Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?

Subject: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Locksley
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:32 AM

Hello,

I'm trying to find a song, that I can't remember 99% of the words or the tune to (er...).

All I really remember is that it was from Cropredy Festival, and was sung by a Geordie band. A bit of investigation tells me that that must have been "The Hush" in 2003, and further investigation reveals that they seem to have recorded only one album, "Dark to the Sky", but it's not on iTunes, and I'm struggling to find it really. The only thing I remember is the really interesting explanation of where we get the phrase to nail your colours to the mast, and the line I remember is, unsurprisingly "nailed his colours to the mast".

It was a really really good song, and the line popped into my head recently. Can anyone help!? I've searched the songs here but I only get Forgotten Hero and that's not it.

Thank you!
L

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: bluesbaby 2
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:38 AM

Hi there ;-) just read your post.You could try entering the words you do remember along with name of band in Google, it may throw up something
for ya,
Maria

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:40 AM

Jack Crawford was a Sunderland man . . . who nailed his colours to the mast.
Done by Bob Fox.
Think it's trad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Santa
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:42 AM

I can hear Bob Fox's voice singing it now.....

The song is "Jack Crawford", by Johnny Handle. Arranged by Jed Grimes on "Dark To The Sky" by The Hush

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Locksley
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 12:00 PM

Ah HA!! Thank you everso much!
L

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 07:09 AM

Just a few words about the Hush.

IMHO they had a great and very different sound to most folk rock bands. Many of the musicians were professional players who worked on the working man's club circuit - thus it was almost impossible to arrange gigs without a lot of notice. Bob Fox and Jed Grimes - whose importance to the concept and shape of the band cannot be understimated, were also busy and that is why they didn't make a huge number of appearances.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...
From: breezy
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 08:40 AM

Well worth buying the cd

Bob and later Jed played the Windward club

I had the pleasure of hearing Bob sing for an hour before the gig began, fine voice , superb guitarist and he was sober though he had spent some time in the pub next door

Do please support em

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 10:56 AM

Bob Fox Myspace

http://www.bobfoxmusic.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...
From: Bainbo
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 11:17 AM

At the naval battle of Camperdown, in 1797, the top of the British flagship's mainmast was shot away by a Dutch cannonball, bringing down the Admiral's colours. Lowering the colours was a sign of surrender, so the Dutch thought they'd won and the British became dispirited until crewman Jack Crawford grabbed the flag, and ignoring the musket shots whistling about, climbed the mast and nailed the colours in place, bringing new heart to the British, who went on to win the battle.

Propoganda being no different then to what it is now, there were efforts to turn Crawford into a popular hero, but he refused, lived the rest of his life in poverty, and eventually died during a cholera outbreak in his home town of Sunderland.

There's a statue of him, nailing the colours to the mast, in Mowbray Park, Sunderland, as mentoned in the song. And Bryan Talbot, in his brilliant graphic novel Alice in Sunderland, includes the story in a Boy's Own pastiche style.

(And if you ever have the chance to see Bob Fox, with or without the band, don't miss it.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 11:37 AM

This is the CD

DARK TO THE SKY
The Hush
MWMCDSP54



Jack Crawford
A U Hinny Bird
Going To The Mine
Here's The Tender Coming
The Bonny Gateshead Lass
The Snow It Melts The Soonest
The Row In The Gutter
Sair Fyel'd Hinny
Shoemaker
The South Medomsley Strike
Trousers and Coverlets
Guard Yer Man Weel
Byker Hill
Oakey's Strike Evictions


with guests:
    Jane Wade
    Judy Dinning
    Benny Graham
    Peter Boyle
    Frances Grimes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Crawford_(sailor)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: Joe G
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 11:51 AM

I was involved in booking The Hush for a gig at Bradford Festival in the 90's and they were superb - unfortunately we did not have a huge audience so my dabbling in music promotion never took off - though I'm pleased to say I'm now involved in pullling the Folk Day together for the Queensbury Folk day next March.

Bob Fox and an unexpected Billy Mitchell did a tremendous night at The Topic in Bradford early this year but sadly had a tiny audience.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hush - '...colours to the mast...'?
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 12:27 PM

The song you are looking for is Jack Crawford written by Johnny Handle, on the Hush album Dark to the Sky. We are huge Bob Fox fans and were privileged enough for him to stay with us in June while appearing at the Folk on the Moor club. Brilliant song.