Category: songs

David Francey 2009

 

David Francey: https://davidfrancey.bandcamp.com/track/banks-of-the-seaway-2

https://davidfrancey.bandcamp.com/track/banks-of-the-seaway-2

Chorus I took my love down to Summerstown On the banks of the Seaway Where the big ships go by On the banks of the St. Lawrence River we lie On the banks of that river so wide And when we hear the winter turn In the sound of the blackbirds cry I’ll take my love down to Summerstown? And when we see the springtime turn To a cloud in the summer sky And when we feel the summer turn On the wind that the leaves will fly And when we hear the autumn turn In the northern wind’s cold cry

 

 

Stan Rogers 1976

 

Stan Rogers: Stan Rogers intros & sings “Barrett’s Privateers” in One Warm Line documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Nl3PaTimA

O the year was Seventeen Seventy-Eight How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now A letter of marque came from the king To the scummiest vessel I’ve ever seen God damn them all I was told we’d cruise the seas for American gold We’d fire no guns, shed no tears Now I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett’s Privateers O Elcid Barrett cried the town How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now For twenty brave men all fishermen who Would make for him the Antelope’s crew The Antelope sloop was a sickening site How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now She’d list to the port and her sails in rags And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags On the King’s birthday we put to sea How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Ninety-one days to Montego Bay Pumping like madmen all the way On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now When a great big Yankee hove in sight With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight The Yankee lay low down with gold How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now She was broad and fat and loose in stays But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days Then at length she stood two cables away How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Our cracked four-pounders made awful din But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in The Antelope shook and pitched on her side How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs And the main truck carried off both me legs Now here I lay in my twenty-third year How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now It’s been six years since we sailed away And I just made Halifax yesterday

 

 

Jim Malcolm 2004

 

Old Blind Dogs: Battle Of Waterloo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMGMtb82wUo

Spring comes tae Kirrie Aw the world’s in bloom Winter is forgiven now Fooled by April’s broom Kirrie, oh Kirrie You were aye my hame ‘Til Napoleon’s bloody cannon hit their aim Jeanie, oh, Jeanie I am surely done Stricken down in battle At the mooth o Boney’s guns Jeanie, oh, Jeanie Aye sae dear tae me Let me hold you in my mind before I dee Chorus: For the cold returns in autumn When the wind rak?s the trees And the summer li?s forgotten In a cold bed of leaves As winter begins, aye mind Boney It wasn’t only you Who was broken on the field of Waterloo Surgeon, oh, surgeon Leave me wae my pain Save your knife for others Who will surely rise again Surgeon, oh, surgeon Leave ma blood to pour Let it drain into the bitter clay once more Daughter, oh, daughter Listen, dear, tae me Never wed a sodger Or a widow you will be Daughter, oh daughter Curse your lad to die E’er he catches the recruitin’ sergeant’s eye Boney, oh, Boney War was aye your game Bloody field your table Cannon yours to aim Boney, oh, Boney We aye live the same Drillin’ laddies not to fear the muskets’ flame

 

 

John Coletta 1992

 

Humpff Family: Beaujolais Nouveau – Humpff Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgb7k7sx4Z0

The train’s pulling out of the station I was bouncing the baby on my knee You said that all we were leaving Was long nights and longing to be free Waving to those smiling faces You told them we’d be back before they knew They said they were longing to change places Wishing they could buy that ticket too Chorus: The hardest part about leaving The hard parts not going away It’s the life you have to take with you And the price other people have to pay I’m not one for nostalgia There are far too many things left to do But I’d rather be in George Square than Trafalgar And the only thing that’s stopping me is you You said that you wanted to travel There were things that you wanted to see I see the knots you’re trying to unravel And the only thing that’s stopping you is me

 

 

Rudyard Kipling 1906

Peter Bellamy 1972

Based on folklore documented in Greek Anthology and the Middle Ages. Since bees can be considered part of the family, it is believed that if the owner of bees passes away, the family must tell the bees of the death so they are allowed to grieve, or the bees will fly away or die as well. This practice can extend even further to telling the bees about any death in the family, birth, marriage, or secrets.

Rosie Hodgson & Rowan Piggott: Rosie Hodgson & Rowan Piggott at The Thomas Lord, Petersfield | The Big Walk 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuATS3_OBSk

Chorus: Bees! Bees! Hark to your bees! “Hide from your neighbours as much as you please, But all that has happened, to us you must tell, Or else we will give you no honey to sell!” A Maiden in her glory, Upon her wedding-day, Must tell her Bees the story, Or else they’ll fly away. Fly away-die away-Dwindle down and leave you! But if you don’t deceive your Bees, Your Bees will not deceive you. Marriage, birth or buryin’, News across the seas, All you’re sad or merry in, You must tell the Bees. Tell ’em coming in an’ out, Where the Fanners fan, Because the Bees are just about As curious as a man! Don’t you wait where trees are, When the lightnings play; Nor don’t you hate where Bees are, Or else they’ll pine away. Pine away-dwine away-Anything to leave you! But if you never grieve your Bees, Your Bees will never grieve you!

 

 

Nick Robertshaw 2004

 

“Big Nick” was the longtime musician for and foreman of the Foggy Bottom Morris Men in Washington, DC.

Nick Robertshaw: Big Nick Robertshaw – Beer That Tastes like Beer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUTcMOYqllA

Chorus Here’s to beer that tastes like beer! An amber glass of wholesome cheer A noble brew that has no peer Beer that Tastes Like Beer! For centuries the brewers craft Produced the most exquisite draft When he brews with what he oughter Barley malt, hops, yeast and water. Let cheese be cheese and bread be bread Don’t serve us soap and cake instead While sausages may cause some fear For goodness sake let beer be beer! Among the most requested favors Please avoid exotic flavors Fruits and nuts and spices queer Have no place in honest beer! Oh stay the bung don’t drive the spile On concoctions rank with adjuncts bile Cornflakes, rice and rats from sewers Fine for cooks but not for brewers So stick with what is plain and true A beery tasting smelling brew Then you’ll earn our highest rating Refreshing yet intoxicating!

 

 

trad 

 

Bert Lloyd wrote in 1975: “The chorus probably wasn’t new when it first appeared in print as a drinking song in a pre-Shakespeare comedy, Gammer Gurton’s Needle (1575). The rest of the words of The Beggar’s Song belong to the beginning of the 18th century” James Findlay in 2012 asserted it originated “from an old drinking song, I Cannot Eat But Little Meat, which was first printed in 1557”. Narthen in 2023 asserted the author in the 16th century was named William Stevenson.

I’d rather be a beggar than a king I’ll tell you the reason why: For a king cannot swagger, nor drink like a beggar, Nor be half so happy as I. Chorus: Let your back and sides go bare, me boys Hands and feet grow cold But give to your belly, boys, beer enough Whether it be new or old Sometimes we lie like hogs in a sty In a flock of straw on the ground Sometimes eat a crust that’s rolled in the dust And are thankful it can be found. Sometimes we call at a rich man’s hall To beg for bread and beer. Sometimes we leave with a meatpie up each sleeve, Sometimes we’re kicked out on our ears

 

 

Sydney Carter 1981

 

Julian of Norwich (1343-1416) was an English anchoress of the Middle Ages. She lived an ascetic life in a room built onto the side of a church, and people would seek advice from her. During her lifetime, Norwich was the second most important city after London and was devastated by the Black Death of 1348-1350, the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, and the suppression of the Lollards. In 1373, aged 30, Julian received a series of visions. Her writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman.

Youth Trad Song Committee 2024: Julian of Norwich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9va4tms1_w

Loud are the bells of Norwich and the people come and go Here by the tower of Julian I tell them what I know Chorus Ring out bells of Norwich and Let the winter come and go All shall be well again I know Love like the yellow daffodil is coming through the snow Love like the yellow daffodil is Lord of all I know Ring for the yellow daffodil, the flower in the snow Ring for the yellow daffodil and tell them what I know For repeat of final chorus: All shall be well I’m telling you Let the winter come and go All shall be well again I know.

 

 

trad 

 

Collected by Mary E. Spence from Sarah Foster of Sedbergh, Yorkshire. Thought to date back at least 400 years.

Eliza Carthy: Benjamin Bowmaneer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykADKzuQqQY

Have you heard how the wars began, Benjamin Bowmaneer? Have you heard how the wars began? Castors away! Have you heard how the wars began When England fought to a man? And the proud tailor rode prancing away Of his shear board he made a horse? For him to ride across. And the proud tailor rode prancing away Of his scissors made bridle bits? To keep the horse in his wits. And the proud tailor rode prancing away As the tailor rode o’er the lea? He spied a flea on his knee. And the proud tailor rode prancing away Of his needle he made a spear? To prick that flea through his ear. And the proud tailor rode prancing away Of his thimble he made a bell? To ring that flea’s funeral knell. And the proud tailor rode prancing away Was this how the wars began? When England fought to a man? And the proud tailor rode prancing away

 

 

Alex Sturbaum 2020

 

“An apocalyptic corvid song. Things are bad out there, but the crows will probably be fine.”

Alex Sturbaum: https://alexsturbaum.bandcamp.com/track/big-black-bird

https://alexsturbaum.bandcamp.com/track/big-black-bird

Big black bird come round my door in the morning, in the morning, boys Big black bird come round my door in the morning, boys Big black bird come round my door Just like he done the day before Said “best get ready, there’s a big change coming in the morning” What news, what news you brought to me (in the morning…) While I’ve been sailing o’er the sea What have you seen while winging free Asked him had he seen my girl “No, sir, though I’ve been o’er this world She’s gone, long gone, and she ain’t a-coming back” Asked him had he seen my town “yes, sir, yes, I watched it drown The sea come up and it all come down” Asked him had he seen my land “Yes, sir, there’s fire from sea to strand And it’s in the grips of a poison man” How can you speak these words so free When each one tears my heart from me “why should I care for that?” said he “Big storm’s a-coming and there’s nowhere to go The rent’s too high and the money’s too low It’s coming fast and you change too slow” “You’re long on blame and short on time But me and mine, we’ll do just fine We’ll pick your bones and eat your eyes” Big black bird come round my door Just like he done the day before Says best get ready, there’s a big change coming in the morning