Song picture
The Frost Fayre
Like
Playlist
Comment Share
Free download
About the frost fayres that took place when the River Thames froze over
pop rock folk country christmas chris paul bouzouki frettedfriends
Artist picture
Difficult to classify. Possibly folk, country, rock, pop...who knows?
Tobe A. Richards: Vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, bass, bouzouki, cittern, cuatro, percussion etc. Chris Richards; Vocals Guests: Paul S. Baker: Vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, autoharp, percussion etc.
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Folk Rock
Charts
Peak #1,443
Peak in subgenre #82
Author
Music & Lyrics: Tobe A. Richards
Rights
Transongs 2006
Uploaded
April 07, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 5.2 MB • 128 kbps • 5:39
Story behind the song
Very occasionally throughout the centuries, London has been gripped by such unnaturally cold weather that the River Thames has frozen over. During these brief spells, London merchants and entertainers took advantage of the situation by setting up stalls and entertainment shows on the ice. The original London Bridge mentioned in the lyrics isn't to be confused with Tower Bridge the popular tourist attraction with its elevating road and walkway. London Bridge itself was sold to millionaire Robert McCulloch for $2,460,000 and reassembled brick by brick in Lake Havasu City in 1971. I wrote this number after becoming fascinated with the whole idea of the river freezing over and having the solidity to sustain hundreds and possibly thousands of people at any one time. As far as I know there weren't any fatalities through the ice breaking up. And we think it's cold during today's Winters! The Monarch mentioned in the lyrics is the Hanovarian, George II.
Lyrics
In the year Seventeen Thirty Nine We ventured out on the Christmastime With our lips afresh from the old mulled wine The snow was on the ground And the icy fingers of old Jack Frost Closed Tightly all around From London Bridge to the river's bend The Thames was froze from end to end From bank to bank the ice was quick To petrify, many inches thick And the bridge was trapped from brick to brick I first looked once and then looked twice At the sight I saw upon the ice There were traders selling fancy wares Magic tricks and dancing bears And it's hey ho and away we go To the carnival of ice and snow Hey ho and away we go To the festival, to the frosted show This is how the story went There were cottons from The Orient And like the century before They even roasted up a boar Three hundred stalls or maybe more Racing horses on the cold and clear In the joyful, jangle atmosphere The finest silks, exotic spice And entertainers on the ice Jokers, jesters, fools and clowns And the ladies in their Winter gowns Chestnuts, pheasant, Christmas geese Flower sellers, wild beasts And it's ho hey and away away Take the moment, seize the day Ho hey and away away Through the crisp and white, down the Winter way The trees were clothed in Winter white Oh what a scene, oh what a sight Good King George was on the throne As London shivered to the bone The strangest season I've ever known The ice set in on Christmas Day There were gingerbreads and puppet plays Printing presses, souvenirs Of the greatest frost there'd been in years And it's hey ho and away we go To the festival of ice and snow Ho hey and away away Through the crisp and white, down the Winter way And the snow was on the ground As the icy fingers of old Jack Frost Closed tightly all around
On Playlists
Comments
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.