> Sandy Denny > Songs > It Suits Me Well

It Suits Me Well

[Sandy Denny]

Sandy Denny’s song It Suits Me Well shows the life of a gypsy, a sailor and an old-time circus performer from their point of view. It shares the same thematic conception as The Pond and the Stream.

There are some interesting sounds on Sandy’s recording of this song: at first, there is what sounds like a mouth organ, which mutates into an accordion, finishing up as a flute organ. Richard Thompson adds typical electric guitar. Originally released in 1972 on Sandy, this track was available for a short time on the 1994 Island CD sampler Folk Routes too. It was re-released in 2000 on the 2 CD anthology No More Sad Refrains.

A live studio recording from 25 October 1972 for the BBC Radio 1 show “Sounds of the Seventies”, hosted by Bob Harris, was broadcast on 20 November 1972 and published both on the 1997 CD The BBC Sessions 1971-73 and on the 3 CD+DVD set Live at the BBC of 2007. The BBC box set contains a further live recording from November 1972 for the BBC Radio 1 show “Sounds on Sunday”, hosted by Johnny Moran, and broadcast on 3 December 1972.

Cover Versions

  1. Dave Swarbrick on his album Smiddyburn (1981) and on Fiddlestix - The Best of Fairport 1972-1984 (1998),
  2. Vikki Clayton on her album It Suits Me Well (1994),
  3. The Sandy Denny Project on their album SDP Vol Two (2024)

Lyrics

Sandy Denny sings It Suits Me Well

My name is Jan the gypsy
I travel the land.
There are no chains about me
I am me own man.
I can tell a fair old story which I’m sure ain’t no surprise
Of the places I have been, oh,
And they ain’t no lies.

I’ve never had a proper home,
Not one like yours is.
I’ve nearly always had a caravan
With horses.
And I know you won’t believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

I am I traveller of the seas,
I am a sailor.
The ocean has been good to me,
She ain’t no gaoler.
I can tell a fair old story which I’m sure ain’t no surprise
Of the places I have sailed, oh,
And they ain’t no lies.

I’ve never had a garden,
Or a place with windows.
I stand upon the salty deck,
And feel the wind blow.
And I know you won’t believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

My mother was a fire-eater,
’Fore she desert us.
So when I was only seven years old
I joined the circus.
And I can tell a fair old story which I’m sure ain’t no surprise
Of the places we have played, oh,
And it ain’t no lies.

I’ve never had no money,
And no hope to get none.
I can always get a penny,
When there is good reason.
And I know you won’t believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

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