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Please To See The King




The title of the album is derived from the "Cutty Wren" ceremony. A Winter Wren in a cage is paraded as if it were a king. This rite was carried out on December 26, Saint Stephen 's Day, and is connected to early Christmas celebrations. The song "The King", appearing on the album, addresses this, and is often performed as a Christmas Carol .

All songs appearing on the original album are traditional. "The False Knight on the Road" is one of the Child Ballads (#3), and concerns a boy's battle of with the Devil in a game of riddles. "The Lark in the Morning", one of their more popular songs, has the same title as a different song about a lusty ploughboy, though there are strong similarities. This version was collected by Ralph Vaughn Williams . "Boys of Bedlam ", another popular song, is told from the perspective of a member of a lunatic asylum. Carthy and Prior open the song by singing into the back of banjos, producing a muffled effect.


PERSONNEL



Produced by Sandy Roberton.


TRACKLISTING


#The Blacksmith
#Cold Haily, Windy Night
#Jigs: The Bryan O'Lynn/ The Hag With The Money
#Prince Charlie Stuart
#Boys Of Bedlam
#False Knight On The Road
#The Lark In The Morning
#Female Drummer
#The King
#Lovely On The Water

Bonus track:
  • 11. Rave On (Buddy Holly/ Hardin). An a cappella version of a Buddy Holly song. It was meant as a prank to mock Ashley's solemnity, but he ended up liking it. This is a bonus track not on the original release.