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GUEST,henryp Songs for local calendar customs (24) RE: Songs for local calendar customs 12 May 20


The Watersons sang the Swinton May Song in 1975 on their album For Pence and Spicy Ale. Nearly 30 years later, Martin Carthy did it again with Brass Monkey on their album Flame of Fire. He commented:

Norma [Waterson] and I found The Swinton May Song in Chambers' whopping Book of Days about thirty years ago shortly after which the Watersons recorded it. I thought that it was about time for it to have another airing so, with Norma's permission, here it is. If you hear echoes of the Padstow May Song here then it's because there they are in the song. The “Swinton” referred to is now a part of Manchester. It actually boasted two distinct May songs—both of which are published in the book—and this is listed as the Old May Song. The book itself lists customs and bits and pieces for just about every day of the year. I frequently used to stay in Swinton when touring in the Manchester area in the 1960s and 70s. Never saw any mayers.


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