I've very rashly just accepted to open a 3-hour show of music reflecting the environment about which Dickens wrote (largely downwardly mobile life from London along the North Kent Coast) to the present day.
I am allocated the early period - ie 1807 to the real rise of music hall, so I am NOT expected to do music hall songs. I get 3 to 5 songs.
OK Sweep (Copper family, street cry a la "Oliver" and the reflection of Rochester) is an obviosity.
What else should I do and where can I source words and dots or recordings?
The Princess Alice is 8 years too late. (Good song by Dave Rickard though).
Pocahontas is 100 years too early.
The Gravesend Watermen's Riot of 1833 would be bang on - but are there any songs about it?
What about naval or military songs of the period? Chatham was home to both, with the dockyard and the barracks?
Even if I adopt the version "King George commands" for "Over the Hills and far away" it is too early, and it does not address the urban experience.
In short I am in urgent search of songs to fit the need and from the period - songs that I might know and have forgotten, or ones that are readily researchable.