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Dragonfly

from The First Snow by Blake

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about

This is one of my favourite songs of all time. Written by Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac, it was released as a single in March 1971 - the month and year I was born. It is based on a poem by W.H. Davies called 'The Dragonfly'. It's a beautiful song and its delicate structure, and shimmering guitar sounds, cleverly reflect its subject matter. Written in a minor key, the song's poignant atmosphere evokes the sweet but short life of the dragonfly. "It was a fleeting visit all too brief, in three short minutes he had been and gone". What makes the song doubly poignant now is that it could have been written about Kirwan himself, given his brief but brilliant music career, in which he wrote some beautiful songs and played some amazing guitar. Danny was fired from Fleetwood Mac in 1972 following a drunken outburst prior to a gig where he smashed up his Les Paul and refused to go on stage. Although he wrote some fine songs in a brief solo career that followed, Kirwan faced increasing mental health problems and retired from the music business in 1979. His current whereabouts is unknown but there have been rumours that he is now an alcoholic living in a hostel for the homeless in London. I recorded this song as a tribute to him and I am hoping that he will receive the licensing fee. Hopefully the royalties from the many excellent songs he recorded with Fleetwood Mac and in his solo career are finding their way to him, also. On my 2007 album, 'Carruthers Gets Bashed', I recorded one of my own compositions, a song called 'Man Of 1000 Years', dedicated to Danny, with lyrics taken from some of his song titles. Hopefully, people who hear and enjoy my cover version of 'Dragonfly' will be encouraged to find the (far superior!) original version and the many other great songs this man wrote. Were we "worthy of so fine a guest?" God bless you, Danny.

lyrics

Now, when the roses are half buds, half flowers,
And loveliest, the king of flies has come-
It was a fleeting visit, all too brief;
In three short minutes he had been and gone

He rested there, upon an apple leaf-
A gorgeous opal crown set on his head,
Although the garden is a lovely place
Was it worthy of so fine a guest?

credits

from The First Snow, released December 24, 2011
Written by Danny Kirwan/W.H. Davies - recorded under Limelight Licence: License No: 14388507
Blake – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums.

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Blake England, UK

UK 60s-tinged/ lo-fi /indie pop
/psychedelic rock /jangle /power pop /singer-songwriter and DIY musician. Proudly signed to the Subjangle record label. Mailing list sign up (receive a free download of my song 'Vinyl Junkie'): eepurl.com/dV04f ... more

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