England Bound

The new single by Blackbeard’s Tea Party. Released 22nd August.

Download:WAV | MP3

(embargoed for radio play / web sharing until 22nd August)

The song

Blackbeard’s Tea Party satirise British culture wars – quoting Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague along the way – in their most overtly political song. ‘England Bound’ was written by Blackbeard’s Tea Party vocalist Stuart Giddens, who has said of the song:

“I play English folk music, and I even do morris dancing! Indulging in those English traditions makes me think a lot about how I feel to be English and British. When I was a teenager I’d have told you how proud I felt to be British: I felt proud of our multiculturalism and tolerance, and our institutions like the NHS and BBC. But with Brexit, the refugee crises, Windrush, Grenfell, the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the debate around trans identities… political discourse has become so toxic, and my relationship to my country feels more strained. So this song explores how conflicted I feel about being English.”

Key words: political | folk rock | satire | angry | rabble rousing

Instruments: vocals | violin | drum kit | electric guitar | bass guitar

The video

Blackbeard’s Tea Party – England Boybd (Official music video)

Lyrics

As our boat crashes in to the white cliffs of Dover
C’nut’s on the clifftop his arms open wide
With one hand he’s waving a union flag
With the other he’s trying to hold back the RNLI

So this is England, ruler of waves
Oh this is England, spend and never save

Oven ready deals, free school meals
“Rule Britannia!”, I know you love that sound
Executive powers, zero hours
Think-tanks, food banks, honey
We’re England Bound

“Poor, poor, I’m poor!” Well that’s what you said
But have you ever tried just being rich instead?
“Poor, poor, I’m poor!” Well that’s what you say
But you know we all have the exact same hours in a day
Okay

Oven ready deals, free school meals
“Rule Britannia!”, you know I love that sound
Executive powers, zero hours
Think-tanks, food banks, honey
We’re England Bound

When you told me you wanted your country back I just laughed, “You’re welcome to it.”
When you told me you wanted your country back I just laughed, you know that you’re welcome to it
When you told me you wanted your country back I just laughed, “You’re welcome to it.”
When you told me you wanted your country back I just laughed,
Oh I shouldn’t have laughed, should I?

Oven ready deals, free school meals
“Rule Britannia!”, you know I love that sound
Oh executive powers, zero hours
Think-tanks, food banks, honey
We’re England Bound

Oven ready deals, free school meals
“Rule Britannia!”, you know I loathe that sound
Oh executive powers, zero hours
Think-tanks, food banks, honey
We’re England Bound

Forthcoming album

The song is the second to be released from the forthcoming album ‘We Are People‘, due for release on 20th September. Learn more about the album here.

Two more singles are being used to promote the album:

• ‘When Jones’ Ale Was New’, released on 19th July
• ‘I Am People‘, due for release on 20th September

About Blackbeard’s Tea Party

Now in their 15th year, Blackbeard’s Tea Party are much-loved stalwarts of the English folk scene. Known for a bombastic and upbeat folk-rock sound, they also infuse sounds of glam, punk, funk and metal. They have built their reputation on blisteringly energetic live shows, and are regulars at some of the biggest UK folk festivals including Sidmouth, Towersey and Folk East. They have come a long way since busking on the streets of York, having also made memorable appearances at Glastonbury, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and Cambridge Folk Festival. They regularly tour too, with a headline tour planned for autumn  / winter 2024. See the list of live dates here.

For any press enquiries, please contact: blackbeard@blackbeardsteaparty.com