Grace Darling (song)

"Grace Darling" is a song by English band Strawbs, featured on their album Ghosts (recorded 1974, released 1975). The track was recorded in the chapel of the Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, which the members of the band Genesis had attended in the 1960s, and which Strawbs' producer at the time, Tom Allom, had also attended. According to Dave Cousins, the chapel's pipe organ was used, played by the school organist, Alastair Ross; the band's keyboardist, John Hawken, did not play on the recording, as he was not used to the very noticeable delay that falls between the pressing of a key on a pipe organ and the sounding of the corresponding note.^[1] Choral accompaniment was provided by the school choir.

Lyrical and musical content

The title derives from the refrain "You are my saving grace/Darling, I love you," which references the Victorian heroine Grace Darling.^[2] The lyrics contain references to storms, lifeboats and other nautical-related items. The song compares the singer's paramour to the famous lighthouse keeper's daughter, expressing gratitude that she is steadfast and has helped him through dark times with her constant love.

The song has a three-verse structure with a middle section between verses two and three. An instrumental section is heard at the beginning and end and also preceding the middle section. The predominant instruments are the pipe organ and the choir, giving the song a classical or hymnal feel.The pipe organ was played by Alastair Ross, choirmaster at High Wycombe Parish Church, with the choir from same, including Matthew Billsborough who went on to become Choirboy of the Year.

The song was re-recorded in 1975 with a set of French lyrics and entitled "Cherie, Je T'Aime" for release in Canada, to appeal to Strawbs' French Canadian audience.

Release history

B-Side of the Single

The B-side track "Changes Arrange Us" is a Rod Coombes composition, which didn't feature on the album. The record label shows the title incorrectly as "Changes Arranges"

The B-side of the 1975 French Canadian release is "Heroine's Theme", the first part of the song "Autumn" from the album Hero and Heroine. It was composed by keyboard player John Hawken.

Other recordings

The track was rearranged and recorded by a different line-up of the band for the album Ringing Down the Years. Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby also recorded it for their album Old School Songs.

Personnel

• Dave Cousins – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Dave Lambert – electric guitar
• Chas Cronk – bass guitar
• Rod Coombes – drums

with

• Alastair Ross – pipe organ
• Charterhouse School choir

References

1. ↑ Ghosts CD booklet, A&M 540 937-2 (1998)
2. ↑ In concert, David Cousins has referred to Grace Darling as his "favourite English heroine".

External links

• "Grace Darling" at Strawbsweb
• Lyrics to "Grace Darling" at Strawbsweb official site
• Lyrics to "Changes Arrange Us" at Strawbsweb official site