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12 Jul 98 - 06:48 PM (#32361) Subject: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Baz 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. |
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12 Jul 98 - 10:51 PM (#32413) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: dick greenhaus Ed Miller sings this; I don't have the words, though. |
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13 Jul 98 - 06:37 PM (#32482) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Zorro 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 |
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17 Apr 00 - 12:35 PM (#213150) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Rex 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 |
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17 Apr 00 - 12:54 PM (#213160) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: JedMarum 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 |
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17 Apr 00 - 04:13 PM (#213263) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Jeremiah McCaw 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. |
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17 Apr 00 - 05:12 PM (#213298) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Sorcha 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) |
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17 Apr 00 - 05:37 PM (#213311) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Ely 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. |
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17 Apr 00 - 06:38 PM (#213346) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: JedMarum 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! |
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18 Apr 00 - 12:35 AM (#213480) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Axeman 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' |
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19 Apr 00 - 10:28 PM (#214767) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Susan A-R And I just missed them here in Vermont on the 4th. RATS!! They do get around, don't they?? |
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20 Apr 00 - 10:03 AM (#214980) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Hollowfox 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. |
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20 Apr 00 - 02:59 PM (#215128) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Megan L 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 |
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21 Apr 00 - 09:21 AM (#215536) Subject: Lyr Add: PETER'S SONG (Sands family) From: alison 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
slainte alison |
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23 Feb 01 - 09:52 AM (#404470) Subject: room for us all in the dance From: TamthebamfraeScotland 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
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08 Jul 02 - 12:08 AM (#744178) Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S ROOM FOR US ALL IN THE DANCE From: Jim Dixon Copied from http://www.folklegacy.com/cd/cd5174.htm
THERE'S ROOM FOR US ALL IN THE DANCE
CHORUS: Wi Phil on the box and Aly on the fiddle
There's some no even started yet,
They're a' in noo for The Sergeant Dashin,
Then arm in arm in rows we're headin,
The cry goes up for Strip the Willow,
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08 Jul 02 - 04:30 AM (#744239) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: GUEST,Boab 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! |
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08 Jul 02 - 04:36 AM (#744244) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Jock Morris 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 |
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08 Jul 02 - 12:37 PM (#744409) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: GUEST,Melani 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. |
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08 Jul 02 - 07:34 PM (#744718) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Herga Kitty 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! |
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09 Jul 02 - 02:58 AM (#744915) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Kernow John 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 |
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17 Feb 12 - 05:16 PM (#3310281) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: GUEST try ian davidson songwriter website = lyrics and mp3 available there |
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17 Feb 12 - 06:20 PM (#3310301) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Anne Neilson 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! |
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16 Dec 17 - 06:41 PM (#3894251) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: GUEST,Gabriel 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. |
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16 Dec 17 - 07:09 PM (#3894252) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Tattie Bogle 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. |
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17 Dec 17 - 07:48 PM (#3894440) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Mark Ross 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! |
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18 Dec 17 - 02:54 PM (#3894555) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Tattie Bogle 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 |
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18 Dec 17 - 04:34 PM (#3894584) Subject: RE: Phil on the box & Aly on the fiddle ? From: Tattie Bogle 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!) |
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08 Aug 21 - 05:44 PM (#4115874) Subject: ADD: Room for us All in the Dance (Ian Davison) From: GUEST,Moira Jakobsson 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 |
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10 Aug 21 - 03:27 PM (#4116070) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: room for us all in the dance From: GUEST,# 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. |