1649 - St. George's Hill - the diggers

Subject: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From:
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 07:20 PM

I found a tape at a garage sale with a song on it by some probably new-fangled English folk singer. I can hardly understand a word the guy sings (sounds very english) but it's a neat song. Judging by the date used in the song, it's probably about the civil war over in England.

Amidst an aggressive sounding choppy guitar, the opening line is something like;

In 1649 to St.George's Hill, A band of (diggers?? (i can't understand this bit)) Came to show the people will,

Anyone know this song? Who is it? And does anyone have the full lyric? I can't understand a word he sings. After working out the chords I'd love to learn the lyric.

Thanks.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 07:24 PM

it's in the database...search on [ragged band] using square brackets....search box in upper right-hand corner...

Subject: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From:
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 07:34 PM

I found a tape at a garage sale with a song on it by some probably new-fangled English folk singer. I can hardly understand a word the guy sings (sounds very english) but it's a neat song. Judging by the date used in the song, it's probably about the civil war over in England.

Amidst an aggressive sounding choppy guitar, the opening line is something like;

In 1649 to St.George's Hill, A band of (diggers?? (i can't understand this bit)) Came to show the people will,

Anyone know this song? Who is it? And does anyone have the full lyric? I can't understand a word he sings. After working out the chords I'd love to learn the lyric.

Thanks.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 07:41 PM

oooops...don't hit the 'reload' button here....just re-open the thread to check on your post...hope you have now found it...

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 01:00 AM

Do a search in the DT under the title "World Turned Upside Down". If it's a great guitar, you might have it by Dick Gaughan. I remember a group called the "Diggers" who set up a relief camp site at Woodstock, I guess the veiws might not have been that far apart after 400 'odd' years. Barry

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: O'Boyle
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 04:44 AM

The tape you have is by Billy Bragg. His early stuff is very good and very raw. The tape you have can also be found on cd called "Back to Basics" circa 1985. Other good ones include "Talking to the Taxman about poetry", The Internationale(an EP), and "Worker's playtime." His latest releases ("don't try this at home" and William Bloke")are a little more sappy and better produced. Personally, I like the early raw stuff but my wife is real big on "Worker's Playtime" and she has a little more folk mainstream taste.

Rick

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 02:21 PM

The song was written by Leon Rosselson (another great guitarist) and has been recorded by many people including Dick Gaughin, Martin Carthy, Ceilidh Friends (Yellowknife).

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 07:30 PM

It was recorded by Chris Foster on his "All Things in Common" album a number of years ago....very nice version...though he left out one verse...

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: nobbler
Date: 13 Mar 98 - 02:38 AM

Thanks to all who replied.

I now have the lyric and have the song ready to perform should the mood suit.

(To O'Boyle) The version I have is not by Billy Bragg afterall, though for a second I thought it might be. Even though I thought I would clearly recognize Billy's voice, this version is almost as if it's somebody doing a version of Billy's version of a version of Leon Rosselson's song! (If you follow that).

After reading your reply, I ran out and picked up couple of his CD's to add to my small Billy Bragg collection. He does do an impressive version, he also sings it with a lot more clarity than the version I have.

I've been learning Billy's "Man in the Iron Mask" song today, another neat one to sing and play. nobbler

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: Art Thieme
Date: 15 Mar 98 - 10:45 PM

The best version I know about of the song you're looking for is done by the duo called MAGPIE from the Washington D.C. area. (MAGPIE is Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner)

Art

Subject: RE: 1649 - St. George's Hill
From: PKD
Date: 17 Mar 98 - 02:23 AM

I'm not sure that an avid (some would say rabid) Scottish Nationaist such as Dick Gaughan would appreciate being called a "new-fangled English folk singer" !!

Subject: 1649 - St. George's Hill - The Diggers
From: steve t
Date: 21 Apr 98 - 09:24 AM

While looking to see if Digger's Carols were grave digger's carols (they weren't), I realized I never had gone looking for information on "The World Turned Upside Down" a.k.a. "The Digger's Song".

There's some interesting information on the Diggers at http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom/winst.html

BTW, I find the song is best when you sing it, as I believe Dick Gaughn sings it: by changing only a couple of lines, it can be sung from the point of view of one of the soldiers who helped "cut them down" and ever afterwards wonders about the morality of his act.