Wanted - Canal tunes and songs

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: eftifino
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 01:26 PM

Sorry! Forgot to add in the Reference for the tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i6KmvUHaEk

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: eftifino
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 01:22 PM

Here's a link to 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' Over 200 of 'em!

http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/introduction2.htm

Included is one my Dad, the late Irish Actor Noel Purcell, recorded in the '50s about a disastrous canal trip on the Royal Canal in Dublin to a town called Kilcock, 30 miles away! I uploaded the tune to YouTube and you're welcome to use if if it's any good!

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Airymouse
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 09:24 AM

Coffee grows on white oak trees
The river flows with brandy
Rocks are lined with silver and gold
girls are sweet as candy

Railroad, steamboat, river and canal
I lost my love in that ragin' canal
And she's gone, gone, gone
And she's gone in that ragin' canal.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,Geoff Summerfield
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 03:56 AM

Hello I have three canal songs finished now if you would like to use them feel free. I 'll be keeping the copy writes, For contact e mail me on.   [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 09:40 AM

The tune of "Ripples at Ryeford" is now incorporated into a video and the first pass is posted here

but if anyone spots the deliberate error (ha!) I do know that it is really a grey wagtail. (NOW!)

If youtube allows updates with the same URL it will be done. Else withdrawn and the corrected video uploaded (with additions)

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 07:21 AM

LOL
Not Onion bhajis I hope - Or from South America - we don't like Argie Bargies.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 05:56 AM

When the working boats sailed past
I made bargees their teas
Now the pleasure boats moor up
For tea I serve bhajis

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Snuffy
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 10:58 AM

Not a canal bridge, Jack, but it has a collapse as well as building Steel Men

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 10:57 AM

https://soundcloud.com/softbass/

Track 10 Ghosts. About the waterway navvies, written by Colin Bargery.

Tone

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 10:49 AM

Just a thought - anyone know any bridge building songs?

There is a song about the building of the South Bridge of Edinburgh in the 1780s - on my "Embro, Embro" pages, I got it from the Greig-Duncan collection. But that never bridged a canal.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 10:03 AM

I just got a tune from a lass who I spoke to at the radio station, or a Carol Concert in a local pub, but the curse of these things, and age, is that I can not picture the lass. But it is a nice little gentle piece inspired by wildlife and ripples.

First DVD is winging its way to contributors.

His Worship & the Pig being one of them.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 03:27 PM

Video is a visual medium. And we are a textual race.
If you want clues on how I will telegraph the canal connection a quick peek at my videos will show it. See cresby.com home page links and go to a video or two. Subjects are not yet canal but I document other things in my area. Like buskers and street vendors. Very much in the "Folk" idiom. There are two hours of them awaiting uploading to YouTube.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:53 AM

At Banbury Folk Festival last weekend, the band Folklaw sang a new canal song of their own. It has yet to be recorded.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 18 Oct 12 - 02:03 PM

Glad to hear the project is progressing but (pedant alert!) how do you write a tune 'about' Fradley Junction? Once you get into it does it split and go in two separate directions?

I can understand people writing tunes which evoke feelings about aspects of our waterway system and naming them accordingly but I think I'd need extensive album notes to explain this to my unsophisticated ear. Far easier to write a canal song than a canal tune.

My understanding of the thread subject was tunes that were or might have been played by people working on the canals. Have many of these been brought to light?

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Oct 12 - 12:33 PM

I just had an e-mail from Richard Jones with a tune he has written a tune about Fradley Junction. His mother lived there for many years and he has just scattered her ashes there. Cue title "Scattering the Ashes (at Fradley Junction)".
Richard is ex Climax Blues Band now in Climax Ceilidh Band and Angles (French & Breton).

So the project is progressing slowly - he has sent a rough draft of the tune.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 10 Oct 12 - 01:58 PM

Whenever a canal song pops up I have to check my own web-site to see if it's already there. So it was with the previous contribution and the web-page can be found here : http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/neath_and_swansea.htm.

Reading what I wrote (some time ago) it appears that there are still ten verses missing!

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mick Tems
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 08:29 AM

Fred Paris is an accordeon diatonique player with the fabulous dance band La Chavannee.

Here's a South Wales song, written on the opening of the Neath and Swansea Canal in the early 1800s. Thw writer was Elizabeth Davies, who kept a lollipop shop in Neath:

Oh could I make verses with humour and wit
George Tennant Esquire's great genius to fit
From morn until even, I'd sit down and tell
And sing in the praise of Neath Junction Canal.

To his noble genius, great merit is due
The increase in traffic he'll daily pursue
Employ to poor labourers, it is known full well
He gave them by making Neath Junction Canal.

Now this will improve the trade of the place
I hope that the business will daily increase
All sorts of provisions we shall have to sell
Conveyed us in boats by Neath Junction Canal.

The work it is finished, and now is complete
And no man did there with an accident meet
Though there was great danger, yet nobody fell
By building the aqueduct on the canal.

All you that are lovers of gazing around
On the grand work of nature where 'tis to be found
Rich woods, pleasant valleys, groves, rocks, hill and dell
You can view as you walk by Neath Junction Canal.

In gazing around you, how pleasant to view
From Dulais to Swansea those objects still new
The ships in full sail you can see see very well
As you walk on the banks of Neath Junction Canal.

The new docks at Swansea will be very grand
For floating the vessels all at their command
Quite safe from all dangers when high tides do swell
To take in their trade from Neath Junction Canal.

I hope when he's dead and laid in his grave,
His soul will in heaven be eternally saved;
It will then be recorded for ages to tell,
Who was the great founder of Neath Junction Canal.

My song it is ended, and now I will rest
In hopes that Squire Tennant will ever be blessed
His goodness to the poor there is no tongue can tell
Or his courage in making Neath Junction Canal.

Mick Tems

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 12:35 PM

Thanks Arkie.

The song you mention 'The Auld Triangle' (aka 'Along the Banks of the Royal Canal') is not on the Songs of the Inland Waterways website as it is not a song about canals. For the same reason 'Dirty Old Town' isn't there either, even though a canal gets a mention.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Arkie
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 06:03 PM

I did not see the Royal Canal in the list but certainly could have missed it. Several versions on Youtube including this one:

Royal Canal

Don't know the singer but liked his version of the song.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 03:23 PM

If anyone comes across any canal songs (UK and Ireland) that are not on the
Songs of the Inland Waterways website then I would be very pleased to hear about them.

Ian

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,Canal songs
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 01:39 PM

A duo here in the Black Country Billy & Lozz (Lozz Hipkiss & Billy Spakemon have some excellent songs re canals 'Od'bury Mon' and 'The Lockkeeper' You can find them on You Tube or just put the names in search

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Arkie
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 09:34 AM

The desire to use only an instrumental background is understandable and it would be quite an achievement to use only canal related music. As an observer, however, I would recognize only two Erie Canal melodies. I would have to wait for the credits to realize that all of the other music was also canal related.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Sep 12 - 10:06 AM

OH - I know Martin Graebe - he is active on Tradsong & Glosfolk (in my canal area) so I will look into his Shroppie Union opus.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Sep 12 - 10:03 AM

Thanx for the information.
Principally I am looking 4 tunes because the purpose is to accompany a DVD of video + slide show. I feel that too much speach will detract from the visuals. As is clear from the above - there are many songs but few tunes. I think these are all songs basically. But I have them as ABC files

Erie Canal Stick Dance.abc
Ardrossan Canal.abc
Caledoneon Canal.abc
Farmington Canal Song.abc
Barge Inn.abc
Bally Canally.abc
Grand Canal.abc
Raging Canal.abc
Paddy On The Canal.abc
DARKEYED Canaller.abc

PS can't find the real (ha) Bargy on two tune finders.
And Royal Canal sounds like the Dominic Behan song: everyone sing -
"All along the banks of the Royal Canal".

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mingulay
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 09:32 PM

My song 'Paddy is yer man' is on Songs of the Waterways with a short vocal. It is a canal 'shanty'. Welcome to use it if you want. It's also, mercifully, short.

Pete (now come ashore)

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Arkie
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 07:56 PM

There is an album on Folkways called Grand Canal Ballads on the history of the Erie Canal. Also a song called Royal Canal and one called Union Canal. Both from British Isles, I think. And I have seen a reference or two to a song about the Panama Canal. I don't suppose Root Canal would count. The one that comes to mind is Root Canal Blues.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 06:32 PM

Tony O'Neill (Admiral on Mudcat) wrote a brilliant song about a narrowboat from hell. I'm sure he will let you have it if you PM him.

Mingulay and I lived on boats for some years on the Grand Union. He has a very good book called Victoria's Inferno (I think that it the correct title) which might be useful to you. He also wrote at least one excellent canal song called Let the Headlight Shine. Good chorus song. Again you could PM him.

Hope that helps.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: mayomick
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 01:39 PM

Mr Red. There is a Bargy Reel , which is named after the Bargy area of Wexford and has nothing to do with barges . Bargy is noted for its musicaI tradition . Maybe the Bargee's Jig your friends danced to was Bargy Jig ?

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 12:33 PM

Hi Mr. Red-
Folktrax has a CD (FTX-418 - LOWER YOUR FUNNEL(Available from CAMSCO Music)

Music of the Canals & Waterways

Songs and tunes of the Inland Canals & Coastal Waterways - produced especially for the opening of the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester Docks on 1st April 1988

THE CRUISE OF THE CALABAR (Terry/ arr Cyril Tawney) - MA BONNY LAD (Isla Cameron)- THE KEEL ROW (Jack Armstrong: N-pipes) - DIRTY OLD TOWN (c McColl/ Steve Benbow Four) - THE SHROPSHIRE UNION (Martin Graebe) - THE IRISH ROVER (Inn Folk) - THE MAN AT THE NORE (c Kennedy/ Cyril Tawney) - MARY ANNE McHUGH (c Percy French/ Seamus Ennis) - CANDLELIGHT FISHERMAN (c Phil Hamond/ Fred Dallas & Original Riversiders) - ROW BOATMAN ROW (Cadgwith Fishermen's Choir) - THE WATER IS WIDE (coll Sharp/ Sylvia Moore with flute & harpsichord) - THE LONDON WATERMAN (Bob Roberts) - YUS I LUVS 'IM (Kennedy/ Betty Redshaw) - OLD JOE THE BOAT IS GOING OVER (Billy Bennington - hammered dulcimer - with step-dancer) - STORMY WEATHER BOYS (c Kennedy/ Mike Shail & the Eezum Squeezum Band) - FINE GIRL YOU ARE (Seamus Ennis & The Shanty Crew)

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 08:24 AM

I forgot to say I have recorded Rees Wesson the melodeon whizz & purveyor thereof, playing "the Boatman" and a morris lady reported that they dance to "the Bargee's Jig"
anyone know the tune & where I can get notation thereto.

PS the Stroudwater & Thames & Severn up to Brimscombe (the limit of canal restoration for now) is 14 ft minimum because it was designed to take Severn Trows as far as the mills. Boats are up to 7 ft beam - above that they are correctly called barges.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 05:28 AM

Not sure about a Lock Keeper
I have a recording & permission for the Lock Keeper's Daughter - Bill Caddick

Looks like I missed the White Horse Festival - too tired from Sidmouth & Towesey loomed.

However I have asked a lot of Folkies and one Radio Station colleague is writing "The Day Elvis died" because he first saw the news on another's newspaper headline as he sat reading, sailing past on a boat, he was on a narrowboat on the BCN at the time. He was a professional Rock Musician for 15 years, supporting some of the biggest names in the business. But I have requested any genre.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 24 Jul 12 - 04:52 PM

The previous link didn't work for me so try this one : http://www.whitehorsefolkfestival.co.uk/

I'd be very interested if some 'new found' canal songs had come to light.

Cheers,
Ian

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 12 - 04:02 PM

Life & Times are at White horse this year, performing canal song etc. for 1 1/2 hours,, includes new found songs.
see   www.whitehorsefolkfestival.co.uk
Skipy
www.whitehorsefolkfestival.co.uk

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 01:02 PM

(The?) Lock-keeper

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 09:36 AM

A fine body of work from Alan Lomax but we do have copyright issues and the only canal song I could detect (in a vague sense) is from his Italian collection - so it might not be appropriate even if I could find the right CD. But an ex-girlfriend had Sicilian parents so I might get her that one.
result!

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 12:15 PM

Try the Alan Lomas archive:

http://www.culturalequity.org/

Search for 'canal' - there's some great stuff there.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Arkie
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 11:28 AM

Since most canal songs, except for one, are pretty obscure I would imagine few people would recognize a tune as a tune about a canal. How about playing tunes people might recognize and insert "canal" somewhere in the title such as "On Top of Old Smoky Canal" or "Down by the Old Mill Canal", etc.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,Charles Macfarlane
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 10:46 AM

> From: Mr Red
>
> Just a thought - anyone know any bridge building songs?

Not traditional, as The Somers would doubtless wish, but there was a good Australian pop/country single being featured on CMT around 96/97 by Rick Price called Bridge Building Man. It was credited to Price/Field.

Come to think of it, I can just imagine how Swan Arcade would have covered it ...

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 12:20 PM

Oops! (for previous post)

Great version of Erie Canal on Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" album.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 12:14 PM

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 11:51 AM

Just a thought - anyone know any bridge building songs?

My first video of canal restoration is the construction of a swing bridge.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 07:20 AM

Singing in a tunnel - hmmmm, I have an idea.................

When the Somers TFC had bus trips (20 year ago) we went to the Dudley Museum and sag in the echo gallery, - didn't record anything and we only stayed an hour because it was too cold to stay longer.

Still pestering people to compose Stroud Canal tunes - they are coming but slowly.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 07:47 AM

The good Ship Calabar of Lagan canal fame (Dubliners/Clancys)

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: banjoman
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 05:01 AM

How about "The Mary Ann McHugh" one of the (Only) funny canal boat songs

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Paul Reade
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 02:18 PM

How about singing when on the canal? A couple of friends pointed out that singing is a good way to pass the time in a tunnel, and the acoustics are great. We tried it in Foulridge tunnel, Leeds and Liverpool canal, famous for the swimming cow.

Took about 20 minutes to get through so we got through several songs. At the other end, my wife asked the people in the boat following us if they'd enjoyed the singing - the reply was "... we thought you had your head stuck"!

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: pavane
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 01:57 PM

The Rosemary, that was

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: pavane
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 01:56 PM

Was that the one on Songs of a changing world ?
First track.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 01:52 PM

The tune for 'Shropshire Union' can be found here :

http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/shropshire_union_tune.htm

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: GUEST,Charles Macfarlane
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 12:38 PM

> From: John MacKenzie
>
> There you go, lots to choose from

If the OP follows that link, and clicks S, he'll find the words, but sadly not the music, of Martin Graebe's fine song "Shropshire Union".

In my early days as a singer, someone who was kind enough to think well of my singing lent me a tape of potential material, which I copied, so I have tape of a tape of him singing it at Sidmouth in 1974.

> I think it was Gary and Vera Aspey who had a song about a Bollinder Engine in a canal boat.

Yes, it was on Gary and Vera's "Nightshift Army", another LP I digitised last year. The song was called "The Rosemary", and is credited to P Dodds.

Subject: RE: Wanted - Canal tunes
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 10:45 AM

Thanx

I e-mailed Frédéric PARIS (le Canal en Octobre) and he said "pas de probleme" - I was told it would not be a problem - he is happy for anything that promotes his cherished Bourbonaise culture.

I have asked upwards of 25 musos to compose a tune inspired by canals and if only 10% work I will have 3 more original tunes. 3 or 4 songs were collected at Chippenham. Simon Care offered to write one if I was stuck - much as I would like a tune he composed he is a busy jobbing musician. So I will only call on that if I run out of music.

But if any Mudcatter wants to have a go - please do - no particular style - the more varied the better.

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