The Seven Seas

Kaskelot in Bristol (Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's session got off to a slow start. Parking was unusually busy outside The Bridge Inn, so I wasn't early but was only the third to arrive. We had a pleasant chat and I think were about to decide whether to stay or go when Steve C arrived just on cue. At a grand total of four we were quorate and after some more procrastination we got the evening going.

Colin was MC and he started us off with So Long It's Been Good To Know You (Woody Guthrie, Roud 15161). With no theme we didn't really know what was coming next and despite being small in number we managed to come up with quite an eclectic mix of music for the evening. Some songs were intentionally aimed at a May theme and others accidentally hit that spot. Nevertheless, our official May themed session will be this week (Friday 5 May).

Derek sang Blooming Caroline From Edinburgh Town (Roud 398, Laws P27) and Simon followed that with Jean Ritchie's The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore.

So Steve C's singing of Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy (Roud 165) brought the all-too-short first rotation to an end.

We seemed quickly to head off into a nautical sub-theme with South Australia (Roud 325) - Colin, Sally Free And Easy (Cyril Tawney) - Simon, The Bonny Ship The Diamond (Roud 2172) - Steve C, Being A Pirate (Don Freed) - Colin, The Ballad Of Patch Eye And Meg (Michelle Shocked) - Simon, Tiny Fish For Japan (Stan Rogers) - Steve C, Leaving Of Liverpool (Roud 9435) - Steve C and The War Junk Tennessee - Colin.

Derek sang his own song When Cyril Poacher Sung, bemoaning the fate of The Ship Inn at Blaxhall, Suffolk, formerly a famous venue for traditional singing where the remaining locals complained that the juke box and the Americans from nearby US Air Force Bases made traditional singing impossible. Derek also challenged Colin to a quick dictation session, by spelling out the name of his song Seán Ó Duibhir A' Ghleanna (Roud 16907).

Finally Colin asked Simon to finish off the evening with a rousing chorus, which he did with When All Men Sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford). Note that this recording was made at the aforementioned Ship Inn at Blaxhall.

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

(Number of people present - 4, of whom 4 performed)