I'm sure we could squeeze some more in

Squeeze Guts Alley, Truro
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

There was no theme at last week's Dragon Folk Club session. Eight singers met and sang the night away.

MC Colin started things rolling with The Bristol ship the Matthew written by local shanty singer Maurice Flay, obviously about John Cabot's and his voyages to America. The song is set to the tune of Bonnie Ship the Diamond (roud 2172).

Simon open his account with Dave Sudbury's King of Rome, though he later went on to follow Colin's lead with local shanty singer Ian "Nobby" Dye's Welsh Back Quay.

Rob's first song of the evening was The Golden Glove (roud 141, laws N20), a new song to the Dragon's database, but I can't say for certain one that's never been sung here before - surely most indexed traditional songs have been.

Geoff sang Gone to America (Peter Knight) from the Steeleye Span stable. Paul reclaimed Rosabella (roud 21134) after Denny borrowed it the week before for our May theme. Denny went on to give us Willy 'Ole Lad (Keith Marsden).

Sue cited Mary Hopkin when singing Those were the days (Gene Raskin, Boris Fomin). Simon pointed out that it was originally a Russian song called Дорогой длинною (By the long road - Boris Fomin, Constantin Podrevsky) - listen to the linked performance of Those were the days by Daria Kulesh as she sings it in four languages.

Bob finished the first round with Matchbox (Blind Lemon Jefferson). While I've previously credited Carl Perkins, I think Bob's version may owe at least as much to Jefferson's Match Box Blues, so I have linked that this time.

Later in the evening Rob's Squeezy Belly Alley (Maggie Duffy) is of interest here mainly because it provides a link to this week's featured image. Simon mentioned Squeeze Guts Alley in Truro; Squeezy Belly Alley is in Port Isaac and both are in Cornwall.

Apart from The Golden Glove, already mentioned above, the new entries in the Dragon Database this were were:

• Paul - Bye Bye My Roseanna (roud 12380)
• Bob and Sue - Things (Bobby Darin)
• Bob and Sue (a work in progress) - Upside down (Paloma Faith, Andrew Nicholas Love, Jos Hartvig Jorgensen, Belle Sara Humble)
• Bob - My Girl Josephine (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew)
• Colin - Six Feet of Mud (Cyril Tawney)
• Paul - Nelson's Death (roud 18837)

The evening was closed with Simon singing When All Men Sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford).

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

(Number of people present - 8 of whom 8 performed)