Songs by Leon Rosselson

Subject: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: breezy
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 01:25 PM

We have Leon at our club at the Comfort Hotel in St. Albans this this Friday 21st March
I havent heard him for a long time . I dont include his appearance at the Union Chapel with Carthy last year.
What songs does he perform these days?
Whih ones are favourites with you?

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 09:00 PM

I heard him in Glasgow last year. I was doubtful about going at first, expecting a rather dry and didactic evening. It was nothing of the sort. His patter was very funny, the songs - some old, some new ones - thoughtful and quirky. He must be the only one to get away with a song about an Israeli massacre (in 1948) in a Palestinian refugee camp! Hope you'll enjoy it, breezy!

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: Callie
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 09:33 PM

I've never seen him live but reckon his songs are among the best I've ever heard. Various groups I'm in couldn't help but cover them! (Across the Hills and Sleep Well, an anti-Uranium lullabye. )

The latest cd is called "The Last Chance - four songs on Israel/Palestine". I have it on my desk but haven';t had a listen yet!

The sleeve notes talk about ther challenge of writing music about being in England and being Jewish where he is neither religious nor Zionist.

C

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: open mike
Date: 17 Mar 03 - 03:31 AM

His song "the Digger Song" is an anthem--
one which tells a story both from long ago
but relevent today. It starts:
"In 1649, to St. George's Hill, a raqgged
band they call the diggers came to show
the people's will"
Also called World Turned Upside Down, it is
in the Digital Traditons data base, (see
link above) I hope he is singing this one
presently--I have never heard him...yet.

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Mar 03 - 05:25 AM

I used to live not far from St George's Hill, and it always caused a wry grin when I consider the cost of houses there now, and the people who inhabit it too. Cliff Richards lives there, and at various time others like members of The Beatles and Engelbert Humperdinck graced its shores. It must now be one of the most expensive places in the UK to buy property.
Now is history stood on its head.
Giok

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: My guru always said
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 05:17 AM

Hooray, I can get to the gig at St Albans on Friday - the Manchester Extravaganza doesn't start till Saturday :-) Looking forward to it...

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: breezy
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 07:36 PM

plus George Papavgeris.

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: GUEST,Piers
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 11:56 AM

I've seen LR a couple of times this year, and both times he has done a range of material from throughout his life, from the very serious to the very witty.

Piers

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: breezy
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:38 PM

25

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: breezy
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 05:35 AM

26

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: My guru always said
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 03:29 AM

So Piers - tonight's the night eh????? Early flypast - choose time from 7pm :-)

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: GUEST,Piers
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:23 AM

Yes, I am looking forward to it immensely.

See you at Bus Stop my dear.

Piers

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: My guru always said
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:38 AM

looking forward to it, Mine Host for the evening Piers :-) Of course if he does any of YOUR songs, I'll prefer your ones!

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: Cllr
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:52 AM

I have booked leon in the past hes very good. Cllr

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:13 AM

Guardian - "His songs are fierce, funny, cynical, outraged, blasphemous, challenging and anarchic. And the tunes are good too."

Q Magazine - "...a genuinely challenging songwriter whose work radiates acumen and wit ..."

Folk Roots - "... a sharp observer, a wonderful wordsmith, a composer of originality and depth, but most of all, a superb integrator of words and music".

New York Times - '…some of the most literate and well made topical songs now being written…'

Washington Post - 'His songs are teeming with colourful characters, wonderfully descriptive passages and witty observations'

Taplas - 'One of the most able songwriters or our times'

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: GUEST,Mystery Guest
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 08:00 AM

Dandy - `Can out eat Desparate Dan'

The War Cry - `very nice young man'

Men Only - `well hung singer'

Plastics Weekly - `has done a lot for disposables'

Country Life - `his songs are very organic'

Iraqi Times - `always wears nice shoes'

Harpenden Gazette - `I wouldn't vote for him'

Subject: RE: Leon Rosselson Songs
From: breezy
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 10:27 AM

29

Subject: Lyr Add: FREE TO ROAM (Leon Rosselson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 May 21 - 12:21 PM

My transcription. You can hear this recording at YouTube. Note there are a few words I couldn’t understand. Words are the same in each verse except the parts I have boldfaced.


FREE TO ROAM
As recorded by Leon Rosselson & Friends on “Questions: Songs and Stories for Children” (1994)

1. On the first day of my holiday,
My mum said: “What will you do today?”
So I thought and I said: “I’ll go to the zoo.
Yes, that’s what I’ll do; I’ll go to the zoo,
‘Cause I think I might meet a tiger or two.
Yes, that’s what I’ll do, and that’s what I’ll do.
I’ll go and meet a tiger or two
In the zoo.”

So I did and I went to the tiger house,
And I watched and I waited quiet as a mouse,
And the tiger yawned and stared at me,
Stared at me so mournfully.
So I said to the tiger: “If you were free,
If we found the key that would set you free,
What would you do? Where would you be?
Where would you be if you weren’t in the zoo?”

“If I were a tiger free to roam,
I’d hunt my prey in my forest home,
Where the grass grows thick and the trees grow tall
In the burning sun as the shadows fall.
You won’t see me spring; you won’t hear me run,
For I am the color of shadow and sun.”

2. On the second day ... polar bear….

And the polar bear stretched....

“If I were a polar bear free to roam,
On the floating ice I’d call my home.
Where the trees don’t grow and the north winds blow,
And the world is white with ice and snow,
And I’d go fish in the icy storm
With my snow-white coat to keep me warm.”

3. On the third day ... condor….

And the condor glared....

“If I were a condor and free to roam,
I’d fly to my Andes mountain home,
To my nest in the rocks on the mountainside.
High in the sky I would soar and glide
Till I spied a dead sheep far below,
And with ... down I’d go.”

4. On the fourth day ... camel....

And the camel chewed….

“If I were a camel free to roam,
On the desert sands I’d be at home.
There I’d speed along on my padded feet,
And I’d go for days before I’d eat.
The hump on my back is my food supply
When there’s nothing but sun and sand and sky.

CODA: “If we were free to roam—
If we were free to roam—.”

* * *
YouTube also has a recording by Roy Bailey.

Subject: RE: Songs by Leon Rosselson
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 29 May 21 - 01:29 PM

Leon Rosselson's song "Palaces of Gold"
was recorded by Martin Carthy back in the day,
on Crown of Horn album I believe.


Did Rosselson not also translate
Wo Sind Die Elefanten?

Subject: RE: Songs by Leon Rosselson
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 29 May 21 - 01:55 PM

Martin Carthy also recorded His Name is Andrew on his Landfall album, surely one of the most exquisitely bleak songs I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: Songs by Leon Rosselson
From: GUEST,#
Date: 29 May 21 - 02:07 PM

"Did Rosselson not also translate
Wo Sind Die Elefanten?"

He wrote the song. The following link will explain the genesis of the song.

https://lrsc.weebly.com/165-wo-sind-die-elefanten.html