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Yarrow Acoustic Sessions

by Lori Watson

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tzushih
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tzushih Stark arrangements of timeless songs, fully informed by all that's carried us to our current cataclysm. Tears off all pretense to expose the raw, bleeding marrow of the tradition. This album will lift me until I die. Favorite track: Fine Floors in the Valley.
abukum
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abukum Traditional music, but very new!
And her voice is wonderful.
A fair determination of intellectual women, honest trust in nature and climate, respect for the predecessors. I think that it is a wonderful musician. Favorite track: Fause, Fause.
Tony Higginson
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Tony Higginson This work just gets better with every listen, the purity, clarity and layers of meaning and musicianship are just exquisite. I'm on my 3rd listen in one night, hearing so much each time. Must thank mark Radcliffe for playing blackbirds tonight when I was working... Came home, bought cd and just drifting along in bliss... Love it Favorite track: What A Voice (Blackbird).
mikecollins
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mikecollins Lovely vocals with sympathetic musical arrangements and good, clear music production!
Dave Searby Mason
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Dave Searby Mason I play this regularly and it remains one of my favourite albums. Special
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a simple gatefold card case with photos taken in the Yarrow Valley by Lori Watson.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Yarrow Acoustic Sessions via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

      £10 GBP or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Receive a signed, limited copy of the forthcoming Yarrow Acoustic Sessions CD.

    Comes in a simple card gatefold case featuring photos taken in the Yarrow valley by Lori Watson.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Yarrow Acoustic Sessions via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 

      £12 GBP or more 

     

  • 16 page 'gatefold' (stapled) sleeve booklet with lyrics in Scots and English, images of the Yarrow valley and some inner workings from the Yarrow Acoustic Sessions project.
    ships out within 3 days

      £2.50 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 23 Lori Watson releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Ballad of the Speaking Heart, Kat & Nathan's Rosa, Pleasure, Is It Over?, Twa Corbies, Smile, Yarrow Acoustic Sessions, Winter Cheer, and 15 more. , and , .

    Excludes supporter-only releases.

    Purchasable with gift card

      £34.45 GBP or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
I will pluck the smooth Yarrow that my shape be more neat That my lips may be warmer and strawberry sweet That my voice be more cheerful and warm all around As clear as the sunbeam as it heats the cold ground Or may I be an island that floats on the sea A hill on the land that's what I could be May I be a star When the moon it wanes May I be a staff to the weak and the lame With the power o the Yarrow So strong will I be I will wound every man Ah but no man will wound me
2.
Quo Life, the warld is mine, The flooers an trees, they're aa my ain, I am the day an the sunshine, Quo life the warld is mine. Quo Daith, the warld is mine, Yer lugs are deef, yer een are blin Yer flooers maun dwine in ma bitter win Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Quo Life, the warld is mine, I hae saft win's an healin rain Aipples I hae an breid an wine Quo life, the warld is mine. Quo Daith, the warld is mine, Whit sterts in dreid gangs doon in pain, Bairns wantin breid are makin mane, Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Quo Life, the warld is mine, Yer deidly wark, I ken it fine, There's maet on earth for ilka wean, Quo life, the warld is mine. Quo Daith, the warld is mine, Your silly sheaves crine in ma fire, Ma worm keeks in yer barn an byre, Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Quo Life, the warld is mine, Dule on yer een! Ae galliard hert Can ban tae hell yer blackest airt Quo Life, the warld is mine. Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Your rantin hert in duddies braw He winna lows ma preeson waa, Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Quo Life, the warld is mine. Though ye bigg preesons o marble stane Hert's love ye canna preeson in, Quo Life, the warld is mine. Quo Daith, the warld is mine. I hae dug a grave an dug it deep For war an the pest will gar ye sleep, Quo Daith, the warld is mine. Quo Life, the warld is mine. An open grave is a furrow syne, Ye’ll no keep my seed fae faain in, Quo Life, the warld is mine.
3.
Fause, Fause 05:22
Fause, fause hae ye bin tae me ma love An aften ye've changed yer mind An nou ye've lain yer love on some ither fair yin A fear ye are nae mair mine A've climbed intae a tree that wis ower high fir me Seekin fruits whaur there wisna ony grow'n A've drawn warm watter fae aneath cauld clay An against the stream A wis row'n Fause, fause hae ye bin tae me ma love An aften ye've changed yer mind An nou ye've lain yer love on some ither fair yin A fear ye are nae mair mine But A will climb intae a far higher tree An herry the white snawflaucht's nest An doun A will faa wi oot ony fear Intae the airms that lo me best Fause, fause hae ye bin tae me ma love An aften ye've changed yer mind An nou ye've lain yer love on some ither fair yin I fear ye are nae mair mine
4.
5.
She sat doon alow a thorn Fine floors in the valley An there she has her sweet babe borne An the green leaves they grow rarely Smile nae sae sweet, ma bonnie babe Fine floors.. An ye smile sae sweet, ye'll smile me deid An the green .. She's ta'en oot her little penknife Fine floors.. An twinned the sweet babe o its life An the green .. She's howket a grave by the light o the moon Fine floors.. An there she's buried her sweet babe in An the green .. As she was gaun tae the kirk Fine floors.. She saw a bonnie bairn playin in the dirt An the green .. O bonnie bairn, an thou wert mine Fine floors.. I wad cleeth thee in silk sae fine An the green .. O mither dear, when I was thine Fine floors.. You didna prove tae me sae kind An the green ..
6.
There lived a lady in the North Ye cuid scarcely fin her marrow She wis coorted by nine noblemen An a plooboy lad fae Yarrow As he gaed owre yon high, high hill An doon yon path sae narrow It’s there he saw nine noblemen Cam tae fecht wi him on Yarrow Three he slew and three they flew An three lay dyin wounded When her fause brither John cam in ahint An he’s pierced his body through "Gae hame, gae hame ye fause young man Gae tell yer sister sorrow: Her true love John lies dead an gone An a bluidy corpse on Yarrow" As he gaed ower yon high, high hill An doon yon path sae narrow It’s there he spied his sister dear She wis comin fast for Yarrow "O brother dear I dreamt a dream A dream o dule an sorrow I dreamt that ye were spillin blood On the dowie dens o Yarrow" "Sister dear I’ll read yer dream An I maun read it in tae sorrow Yer true love John lies dead and gone On the dowie dens o Yarrow" The young maid’s hair wis three quarters lang An the colour o it yella She’s tied it roon his middle sma An she’s brocht him hame tae Yarrow "Dochter dear dry up yer tears An dwell nae mair in sorrow I’ll wed ye tae a better man Than yer plooboy lad o Yarrow" "Faither dear ye’ve seven sons Ye can wed them a the morrow But the fairest floor that ne’er did bloom Wis ma plooboy lad o Yarrow"
7.
Capernaum 04:41
If aa the blood shed at thy tron, Embro, Embro; If aa the blood shed at thy tron were shed intae a river T’wuid caa the mills o Bonnington, Embro, Embro T’wuid caa the mills o Bonnington forever and forever. If aa the tears that thou hast grat, Embro, Embro; If aa the tears that thou hast grat were sped intae the sea Whaur wuid ye find ane Ararat, Embro, Embro? Whaur wuid ye find ane Ararat fae that fell flood tae flee? If aa the psalms sung in thy kirks, Embro, Embro; If aa the psalms sung in thy kirks were gaithert in the wynd T’would shaw the taps o Roslin’s birks, Embro, Embro T’would shaw the taps o Roslin’s birks till time was oot o mind. If aa the broken herts o thee, Embro, Embro; If aa the broken herts o thee were heapit in a howe There wuid be neither land nor sea, Embro, Embro There wuid be neither land nor sea, but yon reid brae an thou.
8.
I’ve seen the smilin o Fortune beguilin I’ve tasted her favours an felt her decay Sweet is her blessin and kind her caressing But soon it is fled - it is fled far awae I’ve heard them liltin, at the ewe milkin Lasses aa liltin afore break o day But noo they are moanin on ilka green loanin The flooers o the forest are aa wede awae I’ve seen the mornin wi gold the hills adornin The red storm a-roarin afore the pairtin day I’ve seen Tweed’s siller streams, glittrin in the sunny beams Turn drumly an dark as they roll’d on their way Dule on the order, that sent them aa tae the Border Faimlies at labour, maisters at play The flooers o this forest, they focht aye the foremaist The prime of aa Ettricke, are cauld in the clay At hairst, at the shearin, nae youth now are jeerin Bandsters are runkled an lyart or gray At fair or at preachin nae wooin nae fleechin The flooers o the forest are aa wede awae O fickle fortune why this cruel sportin? Why thus perplex us poor dochters o day? Yer froons canna fear me, yer smiles canna cheer me, The flooers o the forest are aa wede awae
9.
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear It is like the voice o Will, ma dear But if I had wings like the swallow high
 I would clasp in the airms o ma Billy boy
 For when my apron it hung low My true love he followed through frost and snow
 And noo ma apron it is tae ma shins He passes me by and he ne’er spears in
  It is up unto yon white hoose brae He caad a strange girlie to his knee An he’s telt her a tale that he yince telt me   There is a blackbird sits on yon tree Some says it is blind and it canna see Some say it is blind and it canna see An so is my true love tae me O I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
 I wish I was a maid again 
But a maid again I will never be Til an aipple it grows on an orange tree   I wish, I wish that my babe was born An smilin on some nurses knee An for my sel tae be dead an gone An a long green grass growing ower me
10.
October Song 04:13
I'll sing you this October song, Oh, there is no song before it. The words and tune are none of my own, for my joys and sorrows bore it. Beside the sea the brambly briars In the still of evening, Birds fly out behind the sun, and with them I'll be leaving. The fallen leaves that jewel the ground, They know the art of dying, And leave with joy their glad gold hearts, In scarlet shadows lying. When hunger calls my footsteps home, morning follows after, I swim the seas within my mind, And the pine trees laugh green laughter. I used to search for happiness, I used to follow pleasure, But I found a door behind my mind, And that's the greatest treasure. For rulers like to lay down laws, And rebels like to break them, And the poor priests like to walk in chains, And God likes to forsake them. I met a man whose name was Time, And he said, "I must be goin," But just how long ago that was, I have no way of knowing. Sometimes I want to murder time, Sometimes when my heart's aching, But mostly I just stroll along, The path that he is taking.

about

The brand new album from Lori Watson.

Yarrow has left an impression on artists and their poetry, music and art over the centuries and has become an inspirational place for me.

History, folklore, landscape, our connection to nature and how we use natural imagery to express and understand our experiences: this collection began as an evolving digital album of monthly releases, each crafted in its own time, exploring the Yarrow valley in the Scottish Borders.

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting this project.

1 Yarrow (a charm)
Poem developed from tradition by Walter Elliot
Melody by Lori Watson
Arranged by Lori Watson and Duncan Lyall

2 The Flytin o Life an Daith
Lyrics developed from tradition by Hamish Henderson (1919-2002)
Melody by Alison McMorland
Arranged by Lori Watson and Duncan Lyall

3 Fause, Fause
Traditional
Arranged by Lori Watson

4 The Sense of Being Lonely
From Alexander Anderson (1845-1909)

5 Fine Floors in the Valley
Traditional
Arranged by Lori Watson and Fiona Black

6 Dowie Dens o Yarrow (V1)
Traditional
Arranged by Lori Watson and Duncan Lyall

7 Capernaum
Poem by Lewis Spence (1874-1955)
Melody by Ed Miller
Arranged by Lori Watson

8 Flooers o the Forest
Traditional
Lyrics from Alison Rutherford (1712-1794) and Jean Elliot (1727-1805)
Arranged by Lori Watson, Duncan Lyall and Steven Byrnes

9 What A Voice (Blackbird)
Traditional
Arranged by Lori Watson and Duncan Lyall

10 October Song
Song by Robin Williamson
Arranged by Lori Watson and Duncan Lyall

credits

released February 2, 2018

Lori Watson - vocals, fiddle
Duncan Lyall - keys, harmonium, double bass (excl. track 3, 8)
Steven Byrnes - guitar, bass drum (tracks 2, 7, 9, 10)
Fiona Black - accordion (track 5)

Produced, recorded and mixed by Duncan Lyall at Red Deer Studios
Mastered by Iain Hutchison at Glo Worm Studios
Photos by Lori Watson, Photo of Lori by @jenningsphoto
Illustrations by Jennifer Austin
Design by BirnamCD
Supported by Creative Scotland

Publishing: Lori Watson MCPS/PRS; Duncan Lyall MCPS/PRS; Steven Byrnes MCPS/PRS; Fiona Black MCPS/PRS, Robin Williamson Warner/ Chappell; Ed Miller BMI; Hamish Henderson MCPS/PRS; Alison McMorland MCPS/PRS

Thanks to everyone who contributed to and encouraged this evolving album, I’m very grateful for your support.

Special thanks to my brilliant VIP team: Morgan Burton, Gerry Cambridge, Joe McIver Dunn, Andrew Fredricks, Elaine Hadden Golladay, Chris Hedges, Sonia Lacuesta, Andy McCallum, Keith Melville, Mark & Jacky Pankhurst, Allan Pettie, Ken Taylor, Reinhard Zierke, and Iain Allan Mills.

Love and thanks to Sandy, Emma, Innes and Duncan x

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Lori Watson Glasgow, UK

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