I Can See for Miles and Miles...

Aletsch Glacier (Photo:Simon Meeds)

The Substitute Scribe was on duty again and declared he could see no more obvious topic for the 31st Jan 2020 than to celebrate Dick Miles' 69th birthday, performing our favourite songs learnt from Dick. Derek therefore sang Bogie's Bonny Belle (Roud 2155), Farewell to the Monty (Johnny Handle), Tommy's Lot (Dominic Williams) and Lord Bateman (Roud 40 Child 53), as well as his own Flatlands, the first verse of which was inspired by Dick's Sugartown (a Suffolk nickname for Bury St Edmunds). No-one else chose to contribute a song to this, but Mike told a number of amusing anecdotes attesting to Dick's maladroitness with technology.

Some people however pointed out the political significance of the day, with Colin reprising When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew -  a song written by A.J. Cutler in 1967 and apparently quoted  much more recently by Jacob Rees-Mogg. Also Mike sang some extra verses to Leave Her, Johnny (Roud 354) pertaining to leaving the E.U. He may indeed have had more to come, but Indie began projectile vomiting, and he, sick as a dog, and Mike needed to return home early.

We were delighted to have the company of Mal, a mere 30 years since he last visited the club! He performed a range of interesting and unusual material, which I will list in full:

Merry Little Hop, written by Graeme Miles (justifying the plural in this week's blog title) on a holiday in Faversham;

My Lodging is a Cellar Here - a 20th century translation of an early 19th century German song Im tiefen Keller sitz ich hier by Ludwig Fischer. This is very much an Art Song and so not qualifying for a Roud number, though taken up by that gem of folk singers Jeff Wesley;

Blacksmith's Son (Jack Henderson);

Tom Pepper (Rev Richard Gillion lately of this parish!);

The Highwayman - an early 20th century poem by Alfred Noyes, set to music;

Brother Noah  (Roud 8821 – but apparently much altered by The Shanty Crew);

The Drovers (Keith Marsden),with which he finished the evening, thereafter complimenting us on the quality and volume of our chorus singing, and hoping he would be visiting Bristol again soon.

Other songs included:

[Geoff] Galway Shawl (Roud 2737), Never Say No to a Jar (Michael Snow) Whiskey in the Jar (Roud 534) Ballybay (Tommy Makem) and Our Gudeman (Roud 114 Child 274 with 6 nights drunk and including the English tax collector;

[Colin] The Year Turns Round Again (John Tams' take on John  Barleycorn), I'm in the Sidings Now  (Cyril Tawney), Maggie May (Roud 1757), Bristol Slaver & Cousin Jack (both  Steve Knightley) and If (David Gates).

Now listen to a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 5, of whom 5 performed)