"Si me quieres escribir"/"El frente de Gandesa"/"Ya sabes mi paradero" is one of the most popular Republican songs from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The melody originated during the wars against Morocco in the 1920s and the lyrics changed depending on the different fronts fighting during the Spanish Civil War. The lyrics reference famous battles, such as the Battle of the Ebro, also mentioned in the song "Ay Carmela", or the Battle of Gandesa.

The most popular recordings are by the Chilean singer-songwriter and teacher Rolando Alarcón, in his album "Canciones de la Guerra Civil española" (1968), and the Mexican singer, songwriter and actor Oscar Chávez, in "Canciones de la Guerra Civil y resistencia española" (1975). Pete Seeger also recorded a version with the folk music group The Almanac Singers, which included the also legendary Woody Guthrie, and an instrumental version appears in the main title of Ken Loach's film "Land and Freedom".

♫ Vocals, guitars, and bodhrán by Columna Connolly.

📖 More info about this song in the "Rebel Folk History" version from my YouTube channel.

Rebel Folk

Si me quieres escribir [Demo | Traditional Spanish Civil War]

Traditional 19th century ballad about British and Irish convicts being sent to Australia and joining the bushrangers, who were escaped convicts turned outlaws.

Jim Jones at Botany Bay [Demo | Australian Bushranger Ballad]

In loving memory of Claudio (friend, trumpet & backing vocals). 

This demo includes a track from the time we were learning it together. He loved playing this song on trumpet and joined me with backing vocals, adding some Portuguese in the final chorus to include Brazil in the Latin American rebellion against US domination. 

Unfortunately, we never got to play it live together, but I hope this recording serves as a homage to his kindness and passion.

¡Hasta siempre, compañero!


♫ "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido" ("The people united will never be defeated") was composed by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayún, one of the pioneers of the folk movement known as "Nueva canción chilena" ("New Chilean Song"), and was first recorded in 1970, a few months prior to Allende´s victory in the general election.

📖 On the 11th of September 1973, nowadays referred to as "the other 9/11", Salvador Allende, Marxist and democratically elected president of Chile, died during a coup d'état led by Augusto Pinochet, commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army backed by the US government.


♫ Vocals, guitars, and charango by Columna Connolly.

📖 More info about this song in the "Rebel Folk History" version from my YouTube channel.

Rebel Folk Demos

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido [Demo | Nueva canción chilena]

♫ Feat. Robin Timmis (fiddle and backing vocals)

📖 "Crooked Jack" was written by the Irish songwriter, novelist and playwright Dominic Behan, under the pseudonym Wolfe Stephens, and offers alternative lyrics to the traditional Irish tune "The Star of the County Down". 

📖 Dominic Behan, Brendan Behan´s brother, was a very prolific songwriter whose lyrics focused mostly on the Irish history of rebellion against the invading Great Britain. 

📖 Some of his most popular songs include "Come Out Ye Black and Tans" and "The Patriot Game".

📖 Behan´s lyrics focus on British and Irish workers building the hydroelectric dams in the Scottish Highlands under inhumane conditions.
 
📖 The two most popular recordings are those by Al O'Donnell in his eponymous album (1972) and Dick Gaughan in Gaughan (1978).

Crooked Jack Feat. Robin Timmis [Live At The Pack Horse]

Merle Travis' miner song Sixteen Tons featuring the legendary Andy from The Prowlers.

Vocals and guitar by Columna Connolly
Harmonica and backing vocals by Andy Prowler

Sixteen Tons Feat. Andy Prowler [Live at The Red Shed]

Things that only happen at the Fenton Boogie: going there to play a 30-minute solo set and ending up playing a full set with an improvised full band.

A special thanks to:
▪ Ghost Dog for hosting and supporting live music (make sure you check "Normal Never Was - Revelations", the 40-track CRASS - "Feeding of the 5000" remixes).
▪ Adam for co-hosting and joining me on drums.
▪ Tom and Kirsty for joining me from the crowd and bringing Brigadistas Music Collective back for a night playing completely different instruments.

♫ Set List:
01. Crooked Jack [Traditional / Dominic Behan]
02. Si me quieres escribir [Traditional - Spanish Civil War]
03. Sixteen Tons [Merle Travis]
04. Farewell to the Crown [Chumbawamba]
05. Bella Ciao [Traditional Italian Partisan]
06. Jim Jones at Botany Bay [Traditional Bushranger Ballad]
07. Fischia il Vento [Traditional Italian Partisan]
08. Fascist Degradation [Di Nigunim]
09. Come Out Ye Black and Tans [Traditional Irish]
10. Gimme Tha Power [Molotov]
11. En la plaza de mi pueblo [Traditional - Spanish Civil War]

Live at The Fenton 20/12/22

Gimme Tha Power [Live at The Fenton]

Jim Jones at Botany Bay [Live at The Fenton]

Bella Ciao [Live at The Fenton]

Sixteen Tons [Live at The Fenton]

Si me quieres escribir [Live at The Fenton]

Crooked Jack [Live at The Fenton]

Columna Connolly explores the history of anti-fascism and working class through international rebel folk songs which focus on solidarity and the struggle for a better, fairer world.

Columna Connolly

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