A mixed bag

Martin Said to his Man (print: Maxine Copeland)

Last week's session was a return to satisfying numbers with a surprise visit from Tom, and a first-time visit from Trevor. You'll notice that this report is back to normal this week. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad one but either way I am endebted to those who have filled in for me in my absence over the last few weeks.

We had learned rather belatedly from a comment on a previous blog post of the death of Joe Rushbrook, who attended our sessions on-and-off for quite some time with his carer Joscie. In fact it was Joscie who informed us that his funeral was on 6 July. If Joscie sees this, I am sorry I didn't get the message in time to invite our members but everyone present who knew him was pleased that you made the effort and I understand that Tom, who was particularly friendly with Joe, had already passed on our condolences.

School’s (nearly) out

Those of us (this is the Substitute Scribe speaking) who work at the chalkface are already getting twitchy at the thought of the approaching holiday, and the twitchiness was increased by the emergence of a theme relating to the teaching of and attitude towards folk music in school, along with recollections of teachers telling children with ‘distinctive’ voices to confine themselves to mime.

Songs sung in this category ranged from genuine, if bowdlerised, folksongs learned from BBC broadcasts, to dubious parodies. These included The Keeper [Roud 1519], Mrs McGrath [Roud 678], Green and Yellow [a version of Lord Randall, Child 12, much favoured by Pam Ayres], Life Presents a Dismal Picture [to the tune of Scarlet Ribbons, though often sung to Hark the Herald] – all by Mike – Soldier Soldier [Roud 489], Prickle Holly Bush [Child 89] and (whilst on the subject of schools) Keith Gregson’s Steelworks Song –all Derek.

The official record

In the absence of the usual scribe and the regular deputy scribe, this report of last weeks session comes in a simplified format from the official record of the Dragon Folk Club.

Colin: The apprentice song; Back home in Derry; Dutchmans trousers; across the line; Eddystone light.

New visitor, Jan Miller from Bude in Cornwall ,visiting her son sang unaccompanied the following: Sheep stealer; Pinjarrah dreams; Charlotte Diamond; the recruiting sergeant; John Conden.

Tom - Buddy can you spare a dime; Autumn Leaves; Sweet baby Jane; Lasso the moon; White trash.

Give me that old time religion

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

It'll be a concise report of last week's session but I hope it will still give you a flavour of what happened.

There was a tongue in cheek note at the end of the previous week's blog report that there might be a theme of carrier bags. Colin started us off with his one plastic bag song: Benledi Street Ballad. Apparently Coin found three other songs about bags but hadn't been able to prepare them for performance.

I don't think Derek's Lake of Coolfin (Roud 189, Laws Q33) had anything to do with bags of any kind and neither did Geoff's first: Master McGrath (James Custer, Roud V32683).