Nick Caffrey a singer's view on traditional songs

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Three Butchers, a tale of robbers, an heroic butcher and a traitorous woman.  I will look at its background and printing history Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance 

In today’s podcast I will look at the Scottish ballad Clerk Saunders . I will show just what is known about the ballad and note its publishing history. I will sing samples of the known tunes and end on a full performance of the ballad.

In today’s podcast I will look at the Scottish song John of Hazelgreen and its related song Jock of Hazeldene . I will look at its known background and printing history. Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance 

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Sheep Crook and Black Dog also known as My Flora and I and Spread the Green Branches . I will look at its known background and printing history. Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance.

I today’s podcast I will look at the song The Female Highwayman also known as Sovay and Sylvia . I will explore its background and printing history, sing versions of the song and end on a full performance.

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Oxford City also known as Jealousy and Poison in a Glass of Wine . I will show just what is known about the ballad and note its publishing history. I will sing samples of the known tunes and end on a full performance of the ballad.

In today’s podcast I will look at night visiting songs that have a similar internal structure that is used to carry the narrative. I will look at their origins, where known, the printing history and sing samples of the tunes and text. I will end on a full performance of one of the songs

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Famous Flower of Serving-Men. A romantic tale of a young widow who changes her identity, and becomes a male servant to a king. When her true identity is discovered the king takes her for his bride.  I will look at the ballads origin, its printing history and sing tunes linked to the ballad. I will end on a fill performance of the ballad.

In today podcast I will look at the popular Scottish song Bogie’s Bonny Belle . I will look at its origin, its publishing history and sing some samples of the song.  I will end the podcast with a look at the poem turned song Adieu to Bogieside

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Seventeen Come Sunday, a song of seduction by a soldier and a willing maiden. 

In today’s podcast I will look at the songs relating to General James Wolfe and the background to Battle of Quebec of 12 & 13 September 1759. I will look at the printing history of the songs, sing some samples of the songs and end on a full performance.

In today’s podcast I will be looking at one of the oldest noted traditional songs The Corpus Christi Carol. I will look at its background, its printing history and sing tunes associated with the song and end on a full performance of the song

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad Willie of Winsbury also known as Tom Barbery in the English and Irish versions. This is a song of seduction of a wealthy heiress by a servant man, which has a happy ending 

In today’s podcast I will look at the song The Lowlands of Holland , a tale of parted lovers, a shipwreck and loss. I will explore its background and printing history. Sing samples of the tunes associated with the song and end on a full performance.

Today I will be exploring the ballad Death and the Lady which tells of a meeting and conversation between Death and a wealthy lady. Death tells her she does not have long to live, the lady tries to buy more time. Death is not interested in wealth and the lady meets her fate. I will look at its background and printing history. I will sing some examples of tunes associated with the ballad and end on...

Today I will be examining the song Rambleaway . A song of a seducer and his encounter with a young woman he meets at a fair. I will look at the known printing history, sing some song examples and end on a full performance of the song

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Captain’s Apprentice and includes other songs about the mistreatment of sailors. I will look at the background to the songs, the printing history and sing some of the tunes linked to the songs. I will end the podcast with a full performance of one of the songs.

In today’s podcast I will look at the ballad Mary Hamilton also known as The Four Marys. I will look at the background to the ballad and show its printing history. I will sing tunes linked to the Ballad and end on a full performance of the ballad  

Today’s podcast looks at the popular Christian folk carol The Cherry Tree Carol and will include the lesser-known carol As Joseph was A-Walking. A tale of cherries, a marital tiff and supernatural intervention. I will sing samples of the tunes associated with the songs and end on a full performance

I will look at the songs that have the Bedlam asylum as its main location. I will examine the background to the songs and look at the printing history. 

In today’s podcast we have a tale of love that continues after death, until the lover’s ghost returns to ask for peace within the grave. I will sing excerpts of the tunes and end in a full performance

A young man tells of his life as a robber and highwayman and his eventual capture, trial, and his farewell. I will look at their known printing history and examine some of the references that are contained in the song. Examine the various versions, sing samples of the tunes and end on a full performance of the song.

Series 2 #3 Tam Lin  This ballad must be the epitome of the classic British ballads with its tale of seduction, elfin magic,  rescue, and final curses from an angry Elfin Queen.  Along the way I will sing samples of the tunes associated with the ballad and look at its background, printing history and the folklore behind the narrative. 

A condemned person stands on the gallows platform awaiting execution. He asks his relative for help but it is refused. Finally the lover brings a fee or a pardon. The podcast explains the background to the song. Song versions are sung to provide samples of the different tunes associated with the song. It ends with a full performance.

A story of would-be seduction and impossible tasks. A look at the background and associated songs with sung examples, and a final performance by Caffrey McGurk Madge.