Song of the Day 2/16: Strawbs, “Benedictus”

The lyrics make this sound like a religious song, and in a way it is, but it didn’t spring from any Christian tradition. Strawbs got together in England in 1964 as the Strawberry Hill Boys, playing bluegrass music. The group’s music and personnel evolved over the years, with singer/guitarist Dave Cousins the constant presence, and by the ’70s the band had electrified and was writing folk-rock that bordered on prog, especially after keyboardist Rick Wakeman was hired.

After two albums Wakeman started chafing at his limited role and left to join Yes. Cousins, unsure of his next move, consulted the Chinese oracle I Ching. For those unfamiliar, the I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that followers turn to for counsel. The answer Cousins received was, “Humble must he constant be, where the paths of wisdom lead, distant is the shadow of the setting sun,” which he incorporated into the first verse of the song.

One interesting note on the instrumentation: What sounds like an electric guitar solo on the break is actually a dulcimer played through a fuzzbox, a remnant of the band’s folk roots. Cousins still tours with two versions of the band, one electric, one acoustic.