a haunting song that tells a tale of jealousy and murder that the perpetrator doesn't get away with. exposed in her father's hall. the bones tell a story. romanticizes forensics. pentangle keeps the ancient quality with a mix of unusual instruments. like ancient farytales, ballads often relate a deeper psychological message that transcends our individual cultures.
Never mind the what motivated the dark haired sister, what about the motivations of the minstrels?
This rotting corpse float ashore, and they say to themselves "That'd make a good harp". And then they take this gruesome object to the castle and instead of being arrested, they're allowed to play!
Surely when the sister went missing there'd have been a large scale search, and as soon as the girl's body came ashore they'd have twigged who it was.
This must be a "me thing", but I sympathize with the "cruel sister". Seriously, her sister gets everything, attention, love of men, beauty, and what does SHE get? NOTHING!!
All she wanted was to be loved. She was pushed too far. I certainly don't CONDONE her actions, but still. It was never fair from the beginning.
@simonimyours Why did she grow "coal black" though? It's like she was born dark and cruel and just got worse as she got older.Granted , it musn't have helped having a "perfect" sister...I always imagine them as twins but complete opposities.This is one of my fave Pentangle songs.
Absolutely love this song. Jacqui's voice is simply amazing. If you like the story of this, the Lady Isabelle series of folk songs is similar with a better fate for the maiden.
I love this song - Jacqui's singing and Pentangle's beautiful arrangement. Pentangle at their best when they were doing the very folky traditional type ballads. (prefer it to some of their more jazzy arrangements). I used to listen to this song over and over after buying it in London. Brings back memories of my days in London and the many folk clubs I went to long ago & now far away.
I suggest you listen to more of the group The Pentangle. The song is called "Cruel Sister" off of the record by the same name. The song itself is an old European folk song, probably from England.
I have been following their music since the 1970's & had a chance to see them one time when they were playing in Santa Monica, CA in the late 1980's at McCabes Guitar Store.
During the break I spoke to Jacqui for a few minutes. She was so nice & easy to talk to. I asked her if she could possibly sing, Willy O' Winsbury during their second set & she was so gracious & did perform that song for me. I was ever so grateful & just in awe as they sang the song.I hope one day they will tour L.A. again.
I heard this album for the first time back in the early 80s....been searching for it ever since, almost found it in a record dealer about a year ago - he had most of Pentagle's records except this one...Thanks so much for posting the series, one of the best examples of celtic music I have experienced.
a haunting song that tells a tale of jealousy and murder that the perpetrator doesn't get away with. exposed in her father's hall. the bones tell a story. romanticizes forensics. pentangle keeps the ancient quality with a mix of unusual instruments. like ancient farytales, ballads often relate a deeper psychological message that transcends our individual cultures.
sbengt100 7 months ago
Pentangle have reunited!! :)
Sumer61 7 months ago
one word, a w e s o m e.-
TheAstrofighter 7 months ago
0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 Free replay buttons for all! Wonderful masterpiece...can't get this out of my head, I've been singing it for 3 days now...
DarkEmperess86 8 months ago 2
The first 3 seconds definitely influenced Stairway To Heaven..
SevenMidgets 10 months ago in playlist pentangle
Never mind the what motivated the dark haired sister, what about the motivations of the minstrels?
This rotting corpse float ashore, and they say to themselves "That'd make a good harp". And then they take this gruesome object to the castle and instead of being arrested, they're allowed to play!
Surely when the sister went missing there'd have been a large scale search, and as soon as the girl's body came ashore they'd have twigged who it was.
mandolinic 1 year ago 6
@mandolinic LOL!
ruthiecoop 1 year ago
@mandolinic
Spoil sport.
;P
elrhiarhodan 1 year ago
yes , sitar and so beautifully played :)
radekjerabek 1 year ago
Is that a sitar I hear in the background?
Such a great and haunting and awesome song...
mclaquarius94 1 year ago
I just wish there were more bands like this... This is a truly beutiful tale
MatiasBeast 1 year ago
Is that a sitar? That's a really nice touch! I like it!
rhapsody710 1 year ago
Interesting that so much medieval music has such graceful, beautiful music that tells such grim tales.
Keithss1000 1 year ago
i need to know more bands like this :(
bravexbroadcast 1 year ago
@bravexbroadcast Fairport Convention, heard of them? Incredible String Band?
mightyzebra 11 months ago
The song is also called "Twa (two) Sisters".
lichtbroeder 1 year ago
Just read a book by the same title, "Cruel Sister." Pretty good!
bday121 1 year ago
This must be a "me thing", but I sympathize with the "cruel sister". Seriously, her sister gets everything, attention, love of men, beauty, and what does SHE get? NOTHING!!
All she wanted was to be loved. She was pushed too far. I certainly don't CONDONE her actions, but still. It was never fair from the beginning.
simonimyours 1 year ago
@simonimyours Why did she grow "coal black" though? It's like she was born dark and cruel and just got worse as she got older.Granted , it musn't have helped having a "perfect" sister...I always imagine them as twins but complete opposities.This is one of my fave Pentangle songs.
Elvinauk 1 year ago
Uno de mis favoritos folk-rock...
MrEmerlistDavjack 1 year ago
WOW! I have not heard this since I bought the album when it was released. Thanx!
F15pilots 2 years ago 2
Experimental folk music at it's best, in fact music at it's best.
raysteer 2 years ago
This was the first album I ever bought! thank you for bringing back the memories
1merrywoods 2 years ago
sweet jacqui. ! sweet...
ncleve1033 2 years ago
Wow, it's been a long time since hearing Pentangle. Now I have to look up more of their music. Thanks so much for posting this!
CelestialTeaRoom 2 years ago
I don't think I can find words to say how how I feel about what I just heard, I loved it, it really touched me deeply thank you...
roadstarr58 2 years ago 2
Absolutely love this song. Jacqui's voice is simply amazing. If you like the story of this, the Lady Isabelle series of folk songs is similar with a better fate for the maiden.
sqrlcub 2 years ago 2
I love this song - Jacqui's singing and Pentangle's beautiful arrangement. Pentangle at their best when they were doing the very folky traditional type ballads. (prefer it to some of their more jazzy arrangements). I used to listen to this song over and over after buying it in London. Brings back memories of my days in London and the many folk clubs I went to long ago & now far away.
folkmusicgirl 2 years ago
i love this song too dad was a hippy and had lots of stuff specialist quintesscance great song.....and i was born near the north sea shore lol
byronsprophet 2 years ago
I about wore out this album when my own baby--now married with a teenage daughter of her own--was a wee thing. So wonderful to hear this again.
Thanks for posting.
Starshadow 2 years ago
this is a song which tears at my soul
due to the thought of how hateful the one sister was to her younger sister and so needlessly so selfishly
alcoholichealer 2 years ago
Wow I just typed in the name of a book I read (A Drowned Maidens Hair (read it its good)) and it came up with this
such and awsome song
AnimeRockStar365 2 years ago
I suggest you listen to more of the group The Pentangle. The song is called "Cruel Sister" off of the record by the same name. The song itself is an old European folk song, probably from England.
zimmerface 2 years ago
I know im just saying i wasnt expecting to find a good song by typing in a book id just read
AnimeRockStar365 2 years ago
Sorry. Most people never heard of The Pentangle and I thought you were one of them.
zimmerface 2 years ago
Pentangle were the greatest !!!
redrock505 2 years ago
(2 folkmusicgirl) you are so lucky to have been there! I wasn't alive back then, but I absolutely love this song
oxPeaceLoveMusicox 2 years ago 2
beautiful song, i love pentangle
njgirl96 3 years ago 11
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This song is in itself proof that British culture is worth defending.
BNP!
roksancastle 3 years ago
YES!!!!
BNP AnD PENTANGLE FOREVER!!!!!
kocisko 3 years ago
Yes but lets not leave the defending to the likes of the BNP.
volgodon 3 years ago
Indeed!!! The British and European cultures have so much wonderful things worth preserving. It would be a shame for the world to lose this.
catchic0000000000000 3 years ago 22
Comment removed
247pjb 3 years ago
I have been following their music since the 1970's & had a chance to see them one time when they were playing in Santa Monica, CA in the late 1980's at McCabes Guitar Store.
During the break I spoke to Jacqui for a few minutes. She was so nice & easy to talk to. I asked her if she could possibly sing, Willy O' Winsbury during their second set & she was so gracious & did perform that song for me. I was ever so grateful & just in awe as they sang the song.I hope one day they will tour L.A. again.
folkmusicgirl 3 years ago 5
Absolutely brilliant track. Don't seem to be able to get it on CD though - any ideas?
locomotive1804 3 years ago 3
You should be able to get it on CD, as it appears on their album of the same name.
TheOneThatFlewOver 3 years ago 3
And have you heard this song accompanied with the celtic harp?
StrangerOfSpace 3 years ago 2
I heard this album for the first time back in the early 80s....been searching for it ever since, almost found it in a record dealer about a year ago - he had most of Pentagle's records except this one...Thanks so much for posting the series, one of the best examples of celtic music I have experienced.
jhnpizz 3 years ago 3
this is my favourite song with crazy man michael and mistyc dream...i love celtic music!
thegreenErin 3 years ago 3
bloody thank ja bro.
as a romantic anyway!!!
feldi71 3 years ago 2