Not a Bard

Long a favorite of Irish Republican partisans, this song dates back to around 1798. During that period, a law was passed that prohibited wearing “revolutionary insignia” upon penalty of hanging.

Wearin’ o’ the Green

Wearing of the Green by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

This weekend I’ll be in Loch Salann in Artemesia. Because I’ll be traveling, I’ll be a day late posting next week’s song.

After that, there’s not a lot going on until Trimaran Coronation at the end of the month and Fools War the following weekend. Perhaps I’ll see you there.

Well, this is a drinking song if I ever heard one. I can find very little about the song except it was popularized by the Clancy Brothers. I got it from my Soodlum’s Irish Ballad Book. This is also a song I have now added to my repertoire (the sixth) as I work my way to 50 new songs for the A&S 50 Challenge.

Look at the Coffin

Look at the Coffin by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

I’m sure everyone will be happy to know I took more time tuning my guitar this week and it sounds much better. If only I could tune myself as easily. =) I did pay more attention to the mp3 file and I hope it sounds better too.

Well, things are pretty quiet around Trimaris and Meridies this time of year as everyone prepares for Gulf Wars. My next event will probably be Defender’s Tourney in Loch Salann. Boy will they be surprised.

Another Traditional song this week, Jug of Punch. There are several versions of this song, I found mine in a library book of folk songs. The current form of this song probably dates to the 19th Century but some sources site earlier versions that date back as far as the 17th Century.

Jug of Punch

Jug of Punch by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Went to Golden Lily last weekend in Beau Fort. It was okay though it was a little cold, restricting when and where I could play. My next event in Meridies will be Fools’ War. My next event in general is probably Defenders’ Tourney in Loch Salaan. But don’t tell them, it’s supposed to be a surprise. =)

I talked about the new acoustic pickup I had last week and I’m still impressed by the quality of sound from it but now I can hear the imperfections in my playing better, too. =P I tuned it before I started, honest.

I’m running out of Leslie Fish songs, this is actually another of the Rudyard Kipling poems that Leslie set to music. Perhaps I will learn some more as part of my A&S 50 Challenge. I’m only up to six Challenge songs so far though this weekend I found several more Irish songs that would go well in the repertoire. The poem first appeared in Puck of Pook’s Hill in 1906. The words posted are the original poem though they don’t quite match up with my version.

I’m not sure if you can hear it but the guitar on this song sounds much better to me. I decided to replace my old Dean Markley Pro-Mag pickup with a new one because the Pro-Mag had a buzz from the plug having separated. The only acoustic pickup the store had was an $80 DiMarzio, which was more than I wanted to spend but I thought I’d give it a try. OMFG is the sound ever better. I’d say it was worth the price. It sounds so good that one of my first thoughts was, “I need to go back and rerecord all my songs with this new pickup.” Uhhh…I’ll get back to you on that.

Remember that Leslie’s music is copyright to her (copyright 1983 by Leslie Fish, assigned to Random Factors,) though the poem is in the public domain in the US. More information about Leslie can be found at her website, www.lesliefish.com. Leslie’s music can be purchased there or from from Random Factors. This song is on the Cold Iron CD which is still available.

A Pict Song – Lyrics: A Pict Song

A Pict Song by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.lesliefish.com.

Well, I made it to Scots/Welsh War last weekend but it was a bit chilly. As the sun began to go down it was getting too cold for the guitar so I had to pack up early. Next weekend I’ll be at Golden Lily in Meridies. It’s supposed to warm up a bit for the weekend, maybe into the 50s. =)

I learned this song because I try to please eveyone. Heather Rose Jones summed it up well in her song, “Song of Lands Afar,” with the idea of knowing a song for the widest variety of places and times possible. I have lots of English, Irish, Scottish, and American songs in my repertoire but didn’t have any German songs. I came across this one, I’m not sure where and thought it would be good to add to my repertoire.

I can’t find any reference to this song online so I don’t know who wrote it or when it was written. Of course, that’s never stopped me before. I don’t even know where I found it though it was one of the earliest songs I learned.

The Lorelei

The Lorelei by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Funny thing, when I was rerecording the vocal track my sister called on the phone again. This time I stopped and rerecorded it but I was tempted to leave it in like last time.

A couple of people have asked me about why I was selling my house. I’m doing fine, I’m just hoping to find a place closer to work. I currently drive about 50-60 minutes each way.

Oh, and I have the flu. =(

It looks like I won’t be able to go to Lion’s Tourney this weekend. Several factors including the fact that I have got to work on my house if I’m going to get it sold. As you can see from this picture, I have a lot of work to do with frost killed trees and bushes.

Another factor is that it’s supposed to get rather chilly there this weekend. Now cold weather doesn’t bother me, I grew up in Montana and like the cold. However, it is hard on the guitar and it makes everyone stay inside their cabins which makes it hard to find people to sing to. I like the site and the people in Oldenfeld, I’ll have to try to make it to the next event.

Guess that means Scots/Welsh War is probably my next event.

As a follow-on to last weeks comment about Scottish ballads I offer this example of the you die, she dies, everyone dies, school of Scottish songwriting. This piece is a variation of Child Ballad #14 – “Babylon” or “The Bonnie Banks o Fordie.” This would date the song to at least 1882 when the first volume was published but I not certain how much earlier it might have originated.

This is another piece I learned from that old book of Campfire Songs. The notes accompanying the piece say that the “wee pen knife” referred to in the song was originally a “weapon knife” which makes more sense.

Banks of the Vergio

Banks of the Vergio by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

I was hoping to make it to Oldenfeld this weekend but I popped my back out Sunday so I’m not certain if I will be able to go. I think so at this time but I’ll have to see.

Enough of that Irish stuff, this week’s song is Scottish. Technically no one dies in the song, an oddity for a Scottish ballad, but things are not looking up for poor Jamie. The song was originally published around 1850 and likely refers to the Transportation of Jamie, i.e. shipping him off to Australia. The Tannahill Weavers are probably the best-known group to record the song but a number of people have also recorded a version. Including me! I found the song in a folk song book I checked out of the library.

Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell

Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

I hope you are all as amused by my attempt at a Scottish accent as I am. It was the hardest thing not to switch over to an Irish brogue.

I’m sorry I had such a rocky start to the year. Hopefully I’m back on track now. =)

I went to Trident Tourney with some friends who were down from the Midrealm. Again it was brought home to me why I don’t like the cabins at the site because people don’t congregate outside. That makes it hard for a wandering minstrel to find an audience. But then again, I got to stay in one of the cabins for the first time and they are pretty nice. Probably not nice enough to tempt me from daytripping though.

Probably no events until next month but may be at Lion’s Tourney, Scots/Welsh War and Golden Lily in Meridies. Future plans may include Pennsic and some events in Artemisia and Antir.