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Natalie Merchant — Nursery Rhyme Of Innocence And Experience
Album: Leave Your Sleep
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2336









Released: 2010
Length: 5:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I had a silver penny
And an apricot tree
And I said to the sailor
On the white quay

Sailor O sailor
Will you bring me
If I give you my penny
And my apricot tree

A fez from Algeria
An Arab drum to beat
A little gilt sword
And a parakeet?'

Well he smiled and he kissed me
As strong as death.
And I saw his red tongue
And I felt his sweet breath.

You may keep your penny
And your apricot tree.
And I'll bring your presents
Back from sea,
From over the sea.

The ship dipped down
On the rim of the sky
And I waited while three
Long summers went by
Three long summers went by.

Then one morning
On the white quay
I saw a grey ship
Come in from sea.

Slowly she came
Across the bay
and her flashing rigging
Was shot away

All round her wake
The seabirds cried
And flew in and out
Of the hole in her side

Slowly she came
In the path of the sun
And I heard the sound
Of a distant gun.
Of a distant gun.

And a stranger came running
Up to me
From the deck of the ship
And he said, said he

O are you the boy
Who would wait on the quay
With the little silver penny
And an apricot tree?

I've a plum-coloured fez
And a drum for thee
And a sword and a parakeet
From over the sea.'

O where is the sailor
With bold red hair?
And what is that volley
On the bright air?

O where are the other
Girls and boys?
And why have you brought me
Children's toys?'
Brought me children's toys?
Comments (186)add comment
She do be a peach..
Posted 2 months ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Posted 1 year ago by Motolorax    [ Reply ]
Makes me think of Carsten Jensen's novel "We, the drowned".
Beautiful. 
Posted 2 years ago by Mattan    [ Reply ]
 radioparadise9 wrote:

How did it all work out Anthony?

Brutal.

c.

Posted 2 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Great voice!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
This followed El Condor Pasa - I understand why! Nice flutes. Nice tune.
Posted 2 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Song goes better and better. Wonderful!
Posted 3 years ago by emreakoguz    [ Reply ]
Frighteningly beautiful .... kudos ....
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
 Segue wrote:
Lameness is not a virtue.
 
As you demonstrate
Posted 3 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
 walkerpub wrote:
"If you go to any mime's apartment there's a Natalie Merchant record. Guarantee." Anthony Bourdain
 
How did it all work out Anthony?

Posted 3 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
 gjr wrote:
for the life of me i cant understand the inexplicable plethora of natalie merchant on this station...is she a part owner? 

Natalie has more songs than The Who on RP! How? Why?!
This one's tolerable though... no one seems to be hitting her in the throat repeatedly like on her other tunes.
Posted 4 years ago by Mannick    [ Reply ]
Really love this song and the entire album.
Posted 4 years ago by ljenny281    [ Reply ]
 DocStrangelove wrote:
a voice that draws
the stars
closer to earth
to hear what beauty
left the garden
and
sang notes
so divine
 
 
 

Dug deeply here.
Posted 4 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
We had to stop what we were doing as well, just to read the lyric. so profound! My daughter enjoyed it very much indeed. 
Posted 5 years ago by hypotenuse    [ Reply ]
This song is so beautiful and touching
Posted 5 years ago by stephen.king12101    [ Reply ]
 gjr wrote:
for the life of me i cant understand the inexplicable plethora of natalie merchant on this station...is she a part owner?
 
I find I hear much more Tori Amos than Natalie Merchant.. 
Posted 5 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
Yet another song on RP where I had to stop working and read the lyrics as the song was ending. My bosses say that I must get distracted when I make errors... not so good in the college student records business
Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
a voice that draws
the stars
closer to earth
to hear what beauty
left the garden
and
sang notes
so divine
 
 
Posted 5 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
It's a setting of the Charles Causley poem, so it would be weird to give it any other title than the title of the poem.  In considering the imagery of the poem, it's worth considering that it was written while or slightly after Causley spent the Second World War at sea on destroyers, and that he only knew his father as a man slowly dying from his injuries in the First World War.
Posted 5 years ago by RichLawCoffee    [ Reply ]
That may be genius. 

Proclivities wrote:

Natalie Merchant sang back-up vocals on that recording.

 

Posted 5 years ago by Dragonfly_Launch    [ Reply ]
 eyeball wrote:
I love this song sooooooooo much! It creates the exact mood and feeling for the scene it paints. Natalie's voice is perfect. Every time I hear it I am carried away to an age of sailing ships, explorers and privateers, I can even hear the seagulls cry... Thank you RP!
 
Get the album.  This is an amazing collection.  Hand's down, one of the of the best of the last decade.
Posted 6 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I love this song sooooooooo much! It creates the exact mood and feeling for the scene it paints. Natalie's voice is perfect. Every time I hear it I am carried away to an age of sailing ships, explorers and privateers, I can even hear the seagulls cry... Thank you RP!
Posted 6 years ago by eyeball    [ Reply ]
Lameness is not a virtue.
Posted 6 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
This is one of the best and most tolerable "children's" albums that I love. She did an amazing job translating childhood to music. Such talent with Ms. Merchant. 
Posted 6 years ago by desertbecca    [ Reply ]
always upvote NM!
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 6 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
Reminds me of "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" from Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue.

 
Natalie Merchant sang back-up vocals on that recording.
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 ROTFLMAO! GOOD ONE!
richlister wrote:

You ought to be reported for torturing your family.

 


Posted 7 years ago by bstevens1951    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
Reminds me of "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" from Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue.

 
Yeah, totally.
Posted 7 years ago by knowmater    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" from Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue.
Posted 7 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Lovely song!

The title seems a not-so-subtle nod to William Blake, in my opinion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_of_Innocence_and_of_Experience
Posted 7 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
8 to 9 - thank you!
Posted 7 years ago by loopbitz    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
Wow. Never heard this before and really enjoyed it. Not the post-Maniacs Natalie I'm used to hearing.

This great song deserves a title that doesn't sound like a subtitle, but that's just a quibble. A solid 9.
 

 This album is phenomenal.  Incredibly atmospheric songcrafting.  My family and I played it for about 6 months straight, and I still love it.  Tremendous creative accomplishment from Ms. Merchant.  Especially great listening if you have bambini scurrying about. 
 
You ought to be reported for torturing your family.
Posted 7 years ago by richlister    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Blaaahhh.... In a Female singer cycle..... not that I wouldn't enjoy that... but the choice of artists is less then acceptable

 
bread
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
"If you go to any mime's apartment there's a Natalie Merchant record. Guarantee." Anthony Bourdain
Posted 8 years ago by walkerpub    [ Reply ]
The outro is kind of reminiscent of Concierto de Aranjuez.
Posted 8 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Bumped it up to 7 from 3! What was I thinking!? Beautiful lyrics, gentle voice....
Posted 8 years ago by MrsTom    [ Reply ]
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
Wow. Never heard this before and really enjoyed it. Not the post-Maniacs Natalie I'm used to hearing.

This great song deserves a title that doesn't sound like a subtitle, but that's just a quibble. A solid 9.
 

 This album is phenomenal.  Incredibly atmospheric songcrafting.  My family and I played it for about 6 months straight, and I still love it.  Tremendous creative accomplishment from Ms. Merchant.  Especially great listening if you have bambini scurrying about. 

Posted 8 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Good to hear Natalie again! She was a local favorite in Western NY, starting with the 10,000 Maniacs.
 
Posted 9 years ago by jmacie    [ Reply ]
Not heard much of her!
thought she was an actress....
pretty spellbinding song 
Posted 9 years ago by Huwie    [ Reply ]
Nice uilleann pipes in the background
Posted 9 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
Wow. Never heard this before and really enjoyed it. Not the post-Maniacs Natalie I'm used to hearing.

This great song deserves a title that doesn't sound like a subtitle, but that's just a quibble. A solid 9.
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
 oldsaxon wrote:

I was thinking it evoked a sense of a storyteller. Your view is just as valid, I suppose. Unless you're seeing it differently from me. 

 
Maybe. Or I just hate her stories..
Posted 10 years ago by floydoftherocks    [ Reply ]
Natalie has matured.  She's not stayed in the same place.  And haven't we all. I've always enjoyed her.
Posted 10 years ago by bigbargain    [ Reply ]

Natalie Merchant - Leave Your Sleep by earbender
https://www.flickr.com/photos/earbender/

 


Posted 10 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 TerryS wrote:
This album and book make a fine present for a child, to be listened to with an adult who is not afraid to revisit their own youth, explain the nuances and enjoy the delights of childhood.

 
Seconded with knobs on. I bought the CD, at last, a week ago, and have been absolutely captivated by it. The booklet with it, in which Natalie explains her project, as part of a dialogue with her young daughter about words and language, is essential to understanding the songs on it, all of which are obscure and often silly and funny poems set to music by herself. By far the best CD I've bought this year.
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
This album and book make a fine present for a child, to be listened to with an adult who is not afraid to revisit their own youth, explain the nuances and enjoy the delights of childhood.
Posted 10 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:


In looking over this, I realize I left out an important detail that my mother never failed to mention.  Her family had moved out of Berlin by 1939.

 
My second generation German grandpa flew bombing missions over Germany.  Germans make up the largest ethnic group in the US, so this kind of thing was common.
Posted 10 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 floydoftherocks wrote:
The album cover tries to pass her off as some classic writer by styling it like a book cover. Really all it does is highlight her strabismus.
 
I was thinking it evoked a sense of a storyteller. Your view is just as valid, I suppose. Unless you're seeing it differently from me. 
Posted 10 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
leperchauns everywhere are rejoicing this song is playing
Posted 10 years ago by vidalsasoon    [ Reply ]
The album cover tries to pass her off as some classic writer by styling it like a book cover. Really all it does is highlight her strabismus.
Posted 10 years ago by floydoftherocks    [ Reply ]
Natalie Merchant should have stayed with 10,000 Maniacs.  I have only heard one of her solo songs that I like and that is Jealousy.  The rest of her stuff is crap, did I say crap?  Yes I did.  Natalie Merchant, please stop making music!
Posted 10 years ago by chrisross    [ Reply ]
Love this! Perfect.

Some great versions on YouTube (live) as well. 
Posted 10 years ago by eyeball    [ Reply ]
 gjr wrote:
for the life of me i cant understand the inexplicable plethora of natalie merchant on this station...is she a part owner?

 
Agreed - Nothing makes repeated click on PSD faster! 
Posted 11 years ago by pcicatar    [ Reply ]
for the life of me i cant understand the inexplicable plethora of natalie merchant on this station...is she a part owner?
Posted 11 years ago by gjr    [ Reply ]
I really like what she does. The older stuff too. All discovered here.
Posted 11 years ago by MusiqueMusique    [ Reply ]
 Aesic wrote:
 

This song would be good if the lyrics didn't evoke unsavory images of certain basketball coaches, priests and others...



 

IT WOULD NOT THEN BE , THIS SONG......
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 mamyam wrote:
...great song, her voice comes always straight of her soul, so much sense of the lyrics. She sings from gentle to expressive! She is a strong woman with a altruistic stance. Some people likes this voice, me too, but why hating? She is self-confident and a example of humaneness {#Wave}  ...irritating? no, simply amazing!!!

 

INDEED !  {#Jump}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
{#Bounce}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
Hey, I just wrote about this song less than an hour ago!! Bill, you reading comments these days?
Posted 11 years ago by mediamarv    [ Reply ]
My favorite by her..I love its sweetness, but sadness too. 
Posted 11 years ago by Rachoh    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:


I'm thinking proclivities might have been waxing ironical in his suggestion of Wagner.  I once gave my mother an album of Wagnerian overtures for her birthday.  That went over like a lead balloon.  Far too much Wagner in my mother's upbringing in 1930's Berlin, you understand.

 

In looking over this, I realize I left out an important detail that my mother never failed to mention.  Her family had moved out of Berlin by 1939.
Posted 11 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Her bleeding heart is growing up.  I've always liked her voice.  I think this is the best song of hers I've heard.
Posted 11 years ago by dziebell    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:
Natalie has really grown on me over the years.  Guess I just needed to catch up.

 
I`m in a different boat . I used to enjoy her when she played with all them Maniacs I find her newer stuff much less appealing .
Posted 11 years ago by btt    [ Reply ]
Is anyone alive out there???  or am I the only one on this station?
Posted 11 years ago by Philly_Joe    [ Reply ]
Always liked her..... 
Posted 11 years ago by Philly_Joe    [ Reply ]
Blaaahhh.... In a Female singer cycle..... not that I wouldn't enjoy that... but the choice of artists is less then acceptable
Posted 11 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Bliss!
Posted 11 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Natalie has really grown on me over the years.  Guess I just needed to catch up.
Posted 11 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
 onerb wrote:
The whole album is terrific...

 
++

Overlooked too. She just fell out of favor it seems. 
Posted 11 years ago by rasta_tiger    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:


I'm thinking proclivities might have been waxing ironical in his suggestion of Wagner.  I once gave my mother an album of Wagnerian overtures for her birthday.  That went over like a lead balloon.  Far too much Wagner in my mother's upbringing in 1930's Berlin, you understand.

 
I'm guessing the Hitler alarm clock is right out as well. (some people are so picky). 
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
{#Daisy}
Posted 11 years ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
...great song, her voice comes always straight of her soul, so much sense of the lyrics. She sings from gentle to expressive! She is a strong woman with a altruistic stance. Some people likes this voice, me too, but why hating? She is self-confident and a example of humaneness {#Wave}  ...irritating? no, simply amazing!!!
Posted 11 years ago by mamyam    [ Reply ]
I really enjoy this album. It is a bit different than her previous works, but still has her unique sound.
Posted 11 years ago by xenothaulus    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:


I'm thinking proclivities might have been waxing ironical in his suggestion of Wagner.  I once gave my mother an album of Wagnerian overtures for her birthday.  That went over like a lead balloon.  Far too much Wagner in my mother's upbringing in 1930's Berlin, you understand.
 

You can't blame an artist for his fans.  You can blame Wagner for being a certifiable loon though.
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 ziggytrix wrote:
a merchant shanty! ha
 
ha

2 extra points for excellent penny whistle
a la Mark Knophler 
Posted 11 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:

The link is dead.  Whatever it was, I am glad to see someone talking about Wagner here.  I tried to upload some once.  Technical errors, as always.  It seems that music files that play on every other music player known to mankind somehow are not good enough technically for the RP listener upload forum.
 

I'm thinking proclivities might have been waxing ironical in his suggestion of Wagner.  I once gave my mother an album of Wagnerian overtures for her birthday.  That went over like a lead balloon.  Far too much Wagner in my mother's upbringing in 1930's Berlin, you understand.
Posted 11 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
LOVE YOU, NATALIE M.
Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
a merchant shanty! ha
Posted 12 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 Aesic wrote:
 

This song would be good if the lyrics didn't evoke unsavory images of certain basketball coaches, priests and others...

———————————————————————-

Yup, no kidding.



 


Posted 12 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

There's always Richard Wagner - many people have found his music inspiring.

 
The link is dead.  Whatever it was, I am glad to see someone talking about Wagner here.  I tried to upload some once.  Technical errors, as always.  It seems that music files that play on every other music player known to mankind somehow are not good enough technically for the RP listener upload forum.
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
I normally can't stand Merchant's vocal "stylings" but... surprisingly to me - I like this song.
Posted 12 years ago by tphord    [ Reply ]
It's amazing to me that like 2-3,000 of the maniacs haven't tried to kill her yet.
Posted 12 years ago by icemang    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Don't need any "nursery rhyme's".....need something much more inspiring to listen to. 
 
There's always Richard Wagner - many people have found his music inspiring.

*—-video link expired—-* 


Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
The whole album is terrific...
Posted 12 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
I like it also, good stuff.
Posted 12 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Well I like it, so {#Nyah}
Posted 12 years ago by hobiejoe    [ Reply ]
Can only agree with this. Although this song is one of her least irritating.

 Jelani wrote:
I can't stand this woman's music. Well, maybe the music is ok, but her voice and vocal stylings irritate me.
And no, no one out there need extend their condolences regarding what I may be missing.
Thank you. :)

 


Posted 12 years ago by salzburg4321    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
"Nursery Rhyme Of Innocence And Experience"

And he smiled and he kissed me
As strong as death
And I saw his red tongue
And I felt his sweet breath

....

O are you the boy
Who would wait on the quay
With the silver penny
And the apricot tree?

....

O where are the other
Girls and boys?
And why have you brought me
Children's toys? 


This song would be good if the lyrics didn't evoke unsavory images of certain basketball coaches, priests and others...


Posted 12 years ago by Aesic    [ Reply ]
She is a star, this album is very interesting and very good, but it tends to lock her style down a bit.
We saw her on tour doing many of these songs and a others from her back catalogue, an excellent concert.

She has only recently joined my music scene, I'm enjoying the journey of getting more of her output. 
Posted 13 years ago by hbs47    [ Reply ]
 Seahunt wrote:
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
 
Thank you, Seahunt.

And, thank you, Natalie.

Posted 13 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]

Posted 13 years ago by Mandible    [ Reply ]
 tljblanchette wrote:
This song brings to mind the intro to Firefly...
 
Didn't think of it until I read that and *bingo!* you're right.

Posted 13 years ago by Sobient    [ Reply ]
 trissi wrote:
oh no! not again.
 
My sentiments exactly. Don't need any "nursery rhyme's".....need something much more inspiring to listen to. 
Posted 13 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Jumped from an 8 to a 9. Beautiful lyrics and she sings the story so excellently. Just purchased off iTunes for RP. 
Posted 13 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
oh no! not again.
Posted 13 years ago by trissi    [ Reply ]
I can't stand this woman's music. Well, maybe the music is ok, but her voice and vocal stylings irritate me.
And no, no one out there need extend their condolences regarding what I may be missing.
Thank you. :)

Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 Seahunt wrote:
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
 
Thank you for sharing this.  Poignant and, in some respects, sad.  Natalie seems to hone in on these things and force us to confront them.  Take a listen to Tigerlilly and you'll see what I mean.  Alas, I do miss a more upbeat "Narcissistic Natalie".. listen to the tune "Wonder" from that same album. I particularly enjoy some of Natalie & 10k Maniac's sad tunes done in an upbeat tempo. 

Posted 13 years ago by Tim_in_N_FL    [ Reply ]
Nice.

I may be becoming a new Natalie Merchant fan.
Posted 13 years ago by mapman    [ Reply ]
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
At first I thought I was watching a 'Firefly' episode!  Then she started to sing and the dream ws shattered......   {#Nyah}
 

First thing I thought too. {#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by Kaiser    [ Reply ]
This song brings to mind the intro to Firefly...
Posted 13 years ago by tljblanchette    [ Reply ]

"Nursery Rhyme Of Innocence And Experience"

I had a silver penny
And an apricot tree
And I said to the sailor
On the white quay

Sailor O sailor
Will you bring me
If I give you my penny
And my apricot tree

A fez from Algeria
An Arab drum to beat
A little gilt sword
And a parakeet?

And he smiled and he kissed me
As strong as death
And I saw his red tongue
And I felt his sweet breath

You may keep your penny
And your apricot tree
And I'll bring your presents
Back from sea.

O the ship dipped down
On the rim of the sky
And I waited while three
Long summers went by

Then one steel morning
On the white quay
I saw a grey ship
Come in from sea

Slowly she came
Across the bay
For her flashing rigging
Was shot away

All round her wake
The seabirds cried
And flew in and out
Of the hole in her side

Slowly she came
In the path of the sun
And I heard the sound
Of a distant gun

And a stranger came running
Up to me
From the deck of the ship
And he said, said he

O are you the boy
Who would wait on the quay
With the silver penny
And the apricot tree?

I've a plum-coloured fez
And a drum for thee
And a sword and a parakeet
From over the sea.

O where is the sailor
With bold red hair?
And what is that volley
On the bright air?

O where are the other
Girls and boys?
And why have you brought me
Children's toys?

 


Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 LuvWilloughby wrote:
I agree. Wonder if it's Davey Spillane?

 KevinM wrote:
Love those Uillean Pipes

 
 
Liner notes credit Cillian Vallely.

Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Beautiful.
Posted 13 years ago by ARTICULA    [ Reply ]
Outstanding. I especially admire the strings arrangement at the end. Beautiful.  
Posted 13 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
 Seahunt wrote:
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
 
{#Clap} Thanks very much for those memories, Seahunt, much appreciated. They put a wistful smile on my face, and certainly endeared me to Natalie Merchant. And this song is really, really growing on me - up to 9 from the Nottingham jury. Beautiful and heart-wrenching. Gets me right there and gives me goose pimples, as good music should

Posted 13 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
I like NM.  I don't mind her voice like some here do (i.e. Phlegm voice), and I think she pulls off the moodiness in her songs well - I just wish she'd cheer up once in a while.


Posted 13 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
great !
Posted 13 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
Just saw her this past August in Denver - great show! She played mostly from this new CD and then for her extended encore, played a lot of her other solo songs and stuff from her 10,000 Maniacs days.....

Great stuff!

{#Dance} 

Posted 13 years ago by throwback    [ Reply ]
beautiful, beautiful
Posted 14 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
7 to 8
Posted 14 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
I agree. Wonder if it's Davey Spillane?

 KevinM wrote:
Love those Uillean Pipes

 


Posted 14 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
 Seahunt wrote:
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
 
Wow. What a great, intimate description. And yes - very sad that kids today have NO idea about the past - it's almost as if entire generations have lived and died for nothing. Stories untold, songs unsung... jump-rope? It was a mainstay when I was going to grade-school. Chinese jump-rope, where you had to be very fast on your feet... I still remember "Alamand-left to your corner... right hand round to your own... Go back and swing that corner lady round and round..." Dang - I loved square-dancing!  Thanks, Seahunt, for the memories. And for reminding us all of what we stand to lose if we don't remember our past....

Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
Everything needs more dancing bear!!{#Yes}
 
No, that would be cruel. What we need is more bare dancing :o)

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Seahunt wrote:
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
 
second comment from me, but I did like the ethos this engenders.


Posted 14 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Cruising close to 90mph on the m/bike this afternoon and this was on the earphones............worked for me.
Posted 14 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Sunday she played at Strathmore hall in Bethesday, MD.  I won tickets from a local radio station (WRNR) to see a private artist showcase.  We met in a small restaurant (Addies).  The emptied a room and it was Natalie, guitarist, steel guitarist, violin, and banjo and 20 people.  They opened with this song.  It was like hanging in a living room with a family while they jam.  So cool.  There were 8 kids sitting on the floor and she was talking with them throughout.  She kept borrowing my copy of her new cd to show pictures to the kids of the authors of the songs.  It was so cool to be handing a CD back in forth to Natalie Merchant who I saw 20 years ago in a theater with about 7,000 people.  Another thing I noticed was how much culture we have lost.  She did a song that was an old jump rope song in the south.  She asked the girls if they new any jump rope songs....nope.  She played a song you square dance to.  The kids were clueless but she made them stand up and showed them a little.  While we were filing in the kids were already on the floor and they were singing this "This Land is Our Land," the kids didn't know the words.  It was Sunday so they played a church hymn, which fell on deaf ears.  Because the CD is based on poetry and childrens stories she named a few and they had never heard of them.  It just made me realize how cool it was to probably hang at her house to sing songs, dance,, jump rope, ect.  Something that is totally lost on our culture nowadays...which is sad.
Posted 14 years ago by Seahunt    [ Reply ]

Natalie Merchant - Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience, Live (2010)

"love it!!! and "found" her just a month ago, never heard of her bevor,god, what have i missed :-) now I know most of her songs an got her music on cd for daily use ;-) "     kat33ta33 

"Natalie's voice cuts through my soul oh so good... "             firefightntx

 




Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Natalie has the most creamy, soothing voice, I must pick this one up.
Posted 14 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is good for the ears...
 

Ditto!
Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]

Natalie Merchant Interview (2010)

"When in London last month, Natalie gave an exclusive interview with Grantas deputy editor Ellah Allfrey. Her album Leave Your Sleep will be released by Nonesuch Records this spring (its title is taken from a Mother Goose rhyme). She calls it the most elaborate project I have ever completed or even imagined: it touches on Cajun music, bluegrass, reggae, chamber music, folk and jazz, as well as folk styles from around the world. She has also used the work of E. E. Cummings, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edward Lear and Gerard Manley Hopkins. "


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]