John Renbourn (8 August 1944 – 26 March 2015) was an English guitarist and songwriter. He was possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence (1967–1973).
While most commonly labelled a folk musician, Renbourn's musical tastes and interests took in early music, classical music, jazz, blues and world music. His most influential album, Sir John Alot (1968), featured his take on tunes from the Medieval era.
Biography
John Renbourn studied classical guitar at school and it was during this period that he was introduced to Early Music. In the 1950s, along with many others, he was greatly influenced by the musical craze of "Skiffle" and this eventually led him to explore the work of artists such as Lead Belly, Josh White and Big Bill Broonzy.
In the 1960s the new craze in popular music was Rhythm and Blues, also the impact of Davey Graham was being felt. In 1961 Renbourn toured the South West with Mac MacLeod and repeated the tour in 1963.On returning from the South West Renbourn and MacLeod recorded a demo tape together. Renbourn briefly played in an R&B band while studying at the Kingston College of Art in London. Although the British "Folk Revival" was underway, most folk clubs were biased towards traditional, unaccompanied folk songs, and guitar players were not always welcome. However, the Roundhouse in London had a more tolerant attitude and here, John Renbourn joined blues and gospel singer Dorris Henderson, playing backing guitar and recording two albums with her.
The Lady and the Unicorn (French:La Dame à la licorne) is the modern title given to a series of six tapestries woven in Flanders from wool and silk, from designs ("cartoons") drawn in Paris around 1500. The set, on display in the Musée national du Moyen Âge (former Musée de Cluny) in Paris, is often considered one of the greatest works of art of the Middle Ages in Europe.
Five of the tapestries are commonly interpreted as depicting the five senses – taste, hearing, sight, smell, and touch. The sixth displays the words "À mon seul désir". The tapestry's meaning is obscure, but has been interpreted as representing love or understanding. Each of the six tapestries depicts a noble lady with the unicorn on her left and a lion on her right; some include a monkey in the scene. The pennants, as well as the armour of the Unicorn and Lion in the tapestry bear the arms of the sponsor, Jean Le Viste, a powerful nobleman in the court of King Charles VII. However, a very recent study of the heraldry appears to lend credence to another hypothesis - previously dismissed - that the real sponsor of the tapestry is Antoine II Le Viste (1470-1534), a descendant of the younger branch of the Le Viste family and an important figure at the court of Charles VIII, Louis XII and François I.
The Lady and the Unicorn is the 1970 solo album by British folk musician John Renbourn. On this release, Renbourn ventures into folk rock and medieval music territory. The first four tracks are arranged from the Add MS 29987 manuscript. The cover was taken from The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry.
Track listing
1.1."Trotto" (Anonymous) – 0:40
1.2."Saltarrello" (Anonymous) – 1:53
2.1."Lamento Di Tristan" (Anonymous) – 1:58
2.2."La Rotta" (Anonymous) – 0:55
3.1."Veri Floris" (Anonymous) – 0:44
3.2."Triple Ballade (Sanscuer-Amordolens-Dameparvous)" (Guillaume de Machaut) – 2:00
John Renbourn - The Lady And The Unicorn (Full Album)
01. Trotto / Saltarello
02. Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
03. Veri Floris / Triple Ballade
04. Bransle Gay / Bransle De Bourgogne
05. Alman / Melancholy Galliard
06. Sarabande
07. The Lady And The Unicorn
08. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair
John Renbourn: guitars and sitar
Terry Cox: hand-drums and glockenspiel
Don Harper: viola
Lea Nicholson: concertina
Tony Roberts: flute
Ray Warleigh: flute
Dave Swarbrick: violin
published: 26 Dec 2012
John Renbourn: "Little Niles"
British guitar great John Renbourn performs "Little Niles" at a concert in Toronto. From the DVD "John Renbourn In Concert 1990." More info at https://stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop.webflow.io/stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop-online-store#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
published: 13 Feb 2010
John Renbourn - The Black Balloon (full album)
A beautiful album by a beautiful guitarist, who left us today (March 26th). Rest in peace, your music has brought us more beauty than you could ever have imagined...!
(Thanks to alberto for the track listing)
Moon Shines Bright (Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston) 0:00
The English Dance (Traditional) 3:58
Bourrée I and II (Johann Sebastian Bach) 6:49
Medley: The Mist Covered Mountains of Home / The Orphan / Tarboulton 9:13
The Pelican (John Renbourn) 18:41
The Black Balloon (Traditional) 25:51
published: 26 Mar 2015
John Renbourn - The Hermit (Full Album)
published: 19 Jul 2017
First Light Bert Jansch and John Renbourn
DVD ACOUSTIC ROUTES
published: 28 Mar 2015
John Renbourn - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home 1-3 1979
John Renbourn - Medley - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home-The Orphan -Tarboulton 1979
One one the finest acoustic guitar pieces ever heard.
Medley taken from:
John Renbourn - The Black Balloon 1979
This album is one of John's 'medieval' style albums,
with 13th and 16th century pieces mixed with a couple
of Renbourn tracks. The songs are all credited as
being 'traditional arranged Renbourn' - but at least
The Pelican and The Black Balloon are certainly not
traditional.
The flute is played by Tony Roberts, the tabors by
Stuart Gordon.
John Renbourn: guitar
Tony Roberts: flutes
Stuart Gordon: Tabors
Webside:
http://www.john-renbourn.com/
learning the guitar tabs:
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-mist-covered-guitar-tab-s39809t0
http://...
published: 16 May 2011
John Renbourn - Scarborough Fair
John Renbourn, Scarborough Fair, from "The Lady And Unicorn" (Transatlantic 1970).
John Renbourn, guitar; Tony Roberts, flute; Don Harper, viola.
For my comments on music please visit:
http://somelikeitfolk.blogspot.it/2011/10/scarborough-fair-la-mia-versione.html
Pictures from the tapestry cycle "the Lady and The Unicorn" and other artwork are from the website of Musée du Moyen-Âge, Paris, where they are collected.
published: 22 Oct 2011
Lord Franklin - John Renbourn
From the Vestapol DVD: John Renbourn In Concert 1990. To order: https://www.guitarvideos.com/#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
John Renbourn has four great instructional DVDs:
Folk, Blues & Beyond
Celtic Melodies & Open Tunings
The Jazz Tinge
Medieval & Renaissance Music
Available as Direct Downloads and Physical DVDs
WWW.GUITARVIDEOS.COM
published: 04 Jan 2022
John Renbourn - Sir John Alot of ... [Full Album] [Vinyl Rip]
Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte by John Renbourn is a baroque folk album that came out in 1968. You can tell by the title how medieval / renaissance like this album is.
All the songs on side one are traditional songs, with new arrangements by John Renbourn. Side two contains original compositions.
This is a vinyl rip, so I hope you enjoy its unique quality.
Track Listing:
1. The Earle of Salisury
2. The Trees They Do Grow High
3. The Lady Goes to Church
4. Morgana
5. Transfusion
6. Forty-Eight
7. My Dear Boy
8. White Fishes
9. Sweet Potato
10. Seven Up
John Renbourn - guitar
Terry Cox - finger cymbals, African drums, glockenspiel
Ray Warleigh - flute
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London
Engineer: John Wood
Produced by Nathan Joseph
An original Tra...
01. Trotto / Saltarello
02. Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
03. Veri Floris / Triple Ballade
04. Bransle Gay / Bransle De Bourgogne
05. Alman / Melancholy Galliar...
01. Trotto / Saltarello
02. Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
03. Veri Floris / Triple Ballade
04. Bransle Gay / Bransle De Bourgogne
05. Alman / Melancholy Galliard
06. Sarabande
07. The Lady And The Unicorn
08. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair
John Renbourn: guitars and sitar
Terry Cox: hand-drums and glockenspiel
Don Harper: viola
Lea Nicholson: concertina
Tony Roberts: flute
Ray Warleigh: flute
Dave Swarbrick: violin
01. Trotto / Saltarello
02. Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
03. Veri Floris / Triple Ballade
04. Bransle Gay / Bransle De Bourgogne
05. Alman / Melancholy Galliard
06. Sarabande
07. The Lady And The Unicorn
08. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair
John Renbourn: guitars and sitar
Terry Cox: hand-drums and glockenspiel
Don Harper: viola
Lea Nicholson: concertina
Tony Roberts: flute
Ray Warleigh: flute
Dave Swarbrick: violin
British guitar great John Renbourn performs "Little Niles" at a concert in Toronto. From the DVD "John Renbourn In Concert 1990." More info at https://stefan-gr...
British guitar great John Renbourn performs "Little Niles" at a concert in Toronto. From the DVD "John Renbourn In Concert 1990." More info at https://stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop.webflow.io/stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop-online-store#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
British guitar great John Renbourn performs "Little Niles" at a concert in Toronto. From the DVD "John Renbourn In Concert 1990." More info at https://stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop.webflow.io/stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop-online-store#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
A beautiful album by a beautiful guitarist, who left us today (March 26th). Rest in peace, your music has brought us more beauty than you could ever have imagin...
A beautiful album by a beautiful guitarist, who left us today (March 26th). Rest in peace, your music has brought us more beauty than you could ever have imagined...!
(Thanks to alberto for the track listing)
Moon Shines Bright (Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston) 0:00
The English Dance (Traditional) 3:58
Bourrée I and II (Johann Sebastian Bach) 6:49
Medley: The Mist Covered Mountains of Home / The Orphan / Tarboulton 9:13
The Pelican (John Renbourn) 18:41
The Black Balloon (Traditional) 25:51
A beautiful album by a beautiful guitarist, who left us today (March 26th). Rest in peace, your music has brought us more beauty than you could ever have imagined...!
(Thanks to alberto for the track listing)
Moon Shines Bright (Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston) 0:00
The English Dance (Traditional) 3:58
Bourrée I and II (Johann Sebastian Bach) 6:49
Medley: The Mist Covered Mountains of Home / The Orphan / Tarboulton 9:13
The Pelican (John Renbourn) 18:41
The Black Balloon (Traditional) 25:51
John Renbourn - Medley - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home-The Orphan -Tarboulton 1979
One one the finest acoustic guitar pieces ever heard.
Medley take...
John Renbourn - Medley - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home-The Orphan -Tarboulton 1979
One one the finest acoustic guitar pieces ever heard.
Medley taken from:
John Renbourn - The Black Balloon 1979
This album is one of John's 'medieval' style albums,
with 13th and 16th century pieces mixed with a couple
of Renbourn tracks. The songs are all credited as
being 'traditional arranged Renbourn' - but at least
The Pelican and The Black Balloon are certainly not
traditional.
The flute is played by Tony Roberts, the tabors by
Stuart Gordon.
John Renbourn: guitar
Tony Roberts: flutes
Stuart Gordon: Tabors
Webside:
http://www.john-renbourn.com/
learning the guitar tabs:
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-mist-covered-guitar-tab-s39809t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-orphan-guitar-tab-s39803t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-tarbolton-guitar-tab-s39808t0
http://alle-noten.de/index.php?link=http%3A//alle-noten.de/cgi-bin/search2a.cgi%3Fpnum%3D828%26lang%3Dde
John Renbourn - Medley - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home-The Orphan -Tarboulton 1979
One one the finest acoustic guitar pieces ever heard.
Medley taken from:
John Renbourn - The Black Balloon 1979
This album is one of John's 'medieval' style albums,
with 13th and 16th century pieces mixed with a couple
of Renbourn tracks. The songs are all credited as
being 'traditional arranged Renbourn' - but at least
The Pelican and The Black Balloon are certainly not
traditional.
The flute is played by Tony Roberts, the tabors by
Stuart Gordon.
John Renbourn: guitar
Tony Roberts: flutes
Stuart Gordon: Tabors
Webside:
http://www.john-renbourn.com/
learning the guitar tabs:
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-mist-covered-guitar-tab-s39809t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-orphan-guitar-tab-s39803t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-tarbolton-guitar-tab-s39808t0
http://alle-noten.de/index.php?link=http%3A//alle-noten.de/cgi-bin/search2a.cgi%3Fpnum%3D828%26lang%3Dde
John Renbourn, Scarborough Fair, from "The Lady And Unicorn" (Transatlantic 1970).
John Renbourn, guitar; Tony Roberts, flute; Don Harper, viola.
For my comme...
John Renbourn, Scarborough Fair, from "The Lady And Unicorn" (Transatlantic 1970).
John Renbourn, guitar; Tony Roberts, flute; Don Harper, viola.
For my comments on music please visit:
http://somelikeitfolk.blogspot.it/2011/10/scarborough-fair-la-mia-versione.html
Pictures from the tapestry cycle "the Lady and The Unicorn" and other artwork are from the website of Musée du Moyen-Âge, Paris, where they are collected.
John Renbourn, Scarborough Fair, from "The Lady And Unicorn" (Transatlantic 1970).
John Renbourn, guitar; Tony Roberts, flute; Don Harper, viola.
For my comments on music please visit:
http://somelikeitfolk.blogspot.it/2011/10/scarborough-fair-la-mia-versione.html
Pictures from the tapestry cycle "the Lady and The Unicorn" and other artwork are from the website of Musée du Moyen-Âge, Paris, where they are collected.
From the Vestapol DVD: John Renbourn In Concert 1990. To order: https://www.guitarvideos.com/#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
John Renbourn has fou...
From the Vestapol DVD: John Renbourn In Concert 1990. To order: https://www.guitarvideos.com/#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
John Renbourn has four great instructional DVDs:
Folk, Blues & Beyond
Celtic Melodies & Open Tunings
The Jazz Tinge
Medieval & Renaissance Music
Available as Direct Downloads and Physical DVDs
WWW.GUITARVIDEOS.COM
From the Vestapol DVD: John Renbourn In Concert 1990. To order: https://www.guitarvideos.com/#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
John Renbourn has four great instructional DVDs:
Folk, Blues & Beyond
Celtic Melodies & Open Tunings
The Jazz Tinge
Medieval & Renaissance Music
Available as Direct Downloads and Physical DVDs
WWW.GUITARVIDEOS.COM
Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte by John Renbourn is a baroque folk album that came out in 1968. You can tell by the title how...
Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte by John Renbourn is a baroque folk album that came out in 1968. You can tell by the title how medieval / renaissance like this album is.
All the songs on side one are traditional songs, with new arrangements by John Renbourn. Side two contains original compositions.
This is a vinyl rip, so I hope you enjoy its unique quality.
Track Listing:
1. The Earle of Salisury
2. The Trees They Do Grow High
3. The Lady Goes to Church
4. Morgana
5. Transfusion
6. Forty-Eight
7. My Dear Boy
8. White Fishes
9. Sweet Potato
10. Seven Up
John Renbourn - guitar
Terry Cox - finger cymbals, African drums, glockenspiel
Ray Warleigh - flute
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London
Engineer: John Wood
Produced by Nathan Joseph
An original Transatlantic Records production
Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte by John Renbourn is a baroque folk album that came out in 1968. You can tell by the title how medieval / renaissance like this album is.
All the songs on side one are traditional songs, with new arrangements by John Renbourn. Side two contains original compositions.
This is a vinyl rip, so I hope you enjoy its unique quality.
Track Listing:
1. The Earle of Salisury
2. The Trees They Do Grow High
3. The Lady Goes to Church
4. Morgana
5. Transfusion
6. Forty-Eight
7. My Dear Boy
8. White Fishes
9. Sweet Potato
10. Seven Up
John Renbourn - guitar
Terry Cox - finger cymbals, African drums, glockenspiel
Ray Warleigh - flute
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London
Engineer: John Wood
Produced by Nathan Joseph
An original Transatlantic Records production
01. Trotto / Saltarello
02. Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
03. Veri Floris / Triple Ballade
04. Bransle Gay / Bransle De Bourgogne
05. Alman / Melancholy Galliard
06. Sarabande
07. The Lady And The Unicorn
08. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair
John Renbourn: guitars and sitar
Terry Cox: hand-drums and glockenspiel
Don Harper: viola
Lea Nicholson: concertina
Tony Roberts: flute
Ray Warleigh: flute
Dave Swarbrick: violin
British guitar great John Renbourn performs "Little Niles" at a concert in Toronto. From the DVD "John Renbourn In Concert 1990." More info at https://stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop.webflow.io/stefan-grossmans-guitar-workshop-online-store#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
A beautiful album by a beautiful guitarist, who left us today (March 26th). Rest in peace, your music has brought us more beauty than you could ever have imagined...!
(Thanks to alberto for the track listing)
Moon Shines Bright (Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston) 0:00
The English Dance (Traditional) 3:58
Bourrée I and II (Johann Sebastian Bach) 6:49
Medley: The Mist Covered Mountains of Home / The Orphan / Tarboulton 9:13
The Pelican (John Renbourn) 18:41
The Black Balloon (Traditional) 25:51
John Renbourn - Medley - The Mist Covered Mountains of Home-The Orphan -Tarboulton 1979
One one the finest acoustic guitar pieces ever heard.
Medley taken from:
John Renbourn - The Black Balloon 1979
This album is one of John's 'medieval' style albums,
with 13th and 16th century pieces mixed with a couple
of Renbourn tracks. The songs are all credited as
being 'traditional arranged Renbourn' - but at least
The Pelican and The Black Balloon are certainly not
traditional.
The flute is played by Tony Roberts, the tabors by
Stuart Gordon.
John Renbourn: guitar
Tony Roberts: flutes
Stuart Gordon: Tabors
Webside:
http://www.john-renbourn.com/
learning the guitar tabs:
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-mist-covered-guitar-tab-s39809t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-orphan-guitar-tab-s39803t0
http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/john-renbourn-the-tarbolton-guitar-tab-s39808t0
http://alle-noten.de/index.php?link=http%3A//alle-noten.de/cgi-bin/search2a.cgi%3Fpnum%3D828%26lang%3Dde
John Renbourn, Scarborough Fair, from "The Lady And Unicorn" (Transatlantic 1970).
John Renbourn, guitar; Tony Roberts, flute; Don Harper, viola.
For my comments on music please visit:
http://somelikeitfolk.blogspot.it/2011/10/scarborough-fair-la-mia-versione.html
Pictures from the tapestry cycle "the Lady and The Unicorn" and other artwork are from the website of Musée du Moyen-Âge, Paris, where they are collected.
From the Vestapol DVD: John Renbourn In Concert 1990. To order: https://www.guitarvideos.com/#!/John-Renbourn-In-Concert-1990/p/131764823
John Renbourn has four great instructional DVDs:
Folk, Blues & Beyond
Celtic Melodies & Open Tunings
The Jazz Tinge
Medieval & Renaissance Music
Available as Direct Downloads and Physical DVDs
WWW.GUITARVIDEOS.COM
Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte by John Renbourn is a baroque folk album that came out in 1968. You can tell by the title how medieval / renaissance like this album is.
All the songs on side one are traditional songs, with new arrangements by John Renbourn. Side two contains original compositions.
This is a vinyl rip, so I hope you enjoy its unique quality.
Track Listing:
1. The Earle of Salisury
2. The Trees They Do Grow High
3. The Lady Goes to Church
4. Morgana
5. Transfusion
6. Forty-Eight
7. My Dear Boy
8. White Fishes
9. Sweet Potato
10. Seven Up
John Renbourn - guitar
Terry Cox - finger cymbals, African drums, glockenspiel
Ray Warleigh - flute
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London
Engineer: John Wood
Produced by Nathan Joseph
An original Transatlantic Records production
John Renbourn (8 August 1944 – 26 March 2015) was an English guitarist and songwriter. He was possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence (1967–1973).
While most commonly labelled a folk musician, Renbourn's musical tastes and interests took in early music, classical music, jazz, blues and world music. His most influential album, Sir John Alot (1968), featured his take on tunes from the Medieval era.
Biography
John Renbourn studied classical guitar at school and it was during this period that he was introduced to Early Music. In the 1950s, along with many others, he was greatly influenced by the musical craze of "Skiffle" and this eventually led him to explore the work of artists such as Lead Belly, Josh White and Big Bill Broonzy.
In the 1960s the new craze in popular music was Rhythm and Blues, also the impact of Davey Graham was being felt. In 1961 Renbourn toured the South West with Mac MacLeod and repeated the tour in 1963.On returning from the South West Renbourn and MacLeod recorded a demo tape together. Renbourn briefly played in an R&B band while studying at the Kingston College of Art in London. Although the British "Folk Revival" was underway, most folk clubs were biased towards traditional, unaccompanied folk songs, and guitar players were not always welcome. However, the Roundhouse in London had a more tolerant attitude and here, John Renbourn joined blues and gospel singer Dorris Henderson, playing backing guitar and recording two albums with her.
A long time ago, when the Earth was green, There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen. And they'd run around free when the Earth was being born, And the loveliest of 'em all was the unicorn. There was green alligators and long-necked geese,Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,The loveliest of all was the unicorn. Well now God seen some sinnin' and it caused Him pain.And He said, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain!" He said, "Hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do,build me a floating zoo," "and take some of them"....... "Green alligators and long-necked geese,Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born.Don't you forget My unicorns." Well Old Noah he was there and he answered the callin',And he finished makin' the ark just as the rain started to fallin'.Then he marched in all them animals two by two,And he sung out as they went through,[ From: "Hey Lord," "I got Your green alligators and long-necked geese, Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn,I just can't see no unicorns!" And Noah looked out through the driving rain,Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games.They were kickin' and splashin' while the rain was pourin',Oh, them silly unicorns! There was green alligators and long-necked geese,Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.Noah cried, "Close the door 'cause the rain is just pourin',And we just cannot wait for no unicorn!" The ark started moving, and it drifted with the tide, And them unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried.And the waters come down and sort of floated them away,That's why you never seen a unicorn to this very day. But you'll see green alligators and long-necked geese,Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure