ADD: October Song (Incredible String Band)

Subject: October Song
From: Dunc
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 05:32 AM

I have the lyrics to Robin Williamsons 'October Song' but so far have been unable to track down the chords. Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Dunc

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Frug
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 06:14 AM

Dunc, I have chords and Tab for this from the Incredible String Band Song Book. If you PM me with your address I'll send you photocopies.

Frank

Subject: October Song
From: Dunc
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 10:59 AM

Can anyone help me with the chords to the Incredible String Band's October Song?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 11:02 AM

try this.

Jon

---

Link fixed. --JC

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Dunc
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 11:07 AM

Great for the words - any idea about the chords?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Dunc
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 11:20 AM

All requests for the chords to date have drawn a blank!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 11:48 AM

Well I know I've got it somewhere on a corries LP... Anyway, I've managed to find a short clip of the tune on the internet and these chords seem fit along with it:

(E)I'll sing (A)you this (E)October song,
oh, there (B7)is no song be(E)fore it.
The words and (A)tune are none of my (E)own,
for my (B7)joys and sorrows (E)bore it.
Beside the (E???)sea. The brambly (E)briars
in the (B7) still of (E)evening,
birds fly (A)out behind the (E)sun,
and (B7)with them I'll be (E)leaving.

E??? - Play an open E but instead of the G# on the 3rd string, move up a fret to the A. Atlleast that sounds right to me. I'm not very good at picking those sort of things out.

Jon

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Dunc
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 12:16 PM

Thanks for that Jon, I've handed those chords over to my singing partner, Stan, and he is the one who plays the instrument. All I have to do is learn the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: kendall
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 12:55 PM

Have you heard the Corries version of this? or Cindy Kallett? she sang it on a tape called Neighbors with Gordon Bok.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: October Song
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 01:04 PM

Jon, maybe try the E??? chord as a B? Other choice: Dm.

Subject: October Song
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 09:23 AM

Anonymous Benefactor posted this on another thread where it's basically been ignored. Perhaps here it might get the recognition it deserves:

To you all of good heart & good cheer, here is a free mp3 of October Song being performed by the Incredible String Band live at the Filmore some forty years ago in June 1968 - Robin Williamson : guitar & singing / Mike Heron - sitar. A thing of rare beauty, and joy forever...

Click the link below & savour!

October Song - ISB : Filmore June 1968

It's a near pristine archive recording from 1968 of the ISB reconstructing October Song according to the extended eastern flavoured acid-folk they were famous for on Hangman's Beautiful Daughter and bringing it in at around 10 minutes! This is fucking historic! And it's up there for free! Although in my experience of YOUSENDIT it'll be there for a max of 100 downloads or 7 days maximum. Get it whilst you can.

Anonymous Benefactor, we are in you debt, sir!

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 10:05 AM

thank you for that - I usually play this once a year (guess when)and perhaps I'll try altering the arrangement to reflect this one.

R

Subject: RE: October Song
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 10:40 AM

Brilliant song.

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,abdul the bul bul on his laptop
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:01 AM

It's on Wee Tam or was it Big Huge? I bought the double album.
Corries did a splendid version and maybe Dick Gaughan too but not too sure bout that.

Al

Subject: RE: October Song
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:11 AM

It's not on my Big Tam or Big Huge. Which is not to say the song might not have been included on some later compilation with the same title. It's on The Incredible String Band, their debut release when they were 3, Robin Williamson, Mike Heron and Clive Palmer.

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,A the BB on laptop.
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 10:41 AM

Yep, You are right Diane, is Greatest Friend I got from WT & T BH. Getting old....It's on their Incredible String Band album. Has made me go thro the old lp's again tho. Must get another player.

Al

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,A the BB etc
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 10:46 AM

As the wife says...."you never listen"...or in this case 'read' . You did say which album it's on.
Still keep discovering bits and bobs that they stuck in their lyrics. How could they have been so widely read at their tender ages? All that Douglas Traherne stuff!!

Al

Subject: RE: October Song
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 11:38 AM

How could they have been so widely read at their tender ages?

They probably read the reviews in the Sunday heavies.

Subject: RE: October Song
From: goatfell
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 11:58 AM

I have the Corries and Finbar and Eddie Furey do this song and I think it's great.

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,awandererplays
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 02:15 PM

I somehow missed this one when it first came out in the 60's.
I heard Dylan commented it was a great song. First heard it on Bert Jansch's album "Crimson Moon."

Anyway, here's my version of this amazing tune!

click here!

Subject: RE: October Song
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 03:35 PM

The extraordinary deviation from accepted standards of intonation and metre bear a remarkable resemblance to the outpourings of Walkaboutsverse. Many would be interested to know what influence "awanderplays" attributes to this source.

(Funny, could have sworn I mentioned this before . . . )

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,ifor
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 12:33 PM

Robin Williamson's brother was one of the Corries...I think he wrote Flower Of Scotland.
ifor

Subject: RE: October Song
From: Snuffy
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 06:56 PM

And how did awandererplays manage to sign up Nick Drake and Sandy Denny as friends?

Subject: RE: October Song
From: GUEST,awandererplays
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 07:11 PM

Snuffy: It was easy mate, I just asked em!

Ms.Easby: Sorry to offend your "accepted standards" and thank you for your interest. My influences can be found by clicking on the "influences" section on the myspace page.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 03:47 AM

The Filmore performance is indeed a historic event. I saw the ISB at the Albert Hall in, I think it was, 1968, complete with sitar and many, many other instruments, and the Filmore sound reflects much of their style at the time.

Call me a mouldy old fig if you will, but I personally prefer the simplicity and power of the original version on their first album - just my taste.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 04:43 AM

I also first heard this song on Jansch's "Crimson Moon". I liked it very much. I thought the Fillimore version by ISB was a bit of a curiosity, but I would prefer to hear a simpler, punchier version.
By the way, was Mike Heron the same guy, who sang in Heron? I am talking about a three piece harmony group, whom I saw in Reading in the mid seventies? They featured the brilliant Gerald "GT" Moore on guitar. It was quite an enjoyable evening.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 04:58 AM

After the ISB disintegrated in about 1974, Mike Heron formed a band with three other former members Malcolm Le Maistre, Graham Forbes and John Gilston, and called Mike Heron's Reputation which was soon abbreviated to Heron. They toured for two or three years.

The ISB reformed in the late 90s and eventually got the elusive Clive Palmer back in. Robin Williamson, however, retired from the band (which had included his wife Bina) a few years ago.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: GUEST,JohnMc
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 05:33 AM

Many people assumed the two Williamsons were related, but they were not.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 02:52 PM

Robin Williamson and Bina Williamson are married.
To each other.
I suppose that counts as "related".

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: GUEST,JohnMc
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 03:19 PM

I was, of course, responding to GUEST'S mention of Roy of THE CORRIES.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 03:24 PM

Of course you were.
I couldn't be arsed to mention it.
If there are those who want to go around thinking that Robin Williamson's brother wrote the bleedin' Flower Of Scotland, let them.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 01:58 PM

The band Heron, which alanabit asked about, did indeed feature Gerald 'GT' Moore and recorded two albums for the Dawn label which were released in the early 1970s - a self-titled debut and the double-LP Twice As Nice & Half the Price. A double-CD retrospective, Upon Reflection: The Dawn Anthology was issued a couple of years back.

The band actually continued into this decade - see http://bit.ly/2XLye3 and singer Roy Apps's page on Myspace.

Did Mike Heron's Reputation actually reduce its name to just Heron? I was booking bands at that time and I certainly don't recall this (and isn't it unlikely since the original Heron was still in existence?). I'm more than happy to be proved wrong.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 02:12 PM

They released Mike Heron's Reputation in the mid-70s and then Diamond Of Dreams as Heron. I haven't got either and know no more about them, including when (if ever) Gerald T Moore joined the band. What I do know about them I got from an edition of Be Glad magazine.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 02:45 PM

The guest-heavy Mike Heron's Reputation album finds the remnants of the recently collapsed ISB (even a guesting Williamson) coming up with a classic slab of country rock, featuring a song about a dead dog and moving farewell to the ISB which contains the lines:

We weren't ready for the country, me and you,
just a couple of city boys, we couldn't even sing the blues.
And we couldn't even light a fire, or find the pole star...

Features Singing the Dolphin, later covered by Manfred Mann on the execrable Roaring Silence album. For more, images especially, see Here.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 02:53 PM

Hahaha, interesting that Melanie guests on the recording. At Woodstock during the thunderstorm the ISB's management refused to allow them onstage because it wasn't safe. Melanie took the spot instead and thus won her international reputation singing Candles In The Rain.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 06:49 PM

This is fantastic. Much as I love the ISB's recorded output, think of how much better we would have thought of them as capable of being, had we been exposed to more of this expansion of what they could offer.

Mr Beard, salutations for sharing. Wish I could hear the rest of the concert...

On a sadder note, who is doing this to this music we call folk now?

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 07:22 PM

Thanks for the download link: still working now. I also quite like the Fureys version even if they have changed the original 4/4 into 3/4.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: pavane
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 10:15 AM

I have a recording of a live performance by Tom Gilfellon around 1973. Very good, though a long way from his usual stuff. But he also played ragtime guitar that night.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 12:00 PM

Thanks, Insane Beard. Raymond G played me that Fillmore clip a few years ago, and it's great to hear it again. A truly radical reworking - and perhaps it was that snippet of 'Half Remarkable Question' in the middle that got Abdul thinking about 'Wee Tam'?

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Mandolinal
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 06:21 AM

been searching for what seems years. ok for chords & lyrics but anyone please got melody? In any format!

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 06:40 AM

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnJdQ9izto

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: rich-joy
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 07:58 AM

Thank you! One of my all-time favourite songs : my sister and I have sung it together (unaccompanied) for many years (having originally learnt it from a Corries record!!)

Cheers, R-J
(Down Under)

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 08:07 AM

Aye, nice version from Corries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLpPLqW3Nos

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 06:31 PM

Yes, Dick Gaughan did it too.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: bobad
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 06:57 PM

Mr. Happy's link at 6:40 AM doesn't work because he missed the h in http, try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnJdQ9izto

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 07:12 PM

The list of cover versions of this fabulous and inspirational song is longer than you might think. Those by Maggie Boyle, Brian Peters and Dick Gaughan are specially treasurable, the Bert Jansch and House Band ones are pretty fine, and I can recall hearing another two, by singers in the "non-professional" category, that have much to commend them. I may be mistaken, but I don't think it's in Raymond G's repertoire. And yes, it can work well unaccompanied too.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Scorpio
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 07:15 PM

Wonderful version from the Corries! My personal fave, apart from the original, is the Furies'.
I heard the ISB for the first time when I was on holiday - with my parents - in a caravan on the Yorkshire coast in 1967. The transistor radio began to play Hedgehog Song. As soon as I came home I bought the album. Of course, the fortune I had amassed from my paper round allowed me such luxuries. Then I wanted to delve deeper. Their first album was only available as a stereo USA import. Who the hell had stereo? I bought it. And have sung October song ever since. No prizes for guessing when I was born.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Mandolinal
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 08:51 AM

Thanks Mr Happy & bobat. First time I've heard that version. I've only heard Corries version. As I don't hear so well can't pick out melody line.Anyone help please.

Subject: RE: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 09:18 AM

Another chance from our Anonymous Benefector I see!

ISB : October Song - Live at the Filmore-6-68

This is the definitive version; so - download, play loud & rejoice that not only once upon a time such music was played, but that someone had the good sense to record it.

Subject: ADD: October Song (Incredible String Band)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 21 - 07:26 PM

Do we have lyrics? Here we go - I checked the lyrics and they seem good. I suppose we could quibble about a word here or there, but I'd call this a good transcription.

OCTOBER SONG
(Robin Williamson)

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 the scarlet shadows lying.

When hunger calls my footsteps home,
The morning follows after,
I swim the seas within my mind,
And the pine-trees laugh green laughter.

I used to search for happiness,
And 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 going,"
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.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN84ld5xM9M