I Am People

The new single by Blackbeard’s Tea Party. Released 20th September.

Download: WAV | MP3

(embargoed for radio play / web sharing until 20th September)

The song

A frantic folk-punk expression of anger at the rhetoric which aims to divide us, ‘I Am People’ may be a political song, but it’s fun too, with a trademark sound of warring fiddle, guitars and drums which is quintessentially Blackbeard’s Tea Party. The song was written by vocalist Stuart Giddens, who said:

“I’d started to notice politicians using a rhetorical device where they would prefix statements with the word ‘people’. Things like ‘people have had enough of experts’ and ‘people have sent a clear message’. It’s a way to divide us: if you agree with the statement you are “people”, and if you disagree then you don’t really count. Towards the end of lockdown restrictions, one of my closest friends died from Covid. He was only in his early 30s, and when we learned about the Downing Street parties I felt he – like all of us – had been betrayed by those in power. When dealing with the reputational damage from Partygate, I heard politicians repeatedly saying that ‘people have moved on’ until one day I found myself screaming, ‘I haven’t moved on and I am people too!’ That’s how the song was born.”

‘I Am People’ was built around a fiddle tune written by Laura Boston-Barber which has been in the band’s ceilidh repertoire for a decade. Stuart was also inspired to write the song by an annual campaign by Blackbeard’s Tea Party fans for the band to be the UK’s Eurovision entry. “I wanted to imagine what a Blackbeard’s Eurovision song might actually sound like,” Giddens said.

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

The video

Blackbeard’s Tea Party – I Am People (Official music video)

Lyrics

People of this country have had enough of experts
And people have taken back control
Well people are at the heart of everything we do
And people are working to a common goal
People won’t be scared, people have sent a clear message
People can make up their own minds
Well people have moved on, yeah people have moved on
But I haven’t moved on and still
You know that
I
I am
I am people

I am people too, I am people too
I don’t think like you, I don’t think like you
We are people we, you don’t speak for me
You know that
I
I am
I am people

I am people too, I am people too
I am not like you, I am not like you
We are people we, you don’t speak for me
You know that
I
I am
I am people

People of this country have had just about enough of the
Guardian reading, tofu eating wokerati
And people know that what we call a spade
Is a spade is a spade
People won’t be cowed, people have sent a clear message
People can make up their own minds
Now people have moved on, yeah people have moved on
But I haven’t moved on and still
You know that
I
I am
I am people

Forthcoming album

The song is the feature track from the 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
‘England Bound‘, released on 22nd August

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