The Pilgrim

Album: Pilgrimage (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although it has some vocal noises - la la la here and there - the title track of the Pilgrimage album is an early Ash instrumental. Released in September 1971, the album was produced by Derek Lawrence. "The Pilgrim" is the second track on the album, runs to eight and a half minutes, and is a group composition.
  • In a September 2005 response to a fan, bass player Martin Turner said it was built on bass riffs, the slow section with guitarist Ted Turner's melody on top and then the 7/8 fast section.

    "I spent hours putting this together and it borrows somewhat from classical music I had studied. Andy did a good job of improvising the guitar over the top, not easy with that time signature."
  • Turner takes a pride in his back catalogue, and this song is explained in considerable depth in his on-line discography: "'The Pilgrim' had also been tried out on live audiences. Aside from a brief vocal chant from Martin and Andy, it was basically a highly intricate instrumental piece, evolving from a peaceful opening section before changing pace and bursting into an up-tempo 7/4 section based around a Martin Turner bass riff and displaying the guitar skills of Ted Turner and Andy Powell."

    He added: "I was really into 'The Pilgrim' from the standpoint of a musical version of Lord of the Rings but that was probably just because I was reading the book at the same time that we were putting the tune together. That's what it meant for me, but I don't think it meant that for anyone else in the band." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.