When Roy Harper released Stormcock in 1971, it didn’t sound like anything else happening in music at the time. The album only had four songs, but each one was long, layered, and full of meaning. One of the most talked-about tracks is “Me and My Woman,” a song many listeners have misunderstood over the years.
At first listen, some people think it’s a dramatic love song — something grand and romantic. But Harper himself has explained that it isn’t really about romance at all. Instead, the song is about the human condition and how people treat each other. He wrote it during a time when the optimism of the 1960s had faded, and by the early ’70s, he felt the world was already heading in a dark direction. That sadness and frustration can be heard throughout the track.
This misunderstanding actually says a lot about the entire album. Stormcock is known for being deep, complex, and filled with powerful themes. Even though it only offers four songs, Harper manages to explore ideas like society, human connection, politics, and personal struggle. Because of that depth, musicians and fans continue to praise the album decades later.
One of those fans is Johnny Marr from The Smiths. Marr is known for his emotional, carefully crafted guitar work, so it’s no surprise he was drawn to Harper’s songwriting. When talking about Stormcock, Marr compared it to David Bowie’s Hunky Dory, calling Harper’s album the “big, badder brother” — meaning it has the same artistic versatility but with darker, heavier themes.
The other songs on the album prove Harper wasn’t interested in simple storytelling.
“The Same Old Rock” is a protest song that criticizes government, war, and organized religion.
The other tracks also deal with big questions about society and the world.
Because of this, Stormcock feels more like a journey than a typical folk record. It challenges the listener emotionally and mentally, which is one reason it holds such a special place for those who discover it.
But interestingly, when the album was released, Harper’s record label hated it. They didn’t want to promote it because there were no radio-friendly singles, and they claimed there was no money to market it. As a result, the album barely received attention at the time. Harper later said, “They hated Stormcock. No singles. No way of promoting it on the radio. They said there wasn’t any money to market it. Stormcock dribbled out.”
Despite that rough start, the album has grown into something of a hidden gem. Those who spend time with it often discover an emotional, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted record — one that still feels relevant today.
And at the heart of it is “Me and My Woman,” a song that isn’t simply about love, but about the complicated, sometimes painful ways we relate to one another. It’s a reminder that music can be much more than what it seems on the surface — and that some of the greatest songs are the ones that challenge us to look deeper.