Margaret

[Track Info] [The Lyrics] [Explanation]

Margaret - Track Info

01. Edited Live (Edinburgh - "The Playhouse", April 7th 1983) (04:05)

02. Live (Edinburgh - "The Playhouse", April 7th 1983) (12:17)

Notes: "B’Sides Themselves" sleeve notes state December ‘83 as the recording date: this is wrong, the exact date is April 7th 1983, as reported in the 12" "Garden Party - The Great Cucumber Massacre". 1) is the same version of 2), with an early fade out.

Performed Live for the first Time: 04-Sep-81

Traditional, Arrangement by Steve Rothery, Mark Kelly, Pete Trawavas, Michael Pointer & Fish.
Published by Marillion Music, Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd.


Margaret - The Lyrics

For me and my true-love will never walk again
on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Moira Anderson, eat your heart out!
You-ou--

You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road,
an' I'll be in Scotland before you
for me and my true-love we'll never walk again
on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

You'll take the acid an' I'll take the dope, an' I'll be stoned before you
for me an' my true-love, the drink waters' well
on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm [an' row an' row all for Mhairi's wedding]

Step we gaily [on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm an' row an' row all for Mhairi's wedding]

I said you, you, you, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the lead guitar, from Yorkshire Mr. Stephen Rothery!

I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the bass guitar, the backing vocal, from Aylesbury Mr. Peter Trawavas!

I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the keyboards, From Dublin Mr. Mark Kelly!

I said you, you--, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll--, I'll take the low road
On drums, per-cus-si-on, Mr. Michael "E.T." Pointer!

And a very big round of applause, for yourself,
one audience tonight. It takes two!

On vocals, and percussion Fish! ... A dream fulfilled!

[Sweet Ma- Ma- Ma- Ma- Margaret]

I said you take the high road [an' I'll take the low road,
an' I'll be in Scotland before you
for me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond]

[Sweet Ma- Ma- Ma- Ma- Margaret]
The balcony: Sweet Ma- Ma- [Ma- Ma Margaret]
Say yer Scottish: Sweet [Ma- Ma- Ma- Ma- Margaret]

I said you'll take the high road
[An' I'll take the low road, an' I'll be in Scotland before you
for me and my true-love we'll never meet again]

On the bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie
Banks of Loch Lomond! Banks of Loch Lomond!

Sweet Margaret, Sweet Margaret
Sweet Ma- Ma- Ma- Ma- Margaret!

Thank you Edinburgh, good night,
we shall de-fi-nite-ly return.



EXPLANATION OF SONF ELEMENTS
Copyright © 1997 Fraser Marshall, Matthew Anderson & Bert ter Steege.


MARGARET

‘Moira Anderson eat your heart out’
From Jeroen Schipper’s FAQ: Moira Anderson is a Scottish middle-of-the-road singer, who sings, among other things, cloyingly sweet versions of Scottish traditional songs. "Loch Lomond" is exactly the sort of thing she would sing - hence Fish's comment.

‘acid’
LySergic acid Diethylamide. A powerful chemical which increases the production of neurotransmitter substances across the synaptic gaps of the brain (are you following this?) and thus can allow parts of the brain that are only distantly aware of each other to become best friends. Terrible hallucinations, allegedly. The verb describing being under the influence is ‘tripping’.

Infopedia 94 says: LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE potent hallucinogenic drug, also called a psychedelic first synthesized from lysergic acid in Switzerland in 1938. Lysergic acid is a component of the mould of ergot, a fungus that forms on rye grain. The drug evokes dreamlike changes in mood and thought and alters the perception of time and space. It can also create a feeling of lack of self-control and extreme terror. Physical effects include drowsiness, dizziness, dilated pupils, numbness and tingling, weakness, tremors, and nausea.
Transient abnormal thinking induced by LSD, such as a sense of omnipotence or a state of acute paranoia, can result in dangerous behavior. Long-term adverse reactions such as persistent psychosis, prolonged depression, or faulty judgment have also been reported following LSD ingestion, but whether these are a direct result of ingestion is difficult to establish. Physiologically, LSD may cause chromosomal damage to white blood cells; no hard evidence has been found, however, that LSD causes genetic defects in the children of users.
((This is alarming (for some people...(I expect)) - Ed))

Although LSD is not physiologically addicting, the drug's potent mind-altering effects can lead to chronic use. In the 1960s LSD use was widespread among people who sought to alter and intensify their physcial senses; to achieve supposed insights into the universe, nature, and themselves; and to intensify emotional connections with others.

The drug has been tried as a treatment for infantile autism, for alcoholism, and to accelerate psychotherapy, but no medical use has been established.

‘dope’
Hash, Marijuana, Weed, Ganja, whatever’s your fancy. All basically derivatives of a spiky leafed plant. The effects of smoking dope is to make you feel tired, often giggly, and you get the munchies, which involves crawling to the nearest all-night garage and buying lots of pickled onion-flavour Monster Munch and Jaffa cakes. The verb describing being under the influence is ‘stoned ’. So, technically, it’s obvious that Fish will be stoned before the other. But I think that’s a little too pedantic. . .

Infopedia 94: mar·i·jua·na also mar·i·hua·na \,mar-e-'wä-ne also -'hwä-\ n [MexSp mariguana, marihuana] (1894)
1 : the dried leaves and flowering tops of the pistillate hemp plant that yield THC
(the psychoactive ingredient of dope - Stoned Ed) and are smoked in cigarettes for their intoxicating effect.

‘Margaret’
Marillion’s original touring van was christened Margaret. It was green, and they put an obituary in the paper when it broke down for the last time. (Although I’m not sure I believe that last part!)


Sources


Last Modified: 27 Jul 2000