Song clusters

Florence iron ore mine, Egremont, Cumbria
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

There weren't hordes at the Dragon Folk Club session last week, but we all had a good time and it was great to see Gabriel join us for the second time. We hadn't frightened him away, which is always a good sign!

We're carrying on the run of themeless sessions, so there is no pressure this Friday, not that there ever is since our themes when they do crop up are always optional.

Colin, in the MC's chair as usual, started us off with Tom Lewis' Tinker, tailor (*#) and was followed by Simon singing Jean Ritchie's The L&N don't stop here anymore. This wasn't the last we'd hear from Tom Lewis, and if you listen to the playlist linked below from "a selection" you will also hear more from Jean Ritchie in the form of her duet with Doc Watson on Pretty Saro (roud 417) which we heard from Denny.

Heather gave us Bob Dylan's Blowing in the wind; another songwriter who will crop up again. This was followed by Denny with Down in your mine (Colin Wilkie), a song written following an iron ore mining accident in Lengede, Germany, in 1963. The subsequent rescue mission was the inspiration for Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds supermarionation TV series.

Gabriel completed the first rotation with Norman Blake's Last train from poor valley (*), another mining song.

Other songs new to the Dragon database were:

• Gabriel - Colorado girl (* Townes van Zandt)
• Gabriel - Water upon water (*# Gabriel Wynne)
• Gabriel - No more for today (*# Gabriel Wynne)
• Colin - Barnacle Bill the sailor (* roud 4704) - a bawdy version, but not the most extreme
• Gabriel - One more cup of coffee (* Bob Dylan)
• Gabriel - Open up the window Noah (* Phil Rosenthal)
• Gabriel - an instrumental medley of Sage Green (*# Gabriel Wynne) and Old Grimes (*)
• Colin - The mermaid (* a different version of roud 124, child 289 to the one already in the database)

Since I mentioned them, here are the other songs from Bob Dylan and Tom Lewis:

• Gabriel - Buckets of rain (Bob Dylan)
• Denny - Sailor's prayer (Tom Lewis)

Gabriel finished the session off with an unaccompanied version of Lady Franklin's lament (roud 487, laws K09).

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 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 faces

Medieval drawing of John Ball
giving hope to Wat Tyler's rebels

There was no theme at last week's Dragon Folk Club session. We were very pleased to be able to welcome two first-time visitors: Paul and Denny who offered us some fine songs and singing. They seemed to enjoy the evening and promised to come again, which is always good to hear.

In Colin's absence, Simon was MC for a change and started things off with Tom Paine's Bones (Graham Moore).

Thomas Paine (1736-1809) was one of the most significant figures of the 18th century. Took part in the American Revolution, writing a series of pamphlets, Crisis in America and Common Sense, which played a large part in that Revolution. He went on to write a forceful defence of the French Revolution, The Rights of Man, and was elected to the National Assembly. His Age of Reason caused outrage and he was widely ostracised.

Ten years after Paine's death, William Cobbett, a journalist, loyal Englishman and at one time Paine’s bitterest enemy, found his neglected grave and dug up the skeleton. Cobbett shipped the bones to England and they remained in his possession until his death. The bones were passed to a day labourer, then to Cobbett’s secretary, then to a furniture dealer, and no more is known of their fate.

Rob followed on with his own song, Ballad of Reynardine, which may or may not be related to the traditional ballad (roud 397, laws P15) of similar name; even Rob doesn't seem sure. In the traditional song Reynardine is a werefox who attracts beautiful women so that he can take them away to his castle. What fate meets them there is usually left ambiguous.

Paul wanted to warm himself (and maybe us) up with some chorus singing and therefore gave us Fathom the Bowl (roud 880).

Denny followed with a song with its roots in American minstrelsy, being written in 1879 by James Alan Bland - The Chickens in the Garden (roud 2552). Published in 1883, it quickly became popular and found its way into the tradition, mostly in the USA and Canada, and found its way across the Atlantic, eventually becoming a favourite of Norfolk singer Walter Pardon.

And so ended the first circuit of the room. As is traditional, I will go on to mention all the songs sung by our newcomers, Paul and Denny:

• Paul - Tracks in the Snow (Steve Thomason) - the only song from the evening not in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below.
• Denny - When Yellow's on the Broom (Adam McNaughton)
• Paul - Waking Dreams (roud 22620)
• Denny - Down in Your Mine (Colin Wilkie) - inspired by a mining accident in Lengede, Germany, in 1963.
• Paul and Denny - John Ball (Sydney Carter)
• Paul - Love Farewell (roud 1301)
• Denny - The Lion and Albert (Marriott Edgar)
• Paul - Thousands or More (roud 1220)
• Denny - Willy 'Ole Lad (Keith Marsden)

Simon finished the evening with everyone singing along to When All Men Sing (Keith Scowcroft, Derek Gifford).

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

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