Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer

Subject: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Cllr
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 08:59 PM

I only started this as I knew gloomy bob but I didn't recognise "bob Merrett" and I found out that a few people were in the same boat.I met bob as a middle bar singer and got to know him there and later at other festival. I shall miss him.

Bye Bob I will turn up to say goodbye properly at the funeral.
Cllr
if a joe clone could put a link to the other thread it would be helpful

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: JudeL
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 02:36 AM

here's the link

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Noreen
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 08:16 AM

Thanks Cllr- I'd not heard the news as I didn't know Bob by his surname.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: GUEST,Jimannie
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:08 PM

We have just learned the sad news and feel sad that we shall see Bob's doleful countenance no more. He was a "one off" who was a pleasure to know and an "experience" to listen to. We are sure heaven is a bit "Gloomier" tonight and that the Halleluya Snoring Chorus now has a new lead.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:15 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but what's a "middle bar singer"?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:27 PM

One who is well known in the Middle Bar of the Anchor Hotel, Sidmouth, Devon. During Sidmouth festival, the whole middle bar is taken over by a monumental singaround which goes through various phases - Doom, gloom and despondency night being one of them, Bobs' natural home.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:49 PM

Up to a point, but there's more, Liz.

Middle bar singers do it acoustically and unaccompanied by instruments. Mainly during Sidmouth Folk week (around the first Monday in August) when they sing in the Middle Bar of the Anchor pub, but also at at the Wareham Wail at the end of August (when they sing in a marquee in a field outside Wareham) and at the reunion in (the top bar of )the Anchor in February. But also at any festival or singaround where people in yellow T-shirts and sweatshirts are gathered together. Having begun as a Sidmouth fringe event, about a quarter of a century ago, they have for many years raised loads of money for the festival,through the system of collections and fines (eg £5 fine for singing the Wild Rover).

There are theme nights during Sidmouth Folk Week, like Wimmins Night, and Dorset Night. However, the doom, gloom and despondency session is these days usually held in the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel (on the Esplanade), during an afternoon. Bob Merrett won a few years ago with an amazingly gloomy song about vampires....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: GUEST,Andy Jackson
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 07:30 PM

Re the request for family flowers only, I have asked that we be allowed to place a twig amongst the family flowers as a tribute from the Middle Bar. Also the suggestion has been made that friends are contributing to the funeral expenses, this seems the right thing for us to do either individually or as a group.

Andy

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Willie-O
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 08:17 PM

It's hard to believe this is for real (not that I doubt it). For those of us that didn't know Gloomy Bob (excellent nickname) it reads like parody. Perhaps the sequel to "A Mighty Wind" (not that there will be one) can focus on the English folk club scene...

5& fine for singing the Wild Rover--there's an idea that's beyond excellent.

Er, I'm not meaning to be disrespectful. Sorry for those of you who've lost a friend. Certainly sounds like a one-off.

Bill

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Phot
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:55 PM

Great idea Andy, I think it would be very fitting.

I really wanted to go to the funeral, but unfortunatly work won't let me have the time off.

I'll miss the singing, it always brought a smile to my face, but possibly not the snoring!!

RIP Bob, from the bunk above!

Chris.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 04:12 PM

I konw there's more Kitty, but I was trying to be brief and sensible to explain it to Unca Davey who isn't as well up on British folklore and Personages as he could be.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 06:54 PM

LtS

I think MBS defy succinct or sensible description, but...

You were trying to be brief and sensible on a midsummer's morn.
But the Middle Bar Singers like long songs and corn.
And a bench and a twig, which is hard to explain.
And they never, no never will sing the Wild Rover again.

(Especially not after the mediaeval banquet at the last Wareham Wail, when we were compelled by Bev Arscott to sing it to the tune of "Away in a manger" and then sang it to almost every tune we or the other tables could think of, and the reunion when we sang it to the tune of the Boar's Head.)

Willie O

Re parodies - One of the songs Bob used to sing was Chris Clarke's "I've burnt the toast on both sides now". The Middle Bar Singers are making plans for this to be sung to commemorate him on Tuesday. Probably in Cecil Sharp House.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Piers
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 01:32 PM

Message from Richard Atkins (Via My Guru Always Said)

There have been several folk who want to express themselves by having a farewell sing for Bob. There is an intention to have a sing on the Tuesday evening, at a venue near to Bob's home.

Anyone interested on the day is welcome to join in and there will be space nearby for tents.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 12:34 PM

refresh....

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Abuwood
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 11:53 AM

So sad to hear the news, only just saw him again at Upton. He was always so friendly, even to newbies like me. Thinking of him today - and every time I burn the toast....
Al

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:24 PM

The Middle Bar Singers were very kindly welcomed by Sharp's folk club this evening. Gerry Milne was the MC. My Guru was there, also Richard Atkins, plus Tony Day, Mark Austin, Idris Roker, Derek Droscher, Andy Jackson. John White (who is not a Middle Bar Singer, but who gave the address at Rod Shearman's funeral) got it spot on when he sang "Rambling in the new mown hay" and there was an MBS standing chorus on "I like to rise". The Sharps regulars who are not Middle Bar singers and who didn't know Bob managed to sing wonderfully appropriate songs too.

Tony Day sang the Farmer's Toast at the end of the first half, and I sang the Toast Song at the end of the second half, having learnt the words on the Northern line between Embankment and Camden Town.

I think Bob would have enjoyed it.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 05:46 AM

Lovely, Kitty.
Thanks for letting us share the night.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: alanww
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 07:00 AM

Thanks for that Kitty ... Now I couldn't have done this in the Middle Bar without a £5 fine ...

"... never, no more will he play the wild rover. No, never, no more"
Only in our memories, Bob!
Alan

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: GUEST,Canberra Chris
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 08:46 PM

Thanks, Kitty, for singing my toast song on such an appropriate occasion.

I didn't know Bob or the Sidmouth scene, but the descriptions are vivid, and left strangers feeling they knew him too. It's lovely to have a connection.

I sang the toast song at Sharps when I was back over in UK a couple of years ago, and was made very welcome. I loved the way they ran it, and the roomful of great singers, so I could visualise the scene.

Thanks also for sharing the habit of giving ourselves a hard time by learning stuff at the last minute. This suicidal inclination must be worth a discussion thread. Last November I rediscovered on a Tuesday the words of a song in Macedonian I had forgotten 25 years ago, and sang it at the Loaded Dog, Sydney on the Saturday, with the crowd providing the bagpipe drone. I have finished writing songs in the car on the way to the gig. Every time I ask "Why do I do this to myself?" and there is no answer. I think it is the folk performance equivalent of BASE-jumping.

Chris

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 03:43 AM

After whetting everybody's interest, would it be possible for somebody to post the words of the "toast song"?

Regrettably, I don't think I ever heard Gloomy Bob sing, althoughI have been to Sidmouth a couple of times. He sounds as though he would have been a natural to win the "Dreich Quaich" competition held during Glenfarg Folk Feast each year.

Murray

Subject: Lyr Add: BOTH SIDES NOW (THE TOAST SONG) (parody)
From: GUEST,Canberra Chris
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 04:28 AM

Happy to oblige, from the horse's mouth:

Both Sides Now (known as The Toast Song)
(Chris Clarke)

In morning time when I arise
My breakfast fare is no surprise,
I pour the cornflakes, make the tea
And then reach for the bread.
I turn the gas on, light the grill,
And think this time I really will
Stay wide awake, make perfect toast
and start the day well-fed -

I'll lightly toast it both sides now,
Both up and down
To golden brown,
The toasting time I will recall,
I really can make toast
After all.

But then I read, to pass the time,
The cornflakes advertising rhyme,
I hear the news, but don't take in
A single item read.
And then an old, familiar smell
Invades the dreamworld where I dwell,
and fills the room with flames and smoke
and fumes of burning bread -

I've burnt the toast on both sides now,
Both front and back
To charcoal black,
The toasting time I don't recall,
I really can't make toast
After all.

And so I scrape it in the bin
Which makes the slices rather thin,
Then wipe the knife upon the cloth
Back in my dream-like state.
I butter it with marmalade,
Then to correct the mess I've made
Spread butter on the other side
And stick it to the plate -

My toast is buttered both sides now,
Both left and right,
I'm none too bright,
The buttering I don't recall,
I really can't make toast
At all.

Written in Perth, Western Australia, early 80s.
Chris Clarke

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 07:33 AM

Thanks Chris, excellent stuff indeed. I shall have a go at learning this.

Noreen, presumably your 1971 attribution refers to Joni Mitchell's original, ( unless of course, Chris is being coy about his age ....)

Murray

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 09:21 AM

The bit of paper I have (typed by Chris's very own hands) does not include a date (damn, I thought it did).

From fading memory the song was originally posted using this copy by Bob Bolton one or two years before I got a computer.

sandra (who had also forgotten Chris singing the Macedonian song & who plans to attend more closely next week when Chris comes back to the Dog)

And what happened to your membership, Chris, are you on another computer?

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 03:15 PM

I saved the words of the toast song from a previous thread, because I'd heard Lynne (on a visit from Oz) sing it, with an explanation of the Shiny Bum Singers, at a singaround I hosted at Chippenham about 3 years ago. I thought it would be great to sing it some time. Then I heard Gloomy Bob Merrett sing it. As I said, when I introduced it on Tuesday night, it's only 3 verses, but somehow it seemed longer when Bob sang it. He managed to invest great pathos in it. To be honest, I started trying to learn the words while I walked to the station, before I got to Embankment, but this just slowed down the walking....

If any of the contributors to this thread can make it to Sidmouth festival this year, it would be great to see/ hear you in the Anchor Middle Bar, my singarounds in the Manor Pavilion Theatre Bar, or the folk club session I'm running in the marquee at the Volunteer on Monday 4 August.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 08:01 PM

As per other threads and the MBS Groups site on Yahoo, I will be there, albeit a comparative newcomer to MBS, so most people are thinking "Who the hell?"
Thanks to the MBS Yahoo group, the "toast song" got sung in Scotland last weekend. I remember seeing Bob Merrett in the Anchor at Sidmouth.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 09:48 AM

The Shiny Bum Singers website - Chris is on the left of the pic. He'll be back at the Dog next week to add his bit to a night of politics & parodies & the Bums have a permanent booking in November, a wonderful way to end a year of good music.

http://www.borisbooks.com.au/sbs.htm

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 03:04 PM

Sandra - thank you so much for this link. As someone who works in England's Department for Transport, I really appreciate it.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Gloomy Bob middle bar singer
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:23 AM

Regarding the funeral of 'Gloomy Bob' and the MBS singout photos please see this thread....