Hello everyone, my name is Jimmy I was brought up in Scotland, I'm 2nd gen Irish and now reside in Leeds in England. I'm a very enthusiastic folkie, I love singing, I write my own songs, I'm learning to fingerpick guitar, I enjoy especially though the genuine and interesting friendships it brings, my philosophy is " Drink beer - sing songs - be friendly ". nowt wrong with that is there. I've only recently bought this pc and discovered Mudcat but I can sense that this could become addictive - but in a nice way of course. I am a care worker, I help homeless people, and I'd like to share this poem with you which I wrote, as a wee present to you all - It is about a women who was put away in an institution in 1957/58 as a punishment for concieving a baby out of wedlock, it is called The Single Mother, I tried putting a tune to it but I think it is better orated,I hope you like it.

A woman was buried today, The good people went to the grave, Down on bended knees, They prayed for clemency, And morilised, As she lay dead.

But she was free at last, From her awfull past, From the stigma that ruined her life, From the mental shame, From those who named, Her child a bastard as she gave birth.

She suffered in silence, Alone, In an institution, Where she was thrown, She was only a child, A girl of fifteen, And such a bloody injustice, Should never have been.

regards - cujimmy