Six Nations of song - 2016

George Kruis goes over for England's
first try against Scotland (Inpho)

Shock horror, it seems that the previous week's session wasn't the record breaker we claimed. According to Mike, the record for the number of songs sung in an evening at The Dragon Folk Club is 48, and last week we only managed 46. Oh well, we'll just have to try harder next time - where are all those single line songs that Mike and Derek seem so readily to bring out when you least expect it?

Colin, being MC, proposed a rugby theme since the following day would bring the first games of the Six Nations. This was followed by some with songs from all those nations being represented together with various song of more or less spurious connection with rugby.

Derek kicked us off with Johnny Handle's Farewell To The Monty. Now, I'm no rugby expert, so please forgive me if I miss any rugby references.

I believe Colin intended a rugby connection with Here's To The Morning Glory (Doug Flett and Guy Fletcher) and that Chris's Linden Lea (RoudBS B104645, words William Barnes, music Ralph Vaughan Williams) is also relevant.

Wales was well represented with Lesley singing Max Boyce's Did You Understand, Colin with Men Of Harlech (Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech; English Lyrics [different versions] by John Oxenford, Thomas Oliphant and others) and Chris with David Of The White Rock (Dafydd Y Garreg Wen - David Owen, John Ceiriog Hughes). Roger sang his own sons, If You Ever Go Across The Bridge To Newport.

Scotland was represented by the inevitable Flower of Scotland (Roy Williamson) sung by Mike, by Chris's Skye Boat Song (Sir Harold Boulton), and by Colin's The Dark Island (David Silver and Ian MacLaughlan).

Ireland came to us in the shape of Lesley's Song For Ireland (Phil Colclough, June Colclough) and Richard's McShane.

English songs included Chris's Barbara Allen (Child 84, Roud 54), this version of which is thought to be about Reading in Berkshire, "Scarlet town" being a play on words. There was Lesley's Harry Eddom (Bill Meek) and Derek's Dogger Bank (Roud 18836, Laws D8). Meanwhile Richard took us to Chester with The Brisk Young Widow (Roud 2438) and to the North East with Bonny Gateshead Lass (Joe Wilson). Simon's contribution to this whistlestop tour of the country was Buttercup Joe (Roud 1635); his version mentions Wareham in Dorset rather than Fareham in Hampshire, coming as it does from The Yetties.

Italy was represented with one song from Colin, which was the English version of Funiculi Funicula, (Luigi Denza, Italian lyrics by Peppino Turco, English lyrics by Edward Oxenford) the words of which incidentally bear little relation to the original Italian.

The only person to sing who didn't find the rugby theme in some way, and that may be because I missed it, was Phil, whose American repertoire saw us travelling around the USA on Hobo Bill's Last Ride (Elsie McWilliams, Jimmie Rodgers). The remaining person was Terry H, who turned up unable to sing because of some lurgy. He came out hoping to sit in front of the fire but Chris, the landlord, declared that the fire is only burning when there's been a wake and there had been no such event that day - the pub is close to Westerleigh Crematorium and does quite a trade in memorial events!

Simon closed the evening, completing the six nations with Chevaliers De La Table Ronde.

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

(Number of people present - 10, of which 9 performed)