A Folk Song A Day

Now this is an interesting little insight as Jon says, “This is one of a number of songs that I used as a template when I first started singing – learning each of June Tabor’s ornaments pretty much note for note. I’ve probably strayed a bit from it now but it’s a very good way of assimilating technical tricks of the trade.” This link suggests an Irish oral tradition through the Makem family and Sarah Makem in particular, who according to this at least, was a major font of traditional song. If anyone can add anything here please do. I’ve also seen lyrics for a Scottish version and suspect that the origins are somewhat foggy as I can’t filter a decent Mudcat thread, although this will take you to the lyrics. Again any additional detail you can add will be most welcome. I must confess this one caught me by surprise as I didn’t see the dark deed coming, although hey! This is folk music and I should have guessed. The inferred motive is probably another unwanted pregnancy and as such, I suppose this is simply a warning story to all the young lasses. Although if every such occurrence had followed the folk model, we’d probably have about half the UK population. Those seeking the June Tabor version, by the way, it’s on Aqaba, which is currently awaiting an imminent midprice reissue by Topic.

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Jon reminisces, “I spent many years asking every singer I met it they knew ‘The Fish And Chip Song’ after hearing it many times at the Colpitts in Durham sung by John from Derbyshire. Eventually, I heard it by chance sitting in Fay’s student house with a Keith Kendrick CD on in the background. The poem was written partly as a celebration of Derbyshire dialect so I am on very shaky ground bastardising the language and what with my southern pronunciation…  It’s still such a beautiful song regardless, I really feel it needs to be sung and if you can’t pull the original off (no chance for me) then an RP version will have to do. Please check out Keith’s original Derbyshire version though, I think it’s on Home Ground on Fellside.” I can confirm the CD, which is still available on Fellside and very good it is too. Keith accompanies himself on English concertina on his version and in the CD booklet describes it as “Originally a poem written along similar lines to the theme of Where Do You Go To MY Lovely? By Peter Sarstedt, but much earlier (early fifties I think) reflecting life in the mining towns of North East Derbyshire by one Lal Wood. The tune was added later by dialect historian and dear old buddy, the late Richard Scollins.” This is another case where Jon’s guitar and vocal delivery seem to get to the core of the wistful sadness at the heart of the song that acquires a new and genuine tenderness , which quite brought a lump to my throat. I can imagine this performance creating pin drop silence and… “Yes of course I’m alright, I’ve just got something in my eye.”

The buy links should now work properly. We had some problems with a duplicate track and everything needed to be updated, but I’ve just tested them and they are now OK!

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Jon calls this,“Another Bellamy tour-de-force from Songs An’ Rummy Conjurin’ Tricks. I can’t match Bellamy for power, but hopefully people will check out his version too.” This gold rush song that seems to have any number of verses and you’ll find a fairly extensive Mudcat thread  giving you plenty of information here. As well as Bellamy, Dylan recorded and released it on his Self Portrait album and his version certainly follows the same tune, adding lyrical variations. The song of course refers to the California gold rush of 1849 and may be contemporary, but probably actually dates from the 1870s being collected and published around this time. Somewhere in there I’ve read that this broadside would probably have made more money for its publishers than many made in prospecting. The real money was always made by the bar keepers, grocers, entertainers and so forth that set up to supply the miners. In this tale Old Tom Moore remains the survivor, as most of the salty crew it describes meet premature ends in desperate circumstances. It would likely have proved popular in any frontier situation. I believe the Bellamy album that Jon refers to above was recorded live by Fellside’s Paul Adams at the Cockermouth folk club and can now be found as part of a double CD. This Mainly Norfolk link gives you the details.

The buy links should now work properly. We had some problems with a duplicate track and everything needed to be updated, but I’ve just tested them and they are now OK!

You can buy the digital album now from the following stores:

Another murder ballad and Jon attributes  Martin Carthy once again as his source saying, “I’m not sure where Martin Carthy got this version, but I think I prefer it to the more common Irish version, although that’s great too (particularly when Paul Brady sings it.)” The message in this cautionary tale seems to be simply, “don’t flash your cash.” Various alternatives have the unlucky lad as Edwin and Edmund and Martin actually recorded it as Young Emma, the female in love with the victim in the tale. This link is instructive and you can see from that Louis Killen and Steeleye Span have both recorded Edwin variants of the title. Peter Bellamy also gives it his unique unaccompanied treatment as Edmund In The Lowlands, which you’ll find on the recently re-released CD,  Both Sides Then, one of the Topic 70 series. Interestingly, Martin’s version seems to have traversed the Atlantic twice over, which may explain the slight difference. Mudcat away here too, I suspect that searching the title variants will yield even more if that hasn’t sated your appetite.

The buy links should now work properly. We had some problems with a duplicate track and everything needed to be updated, but I’ve just tested them and they are now OK!

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A song by Cyril Tawney, of whom Jon says, “One of the great writers of the revival. Tawney’s songs have a majesty and depth to them that not many writers-in-the-tradition have ever equalled.” This song has clearly captured the imagination of many as a quick Google brings up Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithful, Pentangle, The Trees and The Corries amongst others. I also found this Guardian obituary for Cyril, which certainly makes interesting reading.  You’ll find the lyrics at Mudcat here and scroll down to find related Cyril Tawney threads.

The buy links should now work properly. We had some problems with a duplicate track and everything needed to be updated, but I’ve just tested them and they are now OK!

You can buy the digital album now from the following stores: