
And Matty struck no more.

And then Lord Darnell he took his wife
And he sat her on his knee
Saying, “Who do you like the best of us,
Matty Groves or me?”

And then up spoke his own dear wife,
Never heard to speak so free
“I’d rather a kiss from dead Matty’s lips
Than you or your finery”

Lord Darnell he jumped up
And loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart
And pinned her against the wall

“A grave, a grave!” Lord Darnell cried
“To put these lovers in!
But bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin.”

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Cat Stevens – If I laugh

Heather — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:16:18 +0000

Cat Stevens – If I laugh from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971.

Click to listen:

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Graham Nash – Be Yourself [1971 Demo]

Heather — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:51:19 +0000

I bought the Up in the Air soundtrack, which is quite good btw) today and heard this acoustic version of “Be Yourself” for the first time. I’ve always hated the super loud refrain in the LP version, so I was very happy to hear this. This is how the refrain is supposed to sound, dammit!

Click to listen:

The lyrics are slightly different than the LP Version:

Graham Nash – Be Yourself [1971 Demo] Lyrics

How does it feel
When life doesn’t seem real
And you’re floating about on your own
Life seems uncertain
So you draw the curtain
Pretending there’s nobody home

Don’t theorize
Look in your eyes
They can’t tell lies
Though you disguise what you see
Your reality

We needed a saviour
And by our behaviour
The ones that were worth it are gone
But song birds are talking
And runners are walking
A prodigal son’s coming home

Don’t theorize
Look in his eyes
And they won’t tell lies
But if he defies what you see
Here is the key

Be yourself
Why don’t you be yourself
Come on and be yourself
Why don’t you be…

He needed a tutor
So built a computer
And programmed himself not to see
The truth and the lying
The dead or the dying
There is only one way to be

So don’t theorize
Look in his eyes
Are they telling lies
The ones that you see on T.V.
So you want to be free

Be yourself
Why don’t you be yourself
Come on and be yourself
Why don’t you be yourself
Oh, be yourself
Come on and be yourself
Why don’t you be yourself

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Graham Nash – Be Yourself

Heather — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:15:05 +0000

This song would be perfect without the LOUDNESS of the refrain (Be yourself, be yourself…). Stupid refrain.

Click to listen:

Graham Nash – Be Yourself Lyrics

How does it feel
When life doesn’t seem real
And you’re floating about on your own
Your life is uncertain
So you draw the curtain
Pretending there’s nobody home

But don’t theorize
Look in your eyes
They can’t tell lies
Though you disguise what you see
The mirror is free

We once had a saviour
But by our behaviour
The one that was worth it is gone
Song birds are talking
And the runners are walking
A prodigal son’s coming home

Don’t theorize
Look in His eyes
They won’t tell lies
But if He defies what you see
He’ll give you the key

Be yourself
Be yourself
Be yourself
Be yourself

We needed a tutor
So built a computer
And we programmed ourselves not to see
The truth and the lying
The dead and the dying
A silent majority

But don’t theorize
Look in their eyes
Are they telling lies
The ones that they learn on T.V.
What a way to be free

Be yourself
Be yourself
Free yourself
Free yourself
Yes you can see yourself
See yourself
Then you can free yourself
Be yourself
Why don’t you be yourself
Be yourself

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Loudon Wainwright III – Dead Skunk

Heather — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:04:32 +0000

Heather — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:32:17 +0000

The Donkeys – Excelsior Lady from Living on the Other Side, 2008.

An adaptation of this song (called Dharma Lady) was heard in LOST Season 5: Episode 316. It is playing in the DHARMA van Jin is driving when he finds Jack, Hurley, and Kate following their return to the island. Unless I’m mistaken, all of the songs used in the show so far have been actual songs from whatever time period they’re showing. Since The Donkeys definitely weren’t around in 1974, I’m wondering if Excelsior Lady is supposed to be by Geronimo Jackson (Edit: Confirmed!). I’m digging their music and think they’re worth checking out. They’re even offering a few of their songs to download for free on their website.

Click to listen:

Geronimo Jackson – Dharma Lady

The Donkeys – Excelsior Lady Lyrics

Excelsior Lady
How’ve you been?
Are we lovers
(Or are we just friends?)
Oh I believe. Oh I believe
I’m in love again.

Oh you’re kissin’
It feels so right
But you had another man holed up last night
Oh I believe. Oh I believe
I’m in love again
Alright!

I can always tell
when you’ve been drinkin’
But I never know
What the hell you’re thinkin’
I believe. Oh I believe
I’m in love again

You say one thing once
And two things twice
I’m so confused
I can’t take my own advice
Oh I believe. Oh I believe
I’m in love again
Oh I believe. Oh I believe
I’m in love again
Alright!