The Dog Watch (without the dog)

Photo: Simon Meeds

Last Friday we were reduced to just three singers. Mike made an early appearance but was on his way home rather than intending to stay. In the absence of Colin, Simon took over as MC.

The main purpose of Mike's brief visit was to ask that we publicise his now confirmed shanty performance evening from 7pm on 25 September at the Major's Retreat, Tormarton (GL9 1HZ). The Bristol Shantymen were asked to perform but only Mike will be available. He is therefore looking for a crowd of willing chorus singers on the assumption that the pub regulars won't join in without prompting.

When we were finally (barely) quorate, Simon kicked off the singing with Rout of the Blues (Roud 21098).

Derek gave us McCafferty (Roud 1148) which originated as a street-ballad about Patrick McCaffrey, executed in 1862 for the killing of two of his officers. Prompted by Geoff, Derek told how a rumour had arisen among gypsies that singing this song or the more recently Kevin Barry (Roud 3014) could be considered a treasonable offence, leading to imprisonment or even death. He assumes that it was indeed a rumour and had no base in fact.

Geoff's first song, commemorating the recent death of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, was You Better Move On (Arthur Alexander) which was the band's fourth single release (January 1964).

Given the small number present, Derek had suggested at the start that we limit ourselves to three songs each. When Geoff entered the room he came with the message that we were required to finish by 10:30pm. In the end Derek and Simon decided that we would go on until Geoff had finished his drink. That lasted through 16 songs and until about 10pm with Derek finishing off the evening by singing Pump Away (Roud 10338).

Now listen to a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 3, of whom 3 performed)

Back at it

Last Friday was the first Dragon Folk Club sing-around for seventeen months, so it was quite a big day even if we could only muster six singers to mark it. The reason for the hiatus was of course the COVID-19 pandemic and while none of us know what the future will hold, for the time being we are able to meet and sing in our usual room at The Bridge Inn. The changes are that we are requested not to park in Bridge Road, and closing time is a little earlier than before. That didn't however stop us having a good first night back.

Colin, as MC, started the proceedings with a local theme and Smith of Bristol which is traditional and is included in Dominic Behan's "Ireland sings: An anthology of modern and ancient Irish songs and ballads".

Mike considered this evening the resurrection of the club and so sang a resurrection song in Stan Rogers' The Mary Ellen Carter.

Geoff saw the end (for now at least) of lock-downs and restrictions as the end of a sentence and gave us Tie a Yellow Ribbon, a song which was recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn. Irwin Levine and L Russell Brown may have been inspired to write the song by the 19th-century practice that some women allegedly had of wearing a yellow ribbon in their hair to signify their devotion to a husband or sweetheart serving in the US Cavalry.

Derek commented that he hadn't brought with him his bones (vegetarian version) when Simon sang Graham Moore's Tom Paine's Bones. Simon compounded the frustration with his second song, Poverty Knock (Tommy Daniel). Maybe Derek also hankered after his bones when Colin later sang Dance Ti Thy Daddy (Roud 2439).

Derek himself next sang Sweet Swansea (Roud 1612). He had noted a suggestion on the radio that the term "lock-down" had only come into use during the pandemic. I am not convinced that this is the case since there seem to be a number of earlier uses of the term; indeed former Royal Navy man Tom referred to its nautical use.

Maggie had sent Mike to the club with the message for all of us that Mike's canine companion Indy relaxes when Rock and Roll is played. Derek immediately suggested that Mike should sing "Rock and Roll me over", so indeed at the next opportunity he gave us One More Day (Roud 704).

Geoff is always ready to oblige when Rock 'n' Roll is required. Let's Think About Living, written by Boudleaux Bryant, was recorded by Bob Luman in 1960, but neither Geoff nor anyone else recognised his name in connection with any other song.

Geoff told us that in 1959 he heard Along Came Jones on the radio and liked it enough to buy it. The record was by The Coasters and he was initially disappointed with his purchase; it seemed that the version he had heard was not by The Coasters and he didn't like their version as much. Nevertheless his purchase was justified by the flip side, That is Rock 'n' Roll which was also written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and it was this song that he sang to us.

Derek told us that sometime during lock-down his sister had been ill. She seemed to be OK now but he wanted to sing something for her. There are plenty of "sister" songs in his repertoire but they all seem to involve murder or rape, and therefore aren't really appropriate. He then remembered the first folk song he sang at home when he was about 15 was Lord Randall (Roud 10, Child 12). His mother heard him singing and said it seemed to describe how he and his sister behaved when they were younger. The way he sings it now is not the same as he would have done then - one difference I suspect is that he now usually sings the first verse in Welsh.

Before singing the song, Tom regaled us with the meaning of the Cockney rhyming slang terms in Pop Goes the Weasel (Roud 5249).

When Colin started to sing Sydney Carter's Crown on the Cradle, Derek apparently thought he was about to start Bonny at Morn (Roud 3064), so he gave us that at the first opportunity. This song in turn inspired Tom to sing his own song, Lasso the Moon.

Because of uncertainty about when we would be required to stop singing, there was no proper interval although a brief break was taken for early last orders. Eventually the evening was brought to a close by Tom singing Allan Taylor's Standing at the Door.

With the principle proved, there will be a sing-around next week as long as someone takes up the mantle of MC in Colin's absence.

Now listen to a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 6, of whom 6 performed)

We're Back

 

After a seventeen month break we are back at the usual place, the usual time and day from 20th August. Yes, after all this time, with restrictions eased, many of us double jabbed and other sessions starting to get back to something like normal, we will be carefully returning to our weekly folk-based sing-arounds.

From 20th August, unless otherwise notified, we will be at Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol, BS16 9NG from 8:15pm every Friday.

Everyone is welcome to come along whether you sing, play an instrument, tell a story or a joke, read a poem, recite a monologue, anything goes - or indeed if you just want to listen. While we are rooted in folk music and song "of these islands" (and other, mostly English speaking countries) there is no reason you can't bring us your party piece of any genre.

We're a pretty friendly bunch and after all this time we'll need all the support we can get.

We meet in our own room in the pub and there is a well-priced bar just a few steps outside.