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Strawbs — Witchwood
Album: From the Witchwood
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 799









Released: 1971
Length: 3:20
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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I dropped down in the witchwood
To see what I could find
The trees had taken time out
To blow away my mind
All that I could hear there
Was the sound of my own voice
But the music it was making
Was nothing of my choice.

The interwoven branches
Were laden deep with snow
A rainbow shone so softly
To show which way to go
I observed its many colours
Till my eyes were rimmed with frost
I tried hard to trace my footsteps
For I feared I might get lost.

The witchwood started singing
With a strange unearthly sound
My fingers grew like branches
I stood rooted to the ground
And the spell is still unbroken
I am still her bidden slave
Till a casket from the witchwood
Bears my body to the grave
Comments (85)add comment
Bought this album for its cover, 25 years ago in a used record store.
It was seald, so I couldn't listen to it. It cost about 4 dollars so I said, what the hell...
Got home, put it on and went to do the dishes. The first song was quite unusual, religious sounding. The second song (witchwood) just stopped me in my tracks. I remember standing there for 3 minutes, unable to move. It was a holy experience. 
I dropped everything and sat down to listen to the entire album. IMHO, it's one of the best albums ever made. 
Posted 7 months ago by ThePirate#666    [ Reply ]
wow

fairport convention

renaissance

jethro tull


what a fun time for music
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Saw them on 6 Feb 1975 - Strawbs - Massey Hall, Toronto, great show, what I can remember of it, I was 16.
Posted 5 years ago by Chongo59    [ Reply ]
Got introcuced to Strawbs by a progressive radio station in K.C. in the early 70s. Can't believe that they formed in '64! This is the only other place I've heard them. Thanks, Bill and Rebecca, for playing obscure stuff that I'm aware of, and introducing me to much great music that I didn't know.
Posted 5 years ago by all_ears    [ Reply ]
I thought this was a new song from Midlake.
Posted 7 years ago by FatPants    [ Reply ]
I love the sound of the lap dulcimer at the beginning of the song.  It makes me think of old Joni Mitchell (Blue) and Bruce Cockburn (Circles in the Stream). 
Posted 7 years ago by mardisoninnc    [ Reply ]
 iloveradio wrote:
As usual, RP always surprises. never heard of this group and it sounds a lot more interesting than what came next.
Every politician in this god-forsaken country needs to be forced to smoke a joint and sit back and listen to RP and shut the fuck up. {#Fight}

 
Amen to that.  RP puts you in a auditory euphoric high and a little smoke can just put all the way away.  Would do every politician, especially in our red-neck area to do that.
Posted 7 years ago by linzbrock    [ Reply ]
As usual, RP always surprises. never heard of this group and it sounds a lot more interesting than what came next.
Every politician in this god-forsaken country needs to be forced to smoke a joint and sit back and listen to RP and shut the fuck up. {#Fight}
Posted 8 years ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
Must be October. Hats off to Mr. Cousins and everyone who passed through Strawbs. Let those 50+ years ring down.
Posted 8 years ago by TotalHip    [ Reply ]
kin beautiful {#Clap}
Posted 8 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Oh yes, The Strawbs. Long forgotten in my head, thanks for the reminder {#Smile}
Posted 8 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
 number7 wrote:
Please Bill, something from Hero And Heroine.

Saw them in the 70's at Queens University Kingston Ontario.
Now, my mind could be lying to me but I am kinda sure it was George Carlin, Strawbs, Lou Reed.
Strawbs were pretnding to be a heavy metal band at the time (very disappointing) & Lou was very high & sat on the edge of the stage. (also disappointing) George was however great.

 
Yes, please.  Even though their earlier work is wonderful, too, would be nice, just once, to hear something from their rockier, prog-rock years.  Hero and Heroine is an epic album, as were many during that period (Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams, and Ghosts), and Nomadness is not without its gems, for my taste, anyway.  Thanks for playing this extremely underrated band and the one that gave us Sandy Danny and Rick Wakeman, which should be mentioned along with the songs.

I saw them twice, once lucky enough to catch the H&H tour, and it was an epic concert, as was the other.  Magic.  What a bizarre lineup, if that was truly them at Queens!  Will check on that.  That is kind of like my Eric Clapton concert experience, in the early 70s, when booze was taking him down and it was just the worst disappointment for he had been my hero forever.
Posted 9 years ago by LemonLady    [ Reply ]
Please Bill, something from Hero And Heroine.

Saw them in the 70's at Queens University Kingston Ontario.
Now, my mind could be lying to me but I am kinda sure it was George Carlin, Strawbs, Lou Reed.
Strawbs were pretnding to be a heavy metal band at the time (very disappointing) & Lou was very high & sat on the edge of the stage. (also disappointing) George was however great.
Posted 9 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
 jbunniii wrote:
Very nice. Never heard these guys before today.

 
If this is indeed a true comment. then you have a substantial back catalog to wade through with this band.
I came in at this album and left after Deadlines ('71 - '79). Very developmental in my love of music. Defined my style. 
Best albums for me? - Hero and Heroine / Nomadness / Bursting at the Seams / Ghosts
Posted 9 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]

timeless


Posted 10 years ago by steven88    [ Reply ]
so melancholy beautiful that it hurts...
Posted 10 years ago by gervin    [ Reply ]
Bought the album back in the day on the strength of Lay Down. Couldn't believe it was the same band.  Almost wanted to dance round with little bells on my fingers.  Not.
Posted 10 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]

The Strawbs wrote a lot of songs that sounded like they may have had some obscure English folk origin instead of being contemporary compositions. Listen to Heavy Disguise if you like this song.

Pretty interesting band. 


Posted 10 years ago by Deadwing    [ Reply ]



Listen to the flower people 
Posted 11 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Oh Fred, you old spoilsport.....
Posted 11 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
 rKokon wrote:
Maybe this group does appeal a lot to those of us who are medievalists, Scadians, Marklanders, medieval reenactors, folk fans, mythopoeic types. SO be it! 


 
And maybe they also appeal to those who are none of the above!!

'Hangman and the Papist' from the same album... 
Posted 11 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
 jbunniii wrote:
Very nice. Never heard these guys before today.

 
I suppose they didn't travel well across the Pond. Back in the day, this bunch were everywhere. I don't think this song has aged very well, for all that it's an old folk song. It's PSD for me...
Posted 11 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Very nice. Never heard these guys before today.
Posted 11 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
Classic Strawbs - love it!
Posted 11 years ago by Zitron    [ Reply ]
Always a pleasant surprise to hear this (or any Strawbs) on RP.


Posted 11 years ago by TotalHip    [ Reply ]
 Highlowsel wrote:
Wow!  What a "what am I hearing whip me around in me chair to check is this STRAWBS?"  moment.

It IS!?! 

Talk about blowing me back about +30 years....Thanks for the neck twisting memory moment.  Needed it as it's a b*tch at the office right now.  Heh!

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 
Exactly... except it's 42 years since this came out - scary!! Who knows where the time goes!  

First band I ever saw, touring 'From the Witchwood' - Wolverhampton Civic Hall, probably early 1972.. tender age of 16... happy days.  

And a great RP set... preceeded by Paul Weller 'Wild Wood' (geddit?) and followed by the awesome 'Darkness Darkness' by the Youngbloods.. doesn't get any better.. 
Posted 11 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
This is great.  So much better than their blah-blabbity-blah song.
 

Oh yeah, that one.  {#Eh}
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
This is great.  So much better than their blah-blabbity-blah song.
Posted 12 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Wow!  What a "what am I hearing whip me around in me chair to check is this STRAWBS?"  moment.

It IS!?! 

Talk about blowing me back about +30 years....Thanks for the neck twisting memory moment.  Needed it as it's a b*tch at the office right now.  Heh!

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 12 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Dave Cousins just sent shivers through my memory bank and brought back my amorous teenage years!
Posted 12 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Can I just drop a 'nonny, nonny, noo' in here?

Thank you 
Posted 12 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Unmistakable voice!
They were truly unique, and as so many have said already, the sound takes you back to a mood long gone...
Well done yet again to our wonderful station! 
Posted 12 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]

Posted 12 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Thanks for this. Totally forgot about the Strawbs. Lovely to hear. More, please!
Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
Absolutely wonderful in every way shape and form! Stellar! Never heard this one before...but I LOVE it!{#Heartkiss}
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
I'm an old dog, and I've never heard this before. Thanks for the introduction. Good stuff. {#Music}
Posted 12 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Gorgeous song! Can we here more Strawbs please?!!!
Posted 12 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
Lovely.
Posted 12 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Great choice - Bill!

You really know what this is all about!
Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
This set, starting with the Strawbs made my Christmas Eve.
Posted 12 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
Vocals, instrumentation, and song are all so great.  More Strawbs, please!

Posted 13 years ago by Sandy_Cheeks    [ Reply ]
Wow, the Strawbs! Digging deep RP!
Posted 13 years ago by Mita    [ Reply ]
 TotalHip wrote:
From a great, but much overlooked Strawbs album. Please play more and not just on 31 Oct.
 
Aren't they all ? {#Yes}
Posted 13 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 Grantus wrote:
Perfect for this cold night in Scotland...
 
Also fitting well on a warm mediterranean winter night :)


Posted 13 years ago by BobbyCat    [ Reply ]
Sitting in Dubai at the moment - what a surprise to hear that distinctive voice from so long ago!
A real pleasure. 
Posted 14 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
Perfect for this cold night in Scotland...oh, and as I'm writing this you're playing "Darkness Darkness."   Wow.   Thank you!
Posted 14 years ago by Grantus    [ Reply ]
 ddbz wrote:
I am never at at a lack of amazement of how non-mainstream has been made since the very beginning?
 
Yes, before there was a big stream; there were a lot of little streams flowing into an ocean.

Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
 Bleyfusz wrote:
Always reminds me a bit of the Incredible String Band. Nice!
 
I thought so too; but ISB were more "loosy-goosey" sounding (though I like a few ISB songs).
I knew, when I heard it this in the coffeshop that it was a Fairport-related band (I have a Sandy Denny boxed set with some Strawbs on it).

Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
SUBLIME!
Posted 14 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
 ddbz wrote:
I am never at at a lack of amazement of how non-mainstream has been made since the very beginning?
 
Dude, WHAT?  {#Shifty}

Posted 14 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
I am never at at a lack of amazement of how non-mainstream has been made since the very beginning?
Posted 14 years ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
New for me. I am so glad I found this station. I am hearing so much more. Things I had forgotten and more I have never heard. Thanks.I really have to add this to my growing list

Posted 14 years ago by FancyFractals    [ Reply ]
 DaveInVA wrote:

Haven't heard this in ages - excellent!


 
The same for me!! Thanks RP!!

Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Note to self:  Get this CD!
Posted 15 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
Always reminds me a bit of the Incredible String Band. Nice!
Posted 15 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]

Haven't heard this in ages - excellent!


Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
From a great, but much overlooked Strawbs album. Please play more and not just on 31 Oct.
Posted 17 years ago by TotalHip    [ Reply ]
Like I haven't heard this in like a 1000 years thanks
Posted 17 years ago by silverghost57    [ Reply ]
Yessssssssss - we need a lot more Strawbs on RP. Can I suggest:- Tears & Pavan New World Hero & Heroine Lay Down Benedictus Oh I could go on.... Bill - You are the man to make it happen !!!!
Posted 18 years ago by scozzie    [ Reply ]
What a lovely surprise on a rainy afternoon. This song matches perfectly the atmosphere outside the window, as summer slowly ebbs from this part of the world. Great to hear one of my favorite bands.
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
this sounds like something from "The Mighty Wind" but worse because it's not ironic!
Posted 18 years ago by stevehill    [ Reply ]
wow ... Haven't heard this in years. Have the album. Don't forget "Temperment of Mind" on the Antiques and Curios album
Posted 19 years ago by burkefox    [ Reply ]
Rats! I miss listening for most of Sunday, and look back to see I missed both Tarkus and Strawbs. I must get one of those RP brain implants...
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
Nice tune for a rainy day ...
Posted 20 years ago by Bicky    [ Reply ]
Love this group so much! Agree with all the fans below! Miss them! More, please!! :D Maybe this group does appeal a lot to those of us who are medievalists, Scadians, Marklanders, medieval reenactors, folk fans, mythopoeic types. SO be it!
Posted 20 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
More Strawbs please!
Posted 20 years ago by alicewonderland    [ Reply ]
thanks, it was great to hear the Strawbs again! One of the rather underestimated band from the 70s. Their "Hero and Heroine" is one of my all-time favourites, but I haven't played it in years (the lp player rests in the cellar). Let's hear more of the less known 70s bands - how about some Pavlov's Dog?
Posted 20 years ago by spn    [ Reply ]
jackmcdaid wrote:
... by the way the keyboardist jon anderson went on from the strawbs to the band YES ....
Just FYI, that was Rick Wakeman on keyboards.
Posted 21 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
Lovely acoustic textures and interesting, odd timing that does not call attention to itself.
Posted 21 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
This is one of my favorite Strawbs songs, but Benedictus is my absolute favorite, then Lay Down.. there are many others ... these guys still tour and woud love to see them if they come to Chicago... great to see Radio Paradise playing the Strawbs... by the way the keyboardist jon anderson went on from the strawbs to the band YES ....
Posted 21 years ago by jackmcdaid    [ Reply ]
WHOA! I'm having a flashback!
Posted 21 years ago by paulmall    [ Reply ]
Where else but RP would I EVER hear the Strawbs, much less this song? Superb. Thanks for bringing back a lot of very lovely memories!
Posted 21 years ago by jblue    [ Reply ]
Drab, tired and old..... Lets keep up with the 1900\'s
Posted 21 years ago by wallyfuzz    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by GaryRW: Great Song - you are the only guys who dare still play them. How about the song 'Lay Down'?
I agree. Strawbs have a good number of quality songs. "Autumn" is another that comes to mind. From Strawbs offshoot Hudson Ford, another excellent song is "Take A Little Word".
Posted 21 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by GaryRW: Great Song - you are the only guys who dare still play them. How about the song 'Lay Down'?
Yes! I remember that song! My goodness how long ago was it...1973? And what a great song!
Posted 21 years ago by epod34    [ Reply ]
Only time I ever heard Strawbs was on a \"Maxell Rock Sampler\" that had Deadly Nightshade on it. It also had Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark. Don\'t hear much out of them anymore, either. Anyway, not bad.
Posted 21 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Amazing! I was just looking over my old vinyl collection and noticed a hefty stack of Strawbs records. My thought at the time was: \"These will never be played on the radio--glad I can at least spin the vinyl from time to time.\" Thanks, Radio Paradise--this was a great (and welcome) surprise.
Posted 21 years ago by mnuisance    [ Reply ]
Wow. Who blew the dust off of this one? I haven\'t even thought about this band in decades. Thanks for the reminder of how diverse the music was back when I was leading a dissolute life.
Posted 21 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]
Hearing this brought a smile to my face - great song by a wonderful band.
Posted 22 years ago by ThirdRail_33    [ Reply ]
Did I stumble into the Ren Faire Channel? Sorry, I just couldn\'t resist.
Posted 22 years ago by tdogboy    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by vernalbogneris: yes, very nice sounding. i think it might not even sound as dated were it not for the tin canny vocal sounds.
It was supposed to sound "dated" even when it was new ...
Posted 22 years ago by KAJMK    [ Reply ]