Within the fire and out upon the sea, Crazy Man Michael was walking. He met with a raven with eyes black as coals, And shortly they were a-talking: “Your future, your future, I would tell to you. Your future, you often have asked me. Your true love will die by your own right hand. And Crazy Man Michael will cursed be.” Michael he ranted and Michael he raved, And beat at the four winds with his fists-o. He laughed and he cried, he shouted and he swore, For his mad mind had trapped him with a kiss-o. “You speak with an evil, you speak with a hate, You speak for the devil that haunts me For is she not the fairest in all the broad land, Your sorcerer's words are to taunt me.” He took out his dagger of fire and of steel, And struck down the raven through the heart-o. The bird fluttered long and the sky it did spin, And the cold earth did wonder and start-o. “Oh, where is the raven that I struck down dead, That here did lie on the ground-o? I see but my true love with a wound so red, Where her lover's heart it did pound-o.” Crazy Man Michael, he wanders and walks, And talks to the night and the day-o. But his eyes they are sane and his speech it is clear And he longs to be far away-o. Michael he whistles the simplest of tunes, And asks of the wild wolves their pardon. For his true love is flown into every flower grown, And he must be keeper of the garden. This is by folk rock legends Fairport Convention. Beautiful female vocals and melodies. I think this song was done in the late 60s/early 70s...anyone else like this song? edit: yeah, it appears it was done in 1969
I am a HUGE Fairport Convention fan! That is so cool that someone in these forums actually listens to them too! My favorite song by them is "Mattie Groves", that song is tooo cool!
Upon hearing Leif and Leige, I had to learn every tune on it! This is one of my all time faves, and we play it and Matty often, along with Tamlin, Renardine, and a ton of others. A beautiful song sung by a beautiful voice in Sandy Denny.
Fairport has a large volume of recordings, going on well after Sandys time with them. Also, bassist Dave Pegg splits time between Fairport and Tull. Richard Thompson has a good amount of solo work, and Sandy Dennys solo material is quite fine as well. Steeleye Span is what has been compared to Fairport at times. Check them out too!
Yeah i'm interessed in Steeleye Span since a long time now...but i've got too many LP's to buy... wishes and reality are not often playin' together I'm into those kind of english folk band like Pentangle or the Incredible String Band ...they are very creative ,open to other music and open to their traditions too...this is perfect to ear if you're in a hippie community...but it can be heard even in a high building in Manathan...just for escape of a urban reality.
If you like Fairport I reckon you'd enjoy The Trees - On The Shore The Trees - Garden of Jane Delawney Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs
yeah! mellow candle is good, I have "swadling sounds" and I have "on the shore" by the Trees. Gentle Soul has some real beautiful lyrics as well, most be a very calming female voice. In fact, I've been getting into classic rock with female voices as of late. Not only curved air but return to forever has calming vocals on their self titled album. But its nice to see Fairport convention is not as rare as I thought they were.
Nice one Carl , Mellow Candle's a great album isn't it. You might like Espers - S/T from 2004 then if you dig Mellow Candle that Gentle Soul album sounds good, I have some one off tracks on a comp but should investigate the whole album. Yeah Fairport Convention are still pretty big in the UK. A recent poll on BBC Radio 2 over here (which is a very popular station for erm... how can I say it politely "middle aged people" heh ) rated Liege and Lief as the greatest folk rock album of all-time
Yeah, Fairport Convention is great; I have a few of their earlier albums... "Farewell, Farewell" has that perfect ability to put me in a pleasantly melancholy mood!
If you like the folk of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and the Pentangle, I also recommend the albums of Martin Carthy.
