- published: 13 Apr 2013
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Sandy Denny (6 January 1947 – 21 April 1978), born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention. She has been described by Allmusic's Richie Unterberger as "the pre-eminent British folk rock singer".
After briefly working with British folk band the Strawbs, Denny joined Fairport Convention in 1968, remaining with that band until the end of 1969. She formed the short-lived band Fotheringay in 1970, releasing one album with them (another unreleased album would surface some three decades later), before focusing on a solo career. Between 1971 and 1977, Denny released four solo albums: The North Star Grassman and the Ravens, Sandy, Like an Old Fashioned Waltz, and Rendezvous. She is also noted as the only guest vocalist on a Led Zeppelin studio album, when she shared a duet with Robert Plant for "The Battle of Evermore" on Led Zeppelin IV (1971).
Music publications Sunday Express, Uncut and Mojo have each called Denny Britain's finest female singer-songwriter. Her composition "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" has been recorded by many artists as diverse as Judy Collins, Nina Simone and Cat Power.
Wondering and waiting, my back agaist the wall
Not a word that passed between us comes to recall
Just you shadow at the window as you pass on down the hall
You never wanted me and never knew me at all
I haven't any picture to set before my eyes
Nothing I can blame when the blues start to rise
Just the memory of laughter and a living out of lies
But if I could change my ways we would never have said goodbye
If you ever get the time, please think of me
It's a lock that can't be broken and there isn't any key
I'm only in your mind, only you can set me free
You can't hurt me anymore and it isn't hard to see
Someday, someone will leave you and I know you'll feel the same
But you'll mark it down to memory and a dream that never came
But they are no answers given when love is just a game
And you never wanted me and now I feel the same