A Folk Song A Day

Bonus track: Over The Hills And Far Away (Live at Pontardawe Arts Centre, 17th Feb 2011)

Another that Jon first learnt from Martin Carthy of which he says, “Popularised by John Tams in Sharpe, which I loved. But I heard this first from Carthy so it will always be Queen Anne for me.”

This has a rather curious double life and although Martin’s notes at Mainly Norfolk makes much of the resentment of leaving, I get more a sense of boldness and high spirits on the march. Perhaps the mentions of gentlemen add an odd class reference, suggesting the common soldier is ennobled by volunteering. In its other life this is better known as a children’s song and I note the historical role of Tom in mummer’s plays. The links at the foot of Reinhard’s page are worth a quick look, although be warned the first two play a tune at you without a way to turn it off. It’s a site I’d use more often to link to but for that, as there are often interesting twists and facts to be had. Still, you can turn the volume down or grin and bear it. There are some very interesting additions and variations on Mudcat too. Certainly Tam’s version has more of the longing for home, but there are also some extra verses to be had for this version, that reinforce that death or glory feel to the song, along with the clear merits of volunteering over being pressed.

You can buy the February digital album now from all good download stores.
 

Jon says, “I love Magpie Lane’s version of this. So do they – they’ve recorded it twice, once on Six For Gold and previously on Jack In The Green. We’ve basically nicked their arrangement too.”

I guess this one is not so much Percy Thrower as well, just plain old ‘Percy’!!  Some coded lubriciousness that according to Mainly Norfolk is the first song that Cecil Sharp collected and it seems from that note that this dates to at least 1689. There appear to be several close relations mostly about sprigs of thyme, although those seem a might more cautionary, while this seems more willing. In fact if this Mudcat thread is on the mark there are close to 200 versions or variations on a theme (including one Child Ballad.) There’s also reference to the movie version of Far From The Madding Crowd, which isn’t the first I’ve seen in my research. I must say I’d like to see that now as I’d probably appreciate it. I had to study the book for O level and it was thus forever blighted, but if songs like this are in the soundtrack it’s ripe for rediscovery.

Bonus track: I Sowed The Seeds Of Love (Live at South  St. Arts Centre Reading 16th Feb)

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Another from camp and Jon says, “Another shanty that I learnt on FSC, it’s often sung as a children’s song.”

Well that might be true, but not this version methinks as it’s a tad salty for smalls. Mainly Norfolk has text from Hugill about the whole shanty business and as usual the verses on this are fairly slippery. The Mudcat thread makes much of the general sauciness of the song, but makes some quite entertaining reading on the terminology, although the meaning of certain phrases is clearly just as slippery as the verses. Still, good fun this one.

Bonus Track: Donkey Riding live at Farnham Maltings

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Another from the Watersons and Jon says, “No, not that kind of banker, although it would make sense of the bit where he runs away on board ship.”

This is another of those curious songs where the lyrics seem to get muddled to me, although I’m easily confused. But having said that this Mudcat post nails my concern, although reading through the Waterson’s version on Mainly Norfolk I can force it to work as a repetition, but only just. I wonder whether it should be “the answer that he gave” in the third verse, after she has turned him down in the second. Anyway the banker in question is a field worker or labourer rather than anything from the financial world, possibly working on dykes or drainage. Perhaps something to do with the waterways might explain the deck reference in the song. If you scroll up that Mudcat thread, however, the nautical connection to bank is made and that puts a whole new spin on things. There is clearly some association with Yorkshire given the Watersons’ version recorded seemingly for the county’s tourist board, but I’ve also come across a link to Wiltshire and the Upper Thames as well as suggested ties to Dorset and The Fens. Confused? I am and I’d appreciate any clarification that any of you can offer.

Bonus Track: Young Banker Live at The O’Reilly Theatre, Keeble College, Oxford.

You can buy the February digital album now from all good download stores.
 

Jon hits the bullseye with this one saying, “A lovely one from the Coppers. Sam Lee did a splendid balletic version at the Bellowhead Dirty Weekend, which ended with him leaving the stage with a sailor-suited Benji Kirkpatrick, although it’s not on YouTube sadly. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

I hope you all got cards. I must say this has a couple of intriguing elements and you can link to the Coppers’ site here. It’s also worth a quick look at Mainly Norfolk as Reinhard has some nice details. I’m quite taken with this as a song, but it has a curious shift from first to third person point of view, which makes it seem like two songs and I’m still struggling to make sense the story… I also picked this Mudcat thread as it goes into the symbolism of laurels and the wearing thereof. Those lusty Greek deities it seems.

Bonus track: Young Banker (Live at The Hive, Shrewsbury, 13th Feb 2011)

You can buy the February digital album now from all good download stores.