A wonderful old and gruesome song, Twa Corbies. Thought it might be fun to play both ravens and have a go at harmonising with myself for this one. There are many excellent versions of this, mine owes everything to Maddy Prior and Steeleye Span. Read about it here https://mainlynorfolk.info/steeleye.span/songs/twacorbies.html

Twa Corbies (Two Ravens) - Traditional

My version of Twa Corbies so kindly mastered by Sam Clouston (Thank you Sam https://soundcloud.com/sam-clouston) so it's all proper and everything.

Twa Corbies (Two Ravens) Traditional - MASTERED

My Version of What a Voice. I am in love with Jeannie Robertson the great Scottish ballad singer so I hope I've had a good attempt at it for her. More commonly known and sung as I Wish, I Wish, especially in England. I read it was quite unfashionable to sing now, It brings me joy to be unfashionable then. :) https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/iwishmylove.html

What a Voice - Traditional

Another song based on the incredible Jeannie Robertson (It's an obsession, but I don't care). In most of the versions of this song, I never believe she wants him to go away, but I do believe Jeannie in her version. I added another verse based on longer versions. This is inspired by a recording of Jeannie in 1955.

Read about Go Away From Window here - https://mainlynorfolk.info/shirley.collins/songs/gofrommywindow.html

Go Away From My Window (Traditional)

The first collaboration between Catherine Earnshaw and storywheel. Richard Fariña's classic poem The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood set to the traditional Irish Air My Lagan Love. This is Sandy's song, and that's one of the reasons I love it.

Quiet Joys of Brotherhood

Quiet Joys of Brotherhood - Catherine Earnshaw and storywheel

A supernatural murder ballad for #TradSongTues 
Child Ballad 20. Here with Sid on harmonies. https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/thecruelmother.html

Cruel Mother - Catherine and Sid (Traditional)

A song for a snow day. I learned this from Anne Briggs, whose version is sublime. Read all about it here https://mainlynorfolk.info/anne.briggs/songs/thesnowitmeltsthesoonest.html

The Snow it Melts the Soonest - Traditional

Jeannie Robertson sang My Son David to Alan Lomax in London in November 1953... I wanted to learn this Child Ballad from her version although it's changed a little, as they often like to do when they come upon someone new. I've often heard it sung merrily, but I don't really do merrily.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/nic.jones/songs/edward.html

My Son David (Roud 200; Child 13)

https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/bluebleezinblinddrunk.html

Sheila Stewart learned this song from her Mother Belle. I learned it from Linda Thompson's version and have included her essential additional verse. I thought this such a serious song, imagine my surprise when everyone joined it on the chorus at Sharps like it was a sea shanty. Love it there.

Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk (Mickey's Warning)

**Storywheel Klaxon** I am so delighted to have another track to share with you from my collaboration with storywheel. We chose Shirley Collin's version of Pretty Saro from her seminal folk album with Davy Graham, 'Folk Roots, New Routes', which informs our project. Shirley will always be a true inspiration to me, and Davy to Keith. Did I tell you I LOVE the oud. I love the oud.

Pretty Saro - Catherine Earnshaw & storywheel

This song's been spending a lot of time in my head which means I had to learn it. Both Sides the Tweed is a Dick Gaughan song about the Union of Scotland and England. Written in 1979 as a reaction to the independence vote in Scottish Parliament. Dick adapted it from a traditional song and added his own tune. The original words can be found in the Jacobite relics of Scotland 1819 and generally attributed to James Hogg.

I've been thinking how fragile the union of our nations is in these times, how precious and unique each one is, and how these four sisters (Wales is there in spirit) need their European family too, our freedom has been sold for selfish gain. "May the love of our lands sacred rights, to the love of our people succeed". I hope we can put this right together. 

The image is from the British Museum, called The Union. Three women representing the countries of the United Kingdom (but for some reason no Wales), Scotland at left with tartan shawl and tam o' shanter in hand looking to front and holding the hand of England in centre with rose at her breast who gazes at Ireland.

Both Sides the Tweed - Dick Gaughan (Folk Song)

I first heard this song sung by the legendary Anne Briggs, who sings it so finely. I've often heard it sung as a sea shanty, and it makes a great chorus song with male voices, it has been found in both the States and the UK, it has lived quite a life. I've made it a little bit sea shanty here, and if I can't have Sharps Folk Club as the chorus, just me will have to do.

Learn more about Lowlands (Away) here https://mainlynorfolk.info/anne.briggs/songs/lowlands.html

The image is called "The Parting Hour" from the British Museum.

This is part of my #1000FolkSongs project, follow me to join me on my journey.

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Lowlands (Away)- Traditional

I was listening to traditional songs of the season, and found that this is perhaps one of the only ones to mention Halloween by name. Beethoven did a series of arrangements for Scottish Folk Song, and it looks like this tune may have originated with him. I'm going to provide as much detail on my research as I can for this one, have a look at my website where I will talk about the journey of the song, and include as many other versions as I can find. 

I really love Robin Dransfield's version with his magic voice. I learned this one from the singing of Bryony Griffith and Will Hampson.

Learn more about Faithful Johnny here:
https://www.catherineearnshawmusic.com/1000folksongs/2019/11/15/faithful-johnny

The image is called "Clerk Saunders ghost" from the British Museum.

This is part of my #1000FolkSongs project, follow me to join me on my journey.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/catherineearnshawmusic/ 
TWITTER: twitter.com/heathcliffitsme 
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeGBRZx1HrlxVCzN7i1n9A 
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/catherineearnshawmusic/ 
WEBSITE: www.catherineearnshawmusic.com/

Faithful Johnny - Traditional

I learned this song when my lovely friend showed me the perfect landscape to place her in this summer, I'll cover the journey of this classic Scottish ballad on my website.

The image is called "The Shepherdess" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1889

This is part of my #1000FolkSongs project, follow me to join me on my journey.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/catherineearnshawmusic/
TWITTER: twitter.com/heathcliffitsme
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeGBRZx1HrlxVCzN7i1n9A
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/catherineearnshawmusic/
WEBSITE: www.catherineearnshawmusic.com/

Queen Among the Heather - Traditional

I learned this back in May, There are many versions of this classic Irish tune.  Find out more here https://mainlynorfolk.info/june.tabor/songs/asirovedout.html It's probably best known for the beautiful Planxty version.

The image is called Under the Willow by John Menzies (1871-1939)

This is part of my #1000FolkSongs project, follow me to join me on my journey.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/catherineearnshawmusic/
TWITTER: twitter.com/heathcliffitsme
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeGBRZx1HrlxVCzN7i1n9A
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/catherineearnshawmusic/
WEBSITE: www.catherineearnshawmusic.com/

As I Roved Out - Traditional

January’s folk song obsession is ‘Alice White’. 

I’d asked Alison Frosdick, the most beautiful singer, if she’d sing it at Sharps Folk Club this month. I’d loved it when I heard her sing it before, she is such a good storyteller. One of the privileges of singing these songs is to give a voice to someone who might otherwise be forgotten in history. ‘Alice White’ is a fairly contemporary folk song, and an excellent example of that, and one I just had to have a go at.

It was written by Alan Bell, who often referred to real people, places and events in his songs. Alice was a real woman who died at only 39 years old, I hope to find out more about her, but that's all I know. 

You can read about Alan's amazing life here. 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/22/alan-bell-obituary 

The story of the song had me learn a bit about the Navvies (navigators, navigating engineers), the giants who built Britain, the railways, the canals and the viaducts. Often on 10 pints a day, shifting 20 tons of soil and rock per person with little thought for safety and no machines to help. It is hard to imagine the squalor and hardship of these men and their families as they moved around, their pay was relatively good for the day, but they often paid for that with limbs and lives, anyway don't take that from me, just listen to Alice.

The image is taken from Navvyman by Dick Sullivan.

This is part of my #1000FolkSongs project, follow me to join me on my journey.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/catherineearnshawmusic/
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Alice White(Alan Bell)- Contemporary Classic Folk Song

This month, I've recorded a Folk Song I already knew because I have a lot of songs to learn for various fun reasons that aren't February.  I first sang this one in public 32 years ago (and probably an octave or a few higher). It was memorable for being told that this wasn't a song for a little girl to sing, this was a song for a Queen to sing. Look how those words stuck with me. I am a Queen!

This song is generally known I now realise as A North Country Maid, but I had sheet music for it then and it was called The Oak & The Ash, so that's what I've gone with. Also, how can a song be worth 84? What is 84? It's completely spurious, let it be known I am completely against marking folk songs and the lovely people who sing them. I wonder what I got with the record token I won?

The Oak & The Ash (A North Country Maid)- Traditional Folk Song

I might have done something new, shhh before it runs away.

I have a lot to say about this song, and will put together a little page on my website soon.

I was flicking through my book of folk songs by William Cole and he made me giggle when speaking of Lavender's Blue "I have eliminated nine verses, not for bowlderisation, but because they incline to dullness" 

Myself I eliminated one from him (also not for bowlderisation but for dullness) and added in a couple of darker ones I found, because, well, it's me innit) He points out quite rightly that a lot of our nursery rhymes are far from the spirit of that in their origins, (don't get me started on the dog thing, I was shocked)

1000FolkSongs

Lavender's Blue

I was asked to write a song based on the Lace Tells of the Bedfordshire Lacemakers this year for a project by The Invisible Folk Club, these are fragments of lyrics to forgotten work songs that the lacemakers would have sung while they worked away with their bobbins. 

I don't usually write songs, but it was so fun bringing these to life as I imagined how they might have been sung.

Beauties of Bedford (Original Folk Song Based on "Lace Tells")

Another song recorded especially for The Invisible Folk Club this year based on songs that the Lacemakers of Bedford would have sung. This song presented me with a challenge. I wanted to record a song with Carol Anderson, the incredible fiddle player, but we couldn't be together to do it. I learned a lot about how I would approach this next time, I hope next year gives us the opportunity to play this together.

The Deserted Lover (Died for Love) Traditional Folk Song

Ewan MacColl wrote the most beautiful songs. The Terror Time was from his radio ballad album in 1964 (The Travelling People)

The Terror Time (Ewan MacColl) - Catherine Earnshaw

I'm learning 1000 Traditional Unaccompanied Folk Songs. This is a journal or scrapbook of them, illustrated with images from The British Museum. #1000FolkSongs

Popular tracks by Catherine Earnshaw Music