Archive for the ‘Recession Sessions’ Category

SILVER DAGGER by Joan Baez

Don’t sing love songs; you’ll wake my mother
She’s sleeping here, right by my side
And in her right hand, a silver dagger
She says that I can’t be your bride.

All men are false, says my mother
They’ll tell you wicked, lovin’ lies
The very next evening, they’ll court another
Leave you alone to pine and sigh.

My daddy is a handsome devil
He’s got a chain five miles long
And on every link a heart does dangle
Of another maid he’s loved and wronged.

Go court another tender maiden
And hope that she will be your wife
For I’ve been warned and I’ve decided
To sleep alone all of my life.

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Sadie Jemmett — vocals & acoustic guitar

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Silver Dagger is a late 19th century British then American Ballad, popularised in the 1960s by Joan Baez, upon whose beautiful arrangement this is based.

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The thing that struck me most about this song were the words.

I love the way he refers to love as a place, a landscape that you can suddenly find yourself back in without much explanation as to how you got there or left there in the first place: “love has come calling, and I’m back there again”.

For the terminally romantic amongst us… when will we ever learn?

love, Sadie x

This song “Mother” has meant a tremendous amount to me over the years. Having your mother living literally up the road from you and not living with you, or even visiting much , is a rare and extremely painful experience for any child to go through, and it is one that I share with John Lennon.

I guess when I first heard the song , and the painful and brutal
honesty with which it is sung , it resonated with me very deeply because of that.

Recently I was honoured to have Yoko Ono discover my music and include one of my songs on a radio show she gave for BBC6 music*, so it seemed like the right time to work on a cover of this song , something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

I hope she likes it, and you like it too.

love, Sadie x

*BBC6 Music: “Musician and artist Yoko Ono presents a special edition of The 6 Mix to celebrate World Peace Day, talking about her work and playing music which has influenced her new album ‘Between My Head And The Sky.’ Yoko -the widow of John Lennon – plays tracks from a range of artists who have inspired her musically including Jimi Hendrix, Courtney Love and Anthony and The Johnsons, as well as new music from Sean Lennon, The Low Anthem and Sadie Jemmett. Yoko also talks about the making of her new album, how she’s dealt with media criticism and her relationship with Lennon and their son Sean. There’s also a chance to hear her unlikely collaboration with Basement Jaxx and her what she thinks of Amy Winehouse and Beth Ditto.”

One of my all-time favourite songs.
I once told a guy that if he learned to play this song I would fall at his feet.
About a month later he showed up at a party having learned the entire song and played it to me.
What else could I do?

love, Sadie x

My friend Kate sent me the lyrics to this song when i was feeling a bit overwhelmed. The least i could do was cover it. It’s one of the most heartfelt songs ever written, and an instant antidote.

love, Sadie x