FOLK SESSON – Howard Arms, Brampton

We enjoyed a packed evening of song and instrumental music on 16^th July in the Howard Arms, on the theme of ‘courage/bravery’. A warm welcome to new contributors Zach and Max, and welcome back to John Jeffrey joining us from Whitley Bay.

Let us begin with the more recondite definitions of ‘courage/bravery’: Jane started the session with the old lament My Husband’s Got No Courage In Him! Adrian sang The Man that Waters the Workers’ Beer ‘because there used to be a brewery called Courage’. Following a rather similar train of thought, Max reasoned that his song Moonshiner was appropriate because drink supplies ‘Dutch courage’, and Zach made a similar link in Distance, because the line ‘Now I’ve got the courage to sing’ refers to getting drunk with friends. The Four Drunken Maidens’ feathered hats and mantles (Katy) were ‘brave’ in the archaic sense of ‘making a fine show’.

Not surprisingly, there were a lot of references to war, danger, battle and fighting. John Jeffrey sang The Grey Funnel Line in honour of his own father, who, as a member of the (merchant) navy sailed on the Murmansk convoys in WW2. Also on a WW2 theme, Richard’s haunting Ghost Flyers on the Hills was a tribute to the many flyers who crashed and were killed in training exercises in the Borders.  Phil’s Rhaid I Mi Fynd tells the heartbreaking story of a young Welshman who felt morally obliged to enlist in WW1 and was killed at Ypres, while Sally Jones’ Rose of York traces a similar story of a regiment recruited from Sheffield and mown down on the Somme. Steve commemorated All the Fine Young Men who fell in both World Wars. Gerda’s Bold Privateer parted from his sweetheart to face hazards and bloody engagements to fight for the King, and Richard’s Royal Oak fought off no fewer than ten Turkish men o’war. Phil’s Lord Huntly and Richard’s Bonny George Campbell both set off, armed and ready for battle, but were ambushed and murdered on the way. John Jeffrey remembered both the valour and the eventual pauper’s grave of William Coffey, one of the first recipients of the Victoria Cross.

Perhaps it’s just as well, as a change from so much bloodshed, that our instrumentalists for the evening found some cheerful tunes! Sally Hardaker on recorder played Grace Darling Gold and Rocket Brigade (both about saving the lives of shipwrecked sailors); Soldier’s Joy and Scotland the Brave. Adrian on melodeon gave us a rollicking medley – British Grenadiers, Huntsman’s Chorus and John Peel.

Bravery manifests itself in other ways than in battle: Alan sang Never Press Nine in honour of the man who wrote it, singer/songwriter Sam, living courageously with MND. Sometimes, just living, working and assuming one’s responsibilities requires courage, as reflected in Old Man River (Alan) and Spencer the Rover (Jane), especially when the work is inherently appallingly dangerous (The Donibristle Mossmorran Mining Disaster – Phil) or an unforeseen catastrophe makes it so (Davy Lowston – John Luffrum). Zach’s Love, Ire and Song reflected the internal struggle between protest and resignation, while Gerda pointed out that This Is Why We Fight became very popular with Iranian women after the murder of Mahsa Amin by Iran’s ‘morality police’. Sally Jones’ God Moves on the Water described the courage of the men who placed women and children in the lifeboats on the Titanic, knowing they themselves would die. Steve’s own song, Your Love Will See Me Through, evoked faith, hope and courage in times of despair. But, on a lighter note, Awake, Awake (John Luffrum) complained bitterly about the lack of courage of a young man who flees as soon as his sweetheart’s father arrives!

We next meet on 20^th August at 8pm in The Howard Arms, Brampton.  The theme will be ‘Countries’-any song, tune or poem that mentions a country by name, including countries/kingdoms/states that no longer exist, (e.g. Mercia.)  ALL WELCOME!