Strawbs - Hangman and the Papist (Top of the Pops)

[nicojacobs]

gotta say.. if he didnt even know his own brother was in prison about to be hanged, and thats his occupation. they must not have been all that close.

[Saltoluokta]

Got here from Blood Axis cover. It is like discovering a hidden gem. And interesting for Polish Catholic, knowing well strong anti-Catholic prejudice among the English...

[hamster700]

back in th 12th century your king richerd came to are lands and nearly wiped the muslims out then you created isreal and robbed the palastinians of there home then the templers invaded afghanististan we had to fight back

[bruffie1]

This always was a great song! It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with the stupidity of mankind. I miss the Strawbs, RIP Dave Cousins!

[yngvened]

@bruffie1 Dave Cousins is still in rather fine shape and performing. He will be at Barbican in London, Monday 19 December 2011 in the company of Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk, and alongside Steeleye Span.

[CrystalLovesTigger]

Fuking brilliant song! <3

[STKlingaman]

I got Hero and Heroine free at a high school lunch rally

(74 or 75) and loved it, started getting their other stuff

but, 'Hero' is one of my all time FAVS.

[hamster700]

evil templer basterds

[hamster700]

the english race has caused enough suffering the sooner there wiped our THE BETTER

[bruffie1]

@hamster700 I notice you don't have the guts or decency to mention your own race. I'm British and I've lived in the Middle east for 14 years, and by the way, what has this got to do with the Strawbs? Go and rant somewhere else.

[hamster700]

@bruffie1 my race is a peaceful race unlike yours

[bruffie1]

@hamster700 Whatever your race is!! I doubt it.

[bruffie1]

@hamster700 I wouldn't call your suggestion to 'Wipe out' the English race peaceful!!!

[MrFreako2010]

Love a lot Strawbs, who made some of the best music every on this planet, but this song never did much for me, Somehow , it seemed like the introduction to a bigger and better song that never completely got off the ground. Still enjoyed this, including the first time I've seen a paint-roller piano solo (at 3:00 or so). Crazy, Rick.

[satarallyeacores]

SÓ TENHO UM ALBUM EM VINIL DO ANO DE 1975

[jimincairns]

Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper were the founders of the Strawbs; they played every Friday night at The White Bear in Hounslow.

Never did get to see Rick Wakeman play with them though...but Lonnie Donnegan sat in a few times!

[Cornishphotos]

first time i've heard this in twenty years and its still powerful enough to send a chill down my spine!

[helluvagun]

It's brilliant on vinyl!

[helluvagun]

A meagre version!

[biuliano11]

samantha, if i was a few years younger, i'd hunt you down and marry you!

[Counterrevolutionite]

@ SilverWolfMoon, yes thats what I thought too. It seems to be about Recusant Catholics in England during the Elizabethan period. Suppose the arrogant Tims think the whole world is about them.

[dalekenjarvis]

Thats about as good as it gets :-)

[Siabod57]

I love this track - I found it when I was 16 and am now 53 - it still has relevance to me thanks Dave Cousins - you are a national treasure.

[foreilly1958]

26+6=1

Up the Republic!

[RATM4LYFE]

A marvellous, chilling song even with Mr Wakeman's nuttiness. I used to watch TOTP in the early 70s but all I can remember is Marc Bolan and T Rex :)

[dalekenjarvis]

Hell Yes!!

[varmintpoontang]

Phazoo !!

[varmintpoontang]

Phazoo !!

[dodsie9]

What a wonderfully erie song.I could also liken this to what a Roger Waters may truely enjoy!! Too BAD this song is really an unknown TREASURE !!!

[vindicari]

hero and heroine was a mind blowing album

[andychen19811]

Here in the small island called Taiwan, this group has a good number of die-hard fans, dated back in 1977 when I was in high school. Their outrageous keyboard playing and vocal harmony were among the greatest.

[Possumhunt]

Dragonfly, Witchwood, new world.. still among my favourite albums of all time. Still sound great today!!

[ladyfuschia]

This song is so haunting. I pray no one is ever in that situation!

[hugobear1]

I've always been disappointed the song ends on such a climax - it would have been great if ''forgive me God...'' was followed by some wild keyboard/guitar histrionics - like Budgie on Napoleon Bonaparte 1&2 ... instead it just stops.

[ij1001]

It doesn't just stop - it is the sound of the Papist dropping on the scaffold to his death - chilling

[hamster700]

many irish people came to Liberty City to escape oppressive british rule i bet thousands were exacuted as in the song

[HHimmler33]

This' an Irish band? or an English one?

This is a great song *****, I heard of it on the Blood Axis cover, what kind of music is this, Folk?

[tonythekingfisher]

English band, music is progressive folk.

The album it's taken from is called From the Witchwood and was the second album I ever bought (after the follow up - Grave New World). Both are truly brilliant.

[kirkcaldyfife]

great album from the strawb,definitley British folk at its grandness..check out Fairport convention,steeleye span

[charlton008]

So I take it siverwolfmoon is a big fan of Sandy Denny then lol

[theghostofchristmasp]

If you lived here in Northern Ireland you wouldn't interpret it that way, my friend!

[charlton008]

wtf have I interpreted other than the fact I said silverwolfmoon is a fan of Sandy Denny lay off the guiness.

[westpalmscott]

One of favorite Strawbs songs from their period with Rick Wakeman,  They moved gradually from folk to progressivw rock. I had read that Cousins based his lyrics on the on the Catholic / Protestant struggle ib Northern Ireland which was the same inspiration gor Grave New World

[Infideltv]

Mr A Huxley was the real inspiration for grave new world the strawbs best album by a mile.

[rodrigitotube]

It is weird to hear a Progressive keyboards on a folk tune.

[geffel]

I can't imagine this being on TOTP - it's totally non-mainstream.

[yngvened]

This video is taken from TOTP July 1, 1971 (album track).

[neil73]

TOTP used to be great, in fact all music tv programmes in the 70's were the best, and featured musicians for their talent rather than who was best looking or what the record executives liked

[Infideltv]

you obviously forgot about sweet, slade et al. in all decades there was crap music and good music and brilliant music. it is just people quickly forget the bad. sad but true.

[plopnod]

ahhh thats how it went.I remember hearing this information many years ago on a college radio station,and obviously time messed my memory.Thank you for clearing that for me.

[yngvened]

John Ford returned to Strawbs 1983-1985, then migrated to New York. But he has been back with Strawbs occationally, e.g. here in Bergen, Norway May 1, 1999.

[plopnod]

If I'm not mistaken the singer from the Monks went on to sing for these guys in the early 80s.

[yngvened]

John Ford was a member of Strawbs 1970-1973, went on to Hudson-Ford, and then on to the Monks in 1979.

[themonsterslark]

totp had a album section (for a short time) from whence this came, they also had the Groundhogs doing Cherry Red at some point. Cutting edge eh?

[record1207]

Wow ...cutting edge is so right on!!! Would love to see the Groundhogs clip!!!

[punditpete]

Is this really TOTP ? It looks more OGWT to me.

[Amnased]

tragic and Epic

No words for its beauty

[MrGuitaRKing]

Awesome early Wakeman!! I saw his son last year with Yes,he inherited his Dads immense talent!!

[hospitalship1]

In the British connection : think of Northern Ireland exploding after 1969 and anit-religious fervour due to a warmed up "Cold War" due to various "liberation conflicts" (Rhodesia, South Africa, Nigeria, Vietnam,...) at the same time. Good vocals help a lot as well to make this a very memorable song.

[hospitalship1]

Personal connectiveness, sung with real emoitions and backed up tightly as well as reflecting the anti-establishment and to some extent anti-war context (early 1970s - anti-Vietnam War era) makes this song stand out. It is one of my favourites as encapsulating the traditional rationales for committing state murder whether in armed conflicts or serious criminal sanctions. Juxtapose "Apocalypse Now's" "terminate with extreme prejudice"

[Jamesintime]

Great song, they don''t write them like this anymore!

[SephynnXx]

Wakeman is a keyboard GOD!!!

[keltsrus]

I love this one and like many here heard it first when I was a teenager. I note this is a live performance too and was that a paint roller Rick Wakeman was using on the keyboard??? Genius!!!!! :o)

[vidgamer77]

Best line-up ever...especially having Hooper around damn man WHERE is Tony Hooper these days!?!?!!

[charlton008]

Tony has been the guitarist in the Ceilidh & Barn-Dance Band Pitchfork since 1984 and is also a member of Misalliance.

[NeonC0wboy]

The Blood Axis version of this song is also good.

[swhitewizard]

I wasn't even born until 1973 but I still have this album on vinyl :)

Excellent album and I wish I had been around to enjoy this era to the full

[carrietide]

Priceless

[lottieyeahlottie]

I was nine the first time I heard this; my Dad played it for me, and really made me sit down and listen to the lyrics. I cried my eyes out at the end. It still gives me goosebumps when I hear it now - especially the drum beat when he sings muffled drums.

[klingonadmiral]

Strawbs=Strawberry Hill Mob original name

[charlton008]

wrong Strawberry Hill Boys

[klingonadmiral]

sorry gang-old age and too many drugs!

[karlmoles65]

Rick Wakeman=God

[HarryHaller1963]

=Dave Cousins

[snotmale]

What's with the paint roller!!?

Rick obviously thought it wise to keep his hand in his day job just in case!!

[fasstax]

simply amazing!

[duncanrice2002]

stunning!

[stephtull]

amazing!

[Lis2388]

I love this song

[jayjay4000]

Strawbs. Vastly underrated. One of the best of its era! Still damn good in concert. Check out Acoustic Strawbs if you can?

[DoomKvnt]

Nice upload. Stellar video!

[kenbagen]

love it...check out rick wakeman using a paint roller on the keyboards

[Lunaladee]

The Strawberries; Strawbs; Fairport Convention; Fotheringay; Sandy Denny; Ian Matthews Southern Comfort; - if you do a bit of checking, you'll find they all supported each other and often appeared on each other's recordings. Same is true of Steeleye Span, June Tabor & Maddy Prior aka Silly Sisters.

There was sooo much excellent music which came out of the UK in the 60s...and their moving from folk ballads to rock. Listen to June & Maddy do "Grey Funnel Line" & Matthews do "Darkness Darkness"!

[SilverWolfMoon]

Strawb = Sandy Denny made an album with them in 1968.

Fairport Convention = Sandy Denny joined in 1969 to make 3 albums {+ 1 in 1975}.

Fotheringay = Sandy Denny side band, featuring musicians who were / became members of Fairport Convention and/or Jethro Tull.

The Bunch = members of Fairport & Fotheringay, recorded one album of Rock 'n' Roll covers.

Various members of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay were musicians on Sandy Denny's solo albums.

[AlexOfArdrossan]

They're not that well known, no. I know about them mainly because my parents have a copy of 'From the Witchwood' on LP, which I discovered almost by accident while playing random things during study leave last year. But I don't know of any others in my generation who like them, most prefer what I'm somewhat reluctant even to call music.

[condorenarmas]

What a incredible song!!! I've never hear it befor. I love the lyrics. This is talking about the Catholic and Anglican thing in the S- XVI, or isn't?

[yngvened]

This is about religion and intolerance and hate in the name of God, about Northern Ireland in 1969, the violent and bitter ethno-political conflict with the deep historical roots.

And it is about Dave Cousins and his Catholic background in London in the 1950-s, and his Protestant brother and sister.

And it is an extremely well composed protest against politicians trying to split families and send people to war against their own families.

[mbap23]

I think you'll find it actually goes back further than that, when Henry the 8th changed the country from Catholicism to Church of England. But like many great songs it lends itself to various interpretations.

[yngvened]

Yiu should also see New World, Dave Cousins' second chapter in the history of religious terror.

[SilverWolfMoon]

Personally, I interpret it as being set about the time of the English Civil War :)

[neil73]

I think you are right but Cousins said in an interview (on Gastank tv programme) that the song was an analogy of the Northern Ireland situation in 1971.

[tonythekingfisher]

From The Witchwood was the second album I ever bought and this is the standout track from a marvellous selection. In those days, Top of the Pops played real music including powerful and emotional songs like this. Happy days!

[ciano417]

fantastic wakeman!nice ballad

[gazrobbo53]

A deep song

[braaaplucy]

gdgd song can sum1 download da cd version ov dis plz i lyk dat

[lothar81]

This performance has also been referred to as Hangman and the Paint Roller, after Rick Wakeman's use of the roller on his keyboards. "I was not best pleased when Rick used a paint roller on Top of the Pops, but it certainly was noticed!" -Dave Cousins

[MehefinHeulog]

... that's about the most practical thing Rick's ever done? But people often forget about his (very worthy) about life before Yes and Wives... but now we're all glad to see he's, officially, a Grumpy Old Man!

[saradapodarousa]

Thanks for that! One of the finest psychedelic groups and their best song indeed!

[ladyfuschia]

I have lived all my life in the US. I discovered this band around at 11 or 12. I have collected most of their LP's. To me they are really special, and here is one reason why: in the decades since I first heard "Bursting At The Seams" (I'm 50), I have only met 3 or 4 other people that have even HEARD OF them, maybe 2 of who know a lot about them and their work, which I consider genius.

I wonder if things are different in their country of origin, the UK, or in other countries.

Any thoughts??

[malo66]

Most of their fans are getting on now and sadly the Strawbs never obtained quite the same recognition as Fairport Convention. It is very sad that they are little known in Hounslow where David Cousins used to live but across England they do have a few fans.

Having said that, whenever I go on the Witchwood website, I get the impression that the US and Canadian fans form a bigger contingent.

[SilverWolfMoon]

Interesting that you should mention Fairport Convention, as Sandy Denny made an album with the Strawbs in 1968 "All Our Own Work" {aka "Sandy Denny and The Strawbs"}, before joining Fairport Convention. It contained the first recorded studio performance of her most famous {and best known with FC} song 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?'...

[malo66]

err...the mention of Fairport Convention was not fortuitious. I was well aware of the background!

[mbap23]

I saw them in their heyday and they were brilliant live, they drew the crowds and were well known. I also saw the (Acoustic) Strawbs a couple of years ago, and the did the same songs acoustically, and this song in particular stood out, had the hairs on my neck standing up, they were again brilliant.

[ladyfuschia]

I sure do wish they'd come my way! As far as I've heard, they only play in the N.E. part of the US, and I am far away in Missouri.

I have been lucky to see Bruce Springsteen, The Moody Blues, Jimmie Spheeris, ELP, Jackson Browne, Brewer & Shipley, Melissa Etheridge, and more. Absolutely wonderful. These days, most concerts are too loud, expensive, and full of "mosh-pit maniacs". Oh, and Yes gave an outstanding performance a few years ago. It was beautiful!!

[yngvened]

Accoustic Strawbs will be in Norway Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 2, and I will have the pleasure of seeing them in Bergen on the last of these gigs. Then they will play in five Danish towns Nov. 5-9.

[mbap23]

I don't think they get the crowds for a big tour, sadly. That's a good list, we're lucky over here, being a small place (by comparison) getting to see bands is quite easy, but still expensive. I've seen quite a few of your favourites, Rod Stewart and the faces, Rory Gallagher, James Taylor, The Byrds,S & G, The Stones, Band, The Who and quite a few others, happy days. A friend's brother was in Def Leppard years ago, I remember going out for a chinese meal with them. What's a moshpit maniac?

[ladyfuschia]

Mosh pits are groups of young people, probably drunk or high, that form on the floor in front of the stage. They shove each other around, dance like maniacs, and like to heave some unsuspecting male or female up in the air where they pass him/her around for awhile and then sometimes drop them. This happens at a lot of concerts, most likely heavy metal headbanger bands. I got stuck in one once. Absolutely petrifying! But the kids like it. Don't ask me why.

[mbap23]

Ah, right. I don't think we get them over here, well there weren't any at the Leonard Cohen concert I went to a few weeks ago.....

[Chard121]

Wow, listening to your description of a mosh pit is hilarious. I'm a heavy metal fan who enjoys a good mosh, but the Strawbs are one of my favorite bands. With the same intensity that the beauty of the Strawbs music and lyrics can take you away, heavy metal can possess you and just make you wanna throw a man around! Feels great, and it's all in fun, whenever someone falls down everyone around gives them a hand to help'em back up.

[mbap23]

That's the beauty of music, you can be a fan of one genre then something completely different can grab you by the throat. I've seen all sorts from Leonard Cohen to Led Zeppelin, and they've all got something to offer, and I've enjoyed all of them. I saw the Strawbs in the 70s and again about three years ago (acoustic) and both gigs were brilliant. I've never moshed though, maybe I've missed out....

[Chard121]

Unfortunately I wasn't alive in the 70's to see them... but I do believe they occasionally tour around here, cant wait to have my chance.

[Chard121]

You say the dudes in mosh pits are either drunk or high as if the people weren't fucked up at Strawb's concerts back in the 70's!

[SamanthaNZL]

54yrs, - live in New Zealand. First heard Witchwood album at 15 or 16,. Still on my list of all time favourite albums, with others like Moody Blues - Threshhold of a Dream. I don't know many people who have heard of either group - probably less so Strawbs. The young people of today have no idea of the genius that existed amongst groups of ...dare i say it.. "Our era"

[charlton008]

2 of my favourite all time albums to Samantha

[johnagiambalvo]

@SamanthaNZL We all love the Moodys Yes and the Strawvbs here on LONG Island USA. I am 59 but my kids who play instruments listen to and apprciate the progressive music our era. We all have seen in concert all of the above at the ledgendary JONES BEACH and have seen the Strawbs for the last several years at BB kings in Manhatten... Johnny G

[lottieyeahlottie]

@SamanthaNZL

I was born in 1991 and my parents brought me up on The Strawbs and The Moody Blues, among others! I got to see this song live last year, with Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull, and it was the best day of my life! Don't lose faith in us young people yet!

[SamanthaNZL]

@lottieyeahlottie

Sorry Lottie, it was a bit of a sweeping generalisation on my part :)

[rockinryan9908]

@SamanthaNZL I do!! I have witchwood on vinyl -- one of my favorites as well!

[HELLO2YOU3]

@SamanthaNZ So true my friend had an argument with a pillock last night trying to say that people like on the X factor are good to me i say ballocks lol

[ahallicks]

@SamanthaNZL Funny, I'm less than half your age and agree with you entirely. I guess that shows how timeless music like this is, and how ideals don't always change all that much.

[peoilund]

@SamanthaNZL

57 Years, Sweden, learned early 70's about Strawbs.

I'll cut Yours " The young people of today have no idea of the genius that existed amongst groups of ...dare i say it.. "Our era" I DO AGREE !

It's a shame that music like this, is fading. I'm doing my best to cast it to my Young one's and old friends.

They where genious. Sorry for poor English.

Best wishes

Mr. Per Olsson.

[Trencomtrink]

My favourite Strawbs tune I wonder what the average Top Of The Pops viewer thought of this

BLOOOBIRDS

[FaerieCrone]

Yeah it is a bit out of the ordinary for pop chart fans, isn't it?

[yngvened]

Thanks a lot! This is one of the best songs ever written!