I don’t know. I’m in a couple of FB groups with Georgia Rose Lucas, Sandy’s daughter, although she didn’t know her mum really she might know. Linda Thompson and Simon Nicol are in one of them as well.
If nobody knows here I can ask there.
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Lyrics to this song:
They stood upon the deck
As the ship went out to sea
The wind it took the sails
And left the land a memory
All upon the shore
For to wonder why the sailor goes
All to close their eyes
And wonder what the sailor knows
That is you to they
That is how they think you are
Never on the land
But sailing by the North Star
That is you to them
That is how they think you are
Never on the land
But sailing by the North Star
To the tower and to the ravens
And the tale that hopes they’ll never leave
What if they should go?
We always dread to think of them
I wonder if they flew one day
And no one ever knew they’d gone
To circle over ships at sea
Claiming yet another son
That is you to me
That is where I think you are
Never on the land
But gone to find the North Star
As Sandy chose this for the album title perhaps it had a personal significance for her. The title is gnomic.
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It’s always been one of my favourite Sandy songs, so haunting.
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North Star Sailor doesn’t sound as good as North Star Grassman. I wonder who the Grassman was? It could just be a reference to a farmhand that has decided to go to sea for adventure.
Ravens are symbolically associated with death. Sandy wonders if one day the Tower (of London) ravens will one day leave and circle her ‘Grassman’s’ boat foretelling his death.I think it’s no more than that, and lovely in its simplicity.
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Further AI research suggests the name is in remembrance of a merchant seaman friend who died. There may be drug references too.
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I don’t have Mick Houghton’s I’ve Always Kept a Unicorn as I suspect it could be a dispiriting read. But I’m curious if it has any comments on ‘The North Star Grassman’?
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Anyone listened to The Bridge by Cousins and Willoughby yet?
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Been listening to The Haar, they have a new album due 5 Dec. The Lost Day Here’s ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ from Where Old Ghosts Meet (2022). Molly Donnery (vocals), Adam Summerhayes (fiddle), Murray Grainger (accordion) and Cormac Byrne (bodhrán). Their version of ‘Wild Rover’ has a final twist too.
I’m listening to the 1993 version on Qobuz at the minute. I’ve read that the Strawbs Blue Angel 2003 contains versions of these songs too besides new material. The original The Bridge appears to be a collector’s item? I’ve only really sought out the Strawbs recordings with Sandy. The bonus tracks on 2025 version sound interesting and include Dave Cousins talking about Sandy.
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I could not find it on Qobuz - I’ll check again.
Perhaps a Qobuz indexing glitch? Try Cousins Willoughby as a search term.
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Bingo … now playing (and ordered).
Well its production values are dated, but it’s growing on me. Atmospheric guitar work in places; almost nostalgic - worthy memorial re-release for Cousins.
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Interesting, I have Folk Songs of Olde England (Sic) and Summer Solstice but I see that most of the versions are called Heydays (plural). Maddy had a pure voice in her youth. I’m guessing this re-release contains all three albums? She has an arts centre in Cumbria called Stones Barn, and is still singing.
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