Mumford & Sons Trivia

1. Several of the songs from Mumford & Sons' debut album contain lines drawn from Shakespeare, including the title track. What ditty from "Much Ado About Nothing" provided both the title and some of the lyrics for that track?

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: Sigh No More, Ladies

In the play, Balthasar continues his song with "Men were deceivers ever, one foot in sea and one foot on shore" (the latter part of this line is also in the Mumford & Sons song). There the song is part of a plot on the part of Don Pedro to place doubts in a woman's mind about the fidelity of her fiancée. Many of the other lines in the Mumford & Sons song, including "Serve God, love me and mend" and "man is a giddy thing", are also drawn directly from the play.

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: The Cave

"The Cave" was the third single from the album and was released as a CD single on the 2nd of March 2010. It was nominated for Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Song of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards. It peaked at 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100, 32 on the Australian charts, 3 on the US Alternative charts and 2 at the US Rock Songs chart. The music video involves the band riding around India on electric scooters. The band performed "The Cave" live at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: Macbeth

In the play, the line occurs shortly after King Duncan tells Macbeth that he is naming Malcolm (and not Macbeth) as his heir. In an aside, Macbeth asks the stars to hide their fires so that his "deep and black desires" (his own ambitions of becoming King) are not shown to the light. The band takes this line and flips it around, saying, "Stars, hide your fires. These here are my desires, and I will give them up to you this time around". No more hiding from the light for them!

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Thistle & Weeds

"Thistle & Weeds" starts slow and gradually builds up in speed. After a loud part filled with harmonies and loud music, the song ends slow again. The song has a generally dark feel to it.

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: King Lear

At the play's opening, the aging King Lear divides his kingdom between Regan and Goneril in response to their flattering declarations of love, and disinherits his third daughter Cordelia for her own honesty. Once they gain their power, though, the first two daughters mistreat both Lear and his men. "I gave you all!" is the anguished cry of Lear as he confronts his daughters about their behavior.

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Sigh No More

The album's title track is centred on harmonies and the acoustic guitar. After a slow start of guitar and harmonies, the song builds in tempo and finishes strong. Much of the lyrics in this song are taken from Shakespeare. Indeed, the title of the song is taken from a song performed in "Much Ado About Nothing".

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: John Steinbeck

The word Timshel appears in Genesis Chapter 4, immediately after God warns Cain about how sin "lieth at the door". In the King James Bible, the word is translated as "shalt", as in "thou shalt rule over" sin. But the characters in "East of Eden" eventually come to the conclusion that the proper translation is "thou MAYEST" -- it is your choice how you face adversity! In the song, it is instead death that is "at your doorstep". But, as the song promises as it goes on, "it will not steal your substance...you have your choices, and these are what make man great".

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Dust Bowl Dance

"Dust Bowl Dance" is perhaps the most aggressive song of the album, after a slow piano-centred start. The song contains crashing drums, dark lyrics and loud music in general. An example of the dark lyrics: "There will come a time I will look in your eye You will pray to the God that you always denied Then I'll go out back and I'll get my gun I'll say, 'You haven't met me, I am the only son'."

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: Babel

In the Book of Genesis, the people intended to build a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven", in order to "make a name" for themselves. The confounding of language was then done in order to prevent the tower from being built. In the song of the same name, Mumford takes this as a metaphor for his own pride, singing "Like the city that nurtured my greed and my pride, I stretched my arms into the sky". But, like the Biblical tower, the tower he builds around himself remain unfinished, and eventually "the walls of my tower they come crumbling down."

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: I Gave You All

"I Gave You All" is a song with dark lyrics and loud music, although only after a slow start of acoustic guitar and vocals. In the song, Marcus Mumford is talking to someone who did something wrong by him. The chorus's only lyrics are "I gave you all".

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: London

One end of Holland Road is located across Shepherd's Bush Green from the O2 Empire venue where Mumford & Sons recorded their first live album. The other end is at Kensington High Street, and is the location of the UK Headquarters of the Universal Music Group, the parent company of the band's label.

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Roll Away Your Stone

"Roll Away Your Stone" was the fourth single to be released from the album. It was the third in the US. It was released on the 3rd of June (7th of June in the US). "Stars hide your fires" is an example of Shakespeare in Mumford & Sons lyrics, the quote appeared in "Macbeth" (or "The Scottish Play").

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: New York City

Much of "Wilder Mind" was written in the studio of The National's Aaron Dessner, which is located close to Brooklyn's Ditmas Park. Tompkins Square Park is located across the East River in Manhattan. New York also gets a nod in "Broad-Shouldered Beasts" from the same album, which references how "Manhattan beats at the night".

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Awake My Soul

"Awake My Soul" is a song with many religious references, such as "Awake my soul, for you were made to meet your maker". The song has plenty of banjo and guitar and the chorus is harmony filled.

From Quiz The Many References of Mumford & Sons

Answer: Hot Gates

The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an invading Persian force and a coalition of Greek forces and served as the (loose) inspiration for the 2007 film "300". The Persians, who heavily outnumbered the Greeks, eventually won the battle, but suffered heavy losses in doing so. In the song, Mumford makes reference to the idea of the costs of winning, singing of "these hot gates you spent your victory on".

From Quiz Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" Lyrics

Answer: Winter Winds

A generally upbeat song, Marcus Mumford has called this song his favourite to play live. The track was released as a single on the 6th of December in the UK and peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles chart. It gained generally positive reviews from critics.

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