Hadn't come across Richard before I saw him with his guitar whilst waiting for Bonnie Prince Billy headlining at EOTR festival. I was bombarded with high pitch vocal changes and was unsure I would hold out until he sang this. He got a great reception and also some nice comments by Bonnie Prince Billy. I came home with Two Halves in my memory and a mental note to check him out. Thanks Richard.
Who would have thought a fat bloke dancing gangnam style to a waltz tune on Yorkshire moor would be so affecting .... my heart fair nearly bursts at the end chorus.
I have been a fan of your music for a while. The melody and lyrics in this are beautiful, it made me emotional. The scenes in the video are much like where I live in Ireland, i think that made it more real. You are a songwriting master.
I love this song so much. It's so raw, honest and bare. It's the first song in a long time to make me well. I'm a 31 year old man and this absolutely demolished me.
I like how the mood of the song coupled with the lyrics really illustrates how anxiety can amplify situations other people may see as everyday into one's personal hell. That whilst telling the story of a patient who gets over it is so emotionally touching.
If we modern people can only try to imagine the brutality of a medieval battle, the horrendous wouds inflicted by sword, axe and spear, no pain killing medication or welfare system to look after you after the battle if you survive..no choice but to fight in bloody hand to hand combat..no wonder he feels "tired and afraid" contempating the unavovidable carnage to come and dont forget they didnt take prisoner in those days unless you were high born nobilty with families who would be able to afford to pay the rasnsom..all peasent prisoners were murdered en masse unless they managed to escape the battlefield
My favorite detail about this song is that during most of the “man on man on” parts the vocals are layered, representing not just him but a whole team of people trying to win. But for the final “man on” part after they’ve lost, the layering disappears and leaves just one voice left, because he’s the only one who has to worry about his dad. It’s very subtle but adds a lot to the emotional core of the song.
[Verse 1] I steep the wool in a cauldron Of pummelled gall-nuts afloat in urine Add river-water thrice-boiled with a bloodstone Then let it breathe Under the beams While I prepare the lichen Half a fist of wizardbeard and rock-tripe Yields a dye enough the whole town to paint Lavenders an echo of the beeswing Dazzling foxgloves ashake in the salty wind It looks like a thundercloud Suspended from the gables High above the bobbing heads Which now and then look up to see what's dripping on them So we begin Feeding it in Combing through the fibres gently Searching for a yarn to spin [Verse 2] My lady takes a nasty tumble Down the crumbled steps of the merchants guild Precipitating the early onset of labour There is a crab Caught in her hair Stretchering through the market Fearful are the bellows to behold Even with the spindle firmly clenched between her teeth With a snap the baby's head emerges Onto the sodden eiderdown bedpages Even though the new born child Is not my kin And still lies dangling by a string I ken the rising mystery of love My very ancient friend
I absolutely love this song!! What a treasure and inspiration. I especially love the “metal-y” bits because I feel like that’s great jogging music. This song completely took me by surprise. The drums from “Running up That Hill” was a nice touch, if on purpose which I think it was.
A genuinely beautiful and moving song. Been listening to it for over a year now and keep coming back to it, even playing a version of sorts on my guitar over morning coffees. Thanks for this beautiful piece of art which captures a very particular human experience.
Saw Richard and Circle at Roskilde Festival in 2022 Me and my son (I am from Newcastle, he is half Geordie half Dane) went with Newcastle tops, Richard spotted us, gave us a shout out, and used it as an intro to this song. Cheers for that, meant a lot, and it was a fantastic concert.
So what was the idea here? To make a video which is as far away from the subject matter of the song as possible?,🤔 Anyway, nice to see Steve "interesting" Davis
I'm insufficiently intelligent to understand everything that's going on in this, but this is just all-enveloping; I shall certainly be seeking out more of this man's music.
Such a great song. I saw you live in Pori, Finland at Porispere where you played with Circle, and I just have to say, that collaboration was one of the best things I've ever fucking seen. Thanks man
