Origins: Diglake Fields

Subject: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 06:25 AM

I've been asked about the origins/background for this song. A quick Google shows it on a Mary Black recording but little hard info.

I have a set of words alright but for now am interested in some quick info if possible.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:58 AM

It was written by Phil and June Colclough, and appeared on De Dannan's Anthem. A comment made in an old thread here states that the song is about a mining disaster (which hadn't occurred to me, I confess). That would presumably be the Diglake Disaster of 14 January 1895, at the Diglake colliery, Bignall Hill (Audley in Staffordshire). The mine flooded, and seventy-eight were killed.

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 12:28 PM

Many thanks, Malcolm. Any idea of the date of composition?

Looks like that's the right background OK. Its an interesting set of words. Haven't actually heard it sung yet - I suspect it would need a very atmospheric tune to carry it.


Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 01:28 PM

Anthem was released 1985, but I don't have a copy, so can't be exact. Early 1980s, I expect. The tune as De Dannan arranged it is quite bouncy if anything, which (coupled with some indistinct singing in places) is why I hadn't twigged what it was about. Taken a bit more slowly it would have a certain amount of gravitas, I think.

Subject: Lyr Add: DIGLAKE FIELDS
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 07:45 AM

Here's the words as they were given to me:

^^ Diglake Fields.
The sun comes up on Diglake Fields,
It wakes the milk white hare,
The lady tells the stable boy
To saddle up the mare.
The hands that hold the reins are cold
The spurs are polished steel,
She'll take the mare without a care
To race on Diglake Fields.

The sun goes down across the town
And miners start to rise
Up from their beds with sleepy heads
To leave their anxious wives,
Off they troop with ne'er a look
To get the coal below,
So hello night, farewell daylight,
Be careful how you go.

The horse's hooves on Diglake fields
Throw water in the air
Sometimes she's lost among the mists
That fall around the mare
At her command is all this land
And all the coal that's there
In morning sun and at full run
She spots the milk white hare.

No sun will shine down in the mine
A thousand feet below,
No hares will run and days don't come
Where winds refuse to blow,
And by the cold dark river's run
They'll stream in from the sea
And men down there who work with care
See water in their dreams.

No fear of fox or of greyhound
The hare can beat them all
She can outrun the hunter's gun
And miner's dogs galore
But now this lady races on
To cut this wild hare down
She dearly wants the milk white fur
To trim her dancing gown.

The coal is cleared down in the mine
Cut by the morning shift
The cutters call the firemen in
To start another drift
The shots are placed, they take a break
They pass the tea can around,
When all retire, the shots are fired
And sixty men are drowned.

In the night the fire burns bright,
The band takes up the tune,
The dance begins and heads they turn,
She moves into the room.
Her face is flushed, her eyes they shine,
They sparkle from the fire,
Her gown is cut above the breast,
It's trimmed with milk white fur.


Interesting alright. Didn't we have a thread about the significance of hares a while back?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:33 PM

The version I have is more or less as posted by Martin, but the moon goes down at the beginning of verse 2, and the mists swirl in verse 3.

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:38 AM

Any recordings other than the Mary Black/De Danann one?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:24 PM

Helen Akitt (from whom I got the words) recorded it in 1996 on her CD with Mike Ruff, "Smoke in the Valley".

Subject: RE: Origins: Diglake Fields
From: GUEST,Mike Whittle
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 11:19 PM

I heard this from Dolores Keane who did it live with Dedanann. It's on the Essential Dolores Keane double album, disc 1. Fairly full on arrangement, sounds well though.