Wednesday 30 July 2008

Song Of The Week XXIX

War is peace
Peace is war
Less is more
Yes is no
The cows are mad
The chickens glow
And Jesus walks in Idaho
.
Everywhere I go
I hear what's going on
And the more I hear
The less I know

I first went to Cambridge Folk Festival in 1996, my lovely sister took me with her family and afterwards she asked me what I'd enjoyed most. I remember saying that I liked the band that sang the song that went "Please God this is the last time I get married". And so began my love of Oysterband, I've probably seen them more than any other band and have never waned in my love of them. The Big Session festival that I go to in June was started by the Oysterband, so I get to see them at that. Sadly they're not playing Cambridge this year, but I think I'll survive! Maybe!

This is one of my favourite songs, always has been and as you can tell from the audience - it's rather an anthem amongst we Oysterfans.
I particularly like this video for a couple of reasons, firstly, I was at this gig - their 25th anniversary and it was a brilliant night.
Secondly, I'm in the video a couple of times which will always tickle me. I look terrible, I'd danced a ceilidh right before the gig and then danced throughout this and was a little warm!
Well, there's actually a third reason, one of my Celebrity Crushes is on the video too; John Jones - the lead singer.


One more sleep until I'm tucked up in my tent at Cambridge, I might just be a little excited!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree - this is an anthem! I am a huge Oysterband fan too and my favourite song is 'We could leave right now' - I love the live version and the deep resonating bass of the cello always brings the hairs up on the back of my neck! I hope that you enjoyed Cambridge - a festival I have never been to and unfortunately will never be likely to. I live too far north now. I love reading your blog by the way. All the best - Nick

Flibbertigibbet said...

Thank you very kindly for taking the time to leave me that comment! Much appreciated, especially from a fellow Oysterfan!
Cambridge was excellent, I've just completed my essay on my weekend, which is somewhat huger than I intended, and I'm sure I will wake in the morning thinking "Damn I meant to say x, y & z! lol
Every time I think of a favourite Oyster song, an entire list creates itself. Maybe it's Blood Wedding, no, it's Shouting End of Life, no, it's Put Out The Lights, no wait, it's Love Vigilantes... and so it goes on.
I'm coming over to have a read of yours on the morrow... I have been writing for hours now. People will never make it to the end of my waffle! ;)

Unknown said...

Hello,
You wouldn't know by any chance who wrote the verse quoted? Not Oysterband, I believe.
It was a much discussed subject at a dinner party I went to last night.

Flibbertigibbet said...

I'm really sorry, it failed to email me to tell you me you'd left me a wee comment... however, I don't know how I'm adding to the debate as I always believed it was written by the band for this song.
I'm going to run downstairs and look at the album cover!!
~running~
Phew.
I checked the cd cover and it quotes only the band members as writers of this track and nowhere does it state that the lines were taken from anywhere else.
In fact I remember these lines were printed on the back of their old tour t-shirts!