The tragic tale of a foreign girl forced into prostitution in England during the First World War, and the terrible fate that awaited so many of the soldiers. Many, many thanks to Ale Destiny for her poignant and plaintive vocal. You can hear her latest song "Vincent", also produced by my producer Sergio Aguilar,  here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfa7jjZoK0U&list=OLAK5uy_kwTdpzKWQbJ5Xm05Ok3ulGPmfAm_xv7s8

“Many home-front brothels served an increased number of clients following the war’s outset owing to the influx of men in arms preparing to go into the field.”
- Journey Steward (International Encyclopedia of the First World War)

Slang used in the song:
Dose: (in this case) a venereal infection
Dough: money
Slut: term for a person, usually a woman or girl, who is sexually promiscuous or considered to have loose sexual morals. It dates from the late 14th century in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, although ironically he was describing a man!
Squaddies: soldiers
The clap: gonorrhea (The narrator in this song gets gonorrhea, or the clap, which was rampant at the time because so many soldiers were catching it from the prostitutes operating near the front. Many of those soldiers, believe it or not, were still virgins and didn't want to die without experiencing sex)
Whore: prostitute

Lyrics
There’s many a squaddie comes visiting
From the barracks up the road
And they all, if they pay, get a welcome
And a rest from a soldier’s load
They’ll be fighting for King and country
And be paid with a grisly end
So, the least we can do is to hold them
To be, for a while, their friend
To be, for a while, to be, for a while
To be, for a while, their friend

Ah me, I was born in a Catholic land
I’ve no love for you Protestant lads!
But I got put in the family way
And reviled as sinful and bad
I’m in England now, a whore for sure
But I dance and I sing and I play
And the squaddies laugh so innocently
As night gives way to the day
As night gives way to
as night gives way to
As night gives way to the day

I fell in love with an Irish boy
No more tender a lad you could meet
He was set to ask me to marry
But was lost in some bloody retreat
I’m carrying his child in my belly
But it’s whoring that brings in the dough
I’m to visit some witch in an alley
To make sure that there’s nothing to show
Make sure that there’s nothing,
Make sure that there’s nothing
Make sure that there’s nothing to show

The doctor says that I got the clap
A soldier, I’ll bet, from the front
The sluts down there do a roaring trade
Death so close, that they bear the brunt
Of virgins wanting a taste of the flesh
‘fore their bodies are ripped to shreds
And if they survive, return with their dose
To pass on in the heat of our beds
Pass on in the heat, pass on in the heat
To pass on in the heat of our beds

Yes, many a squaddie comes visiting
And will do for some time to come
But will there be any lads left alive
To march to the military drum
Yes, soldiers are welcome, one and all
And will be for some time to come
But where are all of the marrying types
To save us from our whoredom
To save us from our, to save us from our …
To save us from our whoredom

From One Singer Left to Mourn; track released August 11, 2023
Music: Michael Sellers; Sergio Aguilar
Lyrics: Michael Sellers
Lead Vocal: Ale Destiny
Backing Vocals: Alejandro Hidalgo & Michael Sellers
Guitars & bass, piano, percussion; musical arrangement, & production: Sergio Aguilar
Cover photo: Photo by The British Library on Unsplash, combined with a photo provided by Loretta Sellers
Cover design: Michael Sellers; Loretta Sellers Fortuny

One Singer Left to Mourn

Soldiers Welcome!

Buy: Bandcamp

Soldiers Welcome! FT Ale Destiny (UK Songwriting Contest: Star Rating: 5 Commended Entry 2023)

Vocals & Artwork: Juni Morning  soundcloud.com/junimorning

Music & Mixing: James Toburen

Fotheringay

Fotheringay (w/ Juni Morning) (Fairport Convention cover)

Paul  Etheredge's Album

Isaac Newton [original instrumental]

SUNSET RIDE

Baldcypress [original instrumental]

Crêpe Myrtle [original instrumental]

Nottamun Town

"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" is a song written by the English folk-rock singer and songwriter Sandy Denny.
The song is a reflection in three verses on observed events ("Across the evening sky all the birds are leaving"). Denny writes that she does not count time ("Before the winter's fire, I will still be dreamin'; I have no thought of time" and in the last line of the short chorus asks rhetorically, "Who knows where the time goes?". The last verse includes the lines "I am not alone while my love is near me, I know it will be so until it's time to go.”         Wikipedia

Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Fairport Convention

Symphony No. 2, Mvt. I Un poco maestoso [original instrumental]

Part celebration of traditional English/British folk music and festival, part heart-singing pagan hymn (Oh Come All Ye Folkful?) but above all having some fun (mostly at our own expense) this is our BRAND NEW ONE, rehearsed and gigged and lived since the run up to Christmas and OUT TODAY. We've adapted two of the lyric verses to fit the instruments we have in our repertoire including on this occasion leader of the JD BIG BAND John Davies on sexy sax and his bonnie lassie Kathleen on guest drum roll on the drum verse. (They also have a little married duet of sax and drum roll in the play out.) It was an absolute treat to play live with them at Burns Night and to have their jelly roll jazz ( it's probably swing but you know where I and it's coming from) as part of our folk minstrel one. You can watch a film of us playing this track live with the JD Big Band and the Ecclefechan Tarts Orchestra and Choir last week at our annual Burns Night supper on YouTube film The Full Rabbie which premieres tonight at 7.30 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ioIP6Qt5hw

Come all ye rolling minstrels
And together, we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Those that dance, will start to dance
And those who don't will stay
In time to list our merry tune
That we play for you today

So, come all ye rolling minstrels
And together we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Our tooter, he just loves to toot
Upon his common flute
Recorder by another name
Much better with a mute.

So, come all ye rolling minstrels
And together we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Possessor of our sax appeal (see picture)
And no old folkie he
Folk is just some wayward notes
Jazz a wayward key.

So, come all ye rolling minstrels
And together we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Sound of beating on the drum
Song behind you'll hear
And to the rhythm of guitar
We hope you'll lend an ear

So, come all ye rolling minstrels
And together we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Well, the man who plays the bass does make
Those low notes that you hear
And the high notes come from you and me
For we will sing so clear

So, come all ye rolling minstrels
And together we will try
To rouse the spirit of the earth
And move the rolling sky

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Sandy Denny / Ashley Stephen Hutchings / Dp
Come All Ye lyrics © Warlock Music Ltd
Comic adaptations to lyrics of verses 2 and 3 to fit our instruments (and in my case level of virtuosity) by Peacock's Tale.

Come All Ye (A Folk Song)

We've been rehearsing this fireside friendship/love song about the passing and changes of time all winter  ("who knows where my voice goes?) and watching the birds circling in the evening over the woods across the way. In North Norfolk you're never far from heath, holt and wild water so there are a lot of birds, including the winter geese audibly referenced at the end of the song. We both love this song. 

Across the evening sky
All the birds are leaving
Ah how can they know
It's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire
I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore
Your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know
It's time for them to go
But I will still be here
I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone
While my love is near me
I know it will be so
Until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter
And then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time
For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?

Words and Music by Sandy Denny
Who Knows Where the Time Goes? lyrics © Fairwood Music (uk) Ltd., Winckler Musikforlag

Who Knows Where The Time Goes?

We've been rehearsing this fireside friendship/love song about the passing and changes of time all winter and watching the birds circling in the evening over the woods across the way. In North Norfolk you're never far from heath, holt and wild water so there are a lot of birds, including the winter geese audibly referenced at the end of the song. We both love this song.

Across the evening sky
All the birds are leaving
Ah how can they know
It's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire
I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore
Your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know
It's time for them to go
But I will still be here
I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone
While my love is near me
I know it will be so
Until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter
And then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time
For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?

Words and Music by Sandy Denny
Who Knows Where the Time Goes? lyrics © Fairwood Music (uk) Ltd., Winckler Musikforlag

Two of Sandy's signature subjects and one of her many combinations of a sea faring song and an open air road traveller song. Breezy and refreshing and fun.

I travel over the sea and ride the rolling sky
For that's the way it is, that is my fortune
There are many ears to please, many people's love to try
And every day's begun rising for the moon

There's a heart in every place, there's a tear for each farewell
For that's the way it is, that is my fortune
I'll lure you as the lace that the wayward gypsies sell
With the sinking of the sun, rising of the moon

Rising for the moon, the sun has set and it is dark
But the star of the enchanted tune is bright as any spark
The chorus of the dusk regales the evening lark
Whose every day does start rising for the moon

We travel over the sea and ride the rolling sky
For that's the way it is, that is our fortune
There are many ears to please, many people's love to try
And every day's begun rising for the moon

Rising for the moon, the sun has set and it is dark
But the star of the enchanted tune is bright as any spark
The chorus of the dusk regales the evening lark
Whose every day does start rising for the moon
credits
from our Poachers on the Common (LP), track released February 27, 2022 https://peacocks-tale.bandcamp.com/album/poachers-on-the-common-lp
Composed by Sandy Denny
Moonshot by Bhas Allan

Rising For The Moon

youtu.be/jy0D_WzbVX8 for the film on You Tube and further notes.

Especially for all soldiers fighting in a war on the wrong side in the wrong country and which they shouldn't be fighting (like the Russian invasion of Ukraine). This is a different mix than the one on the video, especially the final verse. If only because recording drums along with voices and guitar on any kind of condenser mic is like recording a bull in a china shop...

“Oh hark! the drums do beat, my love, no longer can we stay.
The bugle-horns are sounding clear, and we must march away.
We're ordered down to Portsmouth, and it's many is the weary mile
To join the British Army on the banks of the Nile.”

“Oh Willie, dearest Willie, don't leave me here to mourn,
Don't make me curse and rue the day that ever I was born.
For the parting of our love would be like parting with my life.
So stay at home, my dearest love, and I will be your wife.”

“Oh my Nancy, dearest Nancy, sure that will never do.
The government has ordered, and we are bound to go.
The government has ordered, and the Queen she gives command.
And I am bound on oath, my love, to serve in a foreign land.”

“Oh, but I'll cut off my yellow hair, and I'll go along with you.
I'll dress myself in uniform, and I'll see Egypt too.
I'll march beneath your banner while fortune it do smile,
And we'll comfort one another on the banks of the Nile.”

“But your waist it is too slender, and your fingers they are too small.
In the sultry suns of Egypt your rosy cheeks would spoil.
Where the cannons they do rattle, when the bullets they do fly,
And the silver trumpets sound so loud to hide the dismal cries.”

“Oh, cursed be those cruel wars, that ever they began,
For they have robbed our country of manys the handsome men.
They've robbed us of our sweethearts while their bodies they feed the lions,
On the dry and sandy deserts which are the banks of the Nile.”

from Poachers on the Common (LP), track released August 13, 2022
https://peacocks-tale.bandcamp.com/track/the-banks-of-the-nile

The Banks of the NIle

spooky folk song about the loss of a loved one

The Wind Blows The Grass

A marriage (and we are actually married, 45 years so far) of melody and rhythm. We do folk, indie, Americana, Norfolk noir, beat poems &  ghazals. Traditional tunes with contemporary beats. Music videos  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb8wV0-DNiFs1R5G2VSytBQ
Maz lead & harmony vocals, acoustic guitar. Gaz vocals, voice, bass, drums & percussion, harmonium, recorders, lyre harp, field recordings.

“What makes a song is the singer, while what makes a singer is their dedication to music and their inner feelings.”   Dimash Qudaibergen

I have enjoyed music for as long as I can remember and cannot remember a day of not either singing or listening to music. I am self-taught when it comes to playing guitar but what I most enjoy is singing which I have been doing since around age 18. Now retired singing and playing the guitar is now just a hobby and something I do to help pass the time. Have always  loved the sound of a Martin guitar. Currently been playing a Road Series DR S2 for about 6 years. Thanks for listening. I also enjoy discovering the sounds of other talented musicians and singers here on SoundCloud.

BASED IN THE NORTH-WEST PART OF ENGLAND IN A SMALL INDUSTRIAL TOWN OF ENGLAND CALLED WIDNES JOHN IS INFLUNCED BY A WIDE ARRAY OF ARTISTS FROM FOLK-AMERICANA TO INDIE AND ROCK. COMPARISONS HAVE INCLUDED THE SMITHS, NEIL YOUNG, BELLE AND SEBASTIAN AND THE DIVINE COMEDY AMONGST OTHERS.
THE FORGOTTEN COWBOY HAS RECEIVED SOME GREAT REVIEWS ESPECIALLY FROM THE NORTH-WEST FANZINE SCENE AND CONTINUES TO WRITE QUITE PROLIFICALLY.HE IS ALSO THE GUITARIST/WRITER FOR PUNK ROCK`N`ROLL BAND THE GENTLE SCARS.

Solo artist.  Song and dance man.  Folk.  Blues.  Contact:  desertersongs@yahoo.com Film critic at https://paulydeathwish.com/

Michael Sellers is a guitar playing singer-songwriter from England, now living and recording songs in Merida, Mexico. 

Landing page: https://linktr.ee/michaelfirthsellers

New tracks tagged #Fairport Convention