Incredible String Band ~ October Song

[amalfishepherd7]

For my money some of the best lyrics ever in a song, and coupled with the delicate guitar, makes for a beautiful experience. The verse about the fallen leaves is pure poetry. Love that bit about rulers, rebels, priests and god too!

[VirgoClusterDenies]

Grew up listening to the Incredible String Band and this song always me reminds of my childhood. ... and the pine trees laugh green laughter... what else could pine trees do? This song (and so many of their others) has such beautiful lyrics.

[mouldybear]

Robin Williamson;s finest with the possible alternative of "The First Girl I Loved" The vocal is especially superb.

[nostalgiahistoria67]

A true classic Incredible String Band song and a favorite and a song for this month of October 2011!

[Rihtta]

@nostalgiahistoria67 I had the same thought when I came looking for it! A long, long time favourite!

[erscott13]

"Bob Dylan praised the album's "October Song" as one of his favourite songs of that period." wikipedia

[doorman292]

this isn't a traditional is it?

[bigdave95uk]

Thanks for the song, . I had all their albums in the late 60's but lost them, an ancient girl friend took them with her! The October song is one I can sing along to.

[suzyqsweeboy]

...saw them in glasgow in 1968...loved them since

[Blake788]

search nicolas and the iceni summer's end. they write beautiful folk music which has echoes of the string band and the early folk revival of the sixties.

[jnsii54]

When there is no me left, I hope these words will prevail. MNo....I hope they will triumph.

[leannebridgewater]

to cancel the thoughts wearing in pickets up off the love on the feelings and emotions pick a cherry be merry be processed with brain pick at it pick up on the good things and where they come from picked up a hitch hiker, he said 'where you going' i said 'not knowing, or willing to know, just want you to go' and then one day he say 'go away' and i say 'i never went to go, and stopped to go anywhere like the 'away' i am still going, and will keep on going' as if wheels

[MrLuciano54]

First time I heard this song was in 1972, still beautiful...

[au574]

Simply brilliant.......one of my all time favorites.

[neilus]

apparently bob dylan stated robin was a genius when he heard this, i guess he should know...i agree with bob...a rareast of talent, robins melodies and lyrics take you to a magical place...god bless you mr williamson

[lombroso69]

@neilus I'm not really sure, but I guess this one is from Mike Heron. Any way Robin IS a genius. Did you have ever listen to the production of Clive Palmer in the COB (Clive Original Band), it is brilliant.

[Rihtta]

@lombroso69 This is so clearly Robin's song! I've been listening to them for more than 40 years, and still have all their records... :-)

[GrosUnited]

awfull, them, were's mark e smith

[gubsak55]

I loved this song since I first heard it around '67 and hardly knew any English. Later I bought the LP and I can never walk in the woods in the autumn without singing the brilliant, sad but optimistic, lyrics:

‘The fallen leaves that jewel the ground,

They know the art of dying,

And leave with joy their glad gold hearts,

In the scarlet shadows lying.’

What a great way to go — leaving something of value behind for others to find.

[veverzay]

didn't hole write this song?

[xProudxIrishxGirlx]

this is wonderful, heard it on the radio last night, was feeling kind of lost and it was the most amazing thing i could have heard at that moment. beautiful. i used to search for happiness and i used to follow pleasure but i've found a door behind my mind and that's the greatest treasure.

[FENNYMAN]

Sometimes I would like to play this music to people nowadays - no introductions, explanations, wouldn't let them see the old man I am now but simply slip it on in a room unnoticed - to discover if it really is as marvelous, enriching, heartfelt and wonderful as I feel it is.

On the other hand ... why? I think it is so it doesn't matter.

[xProudxIrishxGirlx]

@FENNYMAN i would notice. i'm 18 years old, and i don't think anything that the new industry produces in the form of synthesised sounds can make the heart contentedly beat or warm the soul the way that beautiful music, with real instruments and pure-toned voices, is able to. it matters very much that we keep this alive, but i don't believe there will ever be a time that there isn't a soul left on this earth unable to appreciate raw emotion through music. :)

[andypandywright]

i've got a friend who does just this and young kids think it's just as great as we did all those years ago.

[FENNYMAN]

@andypandywright There's still hope .... :)

[kayway9]

i love this song.....

thankyou for uploading it......

my favorites of favourites :)

[nostalgiahistoria67]

A classic! and a song for this month.

[Flannelsykes]

A truly wonderful song.It has a rather memorable innocence that has me drowning in optimism

[runitecastle]

great band. its a shame they fell into a cult

[MrLuciano54]

I have not heard this song for a long long time, still love it.... Makes me sad though

[assdickass]

Fucking amazing song. I like this version of it more than any other I've heard including Bert Jansch, who is my favorite guitar player of all time.

[sallysblues]

love ly to hear this again can anyone tell me if a song that begins with the actor leaves the stage with a rose in his hand is to be found anywhere would love to hear it again

[tomrom7]

Wow, haven't heard this in a long time. I'm reliving younger days -- sitting on the couch, listening to this record on vinyl, smoking weed. Ah, the carefree days.

[kerrgal]

Been many a year since I listened to the until I listened to "A Very Cellular Song"

couple of days ago. This is one of their most beautiful songs

[moonschildren]

They stand the test of time so very well, and this is likely their most lyrical and beautiful, thanks for posting!

[cristop5]

I last heard this back in about 1979. Thanks for putting it up.

[andygray]

Brilliant song. Thanks for posting. I watched the ISB many times back in the late 60's and early 70's

[jnsii]

Pray for the Gulf

[jnsii]

It is a gem

[650monza]

"Rulers like to lay down laws

And rebels like to break them,

Poor priests like to walk in chains

And God likes to forsake them"

The lyrics to this song are brilliant! I have only just discovered the ISB, and this is now my favourite song.

[master10734]

incredible

[Agapi2012]

i first heard this song i was driving down i89 in vt during peak foliage in october on a glorious fall afternoon....it was one of the most beautiful experiences. i love this song.

[neilus]

Robin wasnt a bad guitarist....and he could sing....and he could write a decent tune....jesus, how much talent can one man have???

[Raymantico]

Bob Dylan said they were more poetic than the Beatles

[daithesceptic]

@Raymantico

I agree with Dylan about that.

I came to this song - one of my favourites 40 years or so ago - after listening to a Bert Jansch cover of it, which is also worth checking out.

[Psykelic68]

I have 8 of their albums on vinyl, and just found out all their 13 studio-albums are released on CD, - so I´ve ordered 2 of them !

Thanks "NoRoses" for posting ISB to us old hippies.

[Psykelic68]

This is one of their ten best songs.

[unmegaface]

possibly one of the hardest songs you could possibly write, and whilst he might not have quite pulled it off.......... he gave it a bloody good go. nice one robin

[YANHAP1]

Excellent!

Another request though please?

Womankind.

Thank you!

[TimJakeGl]

Tx. Inspiring song that brings back happy memories of the late 1960s

[bbrannddX]

My favorite song from my favorite folk band. Brings back such potent memories. Thanks, NoRoses!

[Captain94kirk]

anybody know the tuning?

[tisfortomi]

@Captain94kirk -- it might be DADF#AD. Try it, see if it works.

[PeterOzanne]

@Captain94kirk Yes, it's open D: DADF#AD

[Jarrahnut]

Saw them perform in Belfast in 1967. They were terrific! Greetings to all my lovely friends on Belfastfolk ... from Jarrahnut (Colin) in wonderful Western Australia.

[nostalgiahistoria67]

Beautiful song and one of The Incredible String Band's all-time greats! A song for our month of October!

[DUCKSONAPOUND]

And October is coming again :) Love it.

[FerventSylph]

She is here :)

[Niamhdm7871]

Thanks for posting this. A great song....

[snakeawake]

we remembered this beautiful gem at my friends funeral today. ' The fallen leaves that jewel the ground, they know the art of dying, and leave with joy their glad gold hearts in scarlet shadows lying'........

[Rainy55]

@snakeawake It is incredible that those very words you quote are words that play in my head every autumn here in s. Ontario. As a teacher I would post them by the children's art work in the hall and could not place where I had heard them. Now I am retired and through searching for the song Painting Box I found this. It is miraculous and so are you for loving these words too. L.

[peterobrien1000]

@snakeawake

[peterobrien1000]

@snakeawake

Sometimes I want to murder time, sometimes when my heart's aching, but mostly I just stroll along the path that he is taking... how beautiful & sad this is!

pob

[peterobrien1000]

@snakeawake

[jnsii]

A true joy, forgotten by many and yet, because we can summon a memory and state of mind whenever we hear it, for us it is eternal.

[theirishson09]

great song jenny..love it..you know your music ..youtube can remove your stuff but they will never remove your skills and ability..5*** and faved lil mamma...

[ANE32]

What a beautiful song!

[NoRosesForMe]

thank you ANE. Some of their stuff is kinda new to me.

glad you like it =))

[lordalfred1]

Thanks, i enjoyed ISB song; love the Scottish sounds...accents very clear in

their music. Great stuff, thnx agn.

[NoRosesForMe]

Youre very welcome. I havent heard a lot from this band but thanks to 10leggo-Im gettin into some of this.

Really glad you enjoyed this. Thank you. =)

[NoRosesForMe]

Thanks so much OCallahan! =)))

[alargedog]

great post havnt heard the isb for years #####

[NoRosesForMe]

Thanks Dog! =))

[irishthankgod]

Deadly music, great to see you uploading again, i know the feeling of wtf why bother, this is great stuff and i hope your doing well , thanks again for another great one stay safe chara XXXXs Cathy

[NoRosesForMe]

Hehe! Yea I was feelin that way until 10leggo requested this song. Then I figured Id try to post somethin again. .....had to dispute the copyright claim Grrr! But tis up and hopefully for good.

Thanks a bunch! Best to you and yours too! xx

[teensoundman]

good song

[NoRosesForMe]

thanks Teen!