GUTTER GEESE (Maddy Prior & Ian Anderson)

This is one of my favorite songs from Maddy Prior's 1978 solo album, "Woman In The Wings". The project not only had the distinction of featuring members of Jethro Tull as studio musicians, it was also supervised by Tull frontman, Ian Anderson. Ian, along with Martin Barre, John Glascock, Barriemore Barlow & David Palmer were each featured on individual tracks, evidently not wishing to have Maddy's album sound as if Tull had assembled as her back-up band. Even Ian's wife, Shona, sang backing vocals on one song, and the entire production was engineered by long-time Tull recording tech wizard, Robin Black.

Anyway, the piece in the spotlight here is "Gutter Geese", and it's dedicated to all of my YouTube Tull friends.

lyrics:

"GUTTER GEESE"

Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me see the best side of you
Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me be good friends to you

Gay as a goose in the gutter
Merry as mice in malt
If we've got a ha'porth of liveliness
What care we're below the salt

Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me see the best side of you
Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me be good friends to you

Happy as a sandboy building
Castles in the air
Flag waving from the mast
In a world without a care

Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me see the best side of you
Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me be good friends to you

May your castles never crumble
Dreams never end
Run to meet the sunshine
Don't be drawn to the shade

Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me see the best side of you
Come, come be merry, be my friend
Come, come let me be good friends to you

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• maddy
• prior
• ian
• anderson
• children
• at
• play

[hejafish]

Please, does anybody know the name of the Maddy Prior song where she sings 'through bushes and through briar'?

[gothling1955]

@hejafish "Bushes and Briars" is a classic folk song, and the opening lines are the very ones that you had quoted. I know that Maddy Prior is credited to have recorded it at some point, but sadly, I can't find any postings of it here on YouTube. Although there are many other artists that have been uploaded / featured here as singing it, such as Loreena McKennitt & Julie Christie.

[drsmith1958]

very nice



[gothling1955]

@drsmith1958 Thanks!

[cantehondo]

Thanks so much for posting this gothling; beautiful memories re-emerge when I remember Maddy Prior's brilliant singing.

[gothling1955]

@cantehondo You're more than welcome. Though the pleasure is mine in receiving such nice comments as yours. Yes, Maddy's voice is quite distinctive, and has carried forth an amazing body of work over time. But this song will always remain special to me. Thanks for watching!

[Atomikguy]

Thank you so much for this. I had this LP as a little boy in the late 70's. I have thought of this song throughout the years and am glad to see this here.

[gothling1955]

@minnoui While it's not an album that I own at present (an oversight which I'll need to correct in pretty short order), I found a 1999 CD release by Maddy Prior entitled "Ravenchild". Would that be the one you're seeking? Amazon has it for just under $16, and their marketplace venders have it 'new' for just under $10 and 'used' for 99 cents. Sorry for sounding like a commercial, I'm just trying to help you out. Best of luck and thanks for watching!

[minnoui]

please please, I am looking for a Maddy Prior album the raven? Can anyone help me find this??

[gothling1955]

@Mojave888 You're very welcome. Thank you for watching!