Give us a song there will ya. An order or a request?

It struck me while reading the thread about the current state of folk, that I don't seem to remember reading here at mudcat about people singing at home, at parties and family gatherings etc., when they were growing up.

My parents were from Ireland, mother from Galway City and father from 10-12 miles outside. They came over here in the 50s and settled down in the south east of England and raised a family of 5. Most of my relations were in Ireland and we did not get to see them that often in our early years but whenever we did, at some point in the evening people would be singing. It was nearly always unaccompanied singing, older songs not necessarily folk songs.

Not everyone would sing. Not everyone would listen either. At family gatherings you would be catching up with those you had not seen in a while, plus of course the drink would be flowing. I can remember one time after a wedding, an aunt of mine turning around to me and my cousin to say she wish she had some raw spuds to shove in our mouths to shut us up.

My sister would be asked to sing. She often said that people might request a song but then only listen to the first couple of verses. But people did sing, they did listen, but not all the time and the songs added to the enjoyment of the gathering.

I am sure that others here would have had the same sort of experience.