A Folk Song A Day

Jon picked this up “From Folk Songs Of The English Speaking Nations. I did this briefly with John and then with Eliza and the Ratcatchers. Fay’s now doing a great version with Sam and Rob.”

Also known as The Pesky Sarpant (or Serpent) and possibly based in part on a true tale of death by snakebite of Timothy Myrick on August 7^th 1761, although I’m sure there is more than one case that this could be based on. There do seem to be at least two styles to this song, with one simply and seriously recounting his death and burial and the other adding the girl with the rotten tooth who also succumbs. I must say I’m surprised to see this latter version described as comic with its double death by poison, although I guess by folk song standards… Anyway, Mudcat has a decent thread on this, with some variations and history. I’ll agree with Jon that Fay’s version is great having seen here again a week or so ago in East Dulwich, but then I like this too.

Jon calls this one “A strange, spiky broadside from Nic Jones and all very Hogarthian.”

A fairly straight forward cautionary tale this one and I note a tune written for the words by Nic jones. His version on Game Set Match comes with typical, mind-boggling guitar accompaniment, but I think Jon handles this well. Mainly Norfolk has some details of the broadside printing and also details Nic’s recordings. There a Mudcat thread too, although it’s not especially packed with extras. I must say I think that the alternate title of Unfortunate Sally is a bit wide of the mark, as she seems calculating and a fair bit wanton as well, or am I being harsh?

Jon Admits, “Fay is from Keighley so I fear will never forgive Tim Hart for his mispronunciation (‘Keeley’). I’ve at least got that right although, as ever, the southern accent lets me down with this song.”

Fair enough I suppose as this was originally written in a broad Yorkshire dialect by a man with a a particular interest in said in the late C19th. Mainly Norfolk covers that  (dialect ‘n’ all)and also makes clear that the tune is a recent addition. The song or poem more like was written by a Frederick William Moorman and you can Wiki him here, although it’s a brief entry and I note he died quite young, so if you know him please add below. I’ll also leave you to Mudcat here as well. I like this one and suppose it marks the effects of the industrial revolution, but the protagonist seems to have flung himself at anything going to earn his family’s keep, yet escaped at last. It seems odd, but this very idea could become almost as arcane as any of the motifs we’ve had here to date. A sort of Victorian Escape To The Country if you will.

As we’ve had a little technical issue with this one I’m without a comment from Jon, so will have to take this one on myself and ask Jon to comment below. Apologies too if you have the podcast and were expecting Sailor’s Rest as this is Take This Hammer, a prison work song from the USA first recorded by Leadbelly in 1942. It was collected by Alam Lomax and the earliest record of it seems to be 1915. Wiki is the best on this having a fairly impressive list of those that have recorded the song and also linking it to Nine Pound Hammer and Swannanoa Tunnel. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good Mudcat thread, so I’m happy to report that there’s one here that adds extra verses and all sorts, well worth a few minutes of your time.

Jon confesses, “I never got around to learning this, possibly because it seems a bit silly to learn Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy and  Farewell Lovely Nancy, but it’s a lovely melody so thought I might as well.”

I’d suggest that Jon picked this up from Tim Hart as it’s his version that he follows, although he credits Tim and Maddy. There isn’t much difference anyway,  save for an extra verse confirming the going away again, which seems a little superfluous to the plot and is more of a singers devise for bringing the song to a close. I’m intrigued by this idea of women dressing up as sailors as I think I’ve probably mentioned before. And lest you get any ideas, I simply mean in songs like this, wondering whether there was any truth to it. It seems possibly so, but as it was far from the official position no records are available to confirm it. Also other than songs there are no accounts either. Someone may have researched this a little more than I have time for, so any comments and details to flesh out the story will be duly appreciated. There is this link – worth a look, although it hardly makes it all crystal. Anyway, the hour is late, a pint might soothe a ticklish throat and Mainly Norfolk has plenty to keep you occupied for a while. So after yesterday’s marathon, I’ll keep this one in check.