Song Req: What song for this sword gig?

Subject: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: jody
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:22 PM

Dear helpful folks,

I've got a gig next week where my sword dance team will be doing a lecture demo about rapper and long sword with examples, explanations and a few tunes and songs. I'm hunting for the right trad song to sing. It needs to fit somehow with the dancing or perhaps the winter season and should have an easy chorus so the rest of the team and perhaps even our audience can join in.

Byker Hill would work well being a Northumbrian collier's song with a simple chorus and fun. We'll probably sing that.

Any other suggestions?

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: JohnB
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 12:20 AM

Try one of the various sword dance calling on songs.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: Hoblander
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 08:45 AM

The mighty and famous Redcar Sword Dancers have been singing Byker Hill as their party piece song and intro for the past thirty years or more. But I'm not saying you can't sing it!!!!!
Quack Doctor

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 02:47 PM

The trad calling-on song for rapper is usually a version of The Royal Earsden, 'Good people give ear to my story, I've callede for to see you by chance. Five lads i have brought blythe and bonny, intending to give you a dance.' etc....

Each Yorkshire longsword dance has its own song(s).

Ivor Alsopp's book has them all.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: gnomad
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 04:08 PM

More as a matter of interest than a suggestion, there is the song preceding the Papa Stour dance, which has elements more commonly associated with mummers plays and the rare distinction of requiring seven dancers.

When I saw this performed by a team of Shetland schoolboys in the 70's or 80's (Cleethorpes, I think) I couldn't make out more than a few of the words, having a terrible blind spot with Scots accents, so I cannot confirm that this was the text used despite witnessing a number of performances. I expect there will be a recording available somewhere if you feel the search is merited.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 04:37 PM

Jody,
If you tell us which tradition(s) you'll be dancing/demonstrating we can post the lyrics and let you know where you can get the tunes.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: jody
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 11:32 PM

Thanks for all of your suggestions and thank you Doctor for sharing Byker Hill with my team. Very generous of you. It's also a party piece I'm seeking, not a calling on song. We don't have or plan to have that element in our performance. Yes, we do Papa Stour and I looked at the link Gnomad offered with the lyrics. Those words would need a major rewrite... all that bit about how manly the dancers are... all of our dancers are female.

I am one of the musicians for the celebrated Half Moon Sword from NYC, 1st place winner for rapper in Sidmouth '91 and still going strong. http://www.halfmoonsword.org/

Since you asked, aside from Papa Stour and our own rapper, we also do Flamborough, Bampton Weavers and Cumbria modeled on the dancing of our friends Carlisle Sword, Morris and Clog (thank you Frank and Mike).

Back to songs. This is what I want, a fun, easy, simple chorus trad. song that might go over for a crowd of urban 20-somethings who know nothing about sword dancing or English traditions. Tall order, I know. That's why I'm looking for suggestions. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 04:02 AM

Go for something with an easy chorus picked up second time through or something they will know.
Dirty old town
Drunken sailor
When the boat comes home

or irish pub songs.
For the 20 somethings these are new and refreshing - often the first time they will have heard live accoustic music outside of school.

I play Biker hill in em and intersperse it with go and enlist as a tune - trouble is the words get a bit lost when you play it at a good dance speed.

Enjoy your do.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: JohnB
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 12:05 PM

What about a round?
"Oh thanks I'll have a pint of bitter" :)
JohnB

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 01:28 PM

You dance Flamborough.
Whilst Flamborough has no associated song the two traditional tunes used have American originals, Buffalo Gals and So Early in the morning from the minstrel days. Both tunes have local words, respectively 'Old Johnny Walker' and 'Mr Noah' both very simple, catchy and with chorus/repetition.
You can hear and see both at www.yorkshirefolksong.net

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: jody
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:01 PM

Thanks Steve G,

I couldn't find Mr. Noah at www.yorkshirefolksong.net but I was glad to see a photo of my old friend, singer John Greaves.

Is that the same as "Mr. Noah Build an Ark" here on Mudcat? http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71379

When Half Moon dances Flamborough we play a great Northumbrian pipe tune called "Parnall's March" paired with "The Boys of Blue Hill."

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:11 PM

Sorry about that. The info is in with 'Keep that Wheel a Turning' which is the same tune. Here's the lyrics we meant to include.

There are various Flamborough words set to the tune.

the main one is
'Mr Noah built an ark
The People thought it such a lark
Into the ark they would not go
though Mr Noah pleaded so
Down came the rain in torrents x3
And all of them were drowned
In the house and out of doors
Washing windows, scrubbing floors
Baking, manding gardening too,
All the things we have to do
    Do it all for Jesus x3
    As you have done before.

There is another ditty to the same tune
'Rings came home late one night,
Challenged Polly out to fight....
And some more I can't remember

It's a very long time since I danced Flamborough but I seem to remember once we'd used the 2 trad tunes we went into hornpipes like Harvest Home.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: jody
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 02:33 AM

Thanks Steve, Flora and the rest for your song ideas. At the sword dance gig last night we did sing Byker Hill and dance raper along with Papa Stour and Bampton Weavers long sword dances. As for the other song, I picked "Pleasant and Delightful" because it's a classic and a right good English chorus song that many on our team knew well enough to join in and help the audience along with the singing. The affair went over very well.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: Hoblander
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 12:52 PM

Ah but...... when you sang Byker Hill did you stand on tables and chairs to sing the chorus? In my opinion Half Moon's performance of Papa Stour is THE best, bar non.
Quack Doctor.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 12:58 PM

Great stuff, Jody! Glad it all went well. Which of the 3 Byker Hill tunes did you use? I would imagine from your desciption it is the well-known one sung by that famous New Yorker, Heather Wood.

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: jody
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 12:48 AM

Quack Doctor - Alas, there were no available tables and chairs to stand on so we just used the floor... what's the significance of your comment anyway? I'm glad you like our Papa Stour. We have been doing it for almost 30 years now. Where did you see us? I was wrong in bragging about winning the Sidmouth competition in '91 for rapper, it was Papa Stour that won us first place.

SteveG - Well we did not use that fabulous slip jig Martin Carthy uses. Too fancy for this gig. I'm not sure that it's Heather's version or not but we sang the minor one that goes: 1 1 1 71    3 1 17 5   4 4 4 34   5 7 7 .

What's the third tune?

Subject: RE: Song Req: What song for this sword gig?
From: Wheatman
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:43 PM

You are quite welcome to use the following song I have penned based on the Kirby Malzeard song [Ivor Allpsop –Longsword dances –(ISBN 0-96277554-7-8), in there you will find the original songs and the tune], the beheading song is based on Bob Peggs "Rise up Jock". All you need to do with my rendition, is change the locality to fit with your team and the references to team colours. Just a thought Brian Kell.

Calling on Song

I beg your attention come here what I say
These dancers have come here by chance
From out of the fen they have travelled to day
Intending to give you their dance
Fenland's the place they were all born and bred
All tigers so gallant and true
With their Red, Black and Yellow
And shiny bright swords
A performance they'll offer to you

Chorus
They are all actors bold
Never came on stage before
And they will do their best
And the best can do no more


There leader is one with a deal of respect
The others all follow with pride
They play out their part
And act out their tale
'till one of their number has died
Rise up again Jack like the sun in the morn
To continue the saga once more
They'll finish their tale
Move on without fail
Until they call once again to your door

Chorus


<><><><><><><><><

Resurrection Song

Rise up Jack and sing your song
For the summer's short and the winter's long
All join hands and form a ring
And we'll see that spring time blooms again