Not as it might seem

Thomas Kyll's pamphlet,
published 10 days after Turpin's execution,
provides an eye-witness account of the trial

We were slightly down on numbers last week but there was a good evening of song in store last Friday at The Dragon Folk Club.

There will be no theme this week (19 January) but next Friday (26 January) will be our Burn's Night session (only one day late). I'm afraid there will be no haggis and probably no pipes unless you bring your own (I know some would say that's a relief) but there will no doubt be some Scottish songs, some of which may have some connection to the man himself.

Back then to last Friday. Colin was MC and there was no theme. Colin started things off with Stanley Accrington's Sicknote: The Reply. I haven't found a recording or even the words but you may want to be reminded of Pat Cooksey's The Sicknote to which it is a reply.

Derek started off his evening with Clyde's Water (Roud 91, Child 216) and Simon followed that with Bruce Springsteen's Factory.

Mike adopted for himself a theme of people pretending to be something they are not. He started the theme with Turpin Hero (Roud 621, Laws L10) where Dick Turpin presents himself as an innocent traveller. Next came The Rainbow (Roud 492, Laws N4) where the captain of that ship was killed by the Spanish and his place was successfully taken by a "damsel".

Barrett's Privateers (Stan Rogers) were Candians on a sloop called The Antelope in pursuit of an American vessel loaded with gold; I'm not sure of the deception here but it is quite possible there was intended to be some. The next was quite clear, being the Female Drummer (Roud 226) who was well respected for her skills but could not be kept on by the army after her deception was revealed by lady who fell in love with her.

The last song of the evening came from Colin and was the appropriate Parting Glass (Roud 3004).

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

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