Civil rights, the sea and rovin'

Joseph Taylor

This week it was Steve G who set himself a personal theme, and it was centred around the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. His songs were also all by Bob Dylan. The first was Oxford Town. He followed that with Only a pawn in their game, about the death of black activist, Medgar Evers. Steve's third song was The lonesome death of Hattie Carroll, which gives a generally factual account of the killing of 51-year-old barmaid Hattie Carroll by William Devereux "Billy" Zantzinger.

Stories, disasters and adventures

Donibristle disaster memorial

This week Maggie 1 brought along a thank you letter from BUST for the money raised at Maggie 2's birthday session on 26 July. As previously announced, we raised a total of £52.65.

Mike kicked off the session with Drink old England dry.

This weeks' new face was Colin (yes, we had two Colins) who regaled us with stories strange and wonderful, and often funny. It wouldn't be polite or particularly useful to recount his stories here, but one went something like this.

To join my voice with yours and sing a song with all our might

Harry Bridges

We were a little thin on the ground this week but keen enough that when Mike suggested calling it a day at half time, it was decided to carry on. As the song, Friends like these, by George Papavgeris, sung by Robin, says "I've been waiting since last [Friday] just to be with you tonight, just to join my voice with yours and sing a song with all our might".

I didn't discern any themes, intended or otherwise this week and there were no visitors to mention, so I'll just list at random a few of the songs that were sung - maybe some of the less well known (at least to me) ones.

Certainly eclectic

John Twigg

This week's session came with the realisation that wine and beer have gone up 10p. Far less than at some pubs, I was assured by Maggie. Maggie had arranged for a get well card to be sent from the club to Pat who has been in hospital but is now back at home and is understood to be recovering from her operation.

Mike kicked off the session with Firing the Mauritania.

Tom sang Paul Simon's American Tune despite obviously not being his greatest fan - it was sung at Ray's request. Colin took us to the antipodes with Davy Lowston. Gary then moved us to Spain, singing Silenci in Catalan (I think it might have been this, based on a few half-heard words, but my apologies to Gary if I'm wrong). Simon returned us to America with Mark Knopfler's Sailing to Philadelphia.

Martin was this week's visitor, coming from Sheffield and in the area for just a couple of nights. He took us to his home town with Glossop Road.

New songs and old

St Nicholas' church,
King's Norton

I'll get the big news out of the way first. Last week's fund raiser for BUST raised a total of £52.65, including donations and the raffle.

I was also pleased this week to see Helen, who contacted me back in March about coming to the club. She is a singer/songwriter guitarist and was concerned that the club might be too traditional and not accepting of her style. I assured her that despite the jokes levelled at guitarists, she would be very welcome, and I hope she felt she was - she seemed to have had fun at least.

So, we were treated to three of Helen's own songs: Lost, Time is Ticking and I would stand. Derek joined in that strand in his own style with his song, Lament for the Fishing.