St Patrick's Day - 2017

Chicago River dyed green for St Patrick's Day 2015
Photo by Scott M Liebenson

No excuses this time, our session really was on St Patrick's Day and most of us managed at least some Irish songs though I'm not sure we answered Gary's challenge from the week before to name some decent Irish song writers from the last 50 (was it?) years.

With the absence of several regulars it was good to be joined by Steve G, who drops in occasionally, and Paul, who is a rare sight since his move to the wilds of Somerset.

Colin as MC put himself on first and sang Galway Farmer (Steve Knightley), an appropriate celebration of the Cheltenham Festival which usually coincides with St Patrick's Day and is therefore a honeypot for Irish owners, riders and punters.

Steve G followed up with the Saw Doctors' Green And Red Of Mayo (Jarir Al-Majar, Leo Moran, Davy Carton).

Paul, as is his wont, sang and played several of his own songs. For several he manufactured spurious Irish connections and tales but we'll five him that. A certain similarity was suggested by Colin to the vocal and playing style of Mike Scott, though generally without Mike's comedy angle. Paul's songs for the evening weer Fragile Bodies about the mourners at a funeral, Not Loving You which is, I think about unrequited love if I can untangle the spurious story, Clock Tower, about his childhood meeting place in Keynsham, and Hedges which captures the feeling of his scenic route from work to home via the Chew Valley Lake.

Phil's first of the evening was The Cannonball and John B's was Danny Boy. Luckily for him Maggie S was not present since it is one of her least favourite songs. It's also worth noting that while it is associated with Ireland and the melody is Irish (Londonderry Air), the words were written by Englishman Frederic Weatherly who is a local to us, having been born and brought up in nearby Portishead.

Simon returned safely to Ireland though with a sprinkling of the antipodes in the words of Muirsheen Durkin. Mike's contribution was maybe slightly less authentic being the parodic Oh No, Not The Fields Of Athenry.

I will attempt to list the Irish and Irish-connected songs out of the rest of the session. Forgive me if I miss any:

• Colin - The Curragh Of Kildare
• Steve G - JOH - Four Men and a Dog
• Simon - Black Velvet Band (Roud 2146)
• Colin - The Ancient And Old Irish Condom
• Steve G - Blackwaterside (Roud 564, Laws P18)
• John B - Carrickfergus
• Simon - The Real Old Mountain Dew (Roud 938)
• Colin - The Gals O' Dublin Town (Roud 7989)

And finally, Simon finished off the evening with The Galway Shawl (Roud 2737).

I won't be at next week's session but I understand it will be themeless, so dig out all your songs from dusty corners that won't fit any specialist subject, or sing anything you like really. My place on the blog writing will be taken by a new alternative deputy, so please be gentle with him and I'm sure he'll do a fine job just be sure to turn up and sing or play so that he has something to write about.

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

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