The Watersons sang the Earsdon Sword Dance Song on their 1965 LP Frost and Fire. A.L. Lloyd noted on the original album: The present song is proper to the coal miners of Earsdon; it’s sung by the captain of the sword-dancers and with it, he calls on each of his heroes and gives him a fictitious name and character, as a kind of disguise. The curious tune has been used for several songs, including the old sailor ballad of The Ratcliffe Highway.

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset sang The Greatham Calling-On Song in 2005 on their CD Cruel Sister. She noted: The song is taken from the Greatham Mummers Play traditionally performed in the village of Greatham every Boxing Day. It is the only surviving example of a mummers play and long sword dance combined. It was performed by the local village team until 1953 and then in 1967 a group of enthusiastic lads searching for their roots researched and revived the play and dance, after discovering its existence in a book by Norman Peacock. They were the Redcar Sword Dancers, my 18 year old Dad included, who still do it to this day. They perform the play at midday outside the church/alms house, followed by a day’s worth of singing and drinking in the pub. I have seen this play and dance every single Boxing Day of my life, that’s 27 to date; so it feels like part of my heritage too.
Thanks to Mainly Norfolk

The Unthanks have revived Greatham on their new In Winter album, and are performing it on their current tour. They also sing Tar-Barrel in Dale, written by George Unthank, about the Allendale Tar Bar'l Festival celebrated on New Year's Eve. See them if you can!

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