Lay Down
"Lay Down" is a single by the Strawbs which reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1972 - their first hit. It was included on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams. 
The lyrics are loosely based on the 23rd Psalm in the Old Testament and the song was widely considered to be writer Dave Cousins's most commercial and radio-friendly offering to date. Indeed, some aficionados accused Cousins and the band of "selling out", especially as the band later appeared on Top of the Pops dressed in glittery "glam rock" outfits and wearing make-up (with drummer Richard Hudson unusually placed at the front of the stage).
The single was described, in the original A&M Records Press Release, as ".. the Strawbs first real attempt to crack open the singles market." It featured strong rock guitar riffs from the band's new guitarist Dave Lambert.  The album version features an additional guitar solo, making it about thirty seconds longer than the single.
The song was brought to the public's attention again in 2007 when it featured on the BBC television series "Life on Mars". It was, however, unaccountably absent from the DVD boxset soundtrack.

B-Side
The B-side "Backside" is attributed to "Ciggy Barlust and the Whales from Venus", an obvious allusion to David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
It was actually a Strawbs composition credited to all members of the band at that time.

Other recordings
The song was re-recorded (with different personnel) for the 2003 Strawbs album Blue Angel and also the 1979 Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby album Old School Songs.

Personnel
Dave Cousins – lead vocals, electric guitar
Dave Lambert – lead guitar, backing vocals
John Ford – bass guitar, backing vocals
Blue Weaver – mellotron
Richard Hudson – drums, backing vocals

Release history
Notes
References
"Lay Down" at Strawbsweb
Sleeve notes to CD 540 936-2 (A&M) Bursting at the Seams
Awde, Nick. Mellotron: The Machine and Musicians That Revolutionised Rock, Desert Hearts, 2008. ISBN 978-1-898948-02-5

External links
Lyrics to "Lay Down" at Strawbsweb official site
Lyrics to "Backside" at Strawbsweb official site
Lyrics to "The Winter and the Summer" at Strawbsweb official site
Lyrics to "Tomorrow" at Strawbsweb official site
Lyrics to "The Flower and the Young Man" at Strawbsweb official site