So for some reason I decided to jump into the Emerson Lake and Palmer discography the other day. I had a few songs that I really liked and wanted to revisit. I was not aware that they were deep in the streets when it came to prog rock; King Crimson, Atomic Rooster? I was taken away into this synth, organ, piano Amalgamation that brought me to a hypnotic state for hours on end. I guess I am a fan of progressive rock. Thank you My Five! Oh, XTC, yeah, it’s no Scissor Man, but its still a pretty catchy tune. I’ll be surprised if this isn’t Ed’s pick.
I guess it would of helped if I fully understood what Prog rock was. Now My 5 digs a little deeper, I always considered this stuff psychedelic rock. Turns out a lot of music I like, is in fact, prog rock.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
While XTC has many treasures, this is among one of their best. Along with Senses Working Overtime, it is a song where they are able to create their own little musical universe where everything seems to fit in its comfy and natural place. The acoustic guitar part is rhythmic, yet mechanical and casts visions of landscape and farmland over the longing and emotional vocal. The middle section provides an upbeat respite. I really like the understated percussion. And the way the song winds down–as if decompressing from a long day of work–is brilliant.
XTC – Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Let me count the ways.
Here we find the boys with their first album as strictly recording artists, Mummer (my copy is signed – thanks Alan!). While it produced no hits here in the states, this track is one of their best. They started stretching into more acoustic territory on their previous album, English Settlement (see Yacht Dance), but really embraced it here. “Shilling for the fellow who milks the hehhhrrd!”
A pastoral scene of sound.
“Love on a Farmboy’s Wages”/XTC. A bucolic acoustic reverie, from that tripping guitar figure to the exultant chorus, whose joy belies the uncertainty expressed in the titular question: Well, CAN they feed it? Andy seems pretty sure love will conquer all. The pre-chorus is so merry I had to go back and check whether it included brass; but remarkably, they manage the effect mostly with just bass and guitar.
If this was one of my selections, and I’m not saying it isn’t, I likely would have selected an actual video track, – just sayin’.
I recall car pooling in this fine Chevy Vega in the mid 80’s and remembering that a fair amount of XTC played through the air waves via a finicky car tape player. I believe this song was one of the offerings and life was good.
So for some reason I decided to jump into the Emerson Lake and Palmer discography the other day. I had a few songs that I really liked and wanted to revisit. I was not aware that they were deep in the streets when it came to prog rock; King Crimson, Atomic Rooster? I was taken away into this synth, organ, piano Amalgamation that brought me to a hypnotic state for hours on end. I guess I am a fan of progressive rock. Thank you My Five! Oh, XTC, yeah, it’s no Scissor Man, but its still a pretty catchy tune. I’ll be surprised if this isn’t Ed’s pick.
I guess it would of helped if I fully understood what Prog rock was. Now My 5 digs a little deeper, I always considered this stuff psychedelic rock. Turns out a lot of music I like, is in fact, prog rock.
If this was one of my selections, and I’m not saying it isn’t, I likely wouldn’t have selected an actual video, but just an audio track – just sayin’.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
While XTC has many treasures, this is among one of their best. Along with Senses Working Overtime, it is a song where they are able to create their own little musical universe where everything seems to fit in its comfy and natural place. The acoustic guitar part is rhythmic, yet mechanical and casts visions of landscape and farmland over the longing and emotional vocal. The middle section provides an upbeat respite. I really like the understated percussion. And the way the song winds down–as if decompressing from a long day of work–is brilliant.
XTC – Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Let me count the ways.
Here we find the boys with their first album as strictly recording artists, Mummer (my copy is signed – thanks Alan!). While it produced no hits here in the states, this track is one of their best. They started stretching into more acoustic territory on their previous album, English Settlement (see Yacht Dance), but really embraced it here. “Shilling for the fellow who milks the hehhhrrd!”
A pastoral scene of sound.
“Love on a Farmboy’s Wages”/XTC. A bucolic acoustic reverie, from that tripping guitar figure to the exultant chorus, whose joy belies the uncertainty expressed in the titular question: Well, CAN they feed it? Andy seems pretty sure love will conquer all. The pre-chorus is so merry I had to go back and check whether it included brass; but remarkably, they manage the effect mostly with just bass and guitar.
“Love on a Farmboy’s Wages”/XTC
If this was one of my selections, and I’m not saying it isn’t, I likely would have selected an actual video track, – just sayin’.
I recall car pooling in this fine Chevy Vega in the mid 80’s and remembering that a fair amount of XTC played through the air waves via a finicky car tape player. I believe this song was one of the offerings and life was good.
Excellent Track indeed.
Note: For the official record, the car was Pontiac’s version of a Vega – the Ventura!
