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 (#).

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 (#).

Sad news and happier

Geoff Gammon
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

It was an excellent turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club last week. That's not to say we wouldn't welcome more, but it was a refreshing change to have so many people to bounce ideas and songs off.

Before we get to the report proper I have two important pieces of news.

We have heard this week of the recent death of our friend Geoff Gammon who made his first appearance at the club on 9th September 2016 and quickly became a regular. While doctors had managed to keep his long-term illness at bay for several years it had recently caught up with him and he had become only an occasional visitor to The Bridge. Our thoughts are with his daughter Sara and all his family.

A happier, piece of news is that we are entering the autumn/ winter theme season for the club. While we will continue to meet every Friday with the possible exception of one or two around Christmas and New Year (watch this space for news on that) there are some particular dates for your diary. These themes are entirely voluntary. If you can find a few songs to fit then that's great, if not then turn up anyway and do whatever you fancy.

• 20th October - Harvest (gathering, plenty, agriculture, countryside)
• 27th October - Halloween (All Saints, spooky, horror, etc.)
• 3rd November - Guy Fawkes / Bonfire Night (including campfire songs)
• 10th November - Remembrance (war, anti-war, etc.)
• 1st December - St Andrew (Scotland, etc.)
• 15th December - Christmas (including bah humbug)

(Songs new to the Dragon database, though not necessarily always new to the club are marked with an asterisk "*")

As usual Colin was MC and started the session, this time singing Games people play (* Joe South).

John was next up with Bob Dylan's Blind Willie McTell about the Piedmont blues and ragtime singer and guitarist of that name and the prejudice experienced by African Americans such as him in the first half of the 20th century.

Stan introduced us to Marty Robbins' Man walks among us (*).

Simon sang Leon Rosselson's song of the diggers, The world turned upside down.

Rob often takes traditional ballads and writes an alternative version of the story or one which explains missing links in the original. His riff on Long Lankin (roud 6, child 93) is Lord Weary and the mason. The linked video is entitled "Lord Murray and the mason" because a friend of Rob's persuaded him that might be less confusing, but Rob later reverted to the original title and lyric.

Chris sang the first traditional song of the evening with The three ravens (roud 5, child 26).

Roger briefly sang what I believe was an extract from Paddy McGinty's goat. It's worth noting that this song, while seeming to be Irish, was in fact written by two English music hall composers, Bert Lee and RP Weston, for an American vaudeville act performing in the UK, The Two Bobs.

Denny offered up Pretty Saro (roud 417) followed by Paul bringing the first rotation to an end with Waking dreams (roud 22620).

Colin recalled our late friend Phil by singing from his repertoire Plastic Jesus (Ed Rush, George Cromarty).

Chris sang David of the white rock (*), the English version of Dafydd y Garreg Wen with tune by Welsh harpist David Owen and (Welsh) words by John Caeiriog Hughes.

Roger followed this, referring to the jazz funerals of New Orleans and singing When the saints go marching in (* roud 13983).

Colin gave us Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger's Nova Scotian mining disaster song The ballad of Springhill (*).

Chris added to her tally with The spinning wheel (* roud 17647 - John Francis Waller).

Colin sang the only song of the evening not in the YouTube playlist linked below as "a selection", and that was Graeme Miles' The Whitby girl's lament.

Stan reminded us of Elvis by singing The wonder of you (* Baker Knight), first recorded by Ray Peterson.

Rob has recently spread his net beyond his usual ballads and shanties to include some Americana, which he demonstrated to us with Poor Wayfaring stranger (* roud 3339). And finally, it also fell to Rob to finish the evening which he did with Nassau Bound (roud 15634), the original version of the well known Sloop John B from the singing of Tom Lewis.

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

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

The new normal?

Liverpool's Three Graces
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's session was back at The Bridge with new, possibly temporary management. They seemed like reasonable guys and they were happy for us to be in our usual room. We were relatively small in number, but some decent songs were sung, and we were joined by newcomer Stan who some of us knew from other sessions.

Colin, MC as usual, started the evening with The sheep are 'neath the snow, a traditional Manx song - Ny Kirree Fo Niaghtey in Manx.

Stan sang a song made famous by Scott Walker, and written by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens: Lights of Cincinatti. Like Stan's Denny's first song was new to the Dragon database (though not necessarily new to the club): Pretty Saro (roud 417).

Paul gave us Dave Webber's Bonnet and Shawl.

Simon followed Colin's lead in a way by singing The Ellan Vannin Tragedy (Hughie Jones) about the Isle of Man ferry named after the island in Manx which sank in 1909.

I'll continue as has become tradition, mentioning mainly songs sung by newcomer Stan and songs not already in the Dragon database.

Stan perhaps recalled the Ellan Vannin when singing The leaving of Liverpool (roud 9435), yet Denny kept us in that city with The ballad of Seth Davy (Glyn Hughes).

Paul took us into the London sewers with Sydney Carter's Down below (roud V53400). This song was apparently sung by Stanley Holloway, who was of course famous for reciting monologues written by Marriott Edgar, such as The recumbent posture, which Simon gave us to follow Paul.

Stan gave us two songs by Pete St John: The fields of Athenry and The rare ould times.

Denny turned to Gospel by singing Blessed quietness (Manie Payne Ferguson).

Paul amused us with Jon Heslop's Dead knight behind the hedge, a mashup of Twa corbies (roud 5, child 26) and The knight on the road (roud 20, child 3). This one isn't in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below.

Colin's The saucy Arabella (roud 8343) was noted as having similarities to The Rosabella (roud 21134).

Stan sang Kris Kristofferson's I'd rather be sorry.

Denny set me a challenge which I'm afraid I haven't been able to fulfil. Her song Wayhill Fair comes from a tape she has of The South Bank Grunters. It seems to be related to Weyhill Fair (roud 1086), but isn't so much about horses at the fair.

Stan sang Ralph McTell's From Clare to here. Stan told us that McTell wrote the song inspired by an Irish builder, and that he could relate to it having often worked with Irish builders on sites in various locations.

Paul proudly sang his parody of Close the coalhouse door (Alex Glasgow) which he calls Close the dentist's door having written it while waiting for Denny to have root canal work done. His pride was because he sang it for a parody competition at the 2023 Sidmouth Folk Festival's Middle Bar. He left the event understanding that he had come second, but later heard that after a recount he had been declared the winner.

Colin gave us The Cotswolds, written by Mick "Shag" Connors.

Stan's last song of the evening was Massachusetts, written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb - the Bee Gees. This takes us back to the beginning of the evening with an Isle of Man connection for the Gibb brothers were born on the island.

Paul rounded off the evening with Dave Webber's Parting song.

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

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