Hello Christy,
Well, Steve is being made redundant so things are a bit topsy turvy here. He makes tons more money than me. Its his fifth redundancy so we’re wondering whether it’s a record.
I wonder if someone here may be able to help me. I’m trying to work out what the Gullane field and the south Rey grass mean in Gortatagort. I’ve found all the other words but I’m struggling with these two. It’s the words that are capitalised that I’m struggling with.
That was a great investment of Ed’s…sounds like a superb piece of musicology.I’ve spent chunks of the last few days reading about/youtube trawling Alan Lomax’s work-across the decades/around the world…a wonderful mix of sounds,sights and history…
The latest newsletter has just arrived from ‘Ye Vagabonds’…really glad I signed up for them -lovely playing…and ,like you and Andy-lockdown sessions-greatly appreciated in these non gig times…
have a good day
Dave
Christy's reply
I love the “Ye Vagabonds” yard sessions….they are unique in their approach and create a lovely atmosphere in their delivery
Am starting with a question. Who is taking over Alan Lomax’s role? Is it Andy ‘Junior’, your son? Lomax and such song collecters took me off to a journal I knew I had here, I purchased it for €1, well that’s pencilled inside the front cover. It’s dated 1974. A long, rather detailed piece on the ballad, made famous in Joyce’s “The Dead”. Lomax is quoted in the piece. He heard the song sung by Elizabeth Cronin from Macroom, Co Cork. He recorded her singing it. Her version apparently leaves out the lines about the apparent angry aggrieved mother.
Here’s the source material: “The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol IV”, edited by Kennedy P, and Lomax A. (Caedmon Records NY 1961)
Christy's reply
“The Lass Of Aughrim”
Every time I hear Frank Patterson sing that song from the stairwell I fall to pieces..I never tire of Huston’s film,of Joyce’s Story “THE DEAD”…..each time I see it, fresh nuggets are revealed….I love Bess Cronin’s version too…I have tried to sing this song but,so far,I’ve not been able to do it justice…Lomax also recorded Bess singing “The Good Ship Kangaroo” which is where I sourced it for the Planxty recording
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for your advice and encouragement. I’m not surprised Gortatagort is around your number 6. I’ve been getting to know it such a short time and it’s ravishing.
What did the wallpaper do? I went on a meditation course in Australia. After about half an hour the carpet was amazing. Kind of sea creatures. It was blue.
Are you sure it was Indian cafés? I can only think of Greek ones. I was a few years behind you though. I worked in the bees knees for a few months.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I’ve been known to confuse the locations of favourite Curry Houses….
Good evening Christy,
There is a Sheila Stewart song ‘blue bleezing blind drunk’ that has taken my fancy over the last couple of days. Listening to it i am reminded of ‘a stitch in time’, a great story song.
Given that you both generally sang your respective songs without music ,it seems they are a good pairing.
Maybe one day we will see you sing yours live again, Bundoran has bitten the dust but many more opportunities will arrive, meantime the memory of Sheila Stewart and ‘Blue bleezing blind drunk’ reverberates on the car cd.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
Mike Waterson wrote “The Stitch”…I learned it from the singing of his Brother-in-Law Martin Carthy….
RTE Folk Radio are currently assembling a documentary about “The Lakes of Pontchartrain”…I learned it from Mike in 1968 and carried it back home ….recorded it with Planxty in 1973 ….many other singers carried it on (Paul Brady,Liam Ó Maonlaoí,Brian Kennedy et al ) …I love the fact that its now such a well-loved song in our National Repertoire..that it all began that Sunday night in The Old Blue Bell Tavern in Hull when Mike sang it to me….
“if it were’nt for the Alligators,I’d sleep out in the woods”
‘Joxer’ will be a welcome visitor,Christy – Great memories of my kids and their Slane cousins celebrating Ireland’s successes in big Jack’s era..and,the buzz throughout the country.Very special times…
Brilliant that Andy is taking over an Alan Lomax role! I was thinking of AL’s work recently,and checked the online resources…wow,I;d really underestimated the amount of ground he covered…inc Ireland in the 1950s.I’ve just had another shufti and saw references to Margaret Barry-hopefully,recordings available…maybe,youtube too…so many rabbit holes ,but the info at http://www.culturalequity.org will be worth a look,for starters… I’m still working on ‘Hills of Shiloh’,but will be looking for Margaret Barry (as it were…) on tea break…
Greatly looking forward to Joxer and co arriving,whenever they’re ready to hit the road…
I got lucky re Rory’s song – at http://www.tunearch.org title into the search box- up came the tune…hit ‘annotations’ and there’s the back story to the song… hadn’t used it in awhile,but its a canny resource.Don’t know the song,but always good to think of Tommy Makem and his companeros.
I hope you and Andy enjoyed your evening’s work…these sessions are so good and will be part of the research when academics look at artists’ responses to Covid lockdown.An ace range of music and themes …all in the amazing world of yourube!
Dave
Christy's reply
We managed to get 6 down last night, I kicked off with a “Joxer” for Ashington’s Jack,..memories and reflections of his time in Ireland have been dominant on all mediums since news came of his passing…he was much loved on this Island..even those with no interest in Soccer warmed to our dear, departed Geordie neighbour….my abiding memory will always be of him,waist deep in waders, casting his line upon the waters of The Moy in County Mayo
Morning Christy,
Dave has pointed me in the direction of Nell’s drake and it’s underlying meaning, he is a mine of info and his posts always worth exploring….and here was me thinking Marx Brothers ‘Duck Soup’ was straightforward comedy ,i now imagine it was undercover communism.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
I once dropped a tab of Californian Sunshine and spent 12 hours studying the wall paper
There we are Christy, back starting another week and a couple of queer things occurred over the weekend, both music related so i am not rambling over this page completely irrelevantly.
Firstly we got a licence to turn Hawick rfc rugby pitch into a beer garden, it was hard work but we followed all of the covid licencing guidlines and had 20 tables of four brave souls each sunning themselves. There was porter (Mick from Cork says Scots cannot pour properly) and scran with the old border chicken in a basket, social distancing ,and no table hopping ,but the only thing missing …no music was allowed by our local council. Apparently the Bass disturbs the travel of saliva ,or something like that , anyway we just hummed the tunes to ourselves as we stewarded one in one out to the newly disinfected sanitation stations.
Then there was the revisiting of a cd i had bought from the SF bookshop, entitled ‘Irish Rebel Songs- The Essential Collection’ but it contains ‘Nell Flahery’s Drake’ sung by Tommy Makem.
Despite trying hard as i might i cannot fathom the ‘rebel’ connection to the song. Can you ,or CS (15) perhaps ,enlighten me?
Regards Rory
ps i got a group email from Matt McGinn with a recording of a Belfast singer called Hugh, poignnantly well worth the listening, if you get the chance.
Christy's reply
Your post reminds me…”Nell Flaherty’s Drake” was in my repertoire for a short spell in the mid 70s
I’m doodling Willy Clancy’s ” The Gander” at the moment…
before hanging up the scrum cap I propped with Bective Rangers, Cashel rfc and Corinthians of Galway
“This Gander was noble it was both sturdy and strong
it never grew cold altho’ it lived very long
its beak and its legs were as yellow as the gold it did shine
and its “gub” it would bore an inch board in a very short time”
Hello Christy,
Oh I’m looking forward to the next session, the very best of luck with it. May the clegs, clags and frogs be kind.
I’m working hard on Gortatagort, well I’m there while it tries to write itself on to me, would be more accurate. Woke up singing it this morning. It’s got to be a good sign. Hope you have a good day.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I found parts of the last verse very tricky to phrase..its a case of sticking with it until the rhythms of the lines become clear…once absorbed, its a song for life
I’m raising a cuppa and hoping for ‘enlightened’ times.Very heartening that the BBC marked Judy Dyble’s passing…
viva The Guardian and Radio 4 !
Have a great day ,with the Atkin ringing.
Dave
Christy's reply
Hey Dave…
we got Guardian and Radio 4,
we got Trump and Johnson,
but I gotta lockdown gig to do tonight….
Andy is wiping down his apple
I gotta pick a few chestnuts from the basket
clear the clegs and clags
wash down the frogs
take the phone of the hook
relax the dog
and get that Atkin ringin
Hi Christy,
Hope all is well. I don’t know if you’ve heard this collaboration from Natalie Merchant and the Chieftains but I’d thought you’d enjoy it. Anxiously awaiting episode 8. Stay well!……Buck
never heard that before Buck….is that Tim Edey on accordeon ?….led me onto Bob singin Blind Willie McTell at a Martin Scorsese tribute…Monday goin well so far…a mug of tea in the scratcher and a day stretching out before me…I need to tear myself away from youtube and getta bitta work done
Hi All. The Lockdown Sessions are the highlight of my week, for sure. You and Andy are so generous with your time and your stories and your insights, to do this from your own home is special and to share the important stuff on your walls, these things that, in a way frame your life, thank you. I do have favourite songs, but all the songs in the last seven sessions are now my firm favourites ! Your generosity extends to always mentioning the writers or collaborators too. When John Spillane heard that Gortatagort was number 6 in your top ten songs of all time this was his response ” wow in Christy’s personal top 6 like! I can die happy now ” You also sang Don’t Forget your Shovel by Christie Hennessy and mentioned your visit to Tralee to unveil his statue. It was a damp and dirty, but very exciting day in Tralee that Oct 2009. I have very special memories and momentos from the event, here is a link to your words, https://youtu.be/9mN8LLt6NiY . Nice to see Mick D in the frame too. Beir bua agus beannacht go deo. H
Christy's reply
Thank you H,
After watching the unveiling of Christie’s beautiful monument I rode the wave for a while and spent an hour with the beautiful man…
Turning attention to the next Session…will plan a couple to get us started and then go with the flow..
Hope all is well up there in The Kingdom…that there is Light in The Black Valley…
I had a couple of fun,post gig chats with Danny Thompson…also,regularly dip into his numerous youtube features as well.He and John Martyn can be found there…pure class.
http://www.folkradio.co.uk has delivered again… latest show has new music from Richard Thompson,Gillian Welch/David Rawlings + many more
Also a John Martyn fest – a review of a new book about him ‘Small Hours’ + guests inc Karine Polwart playing some JM songs.The site is a bit messy,but many a rabbit hole awaits ,if time permits…
Sadly,only saw John Martyn once,on an 80 s gig with a band more inclined to funk ,than folk.I’d love to have seen him with Danny Thompson,but that wasn’t to be…did your paths ever cross?
Enjoy the day.
Dave
Christy's reply
Met John a few times very briefly…In Hamish & Wilma Imlach’s when he was about 18…few years later heard him play at Highcliffe Sheffield…last time we met was at a Festival in Skibbereen,County Cork….a beautiful player,an innovator who’s music still resounds, his journey sometimes difficult
Met Danny in The Elbow Room,Kircaldy,Fife (circa ’68)…I was hangin out in Torbane Cottages with Jimmy Hutchinson,Rob Nabb, High Speed Grass and a variety of other transients and asylum seekers…feels like it was centuries ago
Sorry, Gullane field
Next time I talk to John Spillane
Hello Christy,
Well, Steve is being made redundant so things are a bit topsy turvy here. He makes tons more money than me. Its his fifth redundancy so we’re wondering whether it’s a record.
I wonder if someone here may be able to help me. I’m trying to work out what the Gullane field and the south Rey grass mean in Gortatagort. I’ve found all the other words but I’m struggling with these two. It’s the words that are capitalised that I’m struggling with.
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/instruments/piano/harmony-on-deranged-cats-yelling/
Here’s a video of a pianist accompanying a yowling cat. Shades of the Speech project 🙂.
Rebecca
that Connor Broderick is a cool cat
Mornin’ Christy
That was a great investment of Ed’s…sounds like a superb piece of musicology.I’ve spent chunks of the last few days reading about/youtube trawling Alan Lomax’s work-across the decades/around the world…a wonderful mix of sounds,sights and history…
The latest newsletter has just arrived from ‘Ye Vagabonds’…really glad I signed up for them -lovely playing…and ,like you and Andy-lockdown sessions-greatly appreciated in these non gig times…
have a good day
Dave
I love the “Ye Vagabonds” yard sessions….they are unique in their approach and create a lovely atmosphere in their delivery
I think one time you made reference to Joyce and that particular story in a post in here, so you’re familiar with the story and that song being sung.
Am starting with a question. Who is taking over Alan Lomax’s role? Is it Andy ‘Junior’, your son? Lomax and such song collecters took me off to a journal I knew I had here, I purchased it for €1, well that’s pencilled inside the front cover. It’s dated 1974. A long, rather detailed piece on the ballad, made famous in Joyce’s “The Dead”. Lomax is quoted in the piece. He heard the song sung by Elizabeth Cronin from Macroom, Co Cork. He recorded her singing it. Her version apparently leaves out the lines about the apparent angry aggrieved mother.
Here’s the source material: “The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol IV”, edited by Kennedy P, and Lomax A. (Caedmon Records NY 1961)
“The Lass Of Aughrim”
Every time I hear Frank Patterson sing that song from the stairwell I fall to pieces..I never tire of Huston’s film,of Joyce’s Story “THE DEAD”…..each time I see it, fresh nuggets are revealed….I love Bess Cronin’s version too…I have tried to sing this song but,so far,I’ve not been able to do it justice…Lomax also recorded Bess singing “The Good Ship Kangaroo” which is where I sourced it for the Planxty recording
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for your advice and encouragement. I’m not surprised Gortatagort is around your number 6. I’ve been getting to know it such a short time and it’s ravishing.
What did the wallpaper do? I went on a meditation course in Australia. After about half an hour the carpet was amazing. Kind of sea creatures. It was blue.
Are you sure it was Indian cafés? I can only think of Greek ones. I was a few years behind you though. I worked in the bees knees for a few months.
Rebecca
I’ve been known to confuse the locations of favourite Curry Houses….
Good evening Christy,
There is a Sheila Stewart song ‘blue bleezing blind drunk’ that has taken my fancy over the last couple of days. Listening to it i am reminded of ‘a stitch in time’, a great story song.
Given that you both generally sang your respective songs without music ,it seems they are a good pairing.
Maybe one day we will see you sing yours live again, Bundoran has bitten the dust but many more opportunities will arrive, meantime the memory of Sheila Stewart and ‘Blue bleezing blind drunk’ reverberates on the car cd.
Regards
Rory
Mike Waterson wrote “The Stitch”…I learned it from the singing of his Brother-in-Law Martin Carthy….
RTE Folk Radio are currently assembling a documentary about “The Lakes of Pontchartrain”…I learned it from Mike in 1968 and carried it back home ….recorded it with Planxty in 1973 ….many other singers carried it on (Paul Brady,Liam Ó Maonlaoí,Brian Kennedy et al ) …I love the fact that its now such a well-loved song in our National Repertoire..that it all began that Sunday night in The Old Blue Bell Tavern in Hull when Mike sang it to me….
“if it were’nt for the Alligators,I’d sleep out in the woods”
What a chat up line !!!
‘Joxer’ will be a welcome visitor,Christy – Great memories of my kids and their Slane cousins celebrating Ireland’s successes in big Jack’s era..and,the buzz throughout the country.Very special times…
Brilliant that Andy is taking over an Alan Lomax role! I was thinking of AL’s work recently,and checked the online resources…wow,I;d really underestimated the amount of ground he covered…inc Ireland in the 1950s.I’ve just had another shufti and saw references to Margaret Barry-hopefully,recordings available…maybe,youtube too…so many rabbit holes ,but the info at http://www.culturalequity.org will be worth a look,for starters… I’m still working on ‘Hills of Shiloh’,but will be looking for Margaret Barry (as it were…) on tea break…
Greatly looking forward to Joxer and co arriving,whenever they’re ready to hit the road…
Dave
Alan Lomax left us a legacy that still delivers….
Hi Christy
I got lucky re Rory’s song – at http://www.tunearch.org title into the search box- up came the tune…hit ‘annotations’ and there’s the back story to the song… hadn’t used it in awhile,but its a canny resource.Don’t know the song,but always good to think of Tommy Makem and his companeros.
I hope you and Andy enjoyed your evening’s work…these sessions are so good and will be part of the research when academics look at artists’ responses to Covid lockdown.An ace range of music and themes …all in the amazing world of yourube!
Dave
We managed to get 6 down last night, I kicked off with a “Joxer” for Ashington’s Jack,..memories and reflections of his time in Ireland have been dominant on all mediums since news came of his passing…he was much loved on this Island..even those with no interest in Soccer warmed to our dear, departed Geordie neighbour….my abiding memory will always be of him,waist deep in waders, casting his line upon the waters of The Moy in County Mayo
Morning Christy,
Dave has pointed me in the direction of Nell’s drake and it’s underlying meaning, he is a mine of info and his posts always worth exploring….and here was me thinking Marx Brothers ‘Duck Soup’ was straightforward comedy ,i now imagine it was undercover communism.
Regards
Rory
I once dropped a tab of Californian Sunshine and spent 12 hours studying the wall paper
There we are Christy, back starting another week and a couple of queer things occurred over the weekend, both music related so i am not rambling over this page completely irrelevantly.
Firstly we got a licence to turn Hawick rfc rugby pitch into a beer garden, it was hard work but we followed all of the covid licencing guidlines and had 20 tables of four brave souls each sunning themselves. There was porter (Mick from Cork says Scots cannot pour properly) and scran with the old border chicken in a basket, social distancing ,and no table hopping ,but the only thing missing …no music was allowed by our local council. Apparently the Bass disturbs the travel of saliva ,or something like that , anyway we just hummed the tunes to ourselves as we stewarded one in one out to the newly disinfected sanitation stations.
Then there was the revisiting of a cd i had bought from the SF bookshop, entitled ‘Irish Rebel Songs- The Essential Collection’ but it contains ‘Nell Flahery’s Drake’ sung by Tommy Makem.
Despite trying hard as i might i cannot fathom the ‘rebel’ connection to the song. Can you ,or CS (15) perhaps ,enlighten me?
Regards Rory
ps i got a group email from Matt McGinn with a recording of a Belfast singer called Hugh, poignnantly well worth the listening, if you get the chance.
Your post reminds me…”Nell Flaherty’s Drake” was in my repertoire for a short spell in the mid 70s
I’m doodling Willy Clancy’s ” The Gander” at the moment…
before hanging up the scrum cap I propped with Bective Rangers, Cashel rfc and Corinthians of Galway
“This Gander was noble it was both sturdy and strong
it never grew cold altho’ it lived very long
its beak and its legs were as yellow as the gold it did shine
and its “gub” it would bore an inch board in a very short time”
( I learned this worthy song from Davoc Rynne)
Hello Christy,
Oh I’m looking forward to the next session, the very best of luck with it. May the clegs, clags and frogs be kind.
I’m working hard on Gortatagort, well I’m there while it tries to write itself on to me, would be more accurate. Woke up singing it this morning. It’s got to be a good sign. Hope you have a good day.
Rebecca
I found parts of the last verse very tricky to phrase..its a case of sticking with it until the rhythms of the lines become clear…once absorbed, its a song for life
The sessions are brilliant and very much appreciated by many,Christy
Thanks to you and Andy for broadcasting to the world… D
ná habair mo cara, tá fáilte romhat…
táimíd go léir ag síul mór thímpeall an domhan le céile…
Mornin’Christy
I’m raising a cuppa and hoping for ‘enlightened’ times.Very heartening that the BBC marked Judy Dyble’s passing…
viva The Guardian and Radio 4 !
Have a great day ,with the Atkin ringing.
Dave
Hey Dave…
we got Guardian and Radio 4,
we got Trump and Johnson,
but I gotta lockdown gig to do tonight….
Andy is wiping down his apple
I gotta pick a few chestnuts from the basket
clear the clegs and clags
wash down the frogs
take the phone of the hook
relax the dog
and get that Atkin ringin
Hi Christy,
Hope all is well. I don’t know if you’ve heard this collaboration from Natalie Merchant and the Chieftains but I’d thought you’d enjoy it. Anxiously awaiting episode 8. Stay well!……Buck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwJ33lZhdHM
never heard that before Buck….is that Tim Edey on accordeon ?….led me onto Bob singin Blind Willie McTell at a Martin Scorsese tribute…Monday goin well so far…a mug of tea in the scratcher and a day stretching out before me…I need to tear myself away from youtube and getta bitta work done
Hi Christy
RIP Judy Dyble – Fairport’s first singer…more memories from the late 60s,at the start of their journey in North London.
Good obituary in ‘The Guardian’.
Dave
and it made the 5pm news on BBC Radio 4..
might these be more enlightened times ?
Hi All. The Lockdown Sessions are the highlight of my week, for sure. You and Andy are so generous with your time and your stories and your insights, to do this from your own home is special and to share the important stuff on your walls, these things that, in a way frame your life, thank you. I do have favourite songs, but all the songs in the last seven sessions are now my firm favourites ! Your generosity extends to always mentioning the writers or collaborators too. When John Spillane heard that Gortatagort was number 6 in your top ten songs of all time this was his response ” wow in Christy’s personal top 6 like! I can die happy now ” You also sang Don’t Forget your Shovel by Christie Hennessy and mentioned your visit to Tralee to unveil his statue. It was a damp and dirty, but very exciting day in Tralee that Oct 2009. I have very special memories and momentos from the event, here is a link to your words, https://youtu.be/9mN8LLt6NiY . Nice to see Mick D in the frame too. Beir bua agus beannacht go deo. H
Thank you H,
After watching the unveiling of Christie’s beautiful monument I rode the wave for a while and spent an hour with the beautiful man…
Turning attention to the next Session…will plan a couple to get us started and then go with the flow..
Hope all is well up there in The Kingdom…that there is Light in The Black Valley…
Thanks for more great memories,Christy
‘Who knows where the time goes’? eh…
I had a couple of fun,post gig chats with Danny Thompson…also,regularly dip into his numerous youtube features as well.He and John Martyn can be found there…pure class.
Dave
Mornin’ Christy
http://www.folkradio.co.uk has delivered again… latest show has new music from Richard Thompson,Gillian Welch/David Rawlings + many more
Also a John Martyn fest – a review of a new book about him ‘Small Hours’ + guests inc Karine Polwart playing some JM songs.The site is a bit messy,but many a rabbit hole awaits ,if time permits…
Sadly,only saw John Martyn once,on an 80 s gig with a band more inclined to funk ,than folk.I’d love to have seen him with Danny Thompson,but that wasn’t to be…did your paths ever cross?
Enjoy the day.
Dave
Met John a few times very briefly…In Hamish & Wilma Imlach’s when he was about 18…few years later heard him play at Highcliffe Sheffield…last time we met was at a Festival in Skibbereen,County Cork….a beautiful player,an innovator who’s music still resounds, his journey sometimes difficult
Met Danny in The Elbow Room,Kircaldy,Fife (circa ’68)…I was hangin out in Torbane Cottages with Jimmy Hutchinson,Rob Nabb, High Speed Grass and a variety of other transients and asylum seekers…feels like it was centuries ago
sorry-typo
http://www.johnnyhandle.co.uk
D