Origin: Too Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)

Subject: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Chris Green
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 12:28 PM

Hi all

I'm looking for some background info on the song 'Close to the Wind' by Stuart Marson. I found it in the DT but apart from the lyrics and a note on how to pronounce Daventry there isn't much. Does anyone know if it's based real events? How did he come to write it? Any light that could be shed would be much appreciated!

Cheers in advance

Chris

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Nick
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 12:37 PM

I first heard it on a Dave Swarbrick - Simon Nichol album and I seem to remember there was a bit of background. I have the album at home and so will have a look - from memory the writer is a local schoolteacher to Culworth and I think that the song is based upon real events.

There's quite a lot of information here which may (or may not) be relevant: Culworth gang info

Great song.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Nick
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 12:43 PM

If you only came across it here have you heard it? If not let me know and I'll get you a copy of it etc

Chords are:

D D/B* A G - Em A D
D D/B* A G - Em A D
G D/F# Em A
D D/B* A G - Em A D

D/B - x20032

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 02:24 PM

You can hear it on "Close to the wind" by Fairport convention. (CRESTCD035)

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Chris Green
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 06:34 PM

Hi guys

Sorry - should have mentioned that I've already heard the song! Thanks for the info though - that's really useful.

Cheers

Chris

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 06:45 PM

The correct title it seems is "Too Close to the Wind." That might help people who are looking for info.

TOO CLOSE TO THE WIND (DT Lyrics)

Farewell to you, my faithful Nancy
And a thousand times adieu;
For the constable comes up from Brackley Market
And a hundred volunteers too.
No more will we hide in the forest
For fear they might run us to ground
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

For twenty years, we have roved the highways
Of Northamptonshire.
From Daventry* down to the southern byways
We robbed both the rich and the poor.
For ofttimes our families were starving
And the highway it kept them alive,
So the wild sea, we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

Tonight I lie in a darkened dungeon
Condemned on the gallows to die,
While the man who gave us away is only
Bound for Australia.
No man could be found to defend us
Naught but abuse came our way,
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 06:48 PM

I found some neat sites with a google of

northhamptonshire highway robberies

Please note the unintentional misspelling.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: irishenglish
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 06:54 PM

Always been one of my favorites in the 80's on Fairport, although it was on a Swarbrick Nicol album originally as has already been mentioned. I always suspected it might be an amalgamation of known incidents from throughout England put together within the song, but I have no proof of that, its just my thought. You could try over on the talkawhile forum. Both Simon Nicol and recently, Swarb himself post on there, and try to set the record straight. ALso a lot of deeply knowledgeable people of every aspect of the Fairport history who might know for sure.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Chris Green
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 07:20 PM

irishenglish - what a blindingly obvious idea! (that nonetheless hadn't occurred to me!) Am on my way over there now. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 07:53 PM

There's a nice recording by the Australian group, Tracey-Munro-Tracey, on the album Nightpiece. I don't think that LP ever made it to CD.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: irishenglish
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 10:26 PM

dueling, glad to be of help. One last thing though. I just remembered the intro to it that I have on a Cropredy album. I just listened to it, and according to Simon's introduction, the song IS a true story, about one of the last group of people to be publically executed en masse in Culworth. One other thing is that on all the Swarbrick/Nicol/Fairport versions I have, there is another verse at the end. Going to look in the DT to see if its there, otherwise, I'll post.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: irishenglish
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 10:28 PM

Oops, that verse is there, just wanted to make sure they were included from the one Peace put in.

Subject: RE: Close to the Wind - any info?
From: Chris Green
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 04:04 AM

Thanks guys!

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,George H
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 05:31 AM

I am from the village of Culworth, in Northamptonshire. It's about an 18th or 19th century group called the Culworth gang, who were highwaymen (robbing coaches etc). They were finially betrayed by a fellow gang member, and hanged. This son is based on a letter sent from one of the highwaymen to his wife on his last night alive. Very moving, and a classic Fairport song.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 05:56 AM

Fairport Convention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWxoH8zIpHc

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Scrimnet
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 06:14 PM

Stuart Marson was a local schoolteacher, and sang around the Northamptonshire folk clubs.

This song was written for a Radio Northampton song competition way back in the 1980s. Of course it won.

Last I heard some years ago he became quite ill. I know not how he is these days as I have moved away from The Shire

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Scrimnet
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 06:16 PM

Forgot to mention, that it is, as already been mentioned, based on true events from Northamptonshire.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,zpc
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 05:54 PM

RE: pronunciation of Daventry - I live in Northampton, and having only ever heard it said as it's spelled, I did make a point of asking a few born-and-bred types if that was the way it had always been... Could find no-one who remembered anyone ever saying 'Danetree' - but I admit not exhaustive research - does anyone have a counter-case?

...now Northamptonshire, that I've heard mispronounced a time or three...

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:56 AM

Shakespeare referred to "Daintree" in Henry IV Part 1, and it was apparently commonly so pronounced at least until WW2. Like so many local pronunciations, it's now rarely heard.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Irene M
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 02:29 PM

Thank you so much for the link to Youtube. I hadn't heard this, although Stuart Marson's LP Night Falls On The Orchestra has long been a favourite of mine. He did 15 minutes of radio in the 70s, which I taped and then spent years asking about him at festivals, until someone at Wath On Dearne was able to fill me in. I think Stuart was a geography teacher, cos if you Google him, you get a geography text book come up.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Bob Plews
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 01:02 PM

The writer, Stuart Marson, is a long standing friend of mine and Too Close to the Wind, very much based on real events, is about the Culworth Gang - google this for all the info you need.
Regards
Bob Plews

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:16 AM

TOO CLOSE TO THE WIND


G   C    G    C   C   G

G                em          hm             C
Farewell to you, my faithful Nancy
C                      D       G
And a thousand times adieu;
G                   em            hm       C         
For the constable comes up from Brackley Market
C                      D               G
And a hundred volunteers too.
C                                        G
No more will we hide in the forest
      am                     C             D
For fear they might run us to ground
G                em             D               C
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
C    D                G
Too close to the wind.


G             em               hm       C
For twenty years, we have roved the highways
C          D          G
Of Northamptonshire.
G                   em            hm       C
From Daventry* down to the southern byways
C                         D               G
We robbed both the rich and the poor.
C                                              G
For ofttimes our families were starving
am                     C             D
And the highway it kept them alive,
G                em             D          C
So the wild sea, we sailed upon it
C    D                G
Too close to the wind.


G             em      hm          C
Tonight I lie in a darkened dungeon
C                               D       G
Condemned on the gallows to die,
G                         em      hm    C
While the man who gave us away is only
C             D       G
Bound for Australia.
C                                        G
No man could be found to defend us
am             C                         D
Naught but abuse came our way,
G                em             D               C
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
C    D                G
Too close to the

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:28 AM

I vaguely remember a fourth verse from the Simon Nicol/Dave Swarbrick version but I can't remember how it went. Maybe I'm imagining it.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Nick
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 05:26 AM

Verse 4

The clouds they rise over Northampton market,
And the crowds pour into the town,
And the people will throng in the streets until sunset,
'Til the hangman cuts us down.
And fifty children of Culworth
Their fathers are taken away,
For the wild sea they sailed upon it
Too close to the wind

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 08:10 AM

That's the one!

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Penny K
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:01 AM

i have been singing this song for some time now, and i wanted to know where it came from. i'm taking history for one of my gcses (as i'm still in school) and i found the information on the culworth gang fascinating! thank you! also, when i sing it with guitar, i hadnt tried using an Em chord (i was just using G, C and D) but i shall try that now. thanks again!

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Jane
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 06:21 AM

Daventry pronounced as it's spelt.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Jane
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 06:23 AM

Performance by "All Strung Out": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HsRz6OxZg

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Sep 15 - 02:20 PM

I came across this thread while looking for the author of the song. I know it well from the lovely singing of Nigel Walters in the Wheeze and Suck Band. He has been singing it for years but I didn't know its history till now. Very interesting!

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,JohnC
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 08:20 AM

I live in Byfield, the next village to Culworth (pronounced Cul'uth by older locals).
It's a great song and tune but rather immoral in that most local villages were just as poor 2-3 hundred years ago but didn't turn to robbery. Why celebrate the ones that did? Also,the Culworth gang,as I understand, were widely hated as they stole from anyone, not just the rich.
They were also quite leniently treated--only two ringleaders were hanged(at Northampton, near the present racecourse),one was transported to Australia (almost as bad in those days)but most got fairly short prison sentences.
BTW,"Danetree" is no longer used in speech but still occurs in the titles of local businesses,eg "Danetree Stationers".

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST,Marilyn Lawson-James
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 02:48 AM

I have onky recently found out about this ballad and listened to it for the first time after receiving family history information, apprently John Smith, one of those hanged was my 8 times Grt Uncle.

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 18 - 05:42 AM

Does anyone know where to get the piano music for it? Such an amazing song! We've been singing for ages at family reunions>

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Greum
Date: 05 Aug 20 - 03:12 AM

I'm late to the party (as usual) but Stuart Marson is still singing. He has his own website at http://stuartmarson.com/

Subject: RE: Origin: Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Greum
Date: 24 Aug 20 - 01:53 PM

Having heard Stuart Marson sing his own song, he pronounces Daventry in the modern manner, not as Danetree.

Subject: RE: Origin: Too Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 06:17 PM

Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics. Any corrections?

---

TOO CLOSE TO THE WIND

Farewell to you, my faithful Nancy
And a thousand times adieu;
For the constable comes up from Brackley Market
And a hundred volunteers too.
No more will we hide in the forest
For fear they might run us to ground
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

For twenty years, we have roved the highways
Of Northamptonshire.
From Daventry* down to the southern byways
We robbed both the rich and the poor.
For ofttimes our families were starving
And the highway it kept them alive,
So the wild sea, we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

Tonight I lie in a darkened dungeon
Condemned on the gallows to die,
While the man who gave us away is only
Bound for Australia.
No man could be found to defend us
Naught but abuse came our way,
For the wild sea, we'd sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

The clouds they rise over Northampton market,
And the crowds pour into the town,
And the people will throng in the streets until sunset,
'Til the hangman cuts us down.
And fifty children of Culworth
Their fathers are taken away,
For the wild sea they sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

*pronounced Dane-tree

@outlaw @death
Recorded by Clyde Davenport, Clydescope.
filename[ CLOSEWND
RG

Subject: RE: Origin: Too Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: GerryM
Date: 28 Nov 23 - 04:32 PM

Joe, the lyrics I got off the recording by Tracey-Munro-Tracey differ in several small ways from what you have posted. Which version is closer to what Stuart Marson wrote, I cannot say.

Too Close To The Wind
Stuart Marson
As recorded by Tracey-Munro-Tracey

Farewell to you, my faithful Nancy
Ten thousand times adieu;
For the constable has come up from Brackley Market
And a hundred volunteers too.
No more need we hide in the forest
For fear they might run us to ground
And the wild sea, we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

For fifteen years, we have roamed the highways
Of Northamptonshire.
From Daventry* down to the southern byways
We've robbed both the rich and the poor.
For ofttimes our families were starving
And the highway it kept us alive,
And the wild sea, we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

And now I lie in a darkened dungeon
Condemned on the gallows to die,
While the man who gave us away is only
Bound for Australia.
No man could be found to defend us
And naught but abuse came our way,
And the wild sea, we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

Now the clouds they rise over Northampton market,
And the people all come into town,
And the crowds will walk through the streets until sunset,
When the hangman cuts us down.
And fifteen children of Culworth
Their fathers are taken away,
And the wild sea we sailed upon it
Too close to the wind.

Subject: RE: Origin: Too Close to the Wind (Stuart Marson)
From: rich-joy
Date: 28 Nov 23 - 07:30 PM

Denis Tracey / Lynne Tracey / Jock Munro's NIGHTPIECE is now here on YT :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S8lT1Zbbuc

"Too Close to the Wind" is track 6 of 10.

I recall a magic concert in Darwin in 1985 from Denis & Lynne (where this song was included) ......

Cheers, R-J