The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #8709   Message #2153695
Posted By: GUEST,Stephanie
20-Sep-07 - 04:03 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Blacksmith of Brandywine (Pat Garvey)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blacksmith of Brandywine
I live a couple of miles from the battlefield,and had an interesting experience a few years ago.I knew the song from the NCM's and more recently had heard Tom O'Carroll sing in on numerous occasions at O'Friels Irish pub (sadly now defunct)in Wilmington De.I was in Pete Renzetti's shop in Dilworthtown(I think before I had heard Tom sing the song) looking for info on an old metal helmet.I knew Pete slightly,enough to know he was a ironmonger,and then for whatever reason asked if he'd ever heard of the Blacksmith of Brandywine,heaven knows why, as I hadn't thought of the song in years plus I had always assumed it took place in Chester Pa --or possibly West Chester,given artistic license.He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and said"You are standing in his shop"whereupon he went upstairs and brought down a sketch of the blacksmith dead with bodies all around him under a huge tree.I always thought it an odd occurance.