I am playing violin on the end section on this track.

Shouldent Ought To Done It

What You Are Doing Wrong

That Which Is Not Known

Robin Hood and the threadbare knight

I Stood In The Desert And Looked At The Stars

I've wanted to learn this for a while, it's a bit of a feat of memory at over 8 minutes. This is only one of Prince Heathen's many challenges which means if you get through this song as I've done it, unaccompanied, you are hardcore and I salute you. I saw a discussion a while ago on Twitter which questioned if we should still sing songs like Prince Heathen, due to the scenes of horrendous violence. However, Fair Margaret told me that she must be heard, and I agreed. Prince Heathen isn't the main part of this story for me. Margaret is. It's a tale of cruelty, violence, forced marriage, bravery, survival, maternal instinct and rebellion, it kind of reminds me of a Tarantino movie. I've changed the ending back to what it surely must have been originally, this one makes much more sense. I learned this version from Frankie Armstrong's version, which she said had been refurbished by A.L. Lloyd, I hope he wouldn't mind too much then that I refurbished it a little back again. The image comes from "The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara" by Lucas Cranach the Elder(German, Kronach 1472–1553 Weimar) I've taken it from the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

1000FolkSongs

Prince Heathen (Roud 3336 ; Child 104)

I used to love singing this. I learned it in my church choir when I was little, and I always felt there was something ancient about it, it evokes Dickensian London in the snow for me. According to Mainly Norfolk it was collected in 1951 in North Carolina, but I'm sure I saw old sheet music for it. Who knows, that's what makes it fun. Martin Carthy recorded it with the Watersons for his album "Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man" in 2006 so if you want to hear really wonderful harmonies for this, you know where to go. https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/timetorememberthepoor.html

#1000FolkSongs

Remember the Poor / The Snow Is on the Ground - Roud 1121

This is as about as close to delightful as I care to get, but after the whole Prince Heathen episode, it's the least I can do.  Thanks to the beautiful birds for their help with this one. I learned Flash Company from a lovely version of the song by Stephanie Hladowski, although you will also find this classic song recorded by many others, it's also commonly known as The Yellow Handkerchief.

Read all about Flash Company here:
https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/flashcompany.html

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

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Flash Company (The Yellow Handkerchief)

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.

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

Lowlands (Away)- Traditional

Most of the songs on this album were written, arranged and recorded in March 2020 as part of a film project that was going to be shown as part of the 'Under The Same Sky' exhibition at The Higgins Bedford Museum. The exhibition was about the landscape, countryside, climate and ecology around Bedfordshire. The museum closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the exhibition and the film will be rescheduled at some stage in the future. We plan to release this album to coincide with the opening of that exhibition.

Songs were written and arranged by Jon Bickley. Jon is a songwriter, poet and host of the Invisible Folk Club radio show and podcast. Russell Eyre played slide guitar, concertina and mandolin and had a long history of folk music performance in Sheffield before moving south. Diana Stone plays violin on the album and is half of The Delta Ladies. 

The Invisible Folk Club is a partnership between Jon Bickley and Steve Yarwood. We make podcasts, radio shows and have put on live events. Invisible Folk (the not for profit branch of The Invisible Folk Club) has successfully bid for Arts Council funds and made two films for The Higgins Bedford (see our YouTube channel).

Robin Hood and the threadbare knight

Jon Bickley songwriter

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