Get all 7 Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Collection, Almost A Sunset, On Reflection, Hidden People, Personae, Tomorrow Will Follow Today, and 2.
1. |
The Knight's Ghost
04:16
|
|||
|
There is a fashion in this land and even in my own country
Every Lady should meet her Lord when he is just come home from sea.
Some with hawks and some with hounds, others with their own money.
I will go down on my own and set my son upon his knee.
I took my baby in my arms and walked on down to the cold sea strand.
There I spied my Father's ship as it was sailing to land.
I cannot see my husband here , why does he stay so far from me?
I only wish to greet my Lord, a sight I fear I'll never see.
Was he burnt or was he shot? Was he drowned in the sea?
What's become of my own Lord that he will not come home to me?
He wasn't burnt nor was he shot, not was he drowned in the sea.
But he was slain in battle hard, a fatal day for you and me.
Come in, come in my fine young men, come in and drink wine with me.
All the better you shall fare for bringing of this news to me.
I took them down to the cellar dark, down the fifty steps and three.
There I gave them good red wine 'til they were as drunk could be.
Then I locked the cellar door, " lie there forever more, " I said.
" Lie there and rot for all I care for soon you will be dead."
I took the keys up in my hand and threw them into the sea.
Lie there 'til the fishes fly or 'til my Lord comes home to me.
I lay down in my room and wept 'til I fell asleep.
Then appeared my husband's ghost standing down at my bed feet.
"Here are the keys , my love" he said, "that you threw deep into the sea.
You must release my fine young men, they did not murder me."
"They shot the shot and drew the blade and waded in blood to the knee,
No-one could have asked for more than my young nobles did for me."
"My Lord there is a question I would ask before you go from me.
Can you say which day I'll die and when will my burial be? "
"You will be wed to a finer Knight that ever was of my degree
And children nine you will have by him, six of them will be ladies.
The other three will be bold young men and they will fight for their own country.
The first a Duke, the next a Knight, the third will be a Lord so free. "
|
||||
2. |
Independence
05:01
|
|||
|
It's hard to learn what to say at the right time.
So I'm watching you and waiting for the cue for my next line.
Oh Mama show the way, Oh Mama what should I say?
It's hard to know who to trust and who's on my side.
So I'm watching you, waiting for the nod that it's alright.
Oh Mama let me know, Oh Mama when do you let go?
I have to learn to get up and go to bed on my own.
I have to learn the time for silence.
I have to learn when I need friends and when to be alone.
What is this word? What is this word?
Independence.
I try so hard to please you, to be your favourite song.
Now I'm watching you and trying not to sing the lyrics wrong.
Oh Mama am I right? Oh Mama will you sing to me each night?
I have to learn to question and form answers on my own.
I have to learn the way to listen.
I have to take the blame sometimes and learn how to atone.
What is this word? What is this word?
Independence.
I try not to imagine what it's like when you're not here.
So I'm watching you and laying down new memories each year.
Oh Mama am I good? Oh Mama do I do the things I should?
|
||||
3. |
Tribute Of Hands
03:51
|
|||
|
I am taller than most and richer than some.
They call me a giant, I'm a giant of a man.
I am larger than life and as smart as they come
So why don't you come shake my hand, my hand
Come shake my hand, please won't you come shake my hand.
I loved a lady as fine as could be,
She was the daughter of a lord high and grand.
Well I bought her a diamond and got to my knees
And I asked if she'd give me her hand, her hand
Give me her hand, I asked if she'd give me her hand.
She laughed in my face saying " can this be true?
You've got it all wrong and you misunderstand.
Well I never would wed with a giant like you
And I don't like the touch of your hand, your hand
Touch of your hand, I don't like the touch of your hand."
My poor heart was broken and away I did go
In vengeance I swore to a plan.
That would make her regret she slighted me so
By refusing to accept my hand.
I built my own castle down by the banks
Of the fast flowing river, and I made my demands.
That if all passing sailors would not pay my toll
I'd go and I'd cut off their hands, their hands
Cut off their hands, I'd go and I'd cut off their hands.
The merchants stopped coming and trade ran dry.
The legend I started spread through the land.
So the Lord offered gold to the man who would try and
Put an end to the tribute of hands, of hands
Tribute of hands, an end to the tribute of hands.
So many men tried to catch me at rest
And we fought on the blood soaked sand.
Until a brave soldier with a knife of the best
He crept up and cut off my hand.
He drew back his arm and threw my hand away
And the Lord gave an order that a city should stand
On the place where it landed, it's still known today.
Antwerp is built on my hand, my hand
Built on my hand, Antwerp is built on my hand.
|
||||
4. |
The Poison Club
02:34
|
|||
|
Step inside, step inside you haven't lived until you've tried
The almond taste of cyanide, a little drop in wine.
Come in quick, come in quick if you're healthy, if you're sick.
Take a pinch of arsenic and you will feel fine
Welcome to the Poison Club
It's a place that anyone can go when they are feeling rough
Welcome to the Poison Club
Once you're a member you'll never have enough.
If you need some good advice, you're looking for a brand new vice
Come on in, don't think twice, try my poppy seed.
If you're down and feeling sad, trapped with someone awfully bad
Mercury will send them mad and you will be free.
If you wish to touch the sky, Hemlock will make you fly
Take too much and you will die and it won't come too soon.
If your eyes are dull and small, Belladonna cures it all
Lead will make you beautiful and pale as the moon.
So come on in, come on in, try the brandy, try the gin
Let the revelry begin, just a little more.
All that remains to be seen is if you'll try the nicotine
And turn a nasty shade of green and lay down on the floor.
|
||||
5. |
Seasons
03:49
|
|||
|
Spring came like a mistress
Full of promises and whispers
Of gentle warmth and kisses
And all good things to come.
Summer came like a dancer
Bringing sweet love and romances
And a question with one answer
Asked on bended knee.
Autumn came like an emperor
Dressed in rich and regal splendour.
Bringing red and gold November
And the shortening of the days.
Winter came like a showman
To turn snowflakes into a snowman,
And she realised there was no man
With whom she'd rather be.
The next year came like an arrow,
Shooting holes out of tomorrow.
Leaving emptiness and sorrow
And a space that can't be filled.
|
||||
6. |
||||
|
My love he came, my love he stayed, glad to be back on land.
I held him close, he held me tight
We never heard the bells sound.
With loving words and gentle hands
He took his leave on that night.
And next time he came from sea I would be his own wife.
Deep beneath the grey stone walls in kennels secret and strong
They kept chained up, a pack of dogs
Trained to hunt all night long.
But the rain has washed the cobbles clean
Left no trace of blood where the fight had been
To mark the spot where my love did fall
In the shadow of the city wall
Down in the Street of the Cats who Dance
Down in the Street of the Cats who Dance.
Caught outside after ten bells the curfew dogs they gave chase.
His sword could serve him no defence,
They tore his legs and his face.
He ran as far as he could go to the very highest ramparts.
The starving hounds were at his feet
Lured by the beat of his heart.
In exhaustion and despair, my love leapt into the sea.
Still they came, one step behind, and took my lover from me.
Within two days the law was changed but for me it's too late.
The dogs were poisoned and replaced with many high iron gates.
My love he came, my love is gone, my love has forfeit his life.
For the counting of ten bells, now I'll be no mans wife.
|
||||
7. |
Boney's Defeat
02:36
|
|||
|
Oh Boney has gone from the wars and the fighting.
He has gone to a place where he takes no delight in.
And there he will sit down and tell the scenes of sinners
Whilst forlorn he does mourn on the Isle of St Helena.
Oh the rude rushing waves all around the shores are washing.
And the great bellows heave and the wild rocks are dashing.
He may look to the moon o'er the great Mount Diana
With his eyes on the waves that surround St. Helena.
No more in St. Cloud will he be seen in such splendour
Or go on with the crowd like the great Alexander.
The young King of Rome and the Prince of Guiana
Says he'll bring his father home from the Isle of St. Helena.
All you who have wealth beware of ambition.
For a small twist of Fate can change your condition.
Be steadfast in time for you don't know what is coming,
Or like him your days might end on the Isle of St. Helena.
|
||||
8. |
Old, Old, Old
04:08
|
|||
|
I may be ancient, maybe I'm slow
But I am old, old, old.
I have seen the world turning, the seasons come and go
And I am old, old, old.
I have outlived kings and I have outlived queens
Cos I am old, old, old.
I've experienced more changes than you will ever see
Cos I am old, old, old.
I'm the Lord of all I survey, the king of my domain.
I have know defeat and I've seen victory
And still here I remain
Cos I am old, old, old.
Yes I am old, old, old.
I have lived here for oh so many years
And I am old, old, old.
I have heard more secrets than is good for me to hear
Cos I am old, old, old.
They tell me I was born in 1832
Which makes me old, old, old.
I'm the oldest known chelonian, the last of a few
And I am old, old, old.
I have seen St. Helena's sunrise
Sixty seven thousand times.
But I'm not the first to be imprisoned here
on this god forsaken island.
And I feel old, old, old.
Yes I am old, old, old.
So I suppose I've no choice but to stay here,
This is where I'll die.
Cos I can't leave this place by walking,
And I've no chance of learning to fly
Cos I am old, old, old
Yes I am old, old, old.
So old, old, old.
|
||||
9. |
Goddess Made Flesh
03:28
|
|||
|
Was she just perfect or perfectly flawed?
How would she feel if the truth was ignored
and replaced with a fairytale lady adored even more
than she was in her day.
Would she still sing the same songs in the same key?
Or would she have faded to obscurity
under cloak of suburbia and domesticity
Or would she still shine in the dark?
Who can speak for her, who knew her fears?
A creature of myth, her legend has grown
with the passing of years.
Would she write stories of rivers and dreams?
A world where her words are not quite what they seem where the threads come unravelled and frayed at the seams
Or would she have nothing more to say?
Was she an icon or was she a fraud?
Was it a sign of a mind that was bored with the humdrum of living
And everyday chores
Or was she a goddess made flesh?
|
||||
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman Tavistock, UK
Two of the British Folk music’s most accomplished and admired performers.
Kathryn and Sean have played the world
over in a number of guises however, the intimacy and strength of passion shown as a duo, combined with an eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat for any listener.
For over a quarter of a century now Kathryn and Sean have established themselves as pillars of modern British Folk.
... more
If you like Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, you may also like:
Glamour In The Grey
by The Magpie Arc
supported by 24 fans who also own “Personae”
Such a broad range of roots music styles; trad English, modern Scottish, Americana. The first track is fabulous, took me right back to teenage years listening to Fairport. Hope it gets the recognition it deserves
go to album
supported by 15 fans who also own “Personae”
Psych-folk with a late 60s / early 70s flavour. If you like Nick Drake or Fairport Convention you will enjoy this. It's an observation of change and a celebration of a hazy, high summer harvest. The music transports you to the moorlands and mill towns of Northern England. Dark and open and embellished with beautiful melodies and thoughtful lyrics. This is album of the year 2021 for me.
go to album
The Edge of the Land
by Katie Spencer
supported by 15 fans who also own “Personae”
I first heard Katie Spencer on YouTube when she was featured on the For Bert Jansch playlist. Katie played her own song called Shannon Road. The lead break that she plays twice really got my attention. I became a fan instantly. Every track on this album is lovely. The whole listening experience is like a favourite film running through my head. I'm so glad that in my twilight years I discovered Katie. I wish her a long and succesful career in music.
go to album
Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason Romero
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
I Need to Start a Garden
by Haley Heynderickx
featured on Bandcamp Radio Apr 10, 2018
go to album
Bloody Noses EP
by Richard Thompson
supported by 15 fans who also own “Personae”
John Drumbo French from Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band worked with Thompson on two albums along with Fred Frith and Henry Kaiser. Those two French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson albums led me to this. Also, Richard Thompson taught Hugh Cornwell (of The Stranglers) how to play the bass guitar in a band when they were both at the same school (Emil and The Detectives?). With a career spanning 50 years and playing with two of my heroes (French and Cornwell) Thompson has produced a fascinating EP.
go to album
