Beeswing Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Song Meaning: "Beeswing" by Richard Thompson"Beeswing" is a folk ballad written and performed by British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, released in 1994 on his album Mirror Blue. The song is a poetic, bittersweet tale of love, freedom, and the passage of time. It’s often considered one of Thompson’s finest works for its vivid storytelling and emotional depth.
Themes and Storyline:
Symbolism in the Song:
Musical Style:"Beeswing" is a contemporary folk ballad with a simple, acoustic arrangement. The gentle guitar melody complements the storytelling, allowing the lyrics and emotions to take center stage.
Cultural Impact:
Conclusion:"Beeswing" is a poignant, beautifully written ballad about love, freedom, and the choices that shape our lives. Its exploration of the tension between wild independence and emotional connection makes it a deeply relatable and enduring song. Richard Thompson’s vivid storytelling and heartfelt delivery ensure its place as a classic in contemporary folk music.
Themes and Storyline:
- Free-Spirited Love:
The song tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman named Beeswing, a nickname that symbolizes her free-spirited, untamed nature. The name itself comes from an old term for the thin, flaky film that forms on aging wine, suggesting fragility and fleeting beauty.- "She was a rare thing, fine as a beeswing" conveys the narrator’s admiration for her unique, delicate, and wild nature.
- Rejection of Convention:
Beeswing is portrayed as someone who refuses to be tied down by societal expectations. She values freedom over material comforts, which eventually causes a rift between her and the narrator, who begins to long for stability.- "She said, ‘No one’s gonna hold me that I ain’t chained to'" highlights her fierce independence and unwillingness to compromise her freedom for love or security.
- Longing and Regret:
As time passes, the narrator reflects on their relationship with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. While he loved her deeply, he ultimately couldn’t follow her free-spirited path, and their love faded as they chose different lives.- The regret is palpable in the lines "And I miss her more than ever words could say" and "If I could just taste all of her wildness now."
- The Price of Freedom:
Beeswing’s freedom comes with a cost. In the later verses, it’s implied that her wandering, free-spirited lifestyle may have led to loneliness or hardship. The narrator hears rumors of her living in rough circumstances, adding to the song’s melancholic tone.
Symbolism in the Song:
- Beeswing: The nickname symbolizes something beautiful yet delicate, easily lost or broken. It captures the fleeting nature of both Beeswing’s spirit and their love.
- Freedom vs. Stability: The central tension in the song is between the desire for a free life and the need for connection and security, a theme that resonates with many listeners.
Musical Style:"Beeswing" is a contemporary folk ballad with a simple, acoustic arrangement. The gentle guitar melody complements the storytelling, allowing the lyrics and emotions to take center stage.
Cultural Impact:
- Critical Acclaim: "Beeswing" is widely regarded as one of Richard Thompson’s greatest songs, praised for its lyrical brilliance and emotional storytelling.
- Emotional Universality: The themes of lost love, freedom, and regret have made the song a favorite among folk music fans. Its timeless message resonates with those who have experienced the complexities of love and longing.
Conclusion:"Beeswing" is a poignant, beautifully written ballad about love, freedom, and the choices that shape our lives. Its exploration of the tension between wild independence and emotional connection makes it a deeply relatable and enduring song. Richard Thompson’s vivid storytelling and heartfelt delivery ensure its place as a classic in contemporary folk music.
Written By Richard Thompson And Recorded By The Kings Of Cunnaught and Christy Moore. The song was also recorded by Nathan Carter and in 2019 by The Whistlin' Donkeys.
I [G] 18 when i came to town thay called it the summer of love
burning babies burning flags the [D]against the[C]doves
i[G]took a job at the steaming way down on caltrim street
[G]fell in love with a laundry girl that was[D] working next to[C]me
[G]brown hair zig zagged across her face and a look of half suprise
[G] like a fox caught in the headlights there was[D] animal in her[C] eyes
[G] she said to me cant you see im not the factory kind
if you dont get me out of here il[D] surely lose my[C] mind
CHORUS
[EM]she was a rare thing fine as a[G] bees wing
[EM] so fine a breath of[D] wind might blow[C] her away
[EM she was a lost child she was[G] running wild[she said]
[EM]so long as theres no[D] price on love il[C] stay.
we busked around the market towns fruit picking down in kent
we could tinker pots and pans or knives wherever we went
we were camping down the gower one time,the work was might good
she could,nt wait for the harvest i thought we should
i said to here we,ll settle down,get a few acres dug
a fire burning in the heart and babbies on the rug
she said oh man you foolish man that surely sounds like hell
you might be lord to half the world you,l not own me as well
chorus
we were drinking more in does days our tempers reached a pitch
like a fool i let her run away when she got the rambling itch
last i heard she was living rough back on the derby beat
a bottle of white horse in her pocket,a wolfhound at her feet
thay say she got married once to a man called romanie brown
even a gypse caravan was to much like settling down
thay say here rose has faded,rough weather and hard booze
maybe thats the price you pay for the chains that you refuse
she was a rare thing fine as a bees wing
i miss her more than ever words can say
if i couold just taste all her wildness now
if i could hold her in my arms today
i[Am] wouldnt want her[Em] any other[C] way
burning babies burning flags the [D]against the[C]doves
i[G]took a job at the steaming way down on caltrim street
[G]fell in love with a laundry girl that was[D] working next to[C]me
[G]brown hair zig zagged across her face and a look of half suprise
[G] like a fox caught in the headlights there was[D] animal in her[C] eyes
[G] she said to me cant you see im not the factory kind
if you dont get me out of here il[D] surely lose my[C] mind
CHORUS
[EM]she was a rare thing fine as a[G] bees wing
[EM] so fine a breath of[D] wind might blow[C] her away
[EM she was a lost child she was[G] running wild[she said]
[EM]so long as theres no[D] price on love il[C] stay.
we busked around the market towns fruit picking down in kent
we could tinker pots and pans or knives wherever we went
we were camping down the gower one time,the work was might good
she could,nt wait for the harvest i thought we should
i said to here we,ll settle down,get a few acres dug
a fire burning in the heart and babbies on the rug
she said oh man you foolish man that surely sounds like hell
you might be lord to half the world you,l not own me as well
chorus
we were drinking more in does days our tempers reached a pitch
like a fool i let her run away when she got the rambling itch
last i heard she was living rough back on the derby beat
a bottle of white horse in her pocket,a wolfhound at her feet
thay say she got married once to a man called romanie brown
even a gypse caravan was to much like settling down
thay say here rose has faded,rough weather and hard booze
maybe thats the price you pay for the chains that you refuse
she was a rare thing fine as a bees wing
i miss her more than ever words can say
if i couold just taste all her wildness now
if i could hold her in my arms today
i[Am] wouldnt want her[Em] any other[C] way
The Whistling Donkeys song ''Beeswing''.
Below is the list of songs in the Christy Moore pdf song book. Over 50 of Christy's greatest songs
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Beeswing included.
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Beeswing included.
