A great evening of song

Thornbury Carnival 2019 (Photo: Simon Meeds)

Of course I almost always say we had a great evening at the Dragon Folk Club session, but yesterday really was exceptional I think. We were joined by first-time dragon, Gabriel, who not only showed us his skill at singing, guitar playing and song writing, but brought the average age of the sing-around down by a significant margin. We definitely hope to see him again, which of course also applies to second-timers Paul O and Rich. It was great to see Stuart and Carrie again, as it was Rob, and the regulars who were there also seemed in fine voice.

The next session on Friday 26th June will again be without a theme and as usual everyone is welcome to come and sing, play, recite or perform in any way within reason as long as it's acoustic.

Back to yesterday's session (19th June), Colin was MC, but Stuart and Carrie had arrived first and were therefore asked to sing first. They opened with Don't want to know (John Martyn). Since it's one song each per rotation they were asked to sing again and gave us Genesis Hall (Richard Thompson).

Colin's first of the evening was The squaddie's Lullaby (Graeme Miles) and Heather followed that with an unusual version of My favourite things, said, almost certainly apocryphally, to have been sung by Julie Andrews on her 69th or 79th birthday depending on where you read it.

Simon sang Sugar in the hold below and Rob gave us a new song for him: Fair Mabel of Wallington Hall (* roud 59, child 91).

Gabriel's debut song at the Dragon was Keep me from blowing away (* Paul Craft). Gabriel said that during a period of bad weather earlier in the year he learnt a lot of related songs.

Paul, saying that he rarely does so sober, sang unaccompanied The band played waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle) before Rich finished off the first rotation with Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys (Ed Bruce, Patsy Bruce).

While there wasn't an official theme, there was a very tight one that emerged. After Heather sang Scarborough Fair (roud 12, child 2), which itself is a version of The elfin knight, Rob sang his own version of the same song which he calls Scarborough so fair (Rob Winder). Gabriel continued the theme by singing the song that Bob Dylan wrote after playing Scarborough fair with Martin Carthy: Girl from the North country (*).

Traditionally, I will mention all of the songs we heard from newcomer Gabriel. Apart from those already mentioned he sang:

• Born in 41 (*# Gabriel Wynne)
• Church Street blues (* Norman Blake)

 Other songs not previously in the Dragon database were:

• Paul O - Gwyn Fawr (*# Paul O'Sullivan) - Paul describes it as a love song to a reservoir 
• Heather - When I fall in love (* Edward Heyman, Victor Young)
• Paul O - The well below the valley (* roud 2335, child 21) - while the song was in the database this was the third distinct version to be added
• Rich - Ernie (the fastest milkman in the West) (* Benny Hill) - most people present knew the words well, which indicates their ages (except for Gabriel). Your scribe for one was very young, but even I remember it on Top of the Pops and was able to sing along to almost every word!

Stuart and Carrie finished off the session with Dimming of the day (Richard Thompson)

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not 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 (#).

Songs and stories

The bellringers (Photo: Simon Meeds)

It was songs and stories at the Dragon Folk Club session last week thanks to our occasional visiting story-teller Jane. It was great to see, and hear, her. 

I'm not aware of an official theme this Friday, so bring whatever songs, tune, stories or other types of performance you wish, maybe forming your own personal theme, but that's definitely not a requirement.

Colin, our regular MC, starting things off with Steve Knightley's Tall ships. Simon gave a first outing to is version of The lish young buy-a-broom (roud 1865).

Paul found Somewhere to begin (T R Ritchie) and Denny looked for her Young banker (roud 3321).

Steve sung about William Stone (Graeme Miles) before Jane gave us the first of her stories to finish off the initial rotation. Jane's story, called Sammy (* Jane), was a true one about a rook which her mother rescued and which then coexisted for some time, happily it seems, with the family's car and bull terrier dog. I won't let on the direction of the story for fear of spoiling it if Jane tells it to you.

All of Jane's performances were new to the Dragon database, probably because we hadn't heard them before, but even if we had I haven't previously recorded many of then, so who knows?

• Being on my own (Jane) - a poem about the fact that she likes her own company
• Jane's school friend Nick (Jane) - about a school friend who was an ornithologist with whom she had some adventures, and who had a tendency to appear at unexpected times.
• A lament for a bath (Jane) - a poem for a friend who is no longer able to enjoy her beloved bath times.
• The last elephant - a story about the last elephant and its keeper, perhaps triggered by Paul's singing of The last of the great whales (Louis/Louisa Killen).
• The flatmate - a joke in the form of a story about a young man, his female flatmate and his mother. 

The only song of the evening new to the Dragon database - but certainly sing at the club before the database was created - was Paul's John Kanaka (roud 8238), the penultimate performance of the evening.

Denny finished off the session with The bellringing (roud 1515).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not 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 (#).

A Battling Assortment Box

Field Gun Competition, Portsmouth c1988 (Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was theme-less and brought together an eclectic mix of songs. The same should apply this Friday, so please come along and show us your performances of any type as long as they are acoustic. Everyone is most certainly welcome, whether you perform or prefer to listen, maybe joining in a chorus and some banter.

Colin was in the MC's chair and asked Roger to start off. Roger often sings us his own songs and so he did with the brand new Apocalypse (*# Roger Stanleigh). Colin himself followed with The battle of Sowerby Bridge.

Denny gave us  Row on (roud 2084) and Paul W debuted Cold coast of Iceland (* Mike Waterson).

Simon added John Bowlin' (* roud 1760) to the Dragon database, though it has definitely been sung at the club before, by Richard Gillion if no one else, but it probably predated the birth of the database.

Paul M introduced us to The Dreadnoughts' tribute to Stan Rogers in the form of Dear old Stan (*).

Sue sang Blowin' in the wind (Bob Dylan) before Bob completed the first rotation with Bear Creek blues (roud 17345 - AP Carter). 

There were two other songs new to the Dragon database:

• Paul M - A ballad of the ranks (* Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) - the linked video is a reading of the original poem. Paul not only had a tune but had also rewritten some verses to include counties close to his heart.
• Denny - Old fid (* Bill Lowndes)

Other songs not found on YouTube and therefore not included in the "a selection" playlist were: 

• Roger - Can't be doing this no more (Roger Stanleigh)
• Roger - Dry your eyes (this may be a Roger Stanleigh original, but I'm not certain)

one further song that needs mentioning is Colin's The Mermaid (roud 9143) which I misidentified on a previous outing as roud 124, which is another song of the same name. Having mentioned that I feel I should also record that Denny sang The forsaken mermaid (roud 466, laws K17).

Paul W finished off the evening with The rose of Allandale (roud 1218 - Charles Jefferys, Sidney Nelson).

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

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

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not 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 (#).

A Solid Session

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

With Colin back in the MC's chair it was another excellent Dragon Folk Club session last week. There were six singers and two people made up our audience: Hazel and Jane. There was no theme, and that was reflected in the variety of songs.

With no theme again this Friday you are encouraged to come along and show us any type of performance as long as it's acoustic. If you want to bring your own theme then that's fine too.

Last Friday MC Colin started proceedings with a parody written by friend of the club, Richard Gillion, The last thing on your mind (#), as Richard puts it with "apologies to Tom Paxton".

Simon kept it parody, and referred to the singing of the source song the previous week, with Mary McCloud's House of the rising damp.

Paul M made us chuckle with Tommy Armstrong's apparent recollections of the first few days after his birth in The birth of the lad (* Tommy Armstrong) or more properly "Th' Borth E Th' Lad", and Denny kept it light with Les Barker's Sloop John A.

Paul W reprised his new song from three weeks before, I will always love you (Les Sullivan).

Heather brought the first rotation to a close with Save the last dance for me (* Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman).

There was a good number of other songs new to the Dragon database:

• Heather - Que sera sera (* Jay Livingston, Ray Evans)
• Paul M - The Batavia shanty (* John Warner)
• Paul M - Joli Rouge (* The Dreadnoughts) - about the Canadian cider of the same name
• Colin - The Dorset Juggernaut (* Bonny Sartin)
• Paul M - Lowlands low (* roud 8286) - yes, this appears to be a different song from Lowlands (roud 681) which shares a roud entry with Lowlands (roud 681).

This week it fell to Denny to finish off the session and she had us all chorusing along to Dave Dodds' I can hew boys.

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

(Number of people present - 8 of whom 6 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not 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 friends

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was a real surprise. Simon, the stand-in MC, knew that new regular Paul M was likely to be there, but was quite prepared for that to be it. While he was at the bar he first saw another newish regular, Heather, which implied that her non-singing friend Hazel would also be there. Then, returning to the "barn" he passed Kay, who had made her single previous appearance "in the before-times" as one friend of the club says. Was she singing tonight? Apparently so, and interestingly, she was surrounded by others.

So when we were all settled there were nine of us. Kay's friends at that stage were Adele, Rich, Sue and Harry. The last two would be our audience though we are told that Harry plays the saxophone, which he didn't have with him. That's six singers out of nine present... so far.

We were later joined by another of Kay's friends, Paul O, who was definitely a singer, and for a significant part of the evening by one of the pub's customers, impressed by the music, so we will count him too. A further pub regular joined us for just one song, so I could have added her, but I won't be so rash.

Simon kicked off the session with In the good old colony times (roud 130).

Paul M sang The Manchester rambler (roud 26771 - Ewan MacColl). He said he had heard a different tune to this one since moving to Bristol and thought people may be tempted to sing that, but it seemed everyone was familiar only with the one he used.

Heather, presumably acknowledging the previous week's Eurovision Song Contest, sang the winning song from 1970: All kinds of everything (Derry Lindsay, Jackie Smith) sung for Ireland in the competition by Dana.

Rich unnecessarily excused himself for singing Country and Western songs (anything goes at the Dragon as long as it's acoustic) before giving us Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys (Ed Bruce, Patsy Bruce).

 Kay and Adele, performing together were asked to do two songs and they obliged: See see Rider (Ma Rainey, Lena Arant) and Bang bang (my baby shot me down) (* Sonny Bono), which brought the first rotation to an end.

I always mention all songs sung by newcomers to the Dragon, and so I will do, but I will add Kay despite her one previous visit both to welcome her back and to make things a little simpler:

• Rich - I hung my head (* Sting)
• Kay and Adele - Light my fire (* Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek)
• Kay and Adele - Make you feel my love (Bob Dylan) - yes, noting the well-known cover by another Adele
• Paul O - Back home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
• Rich - Keep the wolves away (* Kevin Galloway) 
• Kay -  Here for a good time (* George Strait, Bubba Strait, Dean Dillon)
• Paul O - House of the rising sun (roud 6393) 
• Rich and Sue - Jackson (Billy Edd Wheeler, Jerry Leiber) - and so Sue, who Rich said sings barely once a year, joined the ranks of the evening's singers!
• Kay - I started a joke (*  Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
• Paul O - A pair of brown eyes (*  Shane MacGowan)
• Rich - Don't take your guns to town (* Johnny Cash)
• Kay - Till there was you (* Meredith Wilson)
• Paul O - Love in the desert (*# Paul O'Sullivan) - his own song
• Rich - Smalltown boy (* Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, Larry Steinbachek). Instead of Jimmy's falsetto we heard this in Rich's deep, dark tones reminiscent of Johnny Cash, and so I had to find an appropriately different recording.
• Kay -  Raining in my heart (* Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant)
• Paul O and Rich - Fisherman's blues (Mike Scott, Steve Wickham)

 As if the already-mentioned new entries in the Dragon database (indicated above by "*") weren't enough, there were also these:

•  Paul M - Highland Paddy (* Sean McCarthy)
•  Paul M - Farewell Johnny miner (* Ed Pickford)

One other song that needs a mention is the particularly unseasonable A winter's tale (Mike Batt, Tim Rice). One of the pub's regulars happened to be walking through our room as Heather finished singing and said it was her mother's favourite song. Heather was duly asked to sing it again and she obliged by reprising a single verse and chorus.

Heather even finished off the session with another song new to the Dragon database: Stand by your man (* Billy Sherrill, Tammy Wynette).

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

(Number of people present - 11 of whom 8 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not 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 (#).

We get up to all sorts

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

There was no theme at last week's Dragon Folk Club session and there will be none again this Friday. There were however some great songs and providing a huge variety which was lots of fun.

This Friday we will be without several of our regulars, so if you are an occasional Dragon, a lapsed Dragon or a potential new visitor to the dragon's lair, you would be even more welcome than usual if that's possible. There is no theme this week, but even when there is it is totally optional with any sort of performance encouraged as long as it's acoustic, and if you don't want to perform, just listen, join in the banter, and maybe sing along to the odd chorus then that's fine too.

Back to last week, Colin was MC as usual, and he started us off bawdy with The red light saloon (roud 9424). Simon followed with a partial match in the form of The tailor's breeches (roud 1610).

Sue gave us Big Rock Candy Mountain (roud 6696) and Bob followed that with Call me the breeze (J J Cale).

Paul called us to order with Waking dreams (roud 22620) and Denny completed the first rotation with The pickled herring man (# Cathy Wallis).

Other songs not found on YouTube and therefore not included in this week's playlist were:

• Paul -  Lament for the fishing (# Derek Brinkley)
• Colin - The labourers' union ( # roud V48257)

 There were four songs new to the Dragon database:

• Bob - Crystal Chandelier (*  Ted Harris)
• Denny - You'll never walk alone (*  Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
•  Sue - Ob-la-di, ob-la-da (* Lennon-McCartney)
• Colin - The weight (*  Robbie Robertson)

When it came to the time to close the session it was Sue's turn to sing and she sent us home with Things (Bobby Darin).

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 6 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 (#).

Denny - Profile

Denny (Photo: Simon Meeds)

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Denny first came along to a Dragon Folk Club session in 1983 as an audience member when it was at Iron Acton. Returning to the Bristol area after many years away, she found her way back to the club after a forty-year gap on 10th March 2023 and has been regular singer ever since.

She sings unaccompanied with a preference for songs with gusto and a good chorus.

Denny first came to the Dragon Folk Club to listen in around 1983 when it was still at The Lamb in Iron Acton. She moved away from the area with work and her first participation at a folk club was in the North East, at the Cutty Wren Folk Club in Redcar, North Yorkshire around 1984-86. It was more usual there to sing than not, so she was persuaded to learn something. Denny says that "the folk scene up there was brilliant and you could go to a different club most nights of the week".

She moved again and due to her shift work was able to attend festivals but not a regular club for many years. She now finds herself free to do so which she says is "fabulous".

She has been delighted to be a Middle Bar Singer for the last few years at Sidmouth Folk Festival.

Paul - Profile

Paul (Photo: Simon Meeds)

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Paul first came along to a Dragon Folk Club session on 10th March 2023 and has been a regular ever since.

He sings unaccompanied and while he's happy to sing any songs he particularly enjoys a good loud chorus, shanties, and music hall songs in a "traditional" folk style. He is beginning to learn a few ballads too.

Paul started singing in a school choir. He sang the Hallelujah Chorus at the Royal Festival Hall in 1966. 

He started singing again at the Tribe of Doris festival in an African Harmony Choir and learnt Zimbabwean folk songs with Chartwell Dutiro, a mbira player, in a singing group at Buckfastleigh in 2001/3.

Paul met Denny in 2004/5 and she educated him in 'British folk music' and festivals. He found his folk singing voice at the Towersey Sing-around Bar in 2007. He then sang annually at The (Wareham) Wail from 2009 to 2022. He has also been a Middle Bar singer at Sidmouth since February 2023.

Paul has built his repertoire from eight songs to over a hundred thanks to the opportunities for singing at the Dragon Folk Club. He says "we sing often and it's a friendly, non-critical, informal environment". He also now sings at WoTFolk at The Victoria, Westbury-on-Trym, and at Stan Drews in St Andrews, Bristol, both of which are monthly folk clubs. Paul has also sung at The Mutiny Shanty Sessions at Bristol harbour and at the West Somerset Folk Weekend in 2025.

Striding forth

Paul W striding forth at Clevedon
(Photo: Simon Meeds) 

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was another great one. Paul M returned for his second visit - let's hope there will be many more. Simon dropped the bombshell that it was VE Day. To the relief of others he wasn't suggesting a theme, but simply admitting that he had forgotten to set the theme. Nevertheless, a few appropriate songs were aired during the evening.

As far as I know there is no theme again this Friday, but don't let that stop you bringing your own theme if you have the urge. Otherwise who knows? Something may emerge.

Colin, MC as usual, started us off with The seven wonders (traditional, collected by Mick Tems of Pontardawe).

Simon followed his wartime non-theme with Plover Catcher (Elizabeth Padgett).

It was great to see Steve C for the second time in a fortnight, and his first song was The field behind the plow (sic) (Stan Rogers).

Paul M gave us the evening's first song new to the Dragon database, one that his father used to sing, The ghost thit' anted Bunty (roud V45218 - Tommy Armstrong) - which translates from Geordie as "The ghost that haunted Bunty".

Paul W and Denny both made their first songs ones that were not previously in the Dragon database, and Denny's was not to be found on YouTube. Paul's was I will always love you (* Les Sullivan) and Denny's was Moon names (*# Charlotte Oliver) - complete with a link to the official recording on bandcamp.

Thinking of Paul's song, I wonder whether there is a thing to be made of writing songs with the names of other, well-known songs. I used to know a great chap called Jim Carroll (not the well-known one, but the one seen at the beginning of this video acting the fool), sadly no longer with us. If we were having a song session in a public bar and someone said, as they often did, something like "Do you know Free bird?", Jim would pick up his guitar and improvise a blues of the same name. At other times his speciality was pseudo-flamenco.

After that digression, this brings us to the end of the first rotation.

There were just two further songs new to the database last week, both from Paul M:

• Grace Darling (* roud 1441)
• The rising of the moon (* roud 9634)

Paul modified the words of Grace Darling slightly in the hope of emphasising that she was a woman rather than that she was English. All nevertheless joined in with the chorus.

As the session came to an end it was Denny's turn to sing and she picked our oft-used finisher-offer, When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford). Rather than simply the customary joining in of the chorus, this became a truly communal song as Denny handed over to Paul W, and he in turn to Simon to finish off the last verse. And so was ended a very enjoyable evening.

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 6 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 (#).

May Day 2026

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session fell on 1st May, so the theme had to be May Day. As always the theme was entirely optional. Some people had prepared appropriate songs, others mangled their songs or introductions to fit, and others quite reasonably went ahead and sang what they sang.

It was great to see a turn-out of 11, just the same as the week before, and a level we would be very happy to maintain, so do come along whether you're a regular, it's been a while or it will be your first time. We really are very friendly and definitely non-judgemental.

Two of those present were happy to be our audience: Heather's friend Hazel, and Sheila who was with Paul and Denny. It was Sheila's first visit; she seemed to have enjoyed it and said she was surprised how many of the songs she knew - I saw her joining in quite frequently.

Colin, MC as usual, started us off with The month of May (roud 153).

Stuart and Carrie sang I wandered by a brookside (Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Hougthon, Barbara Berry) and Fresh as a sweet Sunday morning (Bert Jansch).

Paul gave us The Galway shawl (roud 2737) and Denny followed up with the Swinton May song (roud 305).

Stan added the first new entry of the evening in the Dragon database with I will love you all my life (* Charlie Landsborough).

Heather's first song of the evening was Day trip to Bangor (Debbie Cook).

Simon had been stuck on the motorway, but having arrived and bought a drink from the bar, it was his turn straight away and he plucked out Phil Tanner's version of Barbara Allen (roud 54, child 84). And so the first rotation was completed.

Keith G arrived some time later on a rare visit complete with a new keyboard, which he used to give us Is you is or is you ain't my baby (Billy Austin, Louis Jordan). His second offering was a medley of songs which included among others excerpts from: Love letters (* Victor Young, Edward Heyman), Georgia on my mind (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) and Perfect day (* Lou Reed).

Other songs new to the Dragon database last week were:

•  Stuart and Carrie - Tin man (* Dewey Bunnell)
•  Stan - Someday soon (* Ian Tyson)
•  Carrie - Sunshine in Leith (* Craig Reid, Charlie Reid)

It fell to Denny to finish the session. She said she thought of May as the start of the festival season and sang a song she proposed as a good one to start off a folk festival: Come by the hills (W Gordon Smith).

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

(Number of people present - 11 of whom 9 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 (#).

Heather - Profile

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Heather first attended the Dragon Folk Club in 2005. In the last few months she has returned and has become a regular singer. While she doesn't play an instrument she says she will "sing anything".

While working for DC Thomson in Dundee Heather joined the Thomson-Leng Musical Society. After moving South to Bristol she became involved with the Bristol Musical Comedy Club. She performed in a duo known as Kismet and went on to sing solo in pubs, clubs, hospitals and old folks' clubs.

St George's Day 2026

St George's, Bristol
(Photo: Simon Meeds) 

It was great to have a full complement of singers at last week's Dragon Folk Club session including second-timers Mick, and Kerstin and third-timer Ray. Apart from anything else it leads to a fantastic variety of songs, and some even took on the optional theme of St George's Day and all that is England.

Before I get down to the report, let's note that this Friday is actually 1st May, so we really should have a theme of May, which is mentioned in so many folk songs. The theme is of course as always optional, so the most important thing is that you come and join us, and sing, play or perform in whatever way you wish as long as it's acoustic, and the theme is just a nice-to-have if you can follow it for some or all or your performances. Audience members are of course also welcome as always.

 Back to last week, Colin was MC and started us off with The new St George (Richard Thompson).

Our resident Scot, Heather, followed with what she said was her only English song: John Peel (roud 1239).

Mick gave us his own musical setting of Charles Kingsley's poem Three fishers (*) - note that the linked video is Stan Rogers' setting of the same work.

Simon sang Puff and bold Saint George (#), a parody written by friend of the club, Richard Gillion.

Rob ventured into May slightly early with Hal an tow (roud 1520) and Steve, wishing to remember our recently deceased former MC Mike Starkey, sang Dido Bendigo (roud 584). Mike didn't like fox hunting, but enjoyed some of the songs on the subject, this being one he often sang.

Paul cleaved to the English theme with Fathom the bowl (roud 880) and Denny invoked the recently deceased George Papavgeris with his Friends like these.

Ray and Kerstin, singing together with Ray on ukulele, completed the first rotation with Jolene (Dolly Parton) and And I love her (* John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

There was just one song not found on YouTube and therefore not included in the playlist linked from "a selection" below. Indeed it is a song Colin has sung before and about which I still can't find any details. I assume the title is Britannia waives the rules. There are several similarly titled songs around, but I'm pretty sure I haven't found this one.

Songs and tunes not already mentioned that are new to the Dragon database are as follows:

• Mick - Hesitation blues (* roud 11765)
• Rob - Ballina whalers (* Harry Robertson)
• Ray and Kerstin - I drove all night (*  Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly)
• Mick - Saturday night rub (* Big Bill Broonzy)
• Kerstin - Komm lieber Mai und mache (* Christian Adolph Overbeck, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
•  Heather - One day at a time (* Marijohn Wilkin, Kris Kristofferson)
• Mick - Towersey fair (* Bill Meek, John Conolly)
• Rob - Mrs Barbour's army (*  Alistair Hulett)
• Ray and Kerstin - Sailing (* Gavin Sutherland)
• Mick - St Louis blues (*  W C Handy)

Simon finished off the session with When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford). 

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

(Number of people present - 11 of whom 10 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 (#).

Mostly remembering

Mike Starkey and Tom Mossman
(Photos: Simon Meeds)

After last week's sad news of the recent deaths of two Dragon Folk Club singers the session was suggested as the first of several where songs sung or written by Tom Mossman and Mike Starkey might be featured, and the originally suggested title of "Songs about singing" understandably faded into the background.

It was great to welcome Paul M and his friend Jane for the first time. Out of the five performers, only Colin and Simon really knew Tom and Mike, but it didn't stop others from selecting songs from their repertoires. Overall it was a great evening and definitely not at all morbid.

We were joined briefly by Mike's cribbage-playing friend, asking whether we knew of  Mike's death, and he stayed to listen to one song, so he is included in the count of attendees.

This Friday the official theme will be St George's Day, but songs from Tom and Mike's repertoires are definitely still on the cards - there may even be some that hit both targets on the bullseye!

Colin, resuming his seat as MC after a spell away from it, started proceedings with Deportee (Plane Crash At Los Gatos) (roud 26302 - Woody Guthrie).

Newcomer Paul M's debut song was Fare thee well Cisco (*  Tom Paxton), written about Cisco Houston.

Denny gave us Linden Lea (T roud X4683 - William Barnes, Ralph Vaughan Williams) and Paul W sang The song goes on (Mick Ryan), which having been written as a posthumous tribute to singer Cyril Tawney was very appropriate on all fronts.

Simon finished the first rotation with Standing at the door (T Allan Taylor).

Unusually, because of the themes, I will mention every song (and poem) performed during the evening:

• Colin - Following the southern star (M Mike Starkey, Dave Marshall)
• Paul M -  The twenty fourth of February (M roud 951)
• Denny - Marching inland (M Tom Lewis)
• Paul W - Jones's ale (M roud 139)
• Simon - After the gold rush (M Neil Young)
• Colin - Autumn leaves (T  Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer)
• Paul M - D-Day dodgers (M  Lance-Sergeant Harry Pynn, Norbert Schultze)
• Denny - Holmfirth anthem (M roud 1046)
• Paul W - Blackbird (T John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
• Simon - Lasso the moon (T Tom Mossman in discussion with Ray Croll)
• Colin - Mary Ellen Carter (M Stan Rogers)
• Paul M - Song for the Bowdoin (* Larry Kaplan)
• Denny - Rolling home (M  roud 4766)
• Paul W - Bring us a barrel (M Keith Marsden)
• Simon - John Barleycorn (M  roud 164 - Tune "Wir Pflügen" by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz)
• Colin - Dirty old town (M? Ewan MacColl)
• Paul M - Pastures of plenty (* roud 16377 - Woody Guthrie)
• Denny - When yellow's on the broom (M Adam McNaughton)
• Paul W - Country gardens (roud 29760 - Thomas Walker, Robert M Jordan) - Paul wasn't to know that Mike Starkey actually used to sing Fred Wedlock's parody English Country Garden.
• Simon - Grand Dad's cracket (*T Tom Mossman)
• Colin - British bobby (M Fred Wedlock) - Fred was Mike's English teacher when he was at school. Mike said that Fred taught him Brizzle and claimed that he taught Fred Glott'r.
• Paul M - The Marla Hill ducks (* roud V39873 - Tommy Armstrong)
• Denny - I can hew boys (M Davey Dodds)
• Paul W - John Dead (M). I've given Paul the hit on Mike's repertoire because there are many versions of this song and he was very close, but the one Mike sang is more like this Grey goose.
• Simon - Claudy banks (M roud 266, laws N40)
• Colin -  The band played waltzing matilda (M Eric Bogle)
• Paul M - Nantucket (* Jonathan Michael Peter Darely, David Robinson, Robert James Alexander Sattin, Andrew Robert Yates)
• Denny - Row on (roud 2084)
• Paul W - Hanging Johnny (M roud 2625)
• Simon - Home lass home (T Tom Mossman,  Sarah Morgan)
• Colin - Parting glass (M roud 3004)
• Paul M - Bones in the ocean (* Dave Robinson)
• Denny - Rolling Home (M John Tams)
• Paul W - Farewell shanty (M) This was the song Mike would sing at the funeral of a another singer.
• Simon - The January man (M Dave Goulder) Mike would have had Simon's guts for garters for singing this outside January.
• Colin - I'm bound away (M?)
• Paul M - A great northern river (* Graeme Miles)
• Denny - Teeside bridges (Erik Gooding)
• Paul W - Roll Alabama roll (M roud 4710)

Simon finished the evening with When all men sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford) - although I don't think I heard Mike perform this song he would certainly sing along to the chorus with gusto, and this recording is particularly appropriate since I believe he knew and respected Johnny Collins.

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 (#).

Additionally this week "T" and "M" indicate songs from Tom Mossman's or Mike Starkey's repertoires and a question mark (?) indicates a song only possibly identified as such.

Mike Starkey - RIP

Mike Starkey (Photo: Simon Meeds)

The Dragon Folk Club is sad to inform of the passing of Mike Starkey on Sunday, 12th April 2026.

Mike had been coming along to the Dragon Folk Club for "many, many years", since it was held at The Lamb in Iron Acton. He was a fine unaccompanied singer.

Mike had a long history with music, not just folk music. He sang with Dave Marshall and Amanda as the "Terrible Two and Amanda", and also with the "Westerleigh Wailers" who performed many times at folk clubs and festivals.

He was with the Bristol Shantymen and appeared with them at folk clubs and festivals all over the country. Mike sang with the shantymen on many sea-going vessels and at shanty festivals in Poland, Liverpool, Whitby, Bristol, and Cardiff, among others.

Mike was for a long time our MC and his wife Maggie the proprietor of the Dragon Folk Club. He also successfully MCed at other folk clubs and at festivals.

This week we have also heard of the passing of Dragon stalwart, Tom Mossman, so I suggest that tonight's session (17th April 2026) and maybe the next few sessions might have an additional (always optional) theme of songs they sang. Here is the very incomplete list of Mike's songs from the Dragon database.

Addams Family Theme, The     -     Vic Mizzy    
Admiral Benbow     -     roud 227    
After The Gold Rush     -     Neil Young    
Albertina     -     translation by J Glyn Davies of the Norwegian shanty Skonnert Albertina
All Among The Barley     -     roud 1283, Elizabeth Stirling    
All The Good Times     -     Bob Pegg    
All Things Dull And Ugly     -     William Henry Monk, Eric Idle    
Amazing Grace     -     roud 5430, John Newton    
And Now I'm Easy     -     Eric Bogle    
Apple Tree Wassail     -     roud 209    
As We Were A-Sailing     -     roud 492    
Away to the Western Front     -     Mike Starkey    
Bald Eagle, The     -     Vera Johnson    
Band Played Waltzing Matilda, The     -     Eric Bogle    
Bang away Lulu     -     roud 4835    
Banks Of Marble     -     Les Rice    
Barrett's Privateers     -     Stan Rogers    
Battle Of Sowerby Bridge, The     -         
Black Sloven     -     roud 6475    
Black Velvet Band     -     roud 2146    
Black White Yellow And Green     -     roud 9212    
Blackleg miners     -     roud 3193    
Blood Red Roses     -     roud 931, Possibly A L Lloyd    
Bloody Great Fishes Are Whales     -         
Boar's Head Carol, The     -     roud 22229    
Bold Fusilier     -     Pete Coe based on traditional    
Bonny Black Hare     -     roud 1656    
Boston Harbour     -     roud 613    
Bring Us A Barrel     -     Keith Marsden    
Bully in the alley     -     roud 8287    
Byker Hill     -     roud 3488    
Card Playing Song     -     roud 884    
Children Of The Train     -     Mike Starkey    
Chinese Bum-boat Man, The     -     roud 10465    
Christmas Day in the Cookhouse     -         
Christmas Goose, The     -     roud 3204    
Cindy Oh Cindy     -     roud 21449, Robert Nemiroff, Burt D'Lugoff as Robert Barron, Burt Long    
Claudy Banks     -     roud 266    
Cockerham Devil, The     -     Pru and Roger Edwards    
Collier Brig, The     -     roud 1855    
Come Landord Fill The Flowing Bowl     -     roud 1234    
Come Write Me Down     -     roud 381    
Crack Your Whip (Bristol Mail)     -     Keith Marsden    
Cutty Wren, The     -     roud 236    
D-Day Dodgers     -     roud 10499, Lance-Sergeant Harry Pynn    
Dancing At Witsun     -     Austin John Marshall    
Dead Dog Cider     -     Trevor Crozier    
Devil In York, The     -     Tim Brooks    
Dido Bendigo     -     roud 584    
Doctor Mack     -     roud 1861    
Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round     -     Tom Paxton    
Donkey Riding     -     roud 4540    
Doodle Let Me Go (Yaller Girls)     -     roud 3221    
Down The Road     -     Bill Staines    
Drovers, The     -     Keith Marsden    
Drunken Sailor     -     roud 322    
Duw It's Hard     -     Max Boyce   
English Country Garden     -     roud 29760, Fred Wedlock    
Enniskillen Dragoons     -     roud 2185, Tommy Makem    
Farewell Shanty     -         
Farmer's Boy     -     roud 408    
Fathom The Bowl     -     roud 880    
Fed Up With The Fields Of Athenry     -         
Female Drummer, The     -     roud 226    
Fireship, The     -     roud 4841    
Firing the Mauretania     -         
Five Constipated Men     -         
Flower Of Scotland     -     Roy Williamson    
Free And Easy     -     roud 1084    
Gloucestershire Wassail, The     -     roud 209    
Good English Ale     -     roud 1512    
Grey Goose     -         
H'ist Up The John B's Sails     -     roud 15634    
Hal An Tow     -     roud 1520    
Hanging Johnny     -     roud 2625    
Happy Man, The     -     roud 1230    
Hard Times Of Old England     -     roud 1206    
Harry Brown     -     Pete McNab, Mike Starkey    
Haul Away Joe     -     roud 809    
He Back, She Back     -     roud 930    
He Jumped Without A Parachute From 40,000 Feet     -         
Heights Of Alma     -     roud 830    
Here's To Good Old Whisky     -     roud 10523    
Herring Song, The     -     roud 128    
High Germany     -     roud 904    
Hitler Has Only Got One Ball     -     roud 10493, Attributed to Toby O'Brien; tune Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts as "Colonel Bogey March"    
Hob Y Deri Dando     -         
Hog-eye man     -     roud 331    
Holmfirth Anthem, The     -     roud 1046    
Homeward     -     Cicely Fox Smith, Sarah Morgan    
Hounds Are Out, The     -     roud 1869    
Hounds are out, the     -     roud 24901    
I Can Hew Boys     -     Dave Dodds    
I Couldn't Take My Eyes Off Her     -     Dave Plaskett    
I Don't Want To Join The Army     -     roud 10263    
I Once Loved A lass     -     roud 154    
I Will Go     -     traditional, Roddy MacMillan    
I Wish I Was Single Again     -     roud 437    
I'll Tell Me Ma     -     roud 2649    
I've got sixpence     -     roud 1116    
Idlers And Skivers     -     Keith Marsden    
Jack Of All Trades     -     roud 3017    
January Man, The     -     Dave Goulder    
JCB Song, The     -     Seamus Moore    
Joe Hill     -     Alfred Hayes, Earl Robinson    
John Barleycorn     -     roud 164    
John Cherokee     -     roud 4693    
Johnnie Lad     -     roud 2587    
Johnny Come Down to Hilo     -     roud 650    
Jolly Ploughboy, The     -     roud 163, Possibly John J. Blockley    
Jolly Waggoner     -     roud 1088    
Land Rover     -         
Last Shanty, The     -     Tom Lewis    
Last Valentine's Day     -     roud 6475    
Lish Young Buy-a-broom, The     -     roud 1865    
Little Fishes     -     roud 5477    
Liverpool Judies     -     roud 928    
London River     -     Rod Shearman    
Lumbered     -     Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley    
Marching Inland     -     Tom Lewis    
Martin Said To His Man     -     roud 473    
Mary Ellen Carter     -     Stan Rogers    
Miner's Lifeguard, The     -     roud 3510    
Mingulay Boat Song     -     Sir Hugh S Roberton    
Mobile Bay     -     roud 4696    
Mop Her Down     -     roud 17004    
Morley Main     -     Keith Marsden    
Mrs McGrath     -     roud 678    
Nancy Myles     -     Kevin Sheerin    
Napoleon Bonaparte     -     roud 1626    
New York Girls     -     roud 486    
No Use For Him     -     Eric Bogle    
Noah's Ark Shanty     -     roud 318    
Normandy Orchards     -     Keith Marsden    
Oak and the ash, The     -     roud 1367    
Old Man's Song, The     -     Ian Campbell    
One More Day     -     roud 704    
Outward And Homeward Bound     -     roud 18905    
Pace-Egging Song, The     -     roud 614    
Padstow Drinking Song, The     -     roud 1252    
Paris here I come     -         
Parting Glass, The     -     roud 3004    
Pay Me My Money Down     -     roud 21449    
Peter's Private Army     -     Martin Graebe    
Pogles Wood     -     John the Fish    
Pretty Nancy Of Yarmouth     -     roud 407    
Quare Bungle Rye     -     roud 2404    
Red Haired Mary     -     Sean McCarthy    
Rochester Recruiting Sergeant, The     -     Pete Coe, based on a The Bold Fusilier    
Roll Alabama Roll     -     roud 4710    
Roll the cotton down     -     roud 2627    
Roll The Old Chariot     -     roud 3632    
Roll the Woodpile Down     -     roud 4443    
Rolling Down To Rio     -     Rudyard Kipling, Edward German    
Rolling Home     -     John Tams    “Round goes the wheel of fortune”
Rolling Home     -     roud 4766    “Call all hands to man the capstan”
Roman Gladiator, The     -     Bruce Campbell    
Ryebuck Shearer, The     -     roud 24820    
Sailboat Malarkey     -         
Sally Free And Easy     -     Cyril Tawney    
Sam's gone way (aboard a man o' war)     -         
Santianna     -     roud 207        
Scarborough Fair    -     roud 12 
Sebastapol     -     roud 8293    
Sebastopol     -     roud 5007    
Seven Drunken Nights     -     roud 114    
Shantyman     -     Bob Watson    
Shoals Of Herring, The     -     Ewan MacColl    
Side By Side (parody)     -     original by Harry M Woods    
Skipper Jan Rebeck     -         
Smuggler's Song, The     -     Rudyard Kipling, Peter Bellamy, Christopher Le Fleming    
South Australia     -     roud 325    
Spanish Ladies     -     roud 687    
Spencer The Rover     -     roud 1115    
Sweet ladies of Plymouth     -     Peter Bellamy    
Sweet Nightingale     -     roud 371    
Take Your Time     -     Peter Mundey    
Thee's Got'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't     -     Adge Cutler    
Three Day Millionaire     -     Mike Waterson    
Tom's gone to Hilo     -     roud 481    
Twanky-dillo     -     roud 2409    
Twenty Fourth Of February, The     -     roud 951    
Vicar And The Frog, The     -     Stan Crowther    
Wassail Song     -     roud 209    
Watch And Chain     -     Dave Webber    
We Sing Hallelujah     -     Richard Thompson    
We Wish You A Merry Christmas     -     roud 230    
We're All Surrounded     -     roud 9164    
What Is The Life Of A Man     -     roud 848    
When Johnny Comes Marching Home     -     roud 6673    
When Jones's Ale Was New     -     roud 139    
When This Lousy War Is Over     -     Tune: Charles Crozat Converse    
When Yellow's On The Broom     -     Adam McNaughton    
Whip Jamboree     -     roud 488    
Whisky Johnny     -     roud 651    
Wild Colonial Boy, The     -     roud 667    
Wild Goose Shanty, The     -     roud 328    
William Brown     -     Arthur Hagg    
Working Man     -     Rita MacNeil    
World Cup Willie     -     Lonnie Donegan    
World Turned Upside Down, The     -     Leon Rosselson    
Ying Tong Song     -     Spike Milligan    
Young Banker     -     roud 3321    
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah     -     Allie Wrubel, Ray Gilbert