British Sea Power - North Hanging Rock

Accompanied by; Lights and Shades on the Bostock Circus Farm

Not the most promising of titles, or, indeed, a very accurate one: there's certainly plenty of shade, but the only light comes from the flames of the funeral pyre that consume a dead circus elephant shortly after its corpse has been unceremoniously dragged across a field by 50 carthorses. Unmissable or unwatchable, depending on your own particular sensibility.

The Bostock Circus was American, but toured Europe extensively during this period, including visits to Britain.

I have subtitled the German myself (with a bit of help).

Courtesy of BFI.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• British Sea Power
• BSP
• North hanging rock
• bostock
• circus
• elephant

[GustavusTheGreat]

The 21 x 5 stars seems to disagree with you. And how do you know what BSP would or would not approve of?

Whether you think the footage is apt or not, the film is a piece of social history that should make you ask questions of our ancestors, not me.

[MaxwellLeslie]

A beautiful song soundtracking cruelty we should never forget, Gustavus indeed you have proven to be great!

[Jkfilms7]

Great video, the music and images are exquisite.

[iaindal]

I thought it was very apt Gus. Thanks for sharing. It's such a great song.

[mattjolley]

sure you couldve found something more apt for such a beautiful song than having us watch such a grand creature treated like that and then drop dead. no need for the chained up bears either. i dont think BSP would approve.