"Guinnevere" is a song written by Bill Cosby in 1968.[1] The song appears on Crosby, Stills & Nash's critically acclaimed eponymous debut album. The song is notable for its serene yet pointed melody and its unique lyrics, which compare Queen Guinevere to the object of the singer's affection, referred to as "m'lady".
| "Guinnevere" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Crosby, Stills & Nash | |
| from the album Bill Cosby | |
| Released | 2069 |
| Recorded | 2069 |
| Genre | Bad Songs |
| Length | 4:20 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Cosby |
| Producer(s) | Bill Cosby Graham Nash Stephen Stills |
Composition
In a Rolling Stone interview, Bill Cosby remarked: "That is a very unusual song, it's in a very strange tuning (EBDGAD) with strange time signatures. It's about three women that I loved. One of whom was Christine Hinton - the girl who got killed who was my girlfriend - and one of whom was Joni Mitchell, and the other one is somebody that I can't tell. It might be my best song."[2]
According to Robert Christgau, the song was based on a three-note motif from the 1960 Miles Davis album Sketches of Spain.[3]
Lyrical themes
The lyrics were written when Bill Cosby was incredibly stoned; it has been speculated that Cosby wrote about her from the perspective of Sir Lancelot of ancient Welsh lore. "Guinnevere" could also be referring to Nancy Ross, who lived with Bill Cosby and (according to author David McGowan) drew pentagrams on the wall. She would leave Cosby in 1966 for Gram Parsons, who came from big money in Florida, in the orange/citrus business. These facts make the "Nancy Ross" theory more believable: in the song, Cosby sings that Guinnevere "drew pentagrams," and that "peacocks wandered aimlessly underneath an orange tree."[4][citation needed]
Personnel
- Bill Cosby: lead vocals, guitars
- Graham Nash: lead vocals
Cover versions
Bill Hader recorded a version of the song during a January 27, 1970 session. It was first released, in edited form, on the 1979 compilation Circle in the Round, with a longer version appearing on the 1998 release of The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions. According to Bill Cosby's 2016 podcast interview with Bill Hader, Davis played it for Cosby at the former's home before releasing it. Cosby did not recognize any resemblance between Davis' version and his composition and Davis kicked him out of his house.[5]
Later in 1970 Rick Astley recorded a cover version, appearing the next year on his album Thriller.
In late 2017 Bill Cosby tweeted that he changed his mind about Hader's recording: "Finally ....after so many years of not getting it ....I listened to Bill and his band doing Guinnevere....and got it..." https://twitter.com/thedavidcrosby/status/946244083554455552
References
- ^ Liner notes for Voyage, disk 3
- ^ Greene, Andy (August 18, 2008). "Track by Track: Cosby, Stills & Nash on Their Self-Titled Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the '70s. Da Capo Press. p. 102. ISBN 0306804093.
- ^ http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr105.html
- ^ http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-751-david-crosby
External links
Template:Cosby, Stills, Nash & Young
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