Lyr ADD: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)

Subject: Beeswing
From: Pete
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 02:27 PM

Anyone have the words and tab for Richard Thompson's Beeswing??? Also info on what tunning hes using. Thanks

Pete

Subject: Lyr Add: BEESWING (Richard Thompson)
From: campfire
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 08:51 PM

Hi - I've got the lyrics, but no chords or tab. Beautiful song, I agree. The best version I've ever heard, tho, (IMO) is by another Wisconsin Singer/songwriter, L.J. Booth.

BEESWING
(Richard Thompson)

I was nineteen when I came to town
They called in the Summer of Love
They were burning babies, 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

CHORUS
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 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

CHORUS

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

CHORUS

We was camping down the Gower one time
The work was pretty good
She thought we shouldn't wait for the 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 rough
Back on the Derby beat
White Horse in her hip pocket
And a wolfhound at her feet

And they say she even married once
A man named Romany Brown
But even a Gypsy caravan
Was too much settling down

And they say her flower is faded now
Hard weather and hard booze
But maybe that's just the price you pay
For the chains you refuse

She was a rare thing
Fine as a beeswing
And I miss her 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

Subject: RE: Beeswing
From: campfire
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 08:53 PM

Oooops!. I thought if I used a cut-and-paste, it would leave the line breaks in. I guess I was wrong! You should be able to figure them out, tho. Sorry!

dawn

Subject: RE: Beeswing
From: campfire
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 12:06 PM

Thanks for putting the breaks in Joe. I think you cleaned up a typo or two as well. What would we do without you? Maybe you ARE perfect ;) after all.

Subject: RE: Beeswing
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 01:32 PM

Anyone any idea what sort of medical condition 'the rambling itch' is?

I jest, is is a GREAT song!

Subject: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee's wi
From: GUEST,kathmandoobiedoo
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 11:11 PM

Does anyone have the lyric's to Richard Thompsons song- I forgot the title but the chorus goes something like this:

She was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing so fine a breath of wind might blow her away

Thanks a lot

WIllow

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: BEESWING (Richard Thompson)
From: Owlkat
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 12:34 AM

BEESWING
APB Written by Richard Thompson

D               G                D
  I was nineteen when I came to town.
            D                G               D
  They called it the summer of love.
     D                          G          D
  They were burning babies, burning flags,
           A                           G
  The hawks against the doves.
  D           G               D
  I took a job in the steamie
   D              G              D
  Down on Cauldrum Street,
    D                G                D
  And I fell in love with a laundry girl
                   A                     G
  Who was working next to me.    

                      Bm              A           D
  Oh, she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing,
        Bm                    A                              G
  So fine a breath of wind might blow her away.
                   Bm                 A           D
  She was a lost child. Oh, she was running wild.
                       Bm                        A                        G
  She said, "As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay.
                  Em       F#m        G      A     D
  And you wouldn't want me any other way.”

Brown hair zigzag around her face and a look of half-surprise,
Like a fox caught in the headlights, there was animal in her eyes.
She said, "Young man, oh, can't you see, I'm not the factory kind.
If you don't take me out of here, I'll surely lose my mind.”

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, "Oh, man, you foolish man, it surely sounds like hell.
You might be lord of half the world, you'll not own me as well.”

We was camping down the Gower one time. The work was pretty good.
She thought we shouldn't wait for the frost and I thought maybe we should.
We was drinking more in those days and tempers reached a pitch,
And like a fool I let her run with the rambling itch.

Oh, the last I heard, she's sleeping rough, back on the Derby beat,
White Horse in her hip pocket, and a wolfhound at her feet.
And they say she even married once, a man named Romany Brown,
But even a gypsy caravan was too much settling down.
And they say her flower is faded now, hard weather and hard booze,
But maybe that's just the price you pay for the chains you refuse.

Oh, she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing,
And I miss her 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,
Well, I wouldn't want her any other way.

You're welcome,
Owl.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Noreen
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 05:24 AM

Thanks, Owl- one of my favourite of many RT favourites. Just one extra bit: the refrain changes on its second appearance to

She was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
So fine that I might crush her where she lay.

The way he sings that line in particular sends shivers down my spine.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Morticia
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 05:29 PM

oh thanks for the chords Owl, this is possibly my all time no.1 favourite ever........and now I can destroy it to my hearts delight........snogs to you and yours and your grandchildren and your aunts and uncles........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From:
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:33 PM

A while back the thread "what's your fav. Richard Thompson song?" garnered so many votes for "Beeswing." From the first time I've heard it, it never moved me like "Dimming of the Day" or "Walking on a Wire" or so many others. "Beeswing" has a cliched story line, the tune is predictable and despite evidence of Thompson's genius at pop poetry ("White Horse in her hip pocket and a wolf-hound at her feet") does not take song cliches and bend them into stunning new phrases as he can, but the phrases just sit there: "I miss her more than words can ever say." Richard T. is the king of all the guys in his category and I see him almost every year, but "Beeswing" just doesn't have it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Melani
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:48 PM

As for favorite Richard Thompson songs, we always like "We're All Working for Pharoah" around Passover...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:53 PM

Put me down as a Beeswing fan. I like the celtic-sounding background. The words aren't Shakestoor, but they fit the melody well enough.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: GUEST,Kathmandoobiedoo
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 10:37 PM

WOW guys, what fabulous responses....Thanks for the words and chords especially, Owl. There are so many great songs by RT. My mother used to tell me that cliches are what make ballads powerful. There is something timesless in saying for instance- she leaned her back all against a thorn, her dress was green as grass. When combined with a good melody, it hits a poignant spot inside. R. T. is a master of this as all good songwriters are. Even if the phrase has been used a thousand million times before...its all the more powerful.

I can't say what song is my favorite but Bees wing is one of those that haunted me until I just had to know the words. Lately I've been listening to Bruce Springsteen's "Down to the River"...I think I'm going to learn it also...it's full of cliches, haunting and sounds like an Irish ballad...I especially like the line- "but lately there ain't been much work, on account of the economy".

Well that's all for now folks- Willow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Owlkat
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 11:38 PM

Hi, You're very welcome. Cheers, Owl.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Lena
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 02:22 AM

Kathmand...blah blah,I can't spell your cookie.....Thanks for the request.Three times I heard this song and three times I cried.Thanks,thanks,thanks everybody.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEESWING (Richard Thompson)
From: lamarca
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 05:25 PM

From my favorite RT site, Henry the Human Fly Caught in the Web: HERE

BEESWING
(Richard Thompson)

I was nineteen when I came to town, they called it the Summer of Love
They were burning babies, burning flags. The hawks against the doves
I took a job in the steamie down on Cauldrum Street
And I fell in love with a laundry girl who was working next to me

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child, oh 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 around her face and a look of half-surprise
Like a fox caught in the headlights, there was animal in her eyes
She said "Young man, oh can't you see I'm not the factory kind
If you don't take me out of here I'll surely lose my mind"

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
So fine that I might crush her where she lay
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 "Oh man, you foolish man, it surely sounds like hell.
You might be lord of half the world, you'll not own me as well"

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child, oh 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 the frost and I thought maybe we should
We was drinking more in those days and tempers reached a pitch
And like a fool I let her run with the rambling itch

Oh the last I heard she's sleeping rough back on the Derby beat
White Horse in her hip pocket and a wolfhound at her feet
And they say she even married once, a man named Romany Brown
But even a gypsy caravan was too much settling down
And they say her flower is faded now, hard weather and hard booze
But maybe that's just the price you pay for the chains you refuse

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
And I miss her 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
Well I wouldn't want her any other way

Some have claimed the song is "about" singer Anne Briggs - from a discussion group about RT lyrics:

22.WHO IS THIS WOMAN, ANNE BRIGGS?

Anne Briggs is a British folk singer and songwriter who influenced such musicians as Sandy Denny, June Tabor, Bert Jansch, and Fairport Convention.

Musically, she has been associated with A.L. Lloyd, Frankie Armstrong, and Johnny Moynihan, among others. She recorded a few albums before her early retirement from the music business.

RT has been asked about her, in relation to the woman in the song "Beeswing," from Mirror Blue. He has stated that it is a completely fictional song, but there are quite a few bits in there that refer to someone very much like Anne Briggs.

Subject: RE: Beeswing
From: NightWing
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 05:14 PM

I dunno either, Shambles (probably "etiology unknown"). But I've suffered from it for years. Haven't been able to scratch the itch for a while either.

*sigh*

BB,
NightWing

Subject: Beeswing Revisited
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 01:08 PM

Near as I can tell it's in some sort of F when Richard playes it...I've been noodling around with it in DADGAD in E... donno yet... still tweaking it...

;-)

Subject: RE: Beeswing
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 01:51 PM

Is this any help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:18 AM

By the way... put me down as one of those who have this as a favorite song... reminds me of a Bee's wing I knew named Nan... who did settle down Thanks for the post...Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:39 AM

I have been told that the female in question in this song is based on Anne Briggs a very famous folk singer of the revival

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 11:23 AM

Thanks MC... I will look her up... Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 11:30 AM

JEEEHHOOOSAPHAT! Just looked up an Anne Briggs website. Her face jumps right out of the song, Brown hair zigzag around her face and a look of half-surprise, Like a fox caught in the headlights, there was animal in her eyes. haunting! THe web page describes her shyness about her singing and such, thanks again, Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 11:33 AM

http://www.sarcon.demon.co.uk/engfolk/a_briggs.htm That's the link for the webpage...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 11:52 AM

I think that Bert Jansch wrote a few Anne Briggs inspired songs too. He and John Renbourn recorded her "The time has come " on "Bert and John" in the 60s.

Roger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:14 PM

Thanks for all this info. Anne Briggs is not a singer I was aware of but having listened to some of the clips on the above site I will be making a point of listening to more of her stuff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:17 PM

Thanks again... and again... just ordered an Anne Briggs CD from Topic. Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: allanwill
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:27 PM

You MUST have a listen to Roy Bailey's version of Beeswing - absolutely stunning!

Also, Sandy Denny's "The Pond and the Stream" is also thought to be about Annie Briggs.

Allan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:10 PM

A biography of Bert Jansch, (the name and author of which I can't remember), suggests that Anne Brigg was responsible for getting Bill Leader to record Bert Jansch.

If you can find this book, it's well worth reading - it seems to have all been happening just before I discovered the folk scene - but it awakened lots of memories and really evoked the atmosphere well.

Joe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:41 PM

What a fantastic song... one of the times that RT was running HOT!

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:44 PM

And doesn't everyone have a "Beeswing" in their past?

.-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:41 PM

As I recall, it was Anne Briggs' recording of The Recruited Collier (on the Iron Muse? there's a question for Malcolm Douglas if ever I saw one) that made it so popular.

The Beeswing is a tune as well as a song to a different tune - a friend of mine ordered a Tom McConville CD because it had "The Beeswing" on it, and then found it wasn't the Richard Thompson song, but the other tune. She subsequently bought the CD with the song on - but was disappointed because it had a guitar accompaniment rather than Tom fiddling. I think Tom performing it live is the best version I've heard.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Thompson song-fine as a bee'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 08:16 AM

Yes, it was The Iron Muse; she was about 18 at the time.  Unfortunately I've never been able to like Tom McConville's singing of Beeswing, though Pauline Cato's Northumbrian pipe accompaniment on their joint CD is more successful, I think, than Alistair Anderson's on the Thompson original.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 04:32 PM

Does anyone know what tuning Roy used in his wonderful version of this song? It sounds like DADGAD but I'm not sure I'm right.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Feb 21 - 03:01 PM

The song ;'Beeswing' sung by the man himself... https://youtu.be/HApy-Xoix-g

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: peteglasgow
Date: 02 Feb 21 - 03:47 PM

i saw a busker singing 'beeswing' in hebden bridge a couple of months ago. a great song and well sung. it was such a joy and relief to hear good live music again it brought a tear to my eye

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 02:01 PM

Just read through this thread from a while ago and was surprised that no-one has pricked the misapprehension that this song is about Annie Briggs.

Her independence of mind may have inspired the RT to create the character in the song. She was top box office but when record companies insisted she tour to promote her album she told them where to go and instead went off and lived happily on a farm in Scotland, not on the streets with a wolfhound and half bottle of whisky.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 04 Feb 21 - 05:28 AM

Am I correct in thinking Anne Briggs lived on Kerrera for a time?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,jim Bainbridge
Date: 04 Feb 21 - 08:31 AM

I remember when Anne did a guest night at the Marsden Inn in South Shields about 1966. It was a residential hotel & normal to provide a room for club guests who wanted one.
The inn is situated within yards of Marsden Bay- the cliffs had many caves in the limestone cliffs & she preferred to stay there!