The last song you sang (in a folk club)

Subject: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: GUEST,Baz
Date: 04 May 07 - 10:14 AM

I've been reading with interest the 'collapse of the folk club' thread, and whilst I'm by no means an expert in folk music (more of a dabbler), my curiosity was attracted by the dichotomy that seems to be apparent. Namely, Traditionalists vs Modernists.

I occasionally go to my local folk club and we have a good mix (to my taste at least) of traditional singers and people who either write their own stuff (none of which is dreary diary reading, by the way - it's usually quite funny and sharp), or people who mainly do modern songs.

I was wondering whether this club was broadly indicative of the UK 'folk club scene' such as it is, or if it is an anomoly.

So, just for fun, what were the last two songs you sang at a folk club? And tell us a bit about them - is it traditional, where did you learn it, or did you even write it?

I think this might be interesting to see what sort of things are happening around us - sort of testing the pulse.

I'll start. My last two were:

'Waiting for the Churchbells to Chime' (The only song I have ever written. It is a modern murder ballad.)

'Many Rivers to Cross' by Jimmy Cliff. This is probably my favourite song of all time.

As you can see, mine weren't trad, but what about you?

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: JulieF
Date: 04 May 07 - 10:20 AM

Anston Folk Club last month

Flowers and the Guns ( by Mudcat's one and only George Papavgeris)
A version of Johnny Lad
The Cuckoo's nest

Almost completely trad and completely unaccompanied

J

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 May 07 - 10:20 AM

I was at Mr Happy's Come-all-ye on Wednesday night.

I did 'Only You' [Yazoo] & 'Oh Sail Away' [Kingston Trio], the 1st's a great joining in chorus song & so's the other, but one've me fave girlies was there that night & she really likes it!!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: LesB
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:04 AM

Last singers night I sung White Horses By Brian Bedford & then played a tune on my melodeon.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:10 AM

Well, it wasn't in a folk club, but in a pub. The nasty version of "the False Bride". Trad.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:11 AM

In a proper club? 'Linden Lea' by William Barnes, possibly 2 years ago now.

At a festival.... probably the Ballet of Billy Elliot, a little creation of mine own, at Towersey, last August. I don't get out much.

In public generally? If a choir rehearsal counts as public then it was 'Just as the tide was flowing' arr R Vaughan Williams.

In public specifically.... 'Sovay', in the car, this afternoon, with the windows open.

LTS

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:15 AM

Ruby Tuesday and Rose of Allendale

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:16 AM

o I forgot, I also played me immodium a coupla times, did 'Boulavogue + Fanny Power'

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: muppitz
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:25 AM

I think the last song I sung was at my club, I did The Ballad of Albion written by Eddy Morton and on the same night I did Richard Thompson's Vincent Black Lightning, one of my own and Polly Parker which is a traditional song.
Fair bit of variety!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: GUEST,Black Hawk unlogged
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:29 AM

Galway Shawl
If Wishes Were Fishes - Bogle

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Jim Lad
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:38 AM

"The Curtains of Night" is one of my family's favourites and has been my closing song for as long as I can remember.
Has become more poignant in recent years as some gigs I only do once or twice a year & each time I return it seems that someone else has moved on.
The upside, their children bring new spouses, kids & in-laws so the audience evolves.
"Four Strong Winds" is another which is usually sung toward the end of the evening.
If your question was really about songs I do rather than the last songs .... I'd be Traditional with just a few "Nancy Spain" type modern songs thrown in.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:38 AM

Can't remember exactly but I am sure it was traditional, either a cajun or a blues song. I don't go to folk clubs very much.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:49 AM

me either - borin' bastards!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Sooz
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:49 AM

Bernard Wrigley's "Silly Old Bugger" last Friday at Gainsborough Folk Club.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:58 AM

Last night at Wimborne - 'The Wedding Song' (Come write me down....) and Eric Bogle's 'Somewhere in America.' When I go somewhere new I usually do 'Mary and the Soldier' and Maggie Holland's 'A Place Called England.' I always accompany myself on the guitar.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:14 PM

I sincerely hope that I haven't sung my last two songs yet (the guy who records my CDs may not agree).

However, last weekend, booked as minstrel for a baronial banquet, I closed out a very much appreciated set (judging purely from audience reaction), with Edge of the Marsh, a song about living on the edge of Romney Marsh, composed very much in the traditional vein by Maureen Jones, and Jake Thackray's song "The Bantam Cock".

Hope this helps.
Don T.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: erosconpollo
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:16 PM

The Parting Glass -- usually my closing song, unless I'm limited to a short set. Last time out, I did one of my own comical songs (The Swarm) just prior. Like to do something lighthearted as next to last piece.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:16 PM

"Fair Flower of Northumberland" at Grand Union Folk, Barrow on Soar
"The Outlandish Knight" Traditions at the Tiger, Long Eaton.
Yes I'm an old man who sings long unaccompnied ballads.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:23 PM

Mayday morning after breakfast in the pub, having danced since dawn:

The Keeper (trad Warwickshire)
The Wild Rover (everybody knows it)
Maggie May (sea shanty)
Bold Sir John (parody song from the Two Ronnies TV show)

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:27 PM

Just as the tide was flowing.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: JennyO
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:41 PM

We are lucky to have a great singing audience at my folk club, so when I say I sang songs, what I really mean is I LED them. Everybody always joins in if they know the song at all.

Last night was a beauty, with a lot of audience participation. I sang (led) Pound a Week Rise, and Solidarity Forever. We raised the roof!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:45 PM

My last gig at my club (Lewes Arms Sussex) was Blessed Quietness (lyrics Manie P Ferguson tune W S Marshall 1897)

Dave

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:47 PM

It's been so long now I don't remember.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: concertina ceol
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:49 PM

Sang in the pub last week:

Sammy's Bar - Cyril Tawney
Swaledale/Song of the Swale - no author that I am aware of but sounds more "music hall" in how the tune goes than trad
*Sheffield* Rambler - Ewan McColl as a mark of respect for the trespass [But can't forgive McColl for giving Manchester the credit as Sheffiled is so much closer to Kinder Scout ;-)]

Folk club - there are none in the wealden desert of kent

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: concertina ceol
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:52 PM

Sorry forgot, I also sang

"Levelution" by John Tams - which I got from CBS

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:52 PM

a song about my Aunty Nelly

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 May 07 - 01:54 PM

"Braw sailing on the Sea" - recently recorded by Kris Drever, longer ago by Tony Cuffe with Ossian.
And played "Leaving Stoer" By Ivan Drever on my button accordion.
Something about these Drevers!
TB

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:01 PM

"Charlie Motts" (the man who invented beer) and "Mary Ellen Carter" by Stan Rogers. This then followed by "Take your glasses to the bar!"

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:05 PM

Enos Mythos -a song in greek for our International night -I was rubbish but then I had been making the buffet since 7.30 in the morning, MCing, running the cakestall, making sure some blind members were ok and frankly I was knackered!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:26 PM

Jenny O, I like the sound of your folk club.

Concertina Ceol, I think that Ewan was saying that HE was the Manchester Rambler.

Dave S, You are not old.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: GUEST,wordy
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:30 PM

Well, as I always thought. Near enough 3 to 2, the songs sung are written by known people. Can we now have less of the "snigger/ snogwriter" sniping. Folk clubs are alive with good songs written by fine singer/songwriters as well as by the great songs of old. The Guardian article is proved right.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:33 PM

"Pull Down Lads" by John Tams -- but that was at a folk music concert, really, not quite a folk club.

Before that, at my one and only visit to an English folk club (Folk at Frampton, Frampton on Severn), "General Taylor."

So, one modern, one traditional.

As I recall I chose "Pull Down Lads" because it seemed like the proper way to end an evening of drinking songs sung at my church. I felt a bit like a fun fair worker that night, letting the staid church community see my wilder side. Plus, the song is gorgeous of course, especially in harmony. And it's all about packing up and leaving, which we were about to do...

I chose "General Taylor" for the Gloucestershire folk venue because although I'm from California, much of what I sing is English, which would clearly be a poor choice. I hoped that an American-themed sea chanty would be interesting to listeners; I'd never been to a folk club before and was floundering a bit, with no way of knowing which songs were too-often heard (For example, although it's much reviled as overdone here in Mudcatland, I've never even heard "Fields of Athenry"!) or the speciality of a club regular. The chanty seemed to go over well, so on balance I think it was a wise choice.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: scouse
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:22 PM

"Reconciliation." the Sunday before Jerry Adams and the Paisley Fella where due to sit down at Stormount. I told the Audience the first time I sang it I was Pissed along with many others but when your pissed somehow those harmonies just flow so I wanted the "Dutch" Audience to go for the harmonies and maybe we could reach those fella's who where going to sit down on Monday mornin'... Ladies and Gentlemen I have to say I've never heard them sing so..so...Well. Good on 'Em
As Aye,
Phil

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:27 PM

But Breton Cap, I heard you sing a starting song last Saturday - and it was "Thousands or more"!

Kitty (whose last 2 songs were the Widow's daughter and Poor Lonely Widow, unless you count "Miner's life" on which Derek led!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:34 PM

Whoops how did I manage to forget your night less than a week ago?

Sorry Kitty.

Dave

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Willa
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:54 PM

Maggie Holland's 'A Place Called England' on St George's Day

'Tell me Who I'll Marry' (Polish, from a Judy collins CD) last week.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: webby
Date: 04 May 07 - 04:24 PM

billy-cock Hat Don Bilston
chicken on a Raft Cyril Tawney
Fall Down Billy O Shea   Trad (I think)

At Bedworth (Warwicks) last week

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:19 PM

The last thing I sang was "The Cruel Ship's Captain" a few weeks ago.

I play tunes in sessions more often. The last tunes I played on Wednesday night were a pair of well-known hornpipes whose names I've forgotten.

I tend to avoid folk clubs these days because so few players in a typical singer-songwriter-dominated singaround know how to accompany traditional tunes. Most of the stuff I play wasn't meant for unaccompanied performance, and playing a melody on my own while ten glaikit guitarists sit there like dumplings isn't my idea of fun.

I think I shall learn to sing "The Battle of Sheriffmuir" in honour of the Scottish Parliament election result. I can't see any of the singer-songwriters mentioned in this thread improving on

   There's some say that we wan
   and some say that they wan
   and some say that nane wan at a', man...

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: concertina ceol
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:32 PM

burl - I don't comprehend ya point?

"Concertina Ceol, I think that Ewan was saying that HE was the Manchester Rambler."

I knew all that but Kinder is near Sheffield, where I am from. As a family we hiked in the peaks almost evey weekend often singing that song.

I heard the John Tams update about four weeks ago and thought that was really good too.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:35 PM

At our local Wednesday pub session (the nearest thing we have to a club now) I sang the Padstow Obby Oss song - not all of it, just six or seven verses and Oh where is St George, finishing with one verse of the Farewell.
Some people looked at me strangely when I finished!
Robyn

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Jeanie
Date: 04 May 07 - 06:10 PM

At Colchester folk club last month:
"False Bride", "Sprig of Thyme", "Camborne Hill" - unaccompanied.
- jeanie

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 May 07 - 06:20 PM

makes me realise - I've really screwed up. All these years I should have been singing my songs somewhere else.

I have totally misunderstood the nature of folk music.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 04 May 07 - 06:54 PM

Tonight at the Music Institute Club in Guildford (guests were Belshazzar's Feast) - the two songs I sang to open up hostilities for the evening were :

"She's Like the Swallow" - Canadian traditional song - learned in the 1970's from the Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, and so far only sung in public three times by me (as far as I can recall)

then:
a version of "The Unquiet Grave" collected by Lucy Broadwood on a trip to visit Sabine Baring-Gould in 1893 from Jane Jeffreys in Devon - or to be more precise the tune and SOME of the words - as Mrs Jeffreys was rather old and forgetful - the rest of the words were gleaned from several other versions that Lucy had collected elsewhere.

Both songs sung unaccompanied.

(And Kitty - no I didn't manage to get my Les Barker one in - too many floor singers and not enough time .... another day, maybe!!)

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: terrier
Date: 04 May 07 - 08:14 PM

I know the feeling, Weelittledrummer, I get some odd comments if I dare to sing a Victorian parlour song (which I'm very partial to). I think the last song I sang at a session/club was 'The Goodnight Trail', but the last do I went to I decided to have a night off and just listen to the other singers sing their odd songs.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 May 07 - 12:44 AM

So why would you want to sing the song I got kicked out for?

"It's not the songs I sing, folks, it's the way I sing them!"

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:48 AM

On the contrary - if this is what folk clubs are really about, they have been the soul of courtesy. I wonder they have tolerated my presence so long.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 05 May 07 - 07:42 AM

Concertina Ceol, Apologies, I think I misunderstood YOUR point Burl

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 07 - 01:26 PM

On this side of the Pond we don't really have folk clubs, but at last night's pub session the last song I sang was "The Man Who Waters the Worker's Beer" -- and the last song sung on stage was "Aunt Clara".

Linn

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Rasener
Date: 05 May 07 - 02:48 PM

The last time I sung was at Sheffield Arena and my last 2 songs were Waltzing Matilda & Fiddlers Green.
The audience went crazy and slung eggs, tomatoes and anything else they could find, at me. I had to run off stage.
I was shaking and then I heard my wife saying "can you bloody well shut up, I can't get any sleep with your noise"
I got up and made a cup of tea.
Don't think I will bother to sing.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:05 PM

LOL Les!!!!

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: the fence
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:12 PM

dont believe you villan, I watched you singing along last nite with george(the song you requested)

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Rasener
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:16 PM

Didn't think you were listening fence :-)

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Tootler
Date: 05 May 07 - 08:33 PM

Tonight I played Niel Gow's Lament on the death of his second wife on the flute and sang Rosin the Beau unaccompanied - except by other club members on the choruses.

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: jiva
Date: 06 May 07 - 07:46 AM

Cramlington Folk Club - 1st May, supporting Anthony John Clarke.

First half (Val playing 12-string guitar, Jimmy playing 6-string):
'Different Dreams" - self-penned
'Some Way Home' - self-penned
'Passin Thru' - Randy Scruggs and Johnny Cash (we'd recently heard a version with Don Henley [Eagles] singing lead and it led to us doing a gentler jiva-esque version)

Second half (both playing 6-string guitars):
'Maginot Waltz' - Ralph McTell
'Love At The Five And Dime' - Nanci Griffith

Fairly typical of our mix. Some self-penned and some contemporary songs that we particularly like.

Jimmy & Val
www.jiva.co.uk

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Flash Company
Date: 06 May 07 - 10:06 AM

A long time ago a guy called John Mitchell (aka Agraman) re launched the folk club at The Malt Shovels in Altrincham, prior to moving on to bigger things running Comedy Clubs (The Buzz at Chorlton cum Hardy)
I went along to all the Altrincham nights, although by this time I was not singing much due to lack of half a lung!
I did volunteer 'The Day the Piddletrenthide Jug Band hit the Charts' one night, which went down quite well despite my running out of breath a time or two.
Since then I have done my singing in the bath!
Oh, and if anyone out there sees Agraman, he's still got my bloody umbrella!

Brian Q

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Nick
Date: 06 May 07 - 02:17 PM

Rosemary's Sister by Huw and Tony Williams
Nat Schapiro's Time by Pete Ryder

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Seaking
Date: 06 May 07 - 02:26 PM

'Standing at the door' by Allan Taylor

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 06 May 07 - 07:35 PM

"Tomorrow's Sun" by Barry Wake

About 2 hours ago in Southampton

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 May 07 - 03:39 PM

For most of the past year, my set-closer (and this the last song I sang) has been "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans." Not traditional-folk by any means ~ I think it was written for a movie musical ~ but it has very emotional associations in the particular time and place in which I find myself, and thus is becoming kind of "traditional" in its own way.

If you had asked a month or two ago, after one of my previous appaearances at the local cofffeehouse, my answer would have been Dave Van Ronk's "Last Call," which I use as a closing number only when the mood (and my voice) is absolutely right.

This is a much more traditional sounding number, sung unaccompanied with a more-or-less sean nos approach, but it's a modern compsition. Well, the words, at least, were written fairly recently (1980s?); the melody may have been appropriated from a truly traditional source. (If DVR's music as well as his lyrics were truly original, he did a very impressive job of writing a melody that sounds absolutely ancient.)

Subject: RE: The last song you sang (in a folk club)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:56 PM

I'm still doing Happy! Songs of the Week - I've got 3 or 4 per week that I know.

The club I go to is Tuesdays - small but pleasant. Round-robin, text-based and mostly trad or folk blues. Happily broken up by whatever strikes people as interesting - modern stuff, c&w, classic rock, gospel, blue grass.

I usually sing 3 or 4 songs - heavy on ballads. Acapulco style, of course. I happened not to feel much like singing so I talked some of folk history around Mr Tom Dula (hanged May 1, 1868) and read some diary entries from wagon train travelers (1st one left Independence Missouri May 1, 1841) but I didn't sing Sweet Betsy from Pike. Reading things or telling shaggy dog stories is rare there but no one minds.

I did sing The Bonnie Bunch Of Roses (a #1 hit everywhere else in the world but pretty unknown here) on accounta Napoleon's dropping dead May 5, 1821.

Then I was gonna just sit back but there was a sudden round of gospel songs. I said, say, I know a gospel song and with obvious
trepidation several jammers said, Oh? And I sang "The Dockyard Church." If you don't know it (and very few do) it concerns church services in the sort of church you might find described in a fairly raunchy chantey.

I was wondering if I could mansge to get myself thrown out, but no, they wouldn't.

Grace was there - a bright lass that often does bluegrass & some gospel and someone said something about Amazing Grace. I said (with sooth) that in the decade I lived in Scotland I only heard the song a single way:
        Amazing Grrace,
        She had three tits...

They still wouldn't throw me out so I left & went home to bed. It was 11 o'clock by then and I'm getting old.