St Andrew's Day 2017

Point of Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last Friday's session saw a satisfactory number of seven bums on seats for a St Andrew's Day theme. I had pointed out in publicity that St Andrew is patron saint of many places and things other than Scotland, including singers, but it was barely needed since I think there were only two songs clearly unrelated to Scotland, one very deliberately and the other was written by someone with what appears to be a Scottish name.

Colin was the MC and he called on Steve C to start us off; Steve sang Jock Stewart (Roud 975).

Since there were so many Scottish and Scottish-related songs, I will list them all:

• Colin - St Andrew's Day (poem)
• Derek - A Bhirlinn Bharrach (Kishmul's Galley)
• Simon - The Handweaver And The Factory Maid (Roud 17771)

There are two songs with this title (Roud 17771 and Roud 3085). While I haven't quite managed to work out which is which in terms of their history, they seem to have been collected in Lancashire and Ireland. The version Simon sings, from the singing of Sylvia Barnes, then of Scotch Measure, is definitely derived from 17771 and refers to Scottish locations (Anderston, an area of Glasgow).

• Mike - Flower Of Scotland (Roy Williamson)
• John P - Wark O' The Weavers (Roud 374)
• Geoff - Mairi's Wedding (John Bannerman (Baron Bannerman of Kildonan), Sir Hugh Stevenson Roberton)
• Steve C - Leezie Lindsay (Roud 94, Child 226)
• Colin - Jamie Raeburn's Farewell (Roud 600)
• Derek - Freedom Come All Ye (Hamish Henderson)
• Simon - Nancy Whisky (Roud 883)
• Mike - Johnny Lad (Roud 2587)
• John P - The Road To The Isles
• Geoff - Freeborn Man Of The Travelling People (Ewan MacColl)

While Ewan MacColl (originally James Henry Miller) grew up in Lancashire his parents were Scottish.

• Steve C - Henry Martin (Roud 104, Child 250)
• Colin - Air Fa La La Lo
• Derek - The Wee Magic Stane (John McEvoy)
• Simon - Laird Of The Dainty Dounby (Roud 864)
• Mike - Will Ye Go Lassie Go (Francis McPeake 1st, based on Braes O' Balquither by Robert Tannahill)

While McPeake was Irish, Tannahill was Scottish. In fact Tannahill himself may have collected and adapted the song The Braes o' Bowhether, so the history is rather complicated but definitely has Scottish roots.

• John P - McPherson's Farewell (Robert Burns, Roud 2160)
• Geoff - Coulter's Candy (Robert Coltart, Roud 19019)
• Steve C - The Bonnie Ship The Diamond (Roud 2172)
• Colin - This Love (Dougie MacLean)
• Derek - The Four Marys (Roud 79, Child 173)
• Simon - Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
• Mike - The Prickle Holly Bush (Roud 144, Child 95)
• John P - Holy Willie's Prayer (Robert Burns - poem)
• Geoff - The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre (Roud 2137)
• Steve C - The Rose (Amanda McBroom)

Amanda McBroom is American, so this was the first song of the evening with no obvious Scottish connection.

• Colin - Ye Jacobites By Name (Roud 5517)
• Derek - Because It Didn't Pay (Johnny Handle)

The second non-Scottish song of the evening, Derek sang this because the news of the day suggested that some of the railway lines closed by Dr Beeching in the 1960s may reopen.

• Simon - Geordie (Roud 90, Child 209)
• John P - Donald Where's Your Troosers (Andy Stewart, Neil Grant)
• Geoff - D.I.V.O.R.C.E. (Billy Connolly)
• Steve C - Bonny Border Lass (Archie Fisher)
• Colin - The Haggis Season (Jeremy Lloyd, Jim Parker)
• Derek - When I Was A Wee Wee Tot
• Simon - Maids When You're Young (Roud 210)

This Friday's session will have no theme, so make sure you're there to sing or listen to songs and tunes of any ilk as long as they're acoustic.

Here's a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 7, of whom 7 performed)