This song just reminds me of a one summer love, long time ago. I let her go and never new what she became after. More than 50 years have passed but I never forgot her.
I first heard this song last week at an Open Mic night (at the Thomas Tripp, Christchurch on the 15th of Oct 24) by a guy called Rick Jones and was immediately struck by how lovely the song is and how beautifully he played it. (He didn't let you down) Rick told me who the song was by and have to say, shamefully, I'd never heard of you but wish I had moons ago. I now really want to learn to play it and thank whatever being that's 'up' there that there are such amazing and creative people that can bring joy and beauty to an otherwise messed up world. It goes a long way to restoring my faith in mankind. Thanks Richard P.S. Where would we be without the Bees??
I was nineteen when I came to town They called in the Summer of Love They were burningbabies, burning flags The Hawks against the Doves I took a job in the STeamie Down on Cauldrum Street I fell in love with a laundry girl Was working next to me She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way Brown hair zig-zag round her face And a look of half-surprise Like a fox caught in the headlights There was an animal in her eyes She said, young man, O can't you see I'm not the factory kind If you don't take me out of here I'll surely lose my miind She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way We busked around the market towns And picked fruit down in Kent And we could tinker lamps and pots And knives wherever we went And I said that we might settle down Get a few acres dug Fire burning in the hearth And babies on the rug She said O man, you foolish man It surely sounds like hell You might be lord of half the world You'll not own me as well She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way We was camping down the Gower one time The work was pretty good She thought we shouldn't wait for frost And I thought maybe we should We were drinking more in those days And tempers reached a pitch Like a fool I let her run With the rambling itch Last I hear she's sleeping out Back on Derby beat White Horse in her hip pocket And a wolfhound at her feet And they say she even marriend once A man named Romany Brown But even a Gypsy caravan Was too much settliing down And they say her flower is faded now Hard weather and hard booze But maybe that's just hte price you pay For the chains you refuse She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing And I missher more than ever words could say If I could just taste All of her wildness now If I could hold her in my arms today Then I wouldn't want her any other way Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Richard John Thompson
I tear-up every time I hear this song. It really doesn’t get any better than this! Many will carry this song with them the rest of their days… I know I will.
I saw him open for Jason Isbell not too long ago. Maybe 100 people in a venue that held about 1,500 ... he kept us rapt for about 45 minutes before the loud and rowdy crowd waiting outside for Jason Isbell to start bum-rushed the room. Such a stark contrast.
These moving words, "And maybe that's just the price you pay for the chains you refuse." 💔
Chains can be wings in another life? Just like the bee’s fly when you can .
Damn, it has to feel good to write a line as good as that one, right?
This song just reminds me of a one summer love, long time ago. I let her go and never new what she became after. More than 50 years have passed but I never forgot her.
A mere decade behind you man
This and Vincent Black Lightning are maybe th most wonderful songs ever
How about 'Galway to Graceland?' And nearly everything else he has written?!
Richard Thompson is a King. What a great songwriter and guitarist, amazing Richard, Thank you mate! x
More than King --- he's the song Emperor.
Absolutely one of Richard's best songs. So haunting and beautiful.
Absolutely one of everyone's best songs
I first heard this song last week at an Open Mic night (at the Thomas Tripp, Christchurch on the 15th of Oct 24) by a guy called Rick Jones and was immediately struck by how lovely the song is and how beautifully he played it. (He didn't let you down) Rick told me who the song was by and have to say, shamefully, I'd never heard of you but wish I had moons ago.
I now really want to learn to play it and thank whatever being that's 'up' there that there are such amazing and creative people that can bring joy and beauty to an otherwise messed up world. It goes a long way to restoring my faith in mankind.
Thanks Richard
P.S. Where would we be without the Bees??
Just so beautifully incredible...XXXXXXXXXXXX
I have a dear friend who sings this song 🎶 with a multitude of amazing vocal sounds 🔔
Thank you - You're very gifted!
I was nineteen when I came to town
They called in the Summer of Love
They were burningbabies, burning flags
The Hawks against the Doves
I took a job in the STeamie
Down on Cauldrum Street
I fell in love with a laundry girl
Was working next to me
She was a rare thing
Fine as a beeswing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child
She was running wild, she said
As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay
And you wouldn't want me any other way
Brown hair zig-zag round her face
And a look of half-surprise
Like a fox caught in the headlights
There was an animal in her eyes
She said, young man, O can't you see
I'm not the factory kind
If you don't take me out of here
I'll surely lose my miind
She was a rare thing
Fine as a beeswing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child
She was running wild, she said
As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay
And you wouldn't want me any other way
We busked around the market towns
And picked fruit down in Kent
And we could tinker lamps and pots
And knives wherever we went
And I said that we might settle down
Get a few acres dug
Fire burning in the hearth
And babies on the rug
She said O man, you foolish man
It surely sounds like hell
You might be lord of half the world
You'll not own me as well
She was a rare thing
Fine as a beeswing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child
She was running wild, she said
As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay
And you wouldn't want me any other way
We was camping down the Gower one time
The work was pretty good
She thought we shouldn't wait for frost
And I thought maybe we should
We were drinking more in those days
And tempers reached a pitch
Like a fool I let her run
With the rambling itch
Last I hear she's sleeping out
Back on Derby beat
White Horse in her hip pocket
And a wolfhound at her feet
And they say she even marriend once
A man named Romany Brown
But even a Gypsy caravan
Was too much settliing down
And they say her flower is faded now
Hard weather and hard booze
But maybe that's just hte price you pay
For the chains you refuse
She was a rare thing
Fine as a beeswing
And I missher more than ever words could say
If I could just taste
All of her wildness now
If I could hold her in my arms today
Then I wouldn't want her any other way
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Richard John Thompson
Thanks, Harvey, hmm, I'm lazy and havent looked it up, but my fav line is not in here. Too late, I'm singing it. 'I might crush her where she lay....'
Awesome song by an awesome musician. Beautiful.
This man is a world treasure and I prayed for the great whatever it is for him to be ok.
I tear-up every time I hear this song. It really doesn’t get any better than this! Many will carry this song with them the rest of their days… I know I will.
King Richard ....delivering the truth to his subjects...
I saw him play this at Cropredy this year - marvellous ❤
One of my many favorites of the great mans songs.
Breathtaking
He played this in Cardigan last night and the whole set was totally brilliant 👏
Wow! 😮 Never heard it like this before....😮
Richard managed to evoke the old world British ballad feel on a modern fable
Yes, he has… timeless yet with modern references. May it live on forever!
Richard is one of the greatest. Together with Al Stewart.
Written about Annie Briggs I believe.
"The hawks against the doves" for some reason, those lyrics get me. A true story teller.
How about ---- "Maybe it's just the price you pay for the chains that you refuse." AMAZING.
Richard sounds and playing better than ever!! Top song! Top man😎😎😎😎
So beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Shelley!!
You'll have to listen to it at least 5 times a day to make up for what you've been missing
Brilliant song that I just discovered this year. Reminds me a a certain girlfriend I once had. After I told her I loved her it was never the same
In the rain!
Such beautiful guitar playing!
Such a great song😊
Stunning song
About the most beautiful in simultaneously saddest love songs ever written. Not to mention that voice the guy's the best.
Beautiful.
Learned this tune through John Smith’s covers. What a performance!
Allegedly,,written about anne Briggs, folk singer,a real wild child
First time I’ve heard it. Absurdly good.
Lovely storey!
So fine.😊 those Renaissance inflections really grab me.
This is his best song that I have heard yet. Christy Moore's version is also brilliant.
I have to agree
Bravo . . . . Bravo.
Only one of the greatest songs ever written and played….
Wow I didn’t know he was still doing gigs his performance is still great.
Seven decades he's been performing, from the 1960's to the 2020's.
I saw him open for Jason Isbell not too long ago. Maybe 100 people in a venue that held about 1,500 ... he kept us rapt for about 45 minutes before the loud and rowdy crowd waiting outside for Jason Isbell to start bum-rushed the room. Such a stark contrast.
Yep, gonna see him in July.
Quite remarkable.
that last verse though
Looks like Richard's far away on the rolling seas ...
"But maybe that's just the price you pay
For the chains you refuse."
Classic Richard Thompson writing.
One epic song! Also check out Roy Bailey's version.
Yep, it's a crying song. Genius.
Who else can do this? I'll wait.
Check out Davy Knowles. You'll thank me later.