Prince Albert, Darkest Frieth, 14th April 2010

23:26

So Dave Heath turns to me and says, "A' course! That's why you're asking the names of everything! You're doing the blog!" See, that Hobgoblin Ale is strong stuff. Anyway, if you're asking the names of things, Dave Heath is a good man to sit beside.
There was an overture of "The Morning Star" and Dick started proceedings officially with "Bring us a Barrel". Despite being squashed in a corner, Steve played "Miner's Life". Alan and Rosie played a pair of Polkas: Tehan's Favourite and Maggie in the Wood. Then Alan played as Rosie sang "Lovely Joan". Delia and Stuart did a duet on concertina with the tune "Waltz for Sally" (by Paul Barrett, they tell me). Ian sang "The wild Deer of Epping".
Dave played and sang "Northern Lights" and Fred sang something called "The Congress of Vienna". Richard played "Dance of the Demon Daffodils" on concertina. Or is it accordion? Accordian to me, I haven't the faintest idea. More beer! Simon appeared, and someone made a comment about "talent". We weren't sure whether it was Simon was meant, or the ladies in the corner next to him. Simon played "Mrs Casey" and the one that comes after it, which turned out to be "Hodson Will". On a squeezebox of some kind. I'm almost sure.
Andy and Richard did a duet with "Old-Fashioned Saturday Night". Back to Dick again, and he sang "Broomfield Hill". Steve played Lindisfarne's "Dreamseller". which prompted some discussion about concert-going in Bristol. Alan and Rosie cut that short by playing "The Rakes of Kildare" and "The Tenpenny Bit".
Then there was Delia with "I got a Bran-new pair of Rollerskates" and everyone joined in the chorus. Alan and Rosie played "The Dark End of the Street" and explained that it was from the film "The Commitments". Stuart sang "Tavistock Goosey Fair". I can't keep saying everyone joined in the chorus. They just do.
Ian sang "Through Moorfields" and there was a general joining in as Gordon played "Young Collins" and "Princess Royal". Some of us were playing something different, but it came out all right. Did I mention that Delia won the raffle? She asked for the jar of honey, but it had gone. So sad...
Dave played "Northern Geordie England" and Fred played an air called "Rothbury Hills". Nobody could think of any songs about April, so Simon sang "I have been a rambling..." in the best tradition of cheery folksongs. Continuing the mood, Andy and Richard played and sang "Tracks of my Tears". Then they sang "Little ball of yarn". This had a marked effect on some of the females in the gathering. Obviously something of great personal and sentimental significance. John had snuck in by this time and was prevailed upon to sing "If you had a brain you'd be dangerous." Rick sang "Here's to you John Brown" and there has got to be an internet abbreviation for "and everybody joined in the chorus". EJITC. Somehow that seems appropriate. Steve played "Gulf Coast Highway". And Alan and Rosie sang "Nothing's going to change my world" which they classed as a topical number, by Folk-Club standards... EJITC. Delia sang "Bobby Shafto" but it didn't have a chorus. Ian sang "Newlin Town" which was another cheery one. Dave sang "The Connemara Horse Trade Fair" and Fred played "Råttjävlen" (That Damned Rat) on Willowflute. Simon sang "Your Baby has gorn darn the Plughole" EJITC. So sad. So Sad. My handwriting...I can't make it out...
Andy and Richard sang "The Bonnie Light Horseman" and continued the Cockney theme with "Knocked them in the Old Kent Road". EJITC. There was just enough time for John to sing "Black is the Colour" and the bell went. Did the bell went? I never heard it! Okay then. Blimey, it really goes to your head when you hit the cold night air...

You Might Also Like

1 comments

  1. With typical modesty, Fred didn't mention that he wrote The Congress of Vienna. I was impressed enough that he remembered all the (many) words, and am doubly so now that I know he wrote them.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe