THE JOYS OF TREASURE HUNTING IN ARCHIVES... WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING GOOD
Between
1978 and 1987 I lived in Luton in Bedfordshire. It was whilst there that I went
professional as a ’folk singer’ and I was often billed as ‘a Bedfordshire folk
singer’. (You might like to look at my previous Blog about shifting
identities.)
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| Mum Johnstone |
Throughout
that time I did a lot of research into local songs, folklore and customs but
not so much on stories as it was only towards the end of that time that I
really started getting interested in storytelling as something I could do.
There were very few other people doing Bedfordshire songs at that time—Barry
Goodman and Graeme Meek (Life & Times) were writing songs about the area,
Bill Prince did some local, trad songs but that was about it. In the decade or
two before Fred Hamer had collected quite a number of songs from old
singers in the county many of which were published by the EFDSS but I found
that was only the tip of a sizeable ice-berg. By digging around in printed
sources I could find a lot more. The staff at both Luton Museum and Library
were very helpful in this and were, in fact, positively interested in the work
I was doing. Luton Museum even funded a cassette album, Bedfordshire Folk
Songs, featuring myself, my wife Sue, Bill Prince and ‘Mum’ Johnstone. Margery
‘Mum’ Johnstone was a genuine ‘source singer’ who was about 80 years old at the
time. She had lived around the area all her life and had learned many of her
songs from her granny when she was a little girl. She became a good friend. She
was also one of Fred Hamer’s informants.
You
can hear her both singing and reminiscing by clicking this link………
Whilst
searching through piles of old diaries and boxes of papers at the museum I came
across a song which was entirely new to me. On the sheet it’s called ‘An
Original Song’ and is printed on a small piece of paper about 4 x 8 inches. I
have been unable to find out anything about it at all.
From
the subject matter and style of printing I guess it dates from the early 1800s.
The
dialect and spelling is strange—it could be Midlands… or East Anglian?
There
is no printer credited so that doesn’t help. There was a prolific printer of
broadsides in Bedford—M.A.Merry, of Castle Lane, whose work included a
spectacular, large one called ‘The Life, Trial, Confession, and Execution of
Joseph Castle for the Murder of his Wife, At Luton, on Tuesday the 9th of
August, 1859, Tried and condemned at the Bedford Assizes, March 14, 1860’. I
can assure you that Joseph Castle was no relation to me!
There
was no mention of a tune on the Original Song sheet but, as is so often the
case, one immediately came into my mind when I first read it through—it’s We
Poor Labouring Men which is entirely appropriate from every point of view.
The
‘story’ the song tells is of the oppressed agricultural worker and the selfish
employer. It could be straight out of George Elliot.
LINK
to the song. SOME WILL WORK (An Original Song) sung by Pete Castle
Here is my 'translation' of the words:
AN
ORIGINAL SONG
Oh
some will work til six o'clock
But
I will leave at five,
I
never will work til six o'clock
As
long as I'm alive,
For
those that work til six o'clock
They'll
want 'em to work til seven
And
the rich men they will go to Hell
And
the poor will go to Heaven.
It's
out of the barn when you do look
If
it is for to speak to your neighbour,
Your
master he hollas out so sharp
"Go
you in and get to your labour."
It's
out of the window he does peep
His
eyes are always upon you,
And
if ever he had his will of you
He'd
throw you on the fire and burn you.
When
you leave work at six o'clock
You
look out for a stick of wood,
Your
master is so damned mistrustful
He
thinks you're up to no good,
And
when in church then they do sit
They
do say unto one-another
"My
men won't leave work at five o'clock"
"No,
no more will mine" says another.
"My
men will work til six o'clock
As
other men all do"
They
do say unto one another
"And
so will my men too"
And
when in church then they do go
To
hear what the parson do say
Instead
of their all being good
Their hearts are the other way.
And
when out of church then they do come
In
their hearts they've got no good,
They
do say unto one another
"My
men do steal my wood".
And
Saturday night when it comes round
The
money down they tell,
And
as they put it in your hand
They
looks as black as Hell!
I’ve
never come across An Original Song/Some Will Work in any book and I can find no
reference on the internet where you can find most things. I have never heard it
sung by anyone else either although I know Corinne Male has sung it set to another
tune, but she got it from me!
So
perhaps it’s not only an Original Song but a Unique Song.
I
think it’s a good song. I’ve sung it quite a bit over the years but it’s never
become a permanent fixture in my repertoire for some reason.
If
you like it please sing it. It deserves it.
To find out more you
could have a look at my web site
http://www.petecastle.co.uk
My
You Tube channel contains a lot of videos of both songs and stories.
You
may also like to consider subscribing to Facts & Fiction storytelling
magazine which I edit ( http://factsandfiction.co.uk ) It's quarterly and covers
all aspects of storytelling with news, reviews etc
Have
a look at the previous postings below and if you have any comments please post
them. I'd welcome your (constructive) comments.
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| The heading picture from the song sheet. |
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