Farewell, Farewell - Fairport Convention + Slideshow

Written by Richard Thompson to the tune of Willie O' Winsbury. The voice is Sandy Denny. From the Fairport's "Liege & Lief" album 1969.

Lyrics:

Farewell, farewell to you who would hear
You lonely travellers all
The cold north winds will blow again
The winding road does call.

And will you never return to see
Your bruised and beaten sons
O I would,I would if welcome I were
For they loathe me every one.

And will you never cut the cloth
Or drink the light to be
And can you never swear a year
To anyone but we.

No I will never cut the cloth
Or drink the light to be
But I'll swear a year to one who lies
Asleep alongside of me.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• rock
• fairport
• convention
• sandy
• denny
• richard
• thompson

[DaveyEss]

Lyrics now edited as there were mistakes. Great comments, but to me the lyrical content remains mysterious, mostly because of this verse:

And will you never return to see

Your bruised and beaten sons

O I would,I would if welcome I were

For they loathe me every one.

It's a heartbreaking "good-bye" for sure.

[russinhouse]

@DaveyEss " she was on the piss"; tis not difficult to work out !

[DaveyEss]

@russinhouse Slainte.

[fudzy62]

dear cluntslave, if you really believe 'liege and lief' is "the greatest british folk album ever",then i feel really sorry for you,because nothing could be further from the truth.try listening closely to 'hark! the village wait' by steeleye span.that album has never been given the recognition it deserves. it's in a league of it's own.the arrangements for the folk songs really stand out.

[DaveyEss]

No need to feel sorry as it's not a competition. But Hark! The Village Wait is awesome sho nuff. Thanks for the heads up. : )

'Can't wait to hear the third best ever Brit folk album. Whatever that might be...

[smilesandrainbowable]

On 12 May 1969, Fairports van crashed on the way home from a gig in Birmingham. Martin Lamble just 19 years old and Jeannie Franklyn, guitarist Richard Thompsons girlfriend, were killed. Farewell, Farewell is a tribute to the bands fallen friends: Farewell, farewell to you who would hear/You lonely travellers all/The cold north wind will blow again/The winding road does call.

[padraigpurseal]

Well story has it that Richard Thompson wrote it to his Mother on leaving home to make his life as a folk singer at 17 as himself and father didn't get on.

"Cut the cloth" means bit your tong, "drink the light " means bide your time and "Swear a year" means as it says give it another year.

Its a conversation between him and his mother yes as you say a very emotinal track and Dennys voice at its best God rest her

[wmacisaac]

Sweet sorrow.

[TheRickynow]

@AdamsApple1963 Most sensible comment by a mile.

[fagend123]

I get goose-pimples whenever I hear this. For many reasons.

[gaspode18]

@fudzy62 I prefer Steeleye's "Please to See the King" myself.

[LIEGELEAF1]

@DaveyEss I saw both Fairport and Steeleye in their primes, I accept that Steeleye did not get as much credit from cognoscenti as Fairport, but they had more commercial success and my heart will always be with Fairport.

[wornpick1]

I cannot believe the ignorance nor the lack of sensitivity. These are people, loved by people. Don't be so rude.

[wmacisaac]

Loathe and love are very different. I've seen that mistake in lyrics sites too often.

I LOVE this song.

[salparadise63]

Words from one watching a loved one leaving Northern Ireland for America?