Putting the clocks forward

St Mary Redcliffe church, Bristol
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

At the Dragon Folk Club last week the clocks changing to British Summer Time was a slim excuse for a Spring into Summer theme, but that was what was set. Our themes are of course always optional and no one is humiliated or gets a forfeit for not following them.

It was great to see and hear Dragon first-timer Mick and the return of Terry H after an absence of  what appears to be six years. Many of us see Terry elsewhere, but it was great to get him back on our home patch.

Thanks to everyone who joined in the singing, playing and chat. There will be a session this Friday (3rd April) despite it being Good Friday - we have confirmed with the pub that we can have use of "the barn" function room as usual. Let's make the optional theme Easter, whether that's death, resurrection, eggs, rabbits, Eostre or anything else more or less related to the season. Optional as the theme always is, anything goes as long as it's acoustic. See you there.

In the absence of our usual MC last week, Simon took the reins, inviting Stuart and Carrie to sing first. They gave us Ride on (Jimmy McCarthy). As is usual for a duo, they were asked to sing again immediately and they obliged with Crazy man Michael (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick).

Next up was newcomer Mick. He says he has had a break from playing and is very nervous, trying to play out as much as possible to overcome the nerves, but it barely showed with his excellent guitar playing and characterful voice, singing The banks of green willow (* roud 172, child 24).

Rob sang the first of two songs not to be found on YouTube and therefore not included in the playlist linked below. It was his own The kestrel (*# Rob Winder), apparently about a girlfriend from long ago.

Simon's first of the evening, making mention of Spring, was Memories of East Texas (Michelle Shocked). 

Denny was next, contributing When yellow's on the broom (Adam McNaughton), and Paul sang Seven virgins (roud 127).

Terry H brought the first rotation to a close with his own song, Matron (*# Terry Helyar) - the second and last song of the evening not included in the linked playlist. You can listen to all of the other songs (though not by our singers) by clicking on "a selection" at the end of this report.

As is traditional, I will mention all remaining performances from our first-time dragon, Mick:

• The scarecrow (* Lal Waterson, Mike Waterson)
•  Blind Blake's rag (* Ralph McTell)

The only song from the evening neither already mentioned nor previously in the Dragon database came from Stuart and Carrie; it was Watch me (* Labi Siffre).

The bar closed a little early so we also came to a close after only three rotations, and with a relatively small total of 24 songs and tunes having been sung and played, but the evening was very enjoyable thanks to a great group of singers and some pleasant chat between the songs. It fell to Terry H to complete the evening by singing Sally Wheatley (Joe Wilson).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

St Patrick's Day 2026

At the Dragon Folk Club last week we were just three days late to celebrate St Patrick with an evening of mostly Irish or Irish-connected songs. Despite small numbers of singers and Colin forgetting to bring the words to most of his Irish songs we kept it going with some gusto.

This Friday and for the next couple of weeks it will be reserve MC Simon in the chair. He would very much like it if you could make a special effort to come along whether to perform (anything goes as long as it's acoustic) or to listen, take part in the banter, and maybe join in the odd chorus. To get you thinking here are some suggested optional themes:

•  27th March - Spring and the coming of summer (BST starts on Sunday)
•  3rd April - Good Friday - Anything related to Easter (death, resurrection, rabbits, eggs, etc.)
• 10th April - Numbers (100th day of the year)
•  17th April - World Voice Day - songs about singing?
•  24th April - St George's Day, by which time Colin should be back as MC

Feel free to bring your own theme or none.

Last week Colin started traditionally with Galway farmer (Steve Knightley). Colin had sung exactly this song the week before because, unusually, Cheltenham Festival week did not coincide with St Patrick's Day this year, but he couldn't resist repeating it and that's fine by us.

Paul took us from Cheltenham to Dublin with Cockles and mussels (roud 16932).

Simon completed the first rotation with Ride on (Jimmy McCarthy).

There was just one song sung in the evening that doesn't appear to be available on YouTube and is therefore not included in this week's playlist. That was Liz Draper's Galway drawl (#), clearly a parody of Galway shawl, sung for us by Paul.

Despite many of the songs being the usual suspects, and some so called "folk cheese", which in former days would have gained a black mark from our erstwhile MC, there were a couple that were new to the Dragon database:

•  Colin - The harp without the crown (* roud 7989)
•  Simon - Fisherman's blues (* Mike Scott, Steve Wickham)

Colin finished the session, not literally, with Seven drunken nights (roud 114, child 274) - although more accurately, just the first five of them. 

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Mothering Sunday 2026

At Thornbury Carnival 2019
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session marked Mothering Sunday so any mention of mothers gained imaginary brownie points.

In our house we are sticklers for "Mothering Sunday" which is a church festival falling on the fourth Sunday in Lent (see % below).

As I am writing this we have just passed St Patrick's Day so this week's Friday theme will be just that. With Denny not available this week, we saw some Irish songs creeping in last week, often also mentioning mothers.

Speaking of last week, Colin was MC and started the ball rolling with Get a little table (roud 3201 - Harry Linn, William Sim) and Simon followed him with Buttercup Joe (roud 1635).

Denny sang I'll tell me ma (roud 2649).

Paul's first contribution was a version of The "fish" cheer /I-feel-like-I'm-fixin'-to-die rag (* Country Joe McDonald) where he replaced "Vietnam" with "little I-ran". This was both to mark the recent death of the author and to demonstrate that the lyrics, although almost 60 years old, are still somewhat applicable to current events.

It was great to welcome Helen back to the club after a longer absence than any of us realised. She completed the first rotation with Poor wayfaring stranger (roud 3339).

There were several "new" songs for the Dragon database:

• Colin - Mother (* roud 10293) - A parody of Mother (written by Howard Johnson and Theo Morse, and recorded in 1916 by Henry Burr). That was a hard one to track down because it turns out to have been recorded by Oscar Brand as half of a track called Correspondence on an album called Bawdy Songs Go To College. To add to the confusion my old friend Terry "Leadfingers" Silver was the only person to mention it (on mudcat) where he called it "Letters to and from a Young Man" after the lyric rather than using its advertised title.
• Simon - Mother and wife (*) from the singing of The Jolly Boys among others.
• Helen - Driving myself home (* Rose Betts)
• Colin - Don't swat your mother boys (* roud 15690 - Brian Hooker, Porter Steele)
• Simon - Mama don't allow (* roud 11793)
• Colin - Momma (* Bob Seger)
• Colin - Mother Machree (* roud 23523 - Rida Johnson Young, Chauncey Olcott, Ernest Ball)

It fell to Paul to finish the evening with Farewell shanty.

% Traditionally people returned to their mother church for Mothering Sunday and by extension mothers were honoured. This is different to Mother's Day, which is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday in May that was was established by Anna Jarvis in 1908. I believe it is the British greetings card industry that blurred the difference between the two to the point that cards sold for the former are about 80 or 90 percent "Happy Mother's Day" and thus avoided by my wife and me.

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

RIP George Papavgeris

George Papavgeris (1953-2026)

Your scribe wasn't present at last week's Dragon Folk Club session, but it sounds as though it was a varied and enjoyable affair albeit with one sad message, that being the death of singer/songwriter George Papavgeris, who I didn't know, but whose songs I had often enjoyed.

An appropriate theme for this Friday's session would seem to be Mothering Sunday, so songs of the mother church, and of mothers will be on topic, as well as anything else tenuously linked, but as always the theme is optional and anything goes as long as it's acoustic.

Last week Colin, MC as usual, kicked off with Dona Dona (Sholom Secunda, Aaron Zeitlin. English lyrics by Arthur Kevess and Teddi Schwartz).

Paul followed with Friends like these in honour of the recently deceased writer, George Papavgeris.

Denny completed the first rotation with The road to Dundee (roud 2300).

There were five songs new to the Dragon database last week:

• Paul - The bard (* Steve Thomason)
• Denny - Kitty Kane (* John Warner)
• Paul - Mollymauk (* Bob Watson)
• Colin - Lady Jane (* Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)
• Paul - I mean to get jolly well drunk (* roud 3466)

Colin finished the evening off with a good sing-along Roll the old chariot (roud 3632).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

St David's Day 2026

Llwyn Celyn, Cwmyoy, Monmouthshire
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

It was that time of year to celebrate St David and by association to sing songs with some connection, however tenuous, with Wales or the Welsh. Bearing in mind that our singers had less notice than usual of the theme, and some hardly any notice at all, we didn't do too badly. As sometimes happens, some songs had their words mangled to fit, but we didn't quite get to the point of singing of whaling songs!

It was good to see Heather again, as usual with her non-singing companion Hazel. We did however have a newcomer to the Dragon. Angela has been following us on Facebook for a while and while she didn't perform, she was definitely seen singing along and should she return, which we hope she does, I suspect she may find something to sing now she knows we are a friendly audience.

Colin, MC as usual, started the ball rolling on theme with Hob y deri dando.

Heather's first song was The bunch of thyme (roud 3).

Simon referred to Welsh traditional singer Phil Tanner before singing The Gower wassail song (roud 209).

Paul sang When Jones's ale was new (roud 139), an English song which has its origins in the 16th century.

Denny brought the first rotation to a close with the much more modern Day trip to Bangor (Debbie Cook), a song which appears to tell the story of a seaside trip to Bangor in North Wales, which while in a coastal position is not renowned as a resort. Rumours spread that the song was inspired by a trip to Rhyl, 30 miles East along the coast, but "Rhyl" didn't scan and was replaced, much to the angst of the councillors of that town. Cook however stated that the song was specifically written about Bangor.

The only song of the evening not found on YouTube and therefore not included in the linked playlist was Colin's Children born to the valleys (# Dawson Smith). The song was included on a frustratingly elusive album of songs based the epic Welsh novels of Alexander Cordell.

There were just two songs sung during the evening which were new to the Dragon database. The first was The jovial man of Kent (*), sung by Paul to the same tune as When Jones's ale was new. This song was written by Charles Dibdin (1745-1814).

The other "new" song came from Heather and was Caravan song (*) written by Mike Batt for the 1978 film Caravans in which it was sung by Barbara Dickson.

The evening was finished by Colin singing the unofficial national anthem of Wales, Land of my fathers (Evan James, James James).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Two by two

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

We always knew that last week's Dragon Folk Club session was going to be an intimate affair and so it was, but we rattled through the songs, interspersed as usual with some chat, and even added a few "new" ones to the Dragon database.

We should be back on track this Friday, so please come along to further swell our numbers. There's no theme, and in any case our themes are always optional. If you need inspiration it may or may not help will be the birthdays of among others Jake Thackray and Steve Harley, and the anniversary of the deaths of Frankie Lymon and Ray Ellington. I realise that with the possible exception of Jake, these aren't folk musicians, but they represent the wide range of styles we have been known to cover on the fringes.

STOP PRESS: I have been reminded that this Friday is the nearest one to St David's Day, so there should be a theme (optional as always) of everything relating to St David, which of course includes Wales and anything Welsh.

Back to last week, Colin was in the chair and started the evening with the Ballad of real ale (# Kevin Pratt). Simon completed the very short first rotation with Sailing to Philadelphia (Mark Knopfler).

When the audience is small we tend to head towards the songs less sung, and therefore there were a surprising numbers of new entries in the Dragon database:

• Colin - Squarin'-up time (* Arthur Scammell)
• Colin - My brudda Sylvest (* roud 10682 - Jesse L Lasky, Fred Fisher)
• Colin - I know where I'm going (* roud 5701)
• Colin - Syracuse the elephant (* Jim "Crun" Walter, Andy Cresswell-Davis) - This song from the band Stackridge is about the life of a fictional elephant at Bristol Zoo which had elephants of various names in its collection between 1868 and 2002.
• Simon - Gimme hope Jo'anna (* Eddy Grant) - a song campaigning for the end of apartheid in South Africa
• Simon - Mona Lisa (* Ray Evans, Jay Livingston)
• Simon - The sound of silence (* Paul Simon)

Colin finished off a good evening with Cousin Jack (Steve Knightley). The only thing that would have made it better was if you had been there! See you this Friday or soon.

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Valentine's Day 2026

Dragon regulars Paul and Denny
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was a little lighter on the ground than the previous one, but with a Valentine's theme of love and lust it was nevertheless entertaining and convivial.

There's no official theme this Friday, but I see it (20th February) is the World Day of Social Justice, 21st February is the UNESCO International Mother Language Day, and 22nd February is important for scouts and guides. For the guides it is World Thinking Day, and for all in the scouting movement it is Founder's Day being Lord Baden-Powell's birthday as well as that of his wife, Lady Olave Baden-Powell. It's also this dragon's mother's birthday.

Back now to last Friday, with Colin back in the MC's chair it was he who started proceedings appropriately with Last Valentine's Day (roud 6475).

Simon billed his first song, Sovay (roud 7, laws N21) as an antidote to his more usual Claudy Banks (roud 266, laws N40). In the latter a sailor home from sea tells his girl that he is dead to test her faithfulness, whereas in the former a girl dresses as a highwayman and robs her man to test his. Although Martin Carthy famously sings Sovay, Simon first heard the song sung by Isla St Clair on her children's TV programme The Song and The Story, and so it is her version that is linked.

Denny's first song of the evening was The beggar's bridge (Vin Garbutt). In 1619, a packhorse bridge called Beggar's Bridge was constructed over the River Esk by Thomas Ferris, the son of a local moorland sheep farmer. The bridge's history is intertwined with a romantic legend about Thomas and his sweetheart, Agnes Richardson. Allegedly, Thomas used to wade through the river to meet Agnes secretly since her father disapproved of their relationship due to Thomas's lack of wealth. Years later, having returned to Glaisdale, a wealthy man and married Agnes, Thomas constructed the Beggar's Bridge.

Paul gave finished off the first rotation with Green grows the laurel (roud 279).

Unusually there was only one song new to the Dragon database, and that was Bob Dylan's Sara (*), sung by Colin. This song led to a mini theme with contributions from Simon and Denny: Sarah and Pretty Saro (roud 417) respectively.

After a fun evening it was Colin who brought the session to a close with The games people play (Joe South).

Before anyone comments, unfortunately Paul and Denny who are featured in this week's blog report photo will not be present this week due to folky duties elsewhere. In their absence please come and help us raise the roof this Friday.

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Welcome new faces

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

It was a great turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club last week. Apart from some regulars, Paul and Denny brought non-singing friend Jill (don't believe it, I saw her singing along to the choruses). Also long time follower on Facebook, George, made her debut and brought her friend John who was visiting her from the far reaches of East Anglia. And let's not forget that George brought her very well behaved dog, Juniper. Let's hope we see and hear a lot more of George in the future - John's great too, but he's got a long way to come.

Next week's session will have a theme for Valentine's Day so songs of love and lust will be of interest though as always with themes at the Dragon Folk Club, it is totally optional and just for fun.

Simon was standing in for Colin as MC and Paul started the ball rolling with Grey funnel line (Cyril Tawney). Denny's first song was The shores of old Blighty (Graeme Miles).

George's first song for the Dragon was Glen Isla near bonny Glenshee (roud 832) and John's opener was his own Grandad (* John Hare).

Simon started with The world turned upside down (Leon Rosselson). We hadn't seen Rob at The Bridge for a while and he marked his return with MacPherson's rant (roud 2160).

Bob and Sue brought the first rotation to a close with Bear Creek blues (roud 17345 - AP Carter) and Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) respectively.

As is customary, I will mention all songs sung by newcomers, in this case George and John:

• George - The ballad of old Seth Davy (Glyn Hughes)
• John - Rolling to Cairo town (* Dillon Bustin)
• George - As I roved out (* roud 3479), not to be confused with As I roved out (roud 277, laws O17)
• John - Little Brigid Flynn (* roud 39674 - William Percy French)
• George - Peggy Gordon (roud 2280)
• John - Clancy of the overflow (* Banjo Paterson - to a tune by John Hare himself)

Other songs new to the Dragon database were:

• Rob - The ballad of Lucy Jordan (* Shel Silverstein)
• Rob - The factory girl (* roud 1659), not to be confused with The factory girl (roud V4694) or others of the same name
• Bob - The year that Clayton Delaney died (* Tom T Hall)

The session was closed with Denny singing Byker Hill (roud 3488).

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

(Number of people present - 9 of whom 8 performed + dog)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Time is ticking

Bristol Exchange Clock times three
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

We had a great theme-less session at the Dragon Folk Club last week with 47 songs being sung by five singers. It's great that Heather and Hazel are now regulars when they don't have other commitments.

We will be without a theme again this Friday (6 Feb) and Simon will be MC, so he would very much like to see you whether you sing, play, perform in some other way (as long as it's acoustic) or simply come and listen, partake of the banter and maybe join us in a chorus or two.

Back to last week, Colin was in his MC. He would have started the evening, but Paul pre-empted him, getting us all to join in singing Happy Birthday to you - Heather (roud 36104 - Mildred J. Hill, Patty Hill).

Colin started the session proper with The apprentice song (Ian Campbell).

Heather reprised her Highland fairy lullaby from the previous week's Burns' Night celebration before Paul took us to Old Maui (roud 2005) and Denny carried on a sort of maritime theme with The pickled herring man (# Cathy Wallis) which together with Paul's Tracks in the snow (# Steve Thomason) are the two songs of the evening not found on YouTube and therefore not on this week's playlist.

Staying with the sea Simon gave us Bonnie ship the Diamond (roud 2172) and brought the first rotation to an end.

There were only three songs at this session which were new to the Dragon database. Heather sang Mother of mine (* Bill Parkinson) which was made famous by Neil Reid in 1971 to win ITV's Opportunity Knocks. In reply to Heather's singing of Grandfather's clock (roud 4326 - Henry Clay Work), Simon gave us the less famous Sequel to grandfather's clock (* Henry Clay Work). The final on this week's "new to" list is Heather's singing of Home on the range (* roud 3599 - Brewster M. Higley, Daniel E. Kelley).

Colin brought the evening to a close with Haul away Joe (roud 809).

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 5 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Burns' Night 2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was our annual Burns' Night theme, just two days before the actual event. There was a surprisingly large number of genuine Burns songs, not least thanks to the presence of Heather, our very own Scot who arrived with her non-singing friend Hazel.

This Friday (30 Jan) there will be no theme, so anything goes whether that's a song, tune, story, poem, joke, monologue or whatever other type of performance you can muster. If you don't think you are ready to perform then don't worry, come along to listen and join in the banter. Everyone is welcome.

Back to Burns, Colin started us off with Tramps and hawkers (roud 1874).

Heather was the first to sing a Burns song with A red, red rose (* roud 12946 - Robert Burns) and Simon followed with another: Ye Jacobites by name (roud 31021 - Robert Burns).

Denny kept the ball in the air with The collier laddie (roud 3787 - Robert Burns) and Paul didn't let it drop with a creditable rendition of Address to a haggis (Robert Burns). And so ended the first rotation.

I'll do my best to list the remainder of the Burns songs and poems performed though please forgive me if I miss any:

• Heather - Comin' thro' the rye (* roud 13589 - Robert Burns). I couldn't resist also linking this.
• Simon - The whistle (* Robert Burns) - sung, to "prove" a rule, to the tune of Villikins and his Dinah.
• Heather - Scots wha hae (* roud 27546 - Robert Burns)
• Simon - The deil's awa' wi' th' exciseman (* roud 16787 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - Ca' the yowes to the knowes (* roud 857 - Robert Burns)
• Colin - Afton water (roud 24637 - Robert Burns)
• Simon - John Barleycorn (* roud 164 - Robert Burns). While we have often had versions of John Barleycorn, I am not sure we have previously had Burns' version although it has been mentioned. My latest information is that the oldest versions are Scottish and include the Scots poem Quhy Sowld Nocht Allane Honorit Be. In 1782 Burns published his own version of the song, which influenced subsequent versions.
• Denny - Leezie Lindsay (roud 94, child 226 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - Auld lang syne (roud 13892 - Robert Burns)
• Colin - Such a parcel of rogues in a nation (roud 31022 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785 (* Robert Burns)

There were two others new to the Dragon database and both were performed by Heather:

• Highland fairy lullaby (*) - A traditional gaelic children's song.
• Wee Willie Winkie (* roud 13711 - William Miller) - Scots poet William Miller (1810-1872), appears to have popularised a pre-existing nursery rhyme, adding additional verses to make up a five stanza poem.

Thw two songs not found on YouTube and therefore not included in this week's playlist both came from Colin:

• The Loch Ness monster (Iain C MacKintosh, Hamish Imlach)
• The broo road (link to a recording) - Composed during the depression in Dundee, and was included by John A Brune in his collection "The Roving Songster".

The evening was closed by Colin singing Dougie McLean's Ready for the storm.

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 5 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Knock knock

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

It was another great session at the Dragon Folk Club last week. We were back to reasonable strength in numbers with seven people present and all singing. There was no theme which left the field wide open.

Speaking of themes, this Friday's session (23rd January) will be our Burns' Night special (though Rabbie's actual day is Sunday), so bring your songs written or collected by Robert Burns, general Scottish songs, or anything you can vaguely link (I half-jokingly suggested songs about fire). Failing that, remember that our themes are always optional, just a bit of fun, so the most important thing is to turn up to sing, play, listen and chat - or whichever subset of those is your fancy.

Back to last week, Colin was MC and started the ball rolling with In these hard times (roud 23324 - RP Weston, Fred Barnes).

Simon delayed his planned first song and instead went for Les Barker's poem Have you got any news of the iceberg.

Roger introduced us to his self-penned song Can't be doing this any more (*#Roger Stanleigh).

Denny sang Poverty Knock (roud 3491 - Tommy Daniel). I always knew that there were stories to tell around this song, but I've done a bit more research.

Tommy Daniel was a 5ft tall weaver from Batley, although he had other jobs during his working life. He was born around 1890, started work aged 11, and died in 1970. He is variously credited with writing, re-creating or collecting the song. Piecing together the stories of various individuals who knew him, knew weaving, or simply knew the area, anecdotally the song had been in existence in some form since at least the 1920s.

Tommy himself wrote: "This work song dates back to the early Dobby power looms. Owing to low wages and the slow dreary 'knock-ity knock' sound of the looms, weavers were called 'Poverty Knockers'."

According to Wikipedia, Dobby looms first appeared around 1843, roughly 40 years after Joseph Marie Jacquard invented the Jacquard device that can be mounted atop a loom to lift the individual heddles and warp threads. The word dobby is a corruption of "draw boy," which refers to the weaver's helpers who used to control the warp thread by pulling on draw threads.

It seems that Tommy may have collected some verses of the song, edited out others that he thought too risqué, and maybe written or "recreated" some more. He sang various verses at different times and I'm sure I've heard a story that claimed he would come up with a new verse and say that he had recently "found" it somewhere.

Whatever the case, it's a great song to sing, and get people singing along. Apparently Tommy required the audience to do a tap-tap after "poverty knock".

Paul's first song of the evening was Fathom the bowl (roud 880).

Sue sang the Crawdad song (roud 4853) and Bob completed the first rotation with The last ride (Robert Halcomb, Ted Daffan).

Apart from Roger's "Can't be doing this any more" which has already been mentioned there were three more songs not found on YouTube and therefore not in the playlist linked from "a selection" below:

• Sue's own A chilly song (# Sue Lonsdale) written specifically for the Dragon Folk Club - the heating's now working, but best to still bring warm clothing at this time of year
• Colin - My favourite things (*#), which is of course a parody of My favourite things (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II). OK, my pedantry forced me to use the original Mary Martin performance from the Broadway show. Here is the Julie Andrews film performance you were all expecting.
• Roger - Together we fight (#Roger Stanleigh)

Paul finished the session off appropriately with the Farewell shanty. Mervyn Vincent from St. Issy and Alan Molyneux from Plymouth are largely responsible for the revival of this West Country shanty. Mervyn found it in an old book on boat-building and it later served as the closing song at Alan’s Breakwater Club in Plymouth.

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

Thirteen each (plus one)

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was great despite there being only three singers. We were joined by Ray, a second-timer at the club, who didn't appear to be phased at all by being asked to sing thirteen times. We would have perfectly understood if he'd run out of steam. One of the great things about the Dragon Folk Club is that you get to air lots of your songs, and being a friendly and small (though not usually this small) group it's absolutely fine to bring things out that still need some perfecting - it's good practice.

We knew we would be short when several of our regulars said they would be elsewhere, but at least some of them should be back this Friday (16th January) when it will once again be a theme-less session in preparation for next week's (23rd January) Burns' Night theme. As always our themes are optional, but if you can bring something appropriate it will be much appreciated.

Back to last week, having been first to arrive, Simon was asked to get the ball rolling and he did so with John Conolly's Punch and Judy man. Colin, back in the MC's chair, sang Tom Lewis' Radio times. Ray completed the first rotation with Dominic Behan's Liverpool Lou.

Only one song from the evening wasn't found in YouTube and therefore doesn't appear in the playlist linked from "a selection" below:

• Colin - Epitaph (# Colin Owen)

The evening added an impressive eight songs to the Dragon database:

• Ray - Angie (* Keith Richards, Mick Jagger)
• Colin - Goodbye my lover, goodbye (* roud 15381)
• Ray - The flower and the young man (* Dave Cousins)
• Colin - Shapes of things (* Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith)
• Ray - And a bang on the ear (* Mike Scott)
• Ray - Catch the wind (* Donovan Leitch)
• Ray - Hurt (* Trent Reznor)
• Ray - Lady Midnight (* Leonard Cohen)

Simon finished the session with The smuggler's song (Rudyard Kipling).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

New Year 2026

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

The first Dragon Folk Club session of the new year was a good one, with lots of seasonal offerings. The heating was working and the toilet situation seems to be going in the right direction.

As far as I'm aware this Friday's session (9th January) will have no official theme, but that needn't prevent you from bringing one of your own or settling into something as things develop if you want to. We will be missing some regulars so your attendance is eagerly anticipated whether you are one of our regular crowd, a lapsed dragon, or totally new to our lair.

Colin was otherwise engaged last week, so Simon sat in as MC and started the year with Dave Goulder's The January man.

Denny gave us An Orkney New Year's carol (roud 4584) and Paul sang the Stevens family waysail (* roud 209), also known as the Bisley Waysail for having been collected in Bisley, Gloucestershire.

Sue's first song was Upside down (Paloma Faith, Andrew Nicholas Love, Jos Hartvig Jorgensen, Belle Sara Humble) and Bob followed that with J J Cale's Call me the breeze which completed the first rotation.

I only noted three further songs that were new to the Dragon database:

• Denny - Yorkshire wassailing song (* roud 209) - the closes version of a wassail I could find to that which Denny sang
• Simon - Now make you merry, gentlemen (# A "reconstructed" pagan version of God rest ye merry gentlemen from "The Pagan Carols Restored, Volume 1" by Norman Iles)
• Sue - Octopus's garden (Richard Starkey - Ringo Starr)

The session was closed by Simon, singing with help from those gathered, When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).