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She Moves Through the Fair Trivia Quiz

Sandy Denny. Just hearing her name can bring to mind that clear, true voice, soaring. This quiz will focus mostly on the Fairport Convention years.

A multiple-choice quiz by agony. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
agony

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
284,482

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
312

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which Sandy Denny song are these lyrics from?

"Her days of precious freedom, forfeited long before
To live such fruitless years behind a guarded door
But those days will last no more
Tomorrow, at this hour, she will be far away"
Hint

Farewell Farewell

Fotheringay

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens

The Optimist

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Fairport Convention were best known for their new arrangements of traditional ballads. In "Liege and Lief" we hear the tale of Matty Groves, who comes to grief after taking his lord's wife up on her offer, after church. When the lord finds them asleep in each other's arms, he has a offer for Matty:

"'Well, get up, get up,' Lord Donald cried, 'get up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man'
'Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life
For you have ___________________ and I've not a pocket knife' "

What did Lord Donald have, against the unarmed Matty? Hint

a tommy gun

a sword and a heavy arm

two long beaten swords

your men and your armour

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" is probably Sandy Denny's most well known song. Prior to its release in Fairport Convention's "Unhalfbricking", (1969) she recorded it with another folk/rock group she was briefly involved in. Who were they? Hint

The Mamas and the Papas

The Byrds

The Strawbs

The Lovin' Spoonful

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Sandy Denny was a guest vocalist on one of the early '70s' most influential albums - which one? Hint

"Dark Side of the Moon" Pink Floyd

"Led Zepplin IV" Led Zepplin

"Abbey Road" The Beatles

"Exile on Main Street" The Rolling Stones

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Fairport's version of the old Border ballad "Tam Lin" was another high point on the "Liege and Lief" album.

"Janet tied her kirtle ______ a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she..."

What colour was Janet's kirtle? Hint

blue

white

red

green

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 1972, a group of British folk rockers, including past and present members of Fairport Convention, Linda Peters, Trevor Lucas, Sandy Denny, and others, released a collection of rock & roll standards called "Rock On". What name did the group go by? Hint

Honey and the Bees

All of Us

The Bunch

Group of Friends

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The British cover of one of Fairport Convention's albums shows Sandy Denny's parents, outside their home in Wimbledon. Which one? Hint

What We Did on our Holidays

Unhalfbricking

Liege and Lief

Rising for the Moon

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "A spy in his own camp
And his money was his health
All thrown to the dust by his very own hand
Yet his beauty lingered still
Beyond the draining of the sand
But greener was the other side of the hill
Richer was the other man's land
But we loved him, loved him just like brothers would
We loved him, loved him like no others could"

Which song are these lyrics from? Hint

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens

Crazy Lady Blues

Stranger to Himself

Late November

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. One of my favourite songs sung by Sandy Denny, but not written by her. Can you tell me who wrote these lyrics?

"I can't help it, if you might think I'm odd
If I say I'm loving you, not for what you are, but for what you're not
Everybody will help you
Discover what you set out to find
But if I can save you any time
Come on, give it to me
I'll keep it with mine" Hint

Paul Simon

Judy Collins

Bob Dylan

John Lennon

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Fill in the missing words to this song - they are also the song's title:

"I travel over the sea and ride the rolling sky
For that's the way it is, that is my fortune
There are many ears to please, many people's love to try
And every day's begun ___________________" Hint

rising for the moon

for nobody to hear

it'll take a long time

here in silence

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which Sandy Denny song are these lyrics from? "Her days of precious freedom, forfeited long before To live such fruitless years behind a guarded door But those days will last no more Tomorrow, at this hour, she will be far away"

Answer: Fotheringay

"...Much farther than these islands, for the lonely Fotheringay". From "What We Did on our Holidays" (1969).

When Sandy Denny left Fairport and started her own band with her future husband, Trevor Lucas, she named it Fotheringay. The self titled 1970 release was the only album put out by this band.

2. Fairport Convention were best known for their new arrangements of traditional ballads. In "Liege and Lief" we hear the tale of Matty Groves, who comes to grief after taking his lord's wife up on her offer, after church. When the lord finds them asleep in each other's arms, he has a offer for Matty: "'Well, get up, get up,' Lord Donald cried, 'get up as quick as you can It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man' 'Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life For you have ___________________ and I've not a pocket knife' " What did Lord Donald have, against the unarmed Matty?

Answer: two long beaten swords

Though the lord gives Matty the best of his swords, it doesn't go well for our hero:

"So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore
Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more"

This kind of electrification of the traditional ballad was something that hadn't really been heard before - this song really rocks, with of course Denny's magical vocals floating above.

Answer: The Strawbs

This was originally a Danish-only release, not being released in the UK until several years later.

Judy Collins' version of the song was the B side to "Both Sides Now", and later that year the title track to her eighth album.

4. Sandy Denny was a guest vocalist on one of the early '70s' most influential albums - which one?

Answer: "Led Zepplin IV" Led Zepplin

Her vocals on "The Battle of Evermore" are probably her biggest exposure outside the folk/rock world.

The "three pyramids" symbol on the album's inner sleeve is apparently Denny's symbol.

5. Fairport's version of the old Border ballad "Tam Lin" was another high point on the "Liege and Lief" album. "Janet tied her kirtle ______ a bit above her knee And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she..." What colour was Janet's kirtle?

Answer: green

The colour green has much symbolic power in ballads. It is associated with the elven folk, with magic, and with witches. It's also the colour linked to loose women (to hide the grass stains, presumably). We can only speculate as to its meaning in this song - was Janet issuing a challenge to the Queen of Faeries, by wearing her colour? Or maybe Janet had some secrets of her own - the name "Janet" is also associated with witchcraft, according to some.

Answer: The Bunch

It's a fun album, but nothing spectacular. Sandy Denny and Linda Peters (later Thompson) do a nice job on "When Will I Be Loved". I've also always liked the version of "Willy and the Hand Jive" on this album, with Richard Thompson's vocals.

7. The British cover of one of Fairport Convention's albums shows Sandy Denny's parents, outside their home in Wimbledon. Which one?

Answer: Unhalfbricking

This album was the beginning of Fairport's move towards the British folk/rock which they are credited with inventing - in large part due to Sandy Denny's influence.

A lot of people put "Unhalfbricking" on their "Best of All Time" lists. Personally, this album has always left me a little cold, though. The only track that really stands out for me is "Who Knows Where the Time Goes".

8. "A spy in his own camp And his money was his health All thrown to the dust by his very own hand Yet his beauty lingered still Beyond the draining of the sand But greener was the other side of the hill Richer was the other man's land But we loved him, loved him just like brothers would We loved him, loved him like no others could" Which song are these lyrics from?

Answer: Stranger to Himself

From 1975's "Rising for the Moon". This was Denny's last album with Fairport Convention - she had returned to the band after her Fotheringay and solo ventures.

This is not my favourite version of the band - I miss Richard Thompson - but those gorgeous vocals still make this a great album.

The incorrect answer options are all songs from "The North Star Grassman and the Ravens" album.

9. One of my favourite songs sung by Sandy Denny, but not written by her. Can you tell me who wrote these lyrics? "I can't help it, if you might think I'm odd If I say I'm loving you, not for what you are, but for what you're not Everybody will help you Discover what you set out to find But if I can save you any time Come on, give it to me I'll keep it with mine"

Answer: Bob Dylan

"The train leaves at half past ten
But it'll be back tomorrow at the same time again
The conductor, he's weary
He's still stuck on the line..."

Incredibly powerful vocals - just love this song. Nico, whom you remember from 1967's "The Velvet Underground and Nico" also sang this one (it's said that Dylan wrote it for her), but Sandy Denny's version is the one for me. She covered a lot of Bob Dylan songs in her career - they make a nice pair.

10. Fill in the missing words to this song - they are also the song's title: "I travel over the sea and ride the rolling sky For that's the way it is, that is my fortune There are many ears to please, many people's love to try And every day's begun ___________________"

Answer: rising for the moon

"There are many ears to please, many people's love to try
And every day's begun rising for the moon"

Sandy Denny died on April 23, 1978, of cerebral hemorrhage, after a fall down a flight of stairs.

Source: Author agony

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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