ADD: Room for us All in the Dance (Ian Davison)

Subject: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Baz
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 06:48 PM

I heard this song on the radio the other night The first line of the chorus is "With Phil(Cunningham?) on the box and Aly(Bain?) on the fiddle Pearl at the back ........ the song goes off into various tunes ie. Maire's Wedding and others. The words are difficult to fathom because of the singer's accent. If anyone knows the words or has a midi or ABC I'd be grateful. Regards Baz.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 10:51 PM

Ed Miller sings this; I don't have the words, though.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Zorro
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 06:37 PM

Tommy Sands does a song called (I think) Peter's Song, some of the lyrics are: "There was Peter, sitting in the corner, fiddle in his hand, playing away like you never did hear and never would again. Shorty on the banjo, Charlie on the boran, everything was grand. Come on Mark and ln the band" Tommy is from Belfast/Newry area in County Down. He could have put his own cast of characters into the song. If that's the one you're after let me know. I don't have the words written down, but have the song on vinyl & CT. By the way, what is ABC

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Rex
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:35 PM

I just saw these guys this weekend. Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham. I could have put up another thread name but this covers it well enough. It sure was a kick to see two of the world's best tune players just having a great time. They would tear through a reel and be thinking of a joke and before the last note is gone start telling it. I had seen Phil a couple times before in Silly Wizard but I had never seen Aly. It was kind of a small venue, the Cameron Church in Denver. I was in the middle of the second row and just watched in awe. Watching Aly's bow arm I imagined a light attached to his wrist and outlined the fantastic motions he could do. His arm appeared to have no mass at all and would effortlessly do whatever he wished. Up until that time I considered myself a fiddler. Well I'm not shut down. Rather, I feel mighty inspired to try to do what Aly can do. You all should see these two if you get a chance. There's no one better out there. And your sides will hurt from laughing at their jokes and jibes between tunes.

Rex

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: JedMarum
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:54 PM

This great recording from Ed Miller is a treat. He'd probably be tickled to hear ya couldn't understand the lyrics well, due to his accent!

I believe you will find Ed's CDs and tapes at Folk Legacy. Ed's website is here.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYuYM8GPEts

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 04:13 PM

It's called "Room for Us All at the Dance".

With Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
Pearl at the back and then we meet in the middle
And what she sees in him is a riddle
And there's room for us all at the dance

Or something very like that. You can find a recording of it on Bobby Watt's "C'est Watt" CD.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 05:12 PM

Oh golly gee, Phil and Aly in Denver and I missed it!! Both of these guys are among the ones that must have at least 6 fingers on each hand to be able to do what they do. I never really know whether to get inspired, or hide in the closet!! (I'm not IN Denver, but only 3 hrs. north)

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Ely
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 05:37 PM

Oh, i love that song. Ed Miller's accent isn't so bad--I've seen him twice in a two-part act: half Ed Miller, half Norman Kennedy. Norman's accent sounds like a foreign language. They're both great, though.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: JedMarum
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 06:38 PM

Ely - I saw Ed and Seamus Kennedy on stage together at the NOrth Texas Irish Festival this year, and I have to say it was the best show I saw at the Festival. The two were hysterical, and played off one-another's performance beautifully. Both played some wonderful music, and truly enjoyed their hour together - Don't think Ed played this song though.

I gather I just missed Phil and Aly here in Dallas. They played at the Emerald Mist yesterday, and I was otherwose occupied. Bummer!

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Axeman
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:35 AM

Nice to see this thread, and even nicer to have recently (4/12) seen these two amazing players at the intimate Tractor Tavern in Seattle. I'd presented the Boys of the Lough before, and only saw Silly Wizard once, so it was nice to see these two playing as a duet. Aly has always amazed me (and taught me to love good single malt), and Phil is his equal on accordian. Aly did some cool Jay Ungar show-off tunes, which I wasn't sure if Jay arranged them the way Aly played them or not. Always thought of Jay as a bit more placid. Anyway, I'm sure I smelled peat. -Axe'

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:28 PM

And I just missed them here in Vermont on the 4th. RATS!! They do get around, don't they??

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 10:03 AM

This thread brought me back to the time the Boys of the Lough played at the 8th Step coffeehouse in Albany Ny. Afterward, of course all of us regulars went out with the band for a beer. At the bar, of course, the instruments came out again, and it was a grand time. Rather late in the night, a drunken college student kept coming up to Aly and insisting that he play "Orange Blossom Special". Don't know where this kid heard it - he didn't seem the type - but he knew that was what you played on the fiddle. After a while, just to get rid of him, I think, Aly did play it; totally different style from anything I'd ever heard him do before, and one of the best renditions of the piece I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Megan L
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 02:59 PM

Phil & Ally or as we would say locally Ally & Phil are brilliant they come past our town regularly and it's allways a treat, the crack and awful jokes have us rolling in the aisles, especially when Phill spotted a group of youngsters laughing at a slightly naughty joke and stopped everything to tell them " You shouldn't understand that" still laughing at woowoombaa

Subject: Lyr Add: PETER'S SONG (Sands family)
From: alison
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 09:21 AM

Here's one that was mentioned earlier in this thread. I'm not sure about some of the words hence the ???

PETER'S SONG

by the Sands family

CHORUS

There was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
Charlie on the banjo, Shorty on the bodhran, and everything was grand
Come on Mark and let me in I want to join the band.

Then Niambh would come and she let me in and I made my way along
The rafters rang with the reels and jigs and someone sang a song
There were flying bones and bodhran sticks you hadn't room to turn
But there was always a chair and a couple of drinks for the lad who came to learn.

But then the ?type said "Gentlemen please" and the gentlemen would go
Some of us might stay a while sing songs very low
Then Peter he'd play one last tune then put away the bow
But his fiddle is still playing no matter where you go

It was in Springtime ?74 that Peter ?Reeve died
And Fergie played the death march to his grave in ?Tallens town
And as we should there silently it seemed from out the grave
"Jenny's chickens" could be heard and I could see it all again

The day that Peter passed away I always will regret
Well the things he said and the tunes he played we never will forget
Now the heavenly choirs have dropped their lyres and the angels hung their harps
They're knocking with a penny on the golden gates and this is ?where they are

There was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
St Paul on the banjo, Moses on the bodhran, and everything is grand
Almighty God would you let me in I want to join the band.

There was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
Charlie on the banjo, Shorty on the bodhran, and everything was grand
Come on Mark and let me in I want to join the band.

slainte

alison

Subject: room for us all in the dance
From: TamthebamfraeScotland
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 09:52 AM

My name is Tom and I'm looking for the words to an Ian Davison song called Room for us all in the dance. Thank you all very much

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S ROOM FOR US ALL IN THE DANCE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 12:08 AM

Copied from http://www.folklegacy.com/cd/cd5174.htm

THERE'S ROOM FOR US ALL IN THE DANCE
(Jim Davison, aka Ian Davison?)

CHORUS: Wi Phil on the box and Aly on the fiddle
We birl at the top and then we dash doon the middle.
And what she sees in him is a riddle
And there's room for us all in the dance.

There's some no even started yet,
And there's some who're up for every set
And some wi' faces streaked wi' sweat
And there's room for us all in the dance.

They're a' in noo for The Sergeant Dashin,
Wi the elbows high and the partners clashin,
And the blood is up and the eyes are flashin,
And there's room for us all in the dance.

Then arm in arm in rows we're headin,
Steppin afoot for Mairi's Wedding,
An some'll no miss the weight they're sheddin,
And there's room for us all in the dance.

The cry goes up for Strip the Willow,
The ties are off and the dresses billow,
And I wouldnae mind her for to share my pillow,
And there's room for us all in the dance.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 04:30 AM

Aly Bain ["I started learnin' when I was four---"] surely is a maestro on the fiddle. I could never hear another of whom I could say "he's as good as Aly"--and yet the same Aly Bain always insists that the best fiddlers in the world don't come from Scotland, or Ireland, but are to be found in North America. He told a tale once about playing in Nashville, solo, in a bar. Aly swears that he started playing a Shetland reel, and had four companions onstage with him before he was halfway through it---every one playing note for note!

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Jock Morris
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 04:36 AM

The author of the song is Ian Davison from Glasgow. It's recorded on his double CD "The Best of Ian Davison", available from Clyde Tracks, 3 Ettrick Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 4RB.

Scott

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 12:37 PM

I saw Phil and Aly in San Francisco a few years ago, and I could have sworn from the sound of it that Phil had three hands. I hope they come back soon.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 07:34 PM

I just saw this thread and knew instantly which Phil and which Aly. But (as any Silly Wizard fan will know) Phil Cunningham on the box and John Cunningham on the fiddle was pretty good too!

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Kernow John
Date: 09 Jul 02 - 02:58 AM

Jim
You really are coming up with the goods for me.
I never expected this one to surface after all this time.
Thanks again
John

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:16 PM

try ian davidson songwriter website = lyrics and mp3 available there

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 06:20 PM

The writer is Ian Davison (not Davidson) and he's written many songs (including a grand one titled 'When Mandela danced in the Square' about the occasion when Nelson Mandela came to Glasgow after his release from prison, to accept the freedom of the city; there was a mass rally in George Square in front of the City Chambers and Mandela and other dignitaries spoke, with various musical interludes -- during one of which Mandela danced with a black South African singer!)

The word 'birl' means to link hands or elbows with a partner and spin fast on the spot; the Sergeant Dashing' refers to an energetic ceilidh dance"The Dashing White Sergeant" for 6 dancers in two teams of 3; "Mairi's Wedding" is the name of a tune and popular song whose chorus starts off, 'Step we gaily, on we go - Heel for heel and toe for toe'; and finally, "Strip the Willow" is a frantic and exhausting dance with two long lines of couples facing each other -- and endless birling!

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: GUEST,Gabriel
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 06:41 PM

It is interesting that "Peter's Song" by Tommy Sands gets a mention in this thread. It is a song of importance in the history of music and politics in the North of Ireland. The location for the song was Mark and Maeve McLaughlin's bar in Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co Louth. It was just across the border from Northern Ireland and a convenient watering hole for those travelling to and fro in those troubles times. Mark's Bar was a mecca for folk and traditional musicians in the 1960s and 70s. In 2010 Mark was the recipient of the Ceol Chairlinn Award for Outstanding Contribution to Traditional Arts. It was also a location strongly associated with the Official Republican movement of which Mark, an ardent socialist and republican, was a lifelong supporter.
Peter McArdle was the 'Peter' in the song. He was a constant fixture in the pub and reputedly sold his farm in the early 1960's and resided in the bar until his death in 1974.
At the very beginning of the Tommy Sands recording of his song there is the sound of coins rapping on a window, and in the last verse there is a mention of "knocking with a penny on the golden gates". This refers to the practice of the door being locked in the evening and admittance to Mark's being requested by rapping on a small pain of stained glass alongside the door. It's many's the year since I rapped on that window, and the pub is now called Toale's, but Mark's death on Christmas Day 2014 was a sad moment for all those who spent happy hours in that wonderful place amongst comrades and friends.

PETER’S SONG

By Tommy Sands

CHORUS
There was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
Charlie on the banjo, Shorty on the bodhran, everything was grand
Come on Mark and let me in I want to join the band.

Then Maeve would come and she would let me in and I made my way along
The rafters rang with the reels and jigs and someone sang a song
There were flying bows and bodhran sticks you hadn't room to turn
But there was always a chair and a couple of drinks for the lad who came to learn.

But then the time said "Gentlemen please" and the gentlemen would go
Some of us might stay a while and sing songs very low
Then Peter he'd play one last tune then put away the bow
But his fiddle is still playing no matter where you go

It was in Springtime 74 that Peter he did die
And Fergie played the death march to his grave in Tallanstown
And as we stood there silently it seemed from out the grave
"Jenny's chickens" could be heard and I could see it all again

The day that Peter passed away we always will regret
Well the things he said and the tunes he played we never will forget
Now the heavenly choirs have dropped their lyres and the angels hung their harps
They're knocking with a penny on the golden gates and this is their remark

FINAL TWO CHORUSES
There is Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
St Paul on the banjo, Moses on the bodhran, and everything is grand
Almighty God would you let me in I want to join the band.

Ah, there was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you'll never hear again
Charlie on the banjo, Shorty on the bodhran, everything was grand
Come on Mark and let me in I want to join the band.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 07:09 PM

By strange and sad coincidence, Ian Davison also passed away on Christmas Day, but just last year. No doubt Phil and Aly will be in their usual seats for the BBC1 TV Hogmanay programme, and there will be some birlin' going on.
Thanks for the interesting background to Peter's Song, Gabriel.

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 17 Dec 17 - 07:48 PM

Some 40 years ago at The Philly Folk Fest I was standing around playing Western Swing tunes when Aly came up with his fiddle and started playing with me. What a treat that was!

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 02:54 PM

Had a look at the version of Ian Davison?s song that Jim D posted in 2002: It's only half the length! I have 8 verses, which I'll post below. I love the last one, ("quite a few folk are lying there maimed") which I usually sing slower, or even slip into a minor key version, before going back to usual speed for the final chorus.



ROOM FUR US A? IN THE DANCE                        Ian Davison
Main Tune: Back O? Bennachie (other common ceilidh tunes played between chorus and next verse).
(And it's been hit by the keyboard transposition thing, so for each question-mark, read an apostrophe!)

Chorus
Wi? Phil oan the boax an? Ally on the fiddle,
we birl at the tap an? we dash doon the middle,
An?, Whit she sees in him is a riddle, but there?s room fur us a? in the dance.


1.There?s some o? us no even startit yet,
An? some of us are up fur every set,
An? some o? the faces shine wi? sweat,
An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance. Chorus

2.They?re a? in noo, wi? the Sergeant Dashin?,
An? the elbows up, an? the partners clashin?,
An? the blood is up an? the eyes are flashin?,
An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance.   Chorus

3. The cry goes up fur Strip the Willow,
   The ties are aff, the dresses billow,
   An? ah widnae mind her tae share ma pillow,
   An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance. Chorus

4. Then airm-n-airm in rows we?re headin?,
   Steppin? it oot fur Mairi?s Weddin?,
   An? some?ll no miss the weight they?re sheddin?,
   An there?s room fur us a? in the dance.    Chorus

5. Wi the Quarrie?s jig an? Autumn in Appin,
   The feet are gauin? an? the hands are clappin?,
   An? the De'il knaws whit next?ll happen,
   An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance.    Chorus

6. By the Duke O? Perth and the Eightsome Reel,
   Ye?d think we a? hud springs in oor heels,
   An? a wee quick cuddle or a kiss we?ll steal,
   An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance.    Chorus

7. Wi? the Hamilton Rant and the Kashmir shawl,
   Ye kin hairdly hear the caller?s calls,
   Fur the din that?s echoin? aff the wa?s,
   An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance.    Chorus

8. But noo it?s time fur Toddlin? Hame,
   An? maist o? the people are limpin? lame,
   An? quite a few folk are lyin? there maimed,
   An? there?s room fur us a? in the dance.    Chorus

Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 04:34 PM

P.S. Mark Ross, lovely memories of your encounter with Aly Bain! I remember a great night in the Holiday Inn in Glasgow after a Celtic Connections when I got to play along with Phil and Alasdair Fraser (+ a few 100 others!)

Subject: ADD: Room for us All in the Dance (Ian Davison)
From: GUEST,Moira Jakobsson
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 05:44 PM

ROOM FOR US A’ IN THE DANCE.
Ian Davison

Wi Phil on the box and Ally* on the fiddle
We birl at the tap and dash doon the middle_
What she sees in him is a riddle
But there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

There’s some no even started yet
An some are up for every set an
Some wi their faces shining wi sweat
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

Theyre a’ up noo wi the sergeant dashin
An the elbows up an the partners clashin
An the blood is up an the eyes are flashin
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc
The cry goes up for the Strip the Willow
An the ties are aff and the dresses billow
An I widnae mind her tae share ma pillow
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

Then arm in arm in rows we’re headin
Steppin it oot for Marie’s Weddin
An some’ll no miss the weight they’re sheddin
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

It’s Quarrie’s jig an Autumn in Appin
The feet all goin an the haunds all clappin
An the Deil knows_ what next’ll happen
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

Now the Duke o’ Perth and the Eightsome Reel
Ye’d think we a’ had springs in oor heels
An a wee quick cuddle or a kiss we’ll steal
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

Wi the Hamilton Rant an the Cashmere Shawl
Ye can hardly hear the callers calls
Wi the din that’s echoin aff the walls
An there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
etc

But noo it’s time fur toddlin hame
An maist o the people are limp an lame
An quite a few folk lyin’ there maimed
But there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
We birl at the tap and dash doon the middle
An what she sees in him is a riddle
But there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Wi Phil on the box and Ally on the fiddle
We birl at the tap and dash doon the middle
An what she sees in him is a riddle
But there’s room for us a’ in the dance.

Phil Cunningham on accordian and Aly Bain on fiddle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: room for us all in the dance
From: GUEST,#
Date: 10 Aug 21 - 03:27 PM

Room for Us All in the Dance · Ed Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYuYM8GPEts

And from Kevin McCarthy's review of the CD in 1998:

"There's Room For Us all In The Dance" is Miller's toe-tapping recipe of combining four Scottish tunes "Mairi's Wedding," "The Gay Gordons," "The Dashing White Sargeant," and "The Back o Bennachie." With its inclusive message of the acceptance of differences, it also sends the listener right to the midst of a Scottish dance hall.