Oxford City

from Never So Red by Frankie Archer

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MarcoDeep Beautiful, such a familiar song and I feel as though this is the first time hearing it, thank you.

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about

Oxford City is a traditional song nearly 200 years old, but when I first read the lyrics I was reminded of things happening right now: incel culture and drink spiking. It’s tempting to think about old songs of times gone by, especially of songs dealing with the way women were treated and the awful things they faced, and say ‘wasn’t it awful back in the day, I’m so glad it’s not like that now’. While some things generally have gotten better, women still face male violence just sometimes in different forms. The poison wine in this song is a man spiking a woman’s drink to do her harm. Murdering her is an expression of rejection and jealousy which manifests as the same hate against women that incel culture feeds on: “if you won’t be my true lover, you’ll never be no other man’s bride”.

Although it doesn’t feel like it in the song, the time signature is changing all the time. It feels like it reflects the 2 steps forward and one step back nature of the fight for equality. We are improving some things and still so far behind on others.

_______________________________

Trad arr. Frankie Archer
Recorded and produced by Frankie Archer and Jim Moray
Mixed by Jim Moray
Mastered by Piper Payne
Artwork by Frankie Archer
Supported by Help Musicians

lyrics

In Oxford City lived a lady
And she was beautiful and fair
And she was courted by a sailor
And he did love her as his dear

He said my dear let us get married
Let us now no longer stay
I’ll work for you both late and early
if you my wedded bride will be

This girl she loved him but at a distance
She did not seem to be quite so fond
He said my dear you seem to slight me
I’m sure you love some other man

He saw her dancing with some other
A jealous thought came to his mind
And to destroy his own true lover
He gave to her a glass of wine

So soon she drank it so soon she felt it
Oh hold me fast my dear said she
Is it that glass of wine you gave me
That takes my innocent life away

That glass of wine now which I gave you
That glass of wine did poison hide
For if you won’t be my true lover
You’ll never be no other man’s bride

That glass of wine now which I gave you
Oh I have drinked of the same said he
So in each other’s arms we’ll die now
To warn young men of jealousy

Oh hark oh hark the cocks are crowing
The daylight now will soon appear
And in my cold cold grave I am going
And it’s you Willie has called me there

credits

from Never So Red, track released August 9, 2023
Trad arr. Frankie Archer
Recorded and produced by Frankie Archer and Jim Moray
Mixed by Jim Moray
Mastered by Piper Payne
Artwork by Frankie Archer
Supported by Help Musicians

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about

Frankie Archer Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

electrofolk 🪩🎻 pre-order Never So Red EP

Frankie Archer is fresh on the scene and shaking up genres and traditions, sharing the lesser told sides of stories, championing women, challenging perspectives and calling for a fairer future, all to a unique mix of synths, manipulated samples, drum tracks and earthy Northumbrian fiddle and voice. ... more

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