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Raconteur, Troubadour Lyrics
Gather round the village square
Come good people both wretched and fair
See the troubadour play on the drum
Hear my songs on the lute that I strum
I will make you laugh
Revel, Merry-dance
Throw your pennies
Then you'll hear more
Of the story-telling half
There's no other chance
Always move on
Raconteur, troubadour
Take the face that you see for the man
Clown and minstrel, I am what I am
All my family, not of my kin
Home, wherever, the place that I'm in
Humors give me wage
Favors for my art
Rising, falling
Everyone struggle on
All the world's a stage
All can play their part
I have chosen
Raconteur, troubadour
Dusk is drawing, my story is spun
Dawn is falling, my day's work is done
Morning, rested I set on my way
Find new faces to offer my play
I will make you laugh
Revel, Merry-dance
Throw your pennies
Then you'll hear more of
The story-telling half
There's no other chance
Always move on
Raconteur, troubadour
Come good people both wretched and fair
See the troubadour play on the drum
Hear my songs on the lute that I strum
I will make you laugh
Revel, Merry-dance
Throw your pennies
Then you'll hear more
Of the story-telling half
There's no other chance
Always move on
Raconteur, troubadour
Clown and minstrel, I am what I am
All my family, not of my kin
Home, wherever, the place that I'm in
Humors give me wage
Favors for my art
Rising, falling
Everyone struggle on
All the world's a stage
All can play their part
I have chosen
Raconteur, troubadour
Dawn is falling, my day's work is done
Morning, rested I set on my way
Find new faces to offer my play
I will make you laugh
Revel, Merry-dance
Throw your pennies
Then you'll hear more of
The story-telling half
There's no other chance
Always move on
Raconteur, troubadour
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Raconteur
Definition: a person who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing way, i.e. a storyteller.
Troubadour
Definition: a French medieval lyric poet composing and singing in Provençal in the 11th to 13th centuries, especially on the theme of courtly love.
The song is told from his viewpoint. He loves to make money off his craft and the enjoyment he brings to people who pay to hear him sing fun, humorous stories.
The song really speaks for itself. The medieval elements in the musical instrumentation help to throw us into that time period.
Very strong medieval feel to this song, and the song title suggests it may be well the setting. A troubadour was a performer of poetry and theatre during the middle ages. A raconteur is a skilled story teller.
The song seems to suggest that the meaning of the song is in a similar vain to the storytelling and composing of music, with a middle age feel.
Clearly Kerry & Crew wrote about themselves a lot. I believe this is one of those times. The parallels of the life of a 'vagabond minstral' to the life of a modern touring band are one. The lyrics are very well written to represent both.
For example; in RT Derek sings, "All my family not of my kin - Home wherever the place that I'm in". Later on the Interview album in Another Show he sings, "Are we going out tonight? Find a friend and it's alright".
Both lyrics depicting the lonely-for-loved-ones-yet-people-filled existence of a road musician/performer. Great song. Extremely well crafted, orchestrated and voiced. One of my favorites ... but I say that about almost every GG song.
Never mind, they're better than Yes and Rush, and probably others, too...
@inpraiseoffolly very different style to Rush and Yes ... I think that is why they aren't quite as easily digested as those prog bands.
@inpraiseoffolly very different style to Rush and Yes ... I think that is why they aren't quite as easily digested as those prog bands.
2nd GG song I ever heard (about 1 minute ago), Dog's Life (the first), seems to be a bit better. I am a big prog rock fan, but Gentle Giant seems to be one of the "worst" (because they're not bad so far) of what Wikipedia would call the "major" prog rock bands.
@inpraiseoffolly I love their stuff, so different and progressive. Even today few bands can pull off with the same ease the ability to blend so many songs into a single song (especially without making it only about 5 minutes long). This isn't their best song, but still a good listen.
@inpraiseoffolly I love their stuff, so different and progressive. Even today few bands can pull off with the same ease the ability to blend so many songs into a single song (especially without making it only about 5 minutes long). This isn't their best song, but still a good listen.
@inpraiseoffolly Are you daft? Gentle Giant is the best major progressive rock group. By listening to their two songs you can't make inferences about them. Listen to their first 7 albums and then comment about them you stupid hobo.
@inpraiseoffolly Are you daft? Gentle Giant is the best major progressive rock group. By listening to their two songs you can't make inferences about them. Listen to their first 7 albums and then comment about them you stupid hobo.
@inpraiseoffolly sorry dude you are probably dead by now but it's good to see you have corrected your misbelief about GG before your death.
@inpraiseoffolly sorry dude you are probably dead by now but it's good to see you have corrected your misbelief about GG before your death.