Stories and links

19th-century lithograph of William Price

It was a quieter session for the Dragon Folk Club last Friday for a number of reasons, but not least because the flow of people through our room had been alleviated by the reinstatement of the proper gents toilet. There were again only two singers and this time no extras. Fewer songs were sung (a total of just 20) because we had some good chat on a wide variety of topics, among them: old friends, post-Roman Britain, BBC's Repair Shop, and even on the subject of folk songs.

Rather than a theme or even themes emerging through the evening we tended to have pairs or small groups of songs with mutual connections, some of which I will refer to here.

Talking of themes, this Friday's session will have the theme of St George's Day. The patron saint of England has among his other patronages: agricultural workers, farmers, field workers; soldiers; archers; armourers; equestrians, cavalry, saddle makers; chivalry; peacekeeping missions; skin diseases, lepers and leprosy, syphilis; sheep, shepherds, and scouting (oh and let's not forget he's said to have slain a dragon). That should give plenty of scope for songs to sing, tunes to play and stories to tell for all those types of performance and more are welcome as long as they are acoustic. Also, don't worry if you can't stick to the theme, it's intended as a fun guideline, not as a straitjacket.

Colin as MC started things off with Doctor Price (Meic Stephens) about William Price a Welsh physician and political activist best known for his support of Welsh nationalism, Chartism and involvement with the Neo-Druidic religious movement. After cremating his dead son in 1884, Price was arrested and put on trial by those who believed cremation was illegal under English law; however, he successfully argued that there was no legislation that specifically outlawed it, which paved the way for the Cremation Act 1902. Upon his death, he was cremated in a ceremony watched by 20,000 onlookers.

Simon started something with Jez Lowe's song The Bergen because Colin replied immediately with The wrong bus from the same writer, and later with his Tether's end.

Colin said he had experienced some difficulty finding the story behind The London steamer (roud 17760). The song is about the SS London which sank on 11 January 1866 in the Bay of Biscay on its way from Gravesend, England to Melbourne, Australia. A story later highly publicised after the loss states that when the ship was en route down the Thames, a seaman seeing her pass Purfleet said: "It'll be her last voyage…she is too low down in the water, she'll never rise to a stiff sea." Indeed she was overloaded and the words were prophetic.

Colin's Jim, the carter lad (roud 1080) is a surprising new addition to the Dragon database. It must surely have been sung at the club before, but probably not recently. It was also Colin who came up with the next database addition: Canny miner lad (Ian Campbell).

Colin brought out Coaly Tyne (roud V21088) which led Simon to sing Mark Knopfler's Sailing to Philadelphia which quotes the same description of the river in its chorus.

Colin sang the only song of the evening not included in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below, and that was his own song In the country. This led Simon to respond with that "country chap" Buttercup Joe (roud 1635).

The third and final addition of the night to the Dragon database was Colin's singing of the theme tune of BBC sitcom Last of the summer wine by Ronnie Hazelhurst with lyrics added by Roy Clarke (series scriptwriter), Bill Owen (the actor who played Compo), Alan Bell (series producer/director).

Simon finished off the evening with a song which, when he originally tried to learn it, confused him by its tune's similarity in part to that of Last of the summer wine. The song in question was When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford).

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

(Number of people present - 2 of whom 2 performed)

Tiny fish in a small pond

MV Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin passing through Lock 7
of the Welland Canal between Lakes Ontario and Erie
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

The numbers at the end of this report are a bit misleading. On the one hand there were two singers who met for the Dragon Folk Club session last week. On the other, due to the gents toilets being out of action, there was a constant stream of people passing through. Most, but not all, were respectful. Some were complimentary. One performed. A drunken Irishman (apparently) was effusive in his praise. We were even joined briefly by our friend Allie who was very appreciative and gave a few brief snippets from her folk repertoire.

Things started off early as John, having visited the facilities borrowed Simon's guitar and played a few riffs including Wonderwall (Noel Gallagher) for which his unnamed friend joined in with vocals.

Once we got underway properly, Simon, the stand-in MC, started things off with Windmills (Alan Bell).

Remarkably, the two singers, that is disregarding John, who appeared again later with some more riffs, and Allie with her brief medley of songs, sang a total of 39 during the evening. It was almost 11pm by the time it all finished, but the main reason for stopping at 39 was that Steve said he'd run out of songs, and almost out of voice.

You can follow the link from "a selection" below to a playlist of all the songs we sang except one. That one came from Steve and was When Adam was first created (roud 728).

No new songs were added to the Dragon database this week, although it was the first recorded singing of Steve's version of roud 369, laws L5, that being Sam Hall rather than Jack Hall which was already there.

Steve sang a couple of other songs which hadn't previously been recorded in the database for him: Adieu sweet lovely Nancy (roud 165) and The leaving of Liverpool (roud 9435).

Of course we had a few Stan Rogers songs from Steve: White squall, Tiny fish for Japan, and The field behind the plow. I also see that Rogers recorded Cyril Tawney's Sammy's bar.

The evening was completed by Simon singing Jackson C Frank's Blues run the game.

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

(Number of people present - 4 of whom 3 performed)

Tales of the sea and the iron road among others

Edward Harrigan in "Old Lavender"

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session had no theme, so the selection of songs was quite eclectic. Some minor, ad hoc themes emerged as often happens. Most notably though it was pleasing to see us back to decent numbers. Initially five arrived, though Paul apparently had a doctor's note excusing him from singing. Then Simon arrived to make six. We also had a couple of welcome, extended visits by a member of the bar staff who I believe may have been off duty.

Colin, as MC, started off the evening with Get up Jack, John sit down (roud 2807 - Edward Harrigan, David Braham) which came from a play called "Old Lavender". The play premiered on 3rd September 1877 though the songs came in a later version which was first performed on 1st September 1885. Braham was Harrigan's father-in-law. I could go on, but if you want lots more detail you can find it on Mudcat.

This not surprisingkly started off a maritime mini-theme, immediately followed by Steve C with Haul away Joe (roud 809).

Denny took us inland with Dalesman's litany (poem by Frederic William Moorman, music by Dave Keddie).

Bob was still getting his guitar and other gear together, so he passed, opting to sing two songs on the next rotation. This meant that Simon, who had just arrived, was put on the spot and so sang his party piece, King of Rome (Dave Sudbury).

Colin's second song Captain Kidd (roud 1900, laws K35) took us back seaward. Steve's lake song is excused for being effectively about an inland, freshwater sea, being Stan Rogers' song White squall, about sudden localised storms which have often taken casualties on the Great Lakes.

Denny's Three score and ten (roud 16873 - William Delf) certainly saw us back off-shore with a notorious storm off the East coast of England on 9th February 1889 involving the loss of at least eight vessels including two from Hull.

As promised, Bob's first contribution comprised two songs: Back to Tennessee (George Frayne, Billy C Farlow) from Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, and Blood red river (roud 15807).

It was Bob who later started a mini theme of railways with Golden rocket (Hank Snow). Simon followed on with City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman). Bob retaliated with I'm moving on (Hank Snow) to which Simon came back with Drill ye tarriers drill (roud 4401 - words by Thomas Casey [1888] with later music by Charles Connolly).

And so it went on. You can hear all 36 songs which were sung (but mostly not by the actual singers) by following the link to the YouTube playlist from "a selection" below.

Our friendly bar lady came in for a second time towards the end of the evening and said that her Irish mother had encouraged her to request The Fields of Athenry (Pete St John) and Simon was able to oblige. That just left it to Colin to close the evening with Waltzing's for dreamers (Richard Thompson).

This Friday's session will once again have no theme, so please come along and sing, play or perform in any way you prefer as long as it's acoustic. Failing that we would love to see you as our audience, to join in the banter, and maybe to sing along with a chorus or three.

You will find us from 8:15pm this and almost any Friday in the "barn" at The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG. You will also find free entry, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics and a reasonably priced bar. Some of the regulars will be missing this week, so we need newcomers and irregulars - you will all be very welcome.

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

(Number of people present - 7 of whom 5 performed)

Easter 2024

Last week's session at The Dragon Folk Club was back to form with an adequate set of four singers meeting. Most had prepared some songs with relevance to the Easter season.

Colin started us off with Stan Rogers' The Mary Ellen Carter.

The first rotation continued with Denny singing I do like to be beside the seaside (roud 32459), a well known music hall song written by John H. Glover-Kind.

Paul gave us Waking Dreams (roud 22620) and Simon sang Elizabeth Cotten's Freight Train.

The only song of the evening not included in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below is Paul's Tracks in the snow (Steve Thomason).

Simon finished off the session with his only offering the evening to mention Easter: When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford).

I'm not aware of any theme this Friday so anything goes as long as it's acoustic. Come and sing, play, recite a poem, tell a story or perform in any other way you wish. Failing that come and be our audience, join in the banter and maybe help out with a chorus or two. See you there!

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

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