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Lyr Req: Elecampane

29 Oct 20 - 08:32 AM (#4077239)
Subject: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: GUEST,Jenny Shaw

I am searching for the lyrics to a song called Elecampane, which was part of a show called Doctor Electron's Travelling Fair (or something similar) extracts of which were broadcast on Folk on Two in the early 80s.

It's possible that this was by the band called Elecampane, who were known for unusual stage shows.

My dad had this on a cassette tape for many years but it's vanished now.

The lyrics I remember are:

I have a little bottle for pains within and out
It cure's the rabies, whooping cough, the palsy and the gout
.....
A heaving glass of Elecampane will bring the dead to life

One day I met young Sally and she was a farmer's daughter
I made my mind up there and then that I would go and court her
...... my manhood caused me strife
But a heaving glass of Elecampane soon brought the dead to life.

There were other verses too, but I can't remember any lyrics.

There's only one reference to this song online and that's on a gardening blog written by my mother!

Other songs from the show included "There's Dancing Bears in Marshfield" and "Going to the Fair" (both of which I can remember - hit me up if you need the lyrics or arrangement!) and Shall We Gather At The River.

29 Oct 20 - 11:03 AM (#4077264)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: cnd

After a little bit of searching, I've found this:
In the late 1980s, Elecampane released their final album, which was available on cassette only. John Shaw explains:

... after my time with the band they released on more album -- on cassette: "Swings and Roundabouts" ... One side was devoted to "Dr. Elektron's Travelling Fair". The line-up at the time was: Dave Byrne, Daphne Grant, plus Chris Ellicott (keyboards, recorder, vocals) Debbie Ellicott (vocals, mandolin, percussion, guitar, whistle) Vincent Johnson (recorders, dulcian, vocals) Steve Vernon (vocals, bass, guitar). The album had been recorded over quite a period of time, and included contributions from members who had come and gone over the years: Chris Lyons (drums, vocals) John DePulford (dulcian) Shep Robson (bass, vocals) Mark Strawbridge (bass guitar)


Bristol Folk by Mark Jones

So, the album was "Swings and Roundabouts" by Elecampane. That's a start. Unfortunately, I can't find much of anything about that album online.

29 Oct 20 - 12:32 PM (#4077284)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: GUEST,Jenny Shaw

Thank you so much @cnd for finding this out!

Funnily enough I now live nearish to Bristol so I might reach out to some Bristol folkies. If nothing else I would like members of the band to know how much the seemingly obscure Dr Elektron has become part of my family's collective memory. I have performed a couple of the songs in the distant past, and am hoping to perform the song Elecampane online once I have the lyrics.

31 Oct 20 - 06:29 PM (#4077659)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: Gallus Moll

Elecampane is a bottle of a miraculous cure liquid used by one of the Galoshans characters at Hallowe'en and /or Hogmanay. It can cue ills and wounds, bring the dead back to life
Galoshans happened in probably mainly rural Scottish communities back in the day, survives in a watered down form as Guising. The original version was a sort of play, with characters, and dialogue, songs, some dancing. The disguised characters (all home made . old clothes turned inside out etc, turnip lanterns to light the way and scare off bogles) If you check the Kist o Riches / Tobar an Dulchuis (hope I spelled that correctly?)site you should find some Galoshans information?
(In Greenock people still ask each other if they are 'going for their Galoshans' rather than if they are going out guising! - there is an annual Galoshans festival over several days based at the Beacons Arts Centre - not this year obviously!)
Trish is in a performing group which includes a Galoshans production

01 Nov 20 - 03:46 AM (#4077694)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: GUEST,Dave Byrne

I was a member of Elecampane from its inception in 1972 until its demise in 1987. I was the vocalist on the track you mention. We recorded the song in my studio and initially released it with other material on a cassette entitled 'Swings and Roundabouts'. If you let me have your address I am happy to send you a CD of the recording (free). My email address is davidwbyrneuk@yahoo.com if you want to get back to me.I would be happy to provide more information about the band if you wish.

All the best

Dave

01 Nov 20 - 05:32 AM (#4077707)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: Richard Mellish

> Elecampane is a bottle of a miraculous cure liquid used by one of the Galoshans characters at Hallowe'en and /or Hogmanay. It can cue ills and wounds, bring the dead back to life

The Herga Mummers' play (a combination of Middlesex versions, now normally performed on Boxing Days, but possibly not this year) has an equivalent called "Golden Drop". No doubt there are equivalents elsewhere, possibly with other names.

06 Nov 20 - 04:15 PM (#4078523)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: FreddyHeadey

"Elecampane ,
Inula helenium, also called horse-heal or elfdock, is a widespread plant species in the sunflower family Asteraceae.
It is native to Eurasia from Spain to Xinjiang Province in western China, and naturalized in parts of North America.

,,, The plant's specific name, helenium, derives from Helen of Troy; elecampane is said to have sprung up from where her tears fell.
It was sacred to the ancient Celts, and once had the name "elfwort".
The plant traditionally was held to be associated with the elves and fairy folk.

Nicholas Culpeper considered elecampane to be ruled by Mercury and used it to warm a cold and windy stomach, to resist poison, to strengthen sight, and to clear internal blockages.


more : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elecampane#Folklore_and_Traditional_Uses

23 Aug 22 - 06:54 AM (#4150804)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Elecampane
From: GUEST,Jack Robson

I was in Elecampane in the late 70s and early 80s playing bass, guitar and dulcimer, and occasionally drums at live gigs for the odd song, and played on the recordings of Swings and Roundabouts and other unreleased songs. The line up of the band when I was in it was Dave Byrne, Chris Ellicott, Chris Lyons, Daphne Grant, Debbie Ellicott and myself. We played gigs all over the country at folk clubs, pubs and festivals, and I remember it as a crazy and fun time. We all had jobs to do when we got back from gigging, so I also remember being tired a lot of the time! We had a huge ex-electricity board van for the PA and gear, which Chris Lyons painted with scenes from the shows.
I left at the end of my first year of university through time constraints, but went back often as sound engineer for live gigs at a time when Vince Johnson, John de Pulford and Steve Vernon were in the band. In the late 80s, after Elecampane had stopped working I joined Debbie, Chris E and Vince in the ceilidh band Hopping Mad.
Happy days, lost youth etc. Jack (Shep)