T'was On One April Morning...

Here's a proposition for an opening number on Friday:



Ken will play the guitar in the key of G. I will occasionally hit the correct notes on the concertina. Ken's chords go something like this:

T’was [G]on one [D]April [G]morning just as the sun was ri[D]sing,
T’was [G]on one [D]April morning I [C]heard the small birds [D]sing.
They were singing ‘Lovely [C]Nan[G]cy’, for love it is a fan[D]cy
And [G]sweet [C]were the [G]notes that I heard the [D]small birds [G]sing.

(Don't watch Ken's fingers; he's in an obscure tuning!)
In an effort to encourage singers to join in there will be a repetition of a couple of verses, and orchestral breaks are included for those instrumentalists so-inclined, as below:

V.1
T’was on one April morning just as the sun was rising,
T’was on one April morning I heard the small birds sing.
They were singing ‘Lovely Nancy’, for love it is a fancy,
And sweet were the notes that I heard the small birds sing.

V.2
Young men are false and full of all deceiving.
Young men are false; they seldom do prove true.
For they’re roving and they’re ranging, and their minds are always changing,
And they’re thinking for to find out some other girl that’s new.

V.3
O, if I had my own heart in keeping;
O, if I had my own heart back again,
Close in my bosom I would lock it up for ever
And it should wander never so far from me again.

Repeat V.1

Instrumental break

Repeat V.3

V.4
So why would you spend your long time in courting?
Why would you spend your long time in pain?
For I don’t intend to marry; I would rather longer tarry.
O, young man, don’t you spend all your single life in vain.

Repeat V.3

Instrumental break

Repeat V.1

Please note, depending on the outcome of a rehearsal on Thursday, and failing short-term memory on Friday, Ken and I reserve the right to change this at a moment's unpublished notice!

A Maypole Dance...

It occurred to me that, in these modern times, few people will be able to dance around a Maypole in any kind of coherent manner which may be further confounded by the ingestion of alcoholic beverages...
In an attempt to avoid having to untangle a bunch of be-ribboned drunks I offer an insight into what might be expected...

A MAYPOLE DANCE

Formation: Single circle facing pole, with dancers numbered around the circle from one to four (1,2,3,4; 1,2, 3, 4; and so on); ones and twos are partners, threes and fours are partners; ones and threes stand on left side of partner. All hands are joined.

Introduction: 8 counts

16 Sixteen skips, circling to the left;

16 Sixteen skips, circling to the right;

8 Each set of four, with their hands joined, circle to the left with eight skips;

8 Circle to the right with eight skips. Finish with each couple facing partner, both hands joined.

16 With sixteen skips turn twice around with partner; finish facing partner, ones and threes with their backs to the pole.

8 With a walking step, back away eight steps from partner;

8 Skip eight steps back to partner and join both hands;

16 With sixteen skips turn twice around partner. Finish in a single circle, facing pole.

8 All walk forward four steps and back four steps;

8 All skip eight steps toward the pole;

8 Pick up ribbons and hold high in RIGHT hands;

Eight skips back to place, and face partner.

8 Use full eight counts to bow to partner;

8 Bring ribbons to position for winding, both hands on ribbon about twelve inches apart, palms down. Those facing line of dance (LOD) hold ribbon high and step to outside; those facing reverse line of dance (RLOD) hold ribbon low and step to inside. Keep ribbon taut while winding.

Weave the pole to the desired distance. Those facing line of dance go over first, then under, etc. Those facing RLOD go under first, then over, etc. All weave in and out as in a grand right and left. After the responsible adult calls "next" or some other appropriate signal, the drunks stop the next time they meet their partners. On a signal, they face the pole holding ribbons high in their right hands. On a second signal, they let them flutter to the ground, then join hands with their partners and skip off.

NOTE: If the drunks do not skip spontaneously, without concentration on footwork, let them stumble the first two or three times through the dance. Counts are given for the actions, rather than measures, to permit the teacher/sober person to use music of his/her choice for this dance. The dance and the music will not necessarily come out even, because of the flexibility of time used for the "weaving."

On second thoughts it maybe better if we all contrive to bring a piece of Ikea furniture to assemble....

Being the Twentyseventh of March 2009

Thank you to all who participated in our attempt to re-create the crowd scene from Ben Hur...
31 people is a record for the City Folk Club...
Here's what we did while we waited for the chariots to pass by...

Panic: David
When All Men Sing: Colin
The Night is Young: Eddie
Let the Cold Wind Blow: Jane and Dave
Do You Remember?: Mike
These Monkeys are Metaphorical: Steve
I Still Miss Someone: Berry
Mother Earth: Paul
Bridges of Paris: Maggie
Wild Flying Dove: Lynda
No Not Really (A Blues in the Key of E) Mick
The Daisies Song: Mave
Timothy McKay: Ken
Crazy Love: Mike
You've Got a Friend: Shenna/Paul
On the Banks of Red Roses: Anne/Alan
Learning the Game: Bill 1.1
Fiddlin' and Dancing: Jenny
Things: Paul
Bring us a Barrel: Colin
All the Good Times Are Past and Gone: Eddie
Tonight Will Be Fine: Jane/Dave
Whiskery Bob: Mike
Wisdom of Canines: Steve
When We Were Good: Berry/Ken
Stand By Me: Shenna/Paul
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child: Maggie
Hello: Lynda
Jack O'Ryan: Bill 1:1/Mick
Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall: Mike
The Irish Rover: Anne/Alan

Apologies to those with a question mark, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with the sheer quality of it all...

Being the Twentieth of March 2009

Another just-in-time listing of past events...
I really must make an effort to get out of bed every now and then...
(especially when Linda's making it...)

Molly Malone: Colin and Full Cast
John Barley: Antony
Long Looked For. Come at Last: Bill 1.1
Sailor's Prayer: Eddie
Don't Call Me Louise: Mike
Long Shot Kick The Bucket: Steve
Anji: Mick
Dirty Old Town: Mike
From Boulder to Birmingham: Jane/Dave
The Green Banks of Grain: Mave
Drumsnot: Ken
I was a Young Man. I was a Rover: Colin
Alexander Beetle: Paul
The Ballad of the Lost Prophet: David
Mull of Kintyre: Antony
The Vertical: Bill 1.1
The Sailorman's Port in a Storm: Eddie
My True Love: Mike
Performance Review: Steve
Beret: Mick
Wild in the Country: Paul
Never Again: Lynda
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright: Mike
I'm On Fire: Jane/Dave
Whiskey in the Jar: Mave
Parting Song: Colin

Just time for a nap before the next episode...

Dress Code...

Mr B. Greene has seen fit to communicate his dismay at the general level of sartorial inelegance with in the City Folk Club and has suggested, by the medium of moving pictures, how we may attain a level of sophistication more in keeping with the quality of performances we are treated to on a weekly basis...
Look and learn...


Excuse me while I press a cravat...

Being the Thirteenth of March 2009...

I'll deal with the Red Nose Day goings-on in a separate post...
Here's what we inflicted on our long-suffering selves...

I've got a Little Problem: David
Nancy Spain: Anne & Alan
Next Time: Eddie
I Wanna' Undo: Steve
The Battle of Hastings: Bill 1:2
For Tonight We'll Merry Merry Be: John
Bay of Biscay: Anne
There Was a Vicar: Pete
The 6' 7" Woman: Ray
A Joke: Lynda
Nobodies Child: Paul
The Welly Boot Song: Jane/Colin
St. Anley, The Spider and the Mag-Light: Colin
Ah Yes! I Remember it Well: Mave/Ken
A Merry Little Minuet: Roger
Bold Sir John: Alan
The Mermaid: Eddie
Another Day, Another Database: Steve
A Joke: Heather
Has Anybody Seen J.C.?: Bill 1:2
Joe The Carter Lad: John
Why don't Women Like Me?: Ray
After the Goldrush: Lynda
Billy Baily: Paul
The German Clockwinder: Colin
Unfed Melody: Mave
The Vodka Song: Ken
The Logger: Roger

Sorry for the delay in posting this listing...
I was overcome by a wistful melancholy...

Being St. Patrick's Day...

Here's Molly!



(I continually encourage Jane to eat sea-food.)

We could have a go at this dish as an appetiser on Friday:

Molly Malone

G7C------------------------------Dm------------G7
In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
--C--------------------------D7------G7
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
-------C-----------------------
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
------------Dm-------------------G7
Through streets broad and narrow
---------C--------F--C----------F-C-----G7--C
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
G7C-------------Dm----------G7
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
---------C-------F---C---------F--C-----G7----C
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!

She was a fish-monger, but sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!

She died of a fever, and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!

(Written and Composed by James Yorkston)

Mike Probert Involved in Musical Crowd Scene...

Impressive group performance at 'Fiddleon' at Francombe...
Mike can be seen behind the bloke in the lilac shirt...

Being the Sixth of March 2009...

Now what did I turn the computer on for...?
I know there was something I intended to do...?
Errrr...?
I might as well type the listing out...

Butterflies: Yvonne/Mike
Please Don't Call Me Louise: Mike
The Games People Play: Steve
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Again): Mike
Swiss Air: Mick
Reynardine: Jane
My Bucket's Got A Hole In It: Berry
The Black Fox: Bill 1:1
Liverpool Lullaby: Lynda
A Little Biddy Tear: Paul
In The Smoke: David
Clementine/Cwm Rhondda: Colin
Once In a Very Blue Moon: John
The Golden Glove: Ken
Follow The Heron Home: Mave
Somewhere Along The Road: Eddie
Just a Simple Love Song: Yvonne/Mike
The Boxer: Mike
Sad Ending: Mick
God's a Woman To: Jane
About a 1/4 to Nine: Berry
Hey Jude: Lynda/Paul
Another Girl: Paul
At the Bottom of this Bottle: David
The Hand Weaver and the Factory Maid: Colin
The Minstrel Boy: John
When I Take My Morning Promenade: Mave

No...
Still can't remember what I couldn't remember when I started typing this....

Being the Twentyseventh of February 2009...

Are you sitting comfortably..?
Then I'll begin...

Oh! Susanna: David+Full Cast
Betsy the Serving Maid: Colin
The Little Serving Maid: Bill 1:1
In the Morning: Jenny
There's a Kind of Hush: Bill 1:2
All the Good-times are Past and Gone: Eddie
It Had to be You: Brenda/Berry
You Were Always on My Mind: Lynda/Paul
Buddy Holly Medley: Berry/Heather
Steal Away: Paul
Maid Behind the Bar/Coolies Reel: Mick
Why Don't Women Like Me?: Ray
I am Weary Let Me Rest: Jane/Dave
I Just Want to Dance With You: Jasmine/George
The Sound of Bells: George
Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue: Maggie
I'm Throwing Rice: David
I Think I'd Better Leave Right Now: Jasmine
Keep You in Peace: Eddie
The Turkish Song: Maggie
In My Life: Paul
In The Wee Small Hours: Lucy
I Don't Work for a Living: Ray
How Can I Keep From Singing: Lynda
The Only Sound I Heard: Jenny
Kiss The World Goodbye: Berry
The Saucy Sailor: Jane/Dave
Walking My Baby Back Home: Brenda/Berry

Now let's head for the future...

Here's a nod to the Celts among us ...

Today being 1st. March is St. David's day. I am moved to post this rendition of Cwm Rhondda:



For those who don't quite catch the words, the translation is as follows:

Clementine

In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner forty-niner,
And his daughter Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever;
Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine,
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling …

Drove she ducklings to the water
Every morning just at nine.
Caught her foot against a splinter,
Fell into the foaming brine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling …

Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine,
But, alas, I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling …

How I missed her! How I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
I forgot my Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever;
Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

Shall we kick of with this next Friday?
I promise, it works. Don't forget the harmonies and counterpoint in the bass.

(My sincere apologies to those Christians of Welsh descent who understand the faith and the language better than I ever will!)