How to End An Evening

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Oct 16 - 05:00 AM

The Parting Glass may not be a chorus song, but so many people know it that very often people will join in, especially with the last verse. Fine by me, and yes, a great song!

Another one I forgot in my list on16.10. at 8.40. above is "Happy we've been all together (thegither) ". It is in fairly broad Scots, but goes down well up here.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 16 - 06:47 PM

Wild Mounting Time.. then off with Bloomin' Heather...

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Oct 16 - 06:35 PM

NO I do not agree with always ending with a chorus song on occasions i have felt a beautiful farewell song like the parting glass is appropriate.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 16 - 06:51 PM

Anything but "Will the Circle be Unbroken" or "Irene Goodnight."

Both great songs ruined by overuse.

P.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: BDenz
Date: 21 Oct 16 - 06:28 PM

We have 3 we choose from, depending on the audience and how the night has gone:

Parting Glass
Follow the Heron
Gentle Arms of Eden

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Oct 16 - 06:19 PM

leenia: I know "Will ye no..." is political, but I gather than even among Scots it's a popular goodnight song.
Likewise, "The Parting Glass" is not strictly appropriate for a group breaking up, in that it clearly refers to an individual leaving the group; but it is too good to pass up.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 21 Oct 16 - 05:04 AM

The band I used to be in had an end of evening sequence leading from a gentle flute rendition of "Cwm Rhonda" through "Take your glasses to the bar" (to the same tune) leading to a thorough work-out on "Drunken Sailor".

Later on we found The Oyster Band's "Granite Years" became a favourite evening closer - singable chorus and the ability to be closed off really powerfully. "Say that I was foolish, say that I was blind, never say that I got left behind.... Thank you, good night!".

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 21 Oct 16 - 03:33 AM

It's often good to wind things down a little with something like "The Cornish Farewell Shanty" or The Pindar Family's "I bid you goodnight."

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 09:31 PM

Joe F - will ye no come back again - we always play this near the end of our (official) busking sessions, a bit tongue-in-cheek, in the hope that we'll get invited back. Other than that, it's a somewhat political Jacobite song!
DTM, I hope you medley is mainly 60s FOLK: can't imagine rounding off an evening with "Let's Twist Again"!

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: leeneia
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 07:09 PM

If the evening has been an evening of singing, then I think Andy has a good idea - a final song with a good chorus, so people can end in a spirit of community. Age of the song is immaterial.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 11:46 AM

In closing a session, I've always found that folkies respond well to a rousing medley of songs from the sixties.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 08:49 AM

I like to have a tune in my head to go home with. Usually lasts at least for the first mile of the journey. Longer if its a tune / song I already know and have been able to join in with.
I think some bands get it wrong - self penned and clever does not work so well.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 08:36 AM

See it all depends what kind of a folk evening it is.

I think it's pretty clear from the first posting what sort of evening the OP wants to talk about: That way, whatever else we might have enjoyed during the session- traditional ballads, political protest songs, sea shanties, self-penned offerings, etc. etc. - which all have their own value! - we all go home happy, having had a lusty sing together to round off the evening!

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 07:28 AM

See it all depends what kind of a folk evening it is, and what has happened before, it is stupid to be dogmatic on how to finish an evening

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: RTim
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 10:22 PM

With smiles and general happiness around................and a fucking good song!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: leeneia
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 09:34 PM

Gerry, sorry. That wasn't the song.

Thanks to whoever it was who linked the video of 'The Parting Glass'. That was lovely, and it has had over a million hits.

Now to look up 'Flowers of the Thorn' and 'Penobscot Memories' as waltzes to end dance evenings.

Cup of Tea, here are some of our favorites =

Bare Necessities
Lady of the Lake (actual name is Lavinia's Waltz)
Elizabeth
Duke of Kent's I and II

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 08:45 PM

"Will you no come back again" has a good deal of tradition & sentiment behind it.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 12:33 PM

anonymous guest.19 oct 3.37am the original poster said
Subject: How to End An Evening
From: Andy7 - PM
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 05:41 PM

In my opinion, a folk music evening should ALWAYS end with a great Chorus Song!
Iam afraid it is you that has the wrong end of the stick, the thread is about every folk music evening,
a folk music evening is or can be anything from a sing around to a folk club or a concert.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,Bloke in Groucho Mask
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 11:07 AM

My old partner in crime Mitch wrote a chorus song of sorts that used to get some hammer. The verses you could make up almost as you went, but a chorus of

Keep the landlord happy, take your glasses to the bar
We thought it was the chorus so we started to tra la la
We harmonised so beautifully, everyone sang Hurrah!
Keep the landlord happy take your glasses to the bar.
(Naa naa, na na na na naa naa)

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: CupOfTea
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 09:21 AM

Ever since I learned it from Deb Cowan's singing, the Meek/Conolly song "One More Before We Go" has been my favorite end of a session song. I'm not so much a performer as participant in group sings, some workshop sessions (it was well received in "Farewell songs"), and open mics.

Reminded of this thread when that very song popped up on my Facebook feed from Deb this morning!

I'm with Leenia - for a dance, a romantic couple's waltz is the way to end the evening. Particular favorites: Amelia's (Bob McQuillan) Flowers of the Thorn, Penobscot Memories & almost any O'Carolan in 3/4.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Mysha
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 09:00 AM

Hi,

Can I add Thousands or More. Not a farewell theme, but a good singing together.

Speaking of "farewell": The Farewell Shanty is a nice one too. Not a rousing chorus, but good for sharing both the song and the sentiment.

Bye,
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,Nick Collis Bird
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 08:44 AM

I learnt this from Tom Lewis many years ago.
At the end of the session everyone got down on their knees and in procession departed from the pub singing " hi ho hi ho it's off to bed we go etc" it always worked providing there was no broken glass on the floor.
   That or
" poor old landlord can't get the buggers out x2
Time gentlemen please x 2
Then repeat ad nauseum.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Ged Fox
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 06:43 AM

"We're no awa' tae bide awa'"
"Fathom the Bowl"

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 04:06 AM

The Singers Club invariably finished the evening with 'I'm A Rover' or 'Leaving of Liverpool'
The good memories still come flooding back when I hear them.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 16 - 03:37 AM

It must be something in my tea. My gut instinct was to agree with Dick, although far be it from me to start a post with BOLLOCKS.

Then I realised.

As ever of course, the thread isn't about a concert it's about a singaround session and presumably just a list of cracking chorus songs should you feel such way inclined.

So, just old Dick getting hold of the wrong end of the thread literally, again.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 08:24 PM

I remember a session which always ended with everyone standing to play the National Anthem.

Mind you, that was over in Co Tipperary, with The Soldiers Song.

A great song for closing an evening is Home Lads Home.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 08:00 PM

Leeneia, is it this song, Tzivaeri? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0WaNsKro-0 The song proper starts about 1:35 in.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 08:00 PM

BOLLOCKS, it depends on the audience, AND the performer, and the rest of the evening
how can alistair anderson or kathryn tickell or martin hayes or any instrumentalist finish with a chorus song

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: terrier
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 07:44 PM

The finishing song I remember most is "The Parting Glass". Not a chorus song, but an easy refrain for all to join in. Nice rendition Here (Youtube)

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 07:06 PM

I've put the songs above onto a Spotify playlist
Mudcat - End of Evening Songs



(Alan Bell's "So Here's To You" =first line.... When first we met)

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 06:07 PM

At the Boston Area Chantey & Maritime Sings, it's always The Seaman's Hymn (Nelson's proud memory &c). At Somerville Armory pub sings, it's always Good Night, Irene (morphine & all).

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 03:46 PM

And there is a thread for
" Best UK Chorus Songs? "

thread.cfm?threadid=156592

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 09:46 AM

I think that's a good way to end an evening of singing.

We close our evenings of English Country Dance with a romantic couples' waltz. It's popular with the dancers, and it's a reward for the band.

When I was doing folk dance, we closed with a sweetly sad Greek song in which an old woman lamented that her family had gone off to work in other countries, leaving her alone. The teacher told us he hadn't known it had become the final song until the night he played it and to his surprise everyone went home. I'm sorry I don't know the name of it.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: BobKnight
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 07:01 AM

Bonny Glen Shee is always popular.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 10:19 PM

"Let Union Be in All Our Hearts"

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 09:27 PM

Yep, that one!

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 09:00 PM

Might be the John Tams one? Which is catching on slowly but surely up here! (Aka "the peasants are revolting, free toast an a' that?)

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 08:56 PM

The one that John Maughan always started at the Tree Inn Folk Club. Don't ask me for details - I play Irish harmonica!

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 08:40 PM

Which one? There are a lot of "Rolling Home"s! One club I go to usually finishes with "Rolling Home to Caledonia". Another place, a festival I go to, it's always "Wild Mountain Thyme". Any TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland) events, it will ayeways be "Freedom Come All ye".
Other popular finishers up here are Iain Sinclair's "Tak a dram afore ye go". Davy Steele's "Just One More Chorus", "Kind Friends and Companions" (Sheila Stewart) and Alan Bell's (not Irish, despite a few folk claiming it so!)"When First we met" and of course, the Irish "Parting Glass". And last week, from Sylvia Barnes, "Toddlin' Hame".

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 07:28 PM

Rolling Home.

Subject: RE: How to End An Evening
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 06:54 PM

Yes Andy, I certainly agree ! We often end with roaring version of a Stan Rodgers song, Rollin Down To Old Mawi , NorthwestPassage or Barretts Privateers. The Host or Hostess for the evening usually picks the closer, some times lets us know in advance so we can brush up a wee bit.
One of our favourites is Gaudete ala Steeleye Span and Rita Mac Neil's Working Man.
What songs do you end evening with ? would love some suggestions!

Subject: How to End An Evening
From: Andy7
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 05:41 PM

In my opinion, a folk music evening should ALWAYS end with a great Chorus Song!

That way, whatever else we might have enjoyed during the session - traditional ballads, political protest songs, sea shanties, self-penned offerings, etc. etc. - which all have their own value! - we all go home happy, having had a lusty sing together to round off the evening!

Do you agree?