http://www.sea-cadets.org/liverpoolcity/home.aspx

http://www.liverpoolnavalclub.co.uk/

Belvedere Session John Routledge on the Northumbrian pipes Mike Locke on the octave mandolin. 19 Sept.

The voyage of the Western Rose

We heard the gun sound one o clock

the gulls flew from the shore

we rolled across the harbour bar

and sailed for Baltimore

the days were fair the seas were calm

we made good speed to West

 we scanned the seas for privateers

so we could never rest

*

Our lookout on the masthead stood

and called to us below

I fear I spy a pirate barque

Black colours does it show.

They put a shot across our bows

they ordered us to stand

surrender now your ship to me 

 you'll never more see  land

*

Our captain cried stand fast me lads

make ready for the fray

we'll win the day and take the prize

 to fair Americay.

were armed and strong we know no fear

we've taken ships before

so sharpen up your cutlasses

the sea will roll with gore

*

We fired our big guns first

 and saw the chainshot rake their decks

the screaming of the wounded

made the hair rise on our necks.

they fired next and carnage wrought

among our steady crew

 the seas rocked floating corpses

of the sailors that they slew.

*

Then hand to hand the battle raged

with pistol knife and sword

till our bosun slit their captains throat

and threw him overboard

we took the crew at musket point

and made their barque secure

we worked them with a longtail lash

right down to  Baltimore.

*

The pirate crew were took in irons

their barque as booty sold

we shared the prize so dearly won

in bags of Yankee gold

we rigged the ship and bent on sails

and slipped our ropes at dawn

and shipping oil and indigo

set off around cape horn.

*

In battles fray our brave lads killed

will rock in Neptunes arms

and with the seabirds follow us

to save us all from harm

the spirits of our comrades slain

will ever watch their ship

through hells hot fire and battle grim

until the final trip.

*

We rolled her home to Liverpool

with baccy rum and sugar

and back to shore we rowed ourselves

in Brasser Murphys lugger

the bonny girls came down in flocks

both doxy tart and whore

 they'll get a little Yankee gold

till its off to sea once more.

©mike locke.

A year in the dales , As I remember the routines and work and now understand them better , the dialect was rich curious and laden with the remnants of old Norse

When 't suns up bright 'a cares 'f nowt else.
Things that diverted me in 't cowd days o winter
are nobbut a dark shadda now.
Blossoms hum wi a choir o bees
chickens lay ruddy eggs agin.

See 't fust candlestick flowers ont owd chestnut
and travellers pluck catkins of pussy willow
and tie em in bunches t' sell 'f luck 't t gulls
on  doorsteps o some far smokey town.

Grease 't grindstone pivot and mak ready 'f time o plenty
lambs are out and lil fishes come up fra deep pools
Gittin fat on skimming flees on the peaty beck water
 turnin silver bellies as they roll 'n slither back.

Kine graze low in 't pasture agin
fleshing their coat rack winter bones wi pullin at 't new grass
and fillin wi cream rich milk
't owd silage smells sweet mulching new strawberry rows and spring chicks scrat in t garden f't  fust slugs.

Arm thick rhubarb stalks wave green umberella leaves in 't breeze
 damsons peep out from the browning blossoms
pink wary chaffinches pull beaks of dry moss 't line the cuplike cozy nest
Wagtails scuttle int gill after larvae /t feed twittering grumpy looking beaks.

Shippon stands daylight dark and empty
and swallows nests cling high in t dark cobweb corners
awaiting t first returning birds twittering fra ower 't sea
as they skim widdershins ower 't pools roun' irises 'n rushes.

Wild strawberries feed the bustling ouzel
and 't chicks get fat in 't nest under 't waterfall
hidden fra feist 'n fox behind 't wet curtain o 't crashing gill
as it runs pourin ower 't slippery mossy rocks into 'th hungry beck

Hot sun beams down on 't flower drippin meadows
 sharp singin' scythes flash as they sweep swathes of lush grass
 heavy with the sweet smell of green as it dries 'n browns in long rows
Quivverin osses flick long tails at t clegs
as they stand waitin' to pull full sleds away.

Hogs get fatter in 't sty and root in the paddocks dark mud
Sow lies still while pink grubby piglets squabble and squeal
fighting for 't best juicyest tit 'ft suck warm rich milk
Hams and bacon in plenty soon hanging fra beams
Goin amber 'n dryin in 't dark tarry walled smokehouse

Waste no time as the dark days are coming too soon
Lay in dry logs and fill 't buttery wi cheeses and rhubarb jam
ta store the  rays of the summer sun 't see us through dark winter days knowing that as the days grow longer
the rich bounty will return and feed us another year.

.

Baltic Bash!!

The "First Saturday" Provided us with some great music again with players and singers from around the area (And some from further) contributing to a another night to remember with "Trimrig and a Doxy" hosting and Julia running the floor . Nick Caffrey ad Ed Mc Gurk gave us two delightful sets , Bernie Davies did four songs and the "Liverpool shanty crew" did two sets in their "Mother ship" , Yesterdays men , Harry and Arthur were in great form and of course Derek and Julia , hosting , did some great sets! Matthew Edwards was in and Jack Coutts led a couple of fine shanties as only he can! The "Liverpool shanty kings" did  a set before moving on to their next venue and I look forward to their return next month.
 There were some fine young floor singers this time and it was great to have their excellent contributions and I hope they enjoyed the atmosphere and music enough to return and sing again next month.
Look out for the 19th October when a "pop up" session pays tribute to Liverpool's Irish links at the end of the Irish culture week with a night of jigs reels and hornpipes (singing and dancing too) ! Don't miss this one!!!

The scything boys.

Down from the high moors we return every year
the rake and the pitchfork the tools of our trade
We live off the land and sleep under the sky
not knowing the morn where to sleep we may lie
On hilltop or green woodland glade.
*
We travel by stars and we work by the day
to help in the hayfields to bring in the crop
paid with fell farmers money hard earned and hard parted
the years seasons cycles nere ending once started
ere the warm summer rain starts to drop.
*
The rich flowery crop yields in swathes to our scythes
as we sweep a fast arc laying low the sweet grass
the summer sun browns the long rows that we turn
our long wooden rakes comb the sedges and fern
We watch the dark clouds  as they pass.
*
The horses lead sleds with their trembling stacks
to  the fieldbarns dark window high in the stone  wall
The pitchforks bright tines toss the clumps of sweet hay
 the sun blazes down at the height of the day
as the raven croaks out his harsh call
*
The scampering children up tramping the moo
like dust powdered urchins will tumble and play
then  home to their beds with a bread crust or two
with their ears full of dust and their hair full of hay
While we gather our pitchforks to go.
*
Whilst we wait in a line for to sign for our pay
The farmer stands watching with long leather purse
a florin a drink and a basket of food
A couple of rabbits we shot in the wood
then away for to find work the new day

©mpl

 

With thanks to Matthew Edwards 

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Trimrig and a Doxy! AKA Derek and Julia Batters.   Just before we struck the rocks!!! and the Liverpool shanty crew !!!

Some of the singers and players in the Baltic Fleet in full flight!

Ellesmere port boat museum.

Visited this fine facility yesterday to sing with with the rest of the lads from "Liverpool shanty crew" A new and fresh traditional sea shanty group with songs celebrating Liverpool's rich shanty tradition with a repertoire of songs old and newer , some of the old faves as you would expect and some less well known but equally rousing with great 'join in' choruses .
This is the venue for the springtime "Shanty festival" organised by Julia and Derek Batters of "Trim rig and a Doxy" . This is a development of the old Lancaster shanty festival set in the lovely surroundings of the Ship museum on the banks of the Mersey overlooking the Manchester ship canal  http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-waterways-museum
Go and check it out!

The life of the liverpool sailor.

17/03/2013 LIFE OF THE LIVERPOOL SAILOR.

ITS TEN LONG YEARS SINCE I LEFT THE SEA
IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY
SO UNTIL OLD NEPTUNE CALLS ME HOME
MY SQUEEZEBOX I WILL PLAY. CH.

IVE STOOD THE MIDDLE WATCH AND SAW
THE GREEN FIRE AT OUR BOWS
IVE STEERED BY THE STARS BOTH SWIFT AND SURE
RIGHT DOWN TO THE AZORES
IVE WATCHED THE DOLPHINS LEAD US ON
AND MAKE THEM FISHES FLY
AND SCATTER ON OUR QUARTER DECK
 LIKE MANNA FROM THE SKY.

SOME NIGHTS I CUT ME SCRIMSHAW WORK
ON THE NARWALS SHINING HORN
SOMETIMES I WORKED ME SPANISH BLADE
RIGHT TO THE CRACK OF DAWN
THEN LIT THE BOILER MADE THE GRUEL
AND FED THE HUNGRY CREW
WITH TASTY WANGS OF SALTY HAM
AND BOWLS OF HOT BURGOUT

I SAILED ALONG DAHOMEYS COAST
AND TIED UP TO A TREE
AND HUNTED FOR THE GAVIAL
WITH MUD UP TO ME KNEE
THE FEVERS TOOK A LOT OF TARS
THEY DIED OF YELLOWJACK
SO WE TOOK ABOARD THE NATIVE LADS
TO HELP US SAIL HER BACK

IVE CRACKED ALONG AT 40 KNOTS
ON SLEEK AND SPEEDY CLIPPERS
IVE HAULED IN CAPECOD LOBSTER POTS
 AND WORKED FOR BUMBOAT SKIPPERS
IVE FROZE ON GREENLAND WHALING BOATS
AND SAILED AROUND THE HORN
WHERE I SAW THE FLASHING TOUGUES OF FLAME
LIGHT UP THE GLOWING DAWN

WELL NOW IM OLD AND MY BEARD IS WHITE
WHERE ONCE WAS BLACK BEFORE
 I WATCH THE STEAMERS STANDING OUT
FROM THE PERCH ROCK AT THE SHORE
 I TAKE ME STICK AND WANDER HOME
AND CLOSE ME COTTAGE DOOR
THEN POUR A RUM AND WISH THAT I
 COULD GO TO SEA ONCE MORE . ©mike locke

Dentdale music and beer festival.

Started in the Sun Inn on Wednesday night  arriving before the crowds. the session in progress was the best of the weekend with some excellent players and singers with instrumentalists and vocalists complimenting each other and adding to the atmosphere as a good folk session should be!!!!!.
 My own best tune of the evening was "The Dimming of the day" by RT. sung and delightfully delivered by Mary , the fiddling and squeezebox work was great and Kens mandola playing cool and mellow.
The pub became a lot busier over the following days but the sessions continued in both the pubs and the artists from the program were joining in with gusto .
A great time and the weather was not too bad . A bit of rain and a bit of very hot sun . The worst bit was the midges that decended in droves to reduce the blood count of all and sundry with ruthless efficiency and starting the "Scratchfest" . The air was heavy with citronella and Autan spray which seems to attract them like a pheromone !!! Amazingly I seem to be unattractive to them now and I was largely unscathed , unlike in the past when I have emerged covered in lumps and hives and things .
 I heard that the Elephant man was prepared to pay to see me at one point!!--------- Every cloud Eh???

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Love history

Heres a link to a Liverpool history outfit with a difference.

http://lovehistory.co.uk/

Breakfast time in the folk world! No porridge for me thanks.

Heres the "Full English"
http://www.vwml.org.uk/browse/browse-collections-full-english

Fantastic resource and its free!!!

Kathleen and May , Tall ships in the Mersey.

Thanks to Derek and Julia Batters (Trim rig and a Doxy) for the opportunity to sing shanties on the Good ship Kathleen and May in the company of Hughie Jones late of the Spinners John Coleman and Pete Hoskin of "Nine tenths below" We sailed out of Canning half tide dock and off up the Mersey to make a film about the role of shanties in the daily work of running a sailing ship . We were cheered off by the happy crowd lining the dockside and Hartley bridge as we sang "The leaving of Liverpool" and set off up the Mersey
A great ship and a great crew who showed us pretend sailors "The Ropes" in the most literal sense !! We worked hard hoisting sails an weighing the anchor and singing shanty choruses while Hughie called the verses . We were joined by Ade Edmonson who was making an episode of his series "Ade at sea" who joined in the hauling and singing with gusto!!
We were shown the finest hospitality by Cindy , the ships agent , and the Skipper ran it like a homebound tea clipper!!
A memorable day with good company , good food and the opportunity to sing shanties! Cant beat that!!

L to R Derek . Pete . John.

Hughie Jones L. Ade Edmonson R.

L to R. Mike. Derek. Pete.

My heart will go on!!

Pete and Derek.

Mike learning the ropes from  Graham (A real sailor) :)

Shanty UK.

Heres a link to a great organisation promoting the tradition of maritime music with a big song resource and festival information.
 More from "Trimrig and a Doxy" on the first Saturday (Except July 2013 when it is the second Saturday) of each month!
 A great night with great music , singing and good beer , What more diversion could anybody desire??

http://shanty.org.uk/home.html

Banjo time again!

My search for a nice tenor has been rewarded! I found a nice little example on Saturday .
Now to get back into the ways of the tenor ! I have one that I picked up in 70 and the first tune I played on it was "The Lincolnshire poacher" So when I tuned this one up and found the right plec. I played the "Poacher" again for OTS.
Its a little beauty and has a nice provenance and it has made me very happy!! Cant speak for the "Breadknife" though!! A bit apprehensive about the volume ;-)

Q---Whats the difference between a banjo and an onion?---A--- Nobody cries when you chop up a banjo#!?
I would weep if this little beauty got chopped up

 "Step away from 'D banjo!!!!"

Sellotape song from Mathew Edwards!!

Matthew Edwards I've been drinking in the Belvedere for fifty years or more,
But such a motley crew as this I've never heard before;
O indeed I haven't,
Don't you know I haven't?
To my ri falooral addie, 
O indeed I haven't!

They were resurrecting folk songs that were dead for many years,
They were boozing and carousing, and supping up strange beers. 
O indeed they were,
Don't you know they were?
To my ri falooral addie,
O indeed they were.

Now if I had some sellotape, I would stick them to the wall,
And cover up their cakeholes so they couldn't sing at all;
O indeed I would,
Don't you know I would?
To my ri falooral addie,
O indeed I would.

Sure but when they come unstuck again, they'll call loudly for more beers,
And they'll be fathoming the bowl for another fifty years;
O indeed they will,
Don't you know they will?
To my ri falooral addie,
Yes indeed they will.

Great stuff Mathew------ got to sing it now!!!!

Belvedere session assailed!!

Another good afternoon at the Belvedere! Quite a lot of humour and a visit from an outraged gentleman who was rather discommoded because he clearly regarded us as the usurpers on his territory . After upbraiding Fred , he proceeded to inform us that he had been "drinking in this pub for 50 years" !!! and then retreated to the bar--- for another 50 year stint perhaps??
It was alleged that he "Bound musical instruments in sellotape" seemingly to prevent them being played??? (This is getting very strange now) So Jim and I played a little set that I largely made up as I went along and called it the "Sellotape hornpipe" ---Well--it amused me anyway!!--- Gary declared that the name would stick ! ----- Colin logged it as "Tunes" with a wry grin :-)
 I still like the comment branding the session as "The graveyard of English folk" Quite an accolade methinks!! Although I have only been attending for a few months (49 yrs. to go) I am happy to announce the one year anniversary of the inception of this "charnel house" of folk music where I have been fortunate enough to have met some of the nicest zombies stiffs and ghouls on the folk circuit!

The Elderflower beer from Liverpool organic was a lovely refreshing libation and I would have drank more if I hadn't been laughing so much!!!