MONDAY EVENING MESS SESSIONS

Folk, roots and acoustic music sessions around N. Wilts.

This month's sessions:
1st Monday - Royal George, Pavenhill, Purton.
2nd Monday - Rose & Crown, Highworth.
3rd Monday - Bell Hotel, Old Town, Swindon.
4th Monday - Iron Horse, Wroughton.
& if there's a 5th Monday - Rose & Crown, Highworth.

Dates from your diaries:
TWIGS open day pics

Correct at time of update - call Music Alive on 01793 770699 to confirm venue.

Sessions are open to all, whether maestro or beginner.
We welcome visitors.

There are some tunes published on this site, they aren't prescriptive, feel free to play whatever you want.
Tunes may be on the same pdf sheet because they arrived at the same time & I like to save paper, not necessarily because we play them together.
I've dropped the separation of tunes that we play often and those that we don't, this is subjective and usually out of date, tunes go through fashions and it depends who is at the session on a particular evening. BOLD Tunes are still more likely though.

If you need a CD containing all the resources on this site, see me on a Monday evening.

I do try to attribute tunes to composers but the way tunes are learnt means that we may miss yours, let me know.

DOWNLOAD ABC TUNEBOOKS MESS1 & MESS2
you'll need an abc reader such as abcNavigator

DOWNLOAD CHORDS FOR SOME SETS

PDFs are between 10 & 30kB, MIDI between 1 & 12kB
DOWNLOAD most of the PDFs as one file (~1.8MB)

Ashokan's Farewell PDF-MIDI
Attingham Waltz PDF-MIDI
Ballad of Ben / Miss Kennard PDF-MIDI
Banish Misfortune / Lisdoonvarna Jig PDF-MIDI
Beatrice Hill's Reel / Mad Moll PDF-MIDI
Bell Tower Polka / Les Cloches / L'Aigo de Rotzo & Rue de Pres PDF-MIDI
Biddy Martin's / Ger the Rigger / Billy Sullivan's PDF-MIDI
Blackberry Blossom PDF-MIDI
Blarney Pilgrim / Garrett Barry's PDF-MIDI
Bore Da Mrs. Morris/Y Lancers/Modryb Mair PDF-MIDI
Bourée Fai Bon Dancar / Bourée Droite / Les Poules Huppées PDF-MIDI
Boys of Bluehill / Off to California PDF-MIDI
Brighton Camp / Galopede / Tanner's March PDF-MIDI
Butterfly PDF-MIDI
Capuchin PDF-MIDI
Connaught Heifers / Andy McGann's PDF-MIDI
Cook in the Kitchen / Humours of Ennistymon PDF-MIDI
Cooleys Reel / Staten Island / Miss McLeods PDF-MIDI
Corriechoille's Farewell PDF-MIDI
Cumberland Reel PDF-MIDI
Da New Rigged (Full Rigged?) Ship PDF-MIDI
Da Tuskar / Willafjord / J Lang PDF-MIDI
Dark Girl Dressed in Blue / Girl With The Blue Dress On PDF-MIDI
Dartmoor Hornpipe (Untitled) PDF-MIDI
Dawn Chorus PDF-MIDI
Dennis Murphy's / £42 Cheque / John Ryan's Polka PDF-MIDI
Donkey Riding / Buffalo Girls PDF-MIDI
Dribbles of Brandy / Irish Washerwoman / Atholl Highlanders PDF-MIDI
Dubuque PDF-MIDI
East Boldon / Ann Fraser McKenzie PDF-MIDI
Enrico / Nine Men's Morris PDF-MIDI
Fairy Dance / De'il Among the Tailors / Drowsy Maggie PDF-MIDI
Fools Jig PDF-MIDI
Going to the Well for Water PDF-MIDI
Harper's Frolic / Bonny Kate PDF-MIDI
Harvest Home / Worcester Hornpipe PDF-MIDI
Herbert the Sherbert / Plane Tree / Hop Break PDF-MIDI
Horizonto in Dm and in Em PDF-MIDI
Horse's Branle / Speed The Plough PDF-MIDI
Humours of Tulla PDF-MIDI
Jack Robinson / Argeers / Old Tom of Oxford PDF-MIDI
Jacky Tar / Sligo Maid PDF-MIDI
Jiggery Pokerwork / Horizonto in Em PDF-MIDI
Johnson's Hornpipe PDF-MIDI
Johnson's Polkas #1 & #2 PDF-MIDI
June Apple PDF-MIDI
King of the Fairies PDF-MIDI
Kitchen Girl / Nail the Catfish/ Cindy Cindy PDF
Kitchen Girl / Old Time Tune PDF-MIDI
Kitty Alone & I PDF-MIDI
Lemmie Brazils #1 PDF-MIDI
Lemmie Brazils #2 PDF-MIDI
Lilting Banshee PDF-MIDI
Little Polly Polka / Marmalade Polka PDF-MIDI
Log Cabin PDF-MIDI
Maid Behind the Bar PDF-MIDI
Major John Bruce's Favourite PDF-MIDI
Margaret's Waltz PDF-MIDI
Merry Month of May PDF-MIDI
Mhairi's Wedding PDF-MIDI
Michael Turner's/Louis' Waltz PDF-MIDI
Monkey Hornpipe PDF-MIDI
Montreal Reel / Gaspé Reel / Le Canal en Octobre PDF-MIDI
Morning Dew PDF-MIDI
Old Joe Clark PDF-MIDI
Old Lancashire Reel / Shropshire Rounds PDF-MIDI
Peacock Follows the Hen / Another Jig Will Do PDF-MIDI
Pernod Waltz PDF-MIDI
Pigtown Fling / Bag of Spuds PDF-MIDI
Pretty Little Dog / Rub-a-Dub PDF-MIDI
Reluctant Fiddler PDF-MIDI
Rakes of Kildare PDF-MIDI
Rocky Road to Dublin / Sir Roger De Coverley PDF-MIDI
Rogues March / Captain Nemos PDF-MIDI
Rosza PDF-MIDI
Sailor's Hornpipe PDF-MIDI
Sandy River Belle / Seneca Square PDF-MIDI
Scan Testers #1 PDF-MIDI
Scan Testers #2 PDF-MIDI
Seven Stars / Bang Up / Morrisons Jig PDF-MIDI
Si Bheag Si Mhor PDF-MIDI
Sir Sidney Smith's March PDF-MIDI
Sleep Soond i da Mornin PDF-MIDI
Sliabh Russell / Jim Ward's PDF-MIDI
Sligo Maid PDF-MIDI
Sonny Brogan's Mazurka / Les Poules Huppées PDF-MIDI
Spirit of the Dance / Jump at the Sun / Tripping Upstairs PDF-MIDI
St Mary's School Tunes PDF
Swindon / Elsey's Waltz PDF
Tallis' Canon PDF-MIDI
Temperance Reel / St. Anne's Reel / June Apple PDF-MIDI
Three Around Three / Flowers of Edinburgh PDF-MIDI
Three Around Three / Speed the Plough / Slow the Plough PDF-MIDI
Twin Sisters / Ladies Pleasure / Captain Nemo's PDF-MIDI
Uncle Bernards / Tralee Gaol PDF-MIDI
Untitled Bourée PDF-MIDI
Varsoviana PDF-MIDI
Walter Bulwers #2 / Walter Bulwers #1 / Fanny Frail PDF-MIDI
Waterloo Dance / Jenny Lind PDF-MIDI
Weasel In The Grass PDF-MIDI
Weavers March / the Quaker / The Sloe PDF-MIDI
Wedding Gift PDF-MIDI
White Cockade / Soldiers Joy / Rakes of Mallow PDF-MIDI
Wind That Shakes the Barley / Sally Gardens / Maid Behind the Bar PDF-MID
Wind That Shakes / Toss the Feathers PDF-MIDI
Wise Maid PDF-MIDI
   

The Royal George 27 Pavenhill, Purton, Wiltshire. SN5 4BZ 01793 770378 map 1st Monday
The Rose & Crown The Green, Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN6 7DB 01793 766287 map 2nd Monday
The Bell Hotel The Bell, High St. Old Town, Swindon SN1 3EP. 01793 480083 map 3rd Monday
The Iron Horse Kerrs Way, Wroughton. SN4 9EJ 01793 812944 map 4th Monday

STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

Near to Banbridge Town, in the County Down
One morning in July,
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen,
And she smiled as she passed me by;
Oh, she looked so neat from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair,
Sure the coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
To make sure I was standing there

CHORUS: Oh, from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
And from Galway to Dublin town,
No maid I've seen like the brown colleen
That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling quare,
And I said, says I, to a passer-by,
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
Oh, he smiled at me, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown,
She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the Star of the County Down.

"She’d a soft brown eye and a look so sly
Like a hare or a doe in June
And you hung on each note, from her lily white throat
As she lilted an Irish tune
At the Pattern Dance you were held in trance
As she tripped through a Real or Jig
And with her eyes she rolled, she coaxed upon my soul
A spud from a hungry pig

I've travelled a bit, but never was hit
Since my roving career began;
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown,
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the Star of the County Down.

At the crossroads fair I'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I'll try sheep's eyes, and deludhering lies
On the heart of the nut-brown Rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust my plow turns brown,
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the Star of the County Down.

OLD JOE CLARK

1. Old Joe Clark, the preacher's son
Preached all over the plain
The only text he ever knew
Was high low jack and the game

[Chorus] Fare thee well Old Joe Clark
Fare thee well I'm bound
Fare thee well Old Joe Clark
Goodbye Betsy Brown

2. Old Joe Clark had a mule
His name was Morgan Brown
And every tooth in that mule's head
Was sixteen inches round

Chorus

3. Old Joe Clark had a yellow cat
She would neither sing nor pray
Stuck her head in a buttermilk jar
And washed her sins away

Chorus

4. Old joe clark had a house
Fifteen stories high
And every story in that house
Was filled with chicken pie

Chorus

5. I went down to Old Joe's house
He invited me to supper
I stumped my toe on the table leg
And stuck my nose in the butter

Chorus

6. Wished I had a sweetheart
Put her on the shelf
And every time she'd smile at me
I'd get up there myself

Chorus

CINDY

You ought to see my Cindy
she lives way down south
She's so sweet the honey bees
swarm around her mouth

Get along home Cindy Cindy
Get along home Cindy Cindy
Get along home Cindy Cindy
I'll marry you some day

The first I seen my Cindy
she was standing in the door
Her shoes and stocking in her hand
her feet all over the floor

She took me to her parlor
she cooled me with her fan
She said I was the prettiest thing
in the shape of mortal man

She kissed me and she hugged me
she called me suger plum
She throwed her arms around me
I thought my time had come

Oh Cindy is a pretty girl
Cindy is a peach
She threw her arms around my neck
and hung on like a leech

And if I was a sugar tree
standing in the town
Each time my Cindy passed
I'd shake some sugar down

And if had a needle and thread
fine as I could sew
I'd sew that gal to my coat tails
and down the road I'd go

I wish I was an apple
a-hanging on a tree
Every time that Cindy
passed she'd take a bite of me

SPANCIL HILL

Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the wind
And I shortly came to anchor at the cross of Spancil Hill

It being the 23rd June the day before the fair
When lreland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there
The young and the old, the brave and the bold their journey to fulfill
There were jovial conversations at the fair of Spancil Hill

I went to see my neighbors to hear what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone and the young one's turning grey
I met with the tailor Quigley, he's a bould as ever still
Sure he used to make my britches when I lived in Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying "Johnny I love you still"
Oh she's Ned the farmers daughter and the flower of Spancil Hill

I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you're only joking like many's the time before"
The cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.

WILD ROVER

I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,
And now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more.

cho: And it's no, nay, never,
No nay never no more,
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more.

I went to an ale-house I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay"
Such a custom as yours I could have any day."

cho:

I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest."

cho:

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they caress (forgive) me as ofttimes before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more.

DIRTY OLD TOWN

I met my love by the gas works wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
I kissed a girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town dirty old town

Clouds a drifting across the moon
Cats a prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the street at night
Dirty old town dirty old town

Heard a siren from the docks
Saw a train set the night on fire
Smelled the spring in the smokey wind
Dirty old town dirty old town

I'm going to make a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town dirty old town
Dirty old town dirty old town

CARRICKFERGUS

I Wish I was in Carrickfergus,
only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
the deepest ocean for my love to find

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
and neither have I wings to fly
If I could f ind me a handsome boatman
to ferry me over to my love and die

My childhood days bring back sad reflections
of happy times I spent so long ago
My boyhood friends and my own relations
have all passed on now like melting snow

But I'll spend my days in endless roaming
soft sit the grass my bed is free
Ah to be back in Carrickfergus
on that long road down to the sea

And in Kilkenny it is reported
there are marble stones as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her,
but I'll sing no more now till I get a drink

I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober,
a handsome rover from town to town
Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are numbered
so come all ye young men and lay me down

BLACK VELVET BAND

In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed in trade I was bound
And many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town

Till bad misfortune befell me
And caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like the diamond
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band

Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel
She was selling her trade in a bar

When i watched, she took from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
Then the Watch came and put me in prison
Bad luck to the black velvet band

Next morning before judge and jury
For our trial I had to appear
The judge, he said, "Young fellow
The case against you is quite clear

And seven years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band"

So come all you jolly young fellows
I'd have you take warning by me
And whenever you're out on the liquor
Beware of the pretty colleen

They'll fill your with whiskey and porter
Until You're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you know
You're landed in Van Dieman's Land

FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me,
won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
And I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They've got cars Big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me Broadway
was waiting for me
You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on the corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing 'Galway Bay'
And the bells were ringing
Out for Christmas day

You're a bum You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Living there almost dead
on a drip In that bed
You scum bag You maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God It's our last

I could have been someone
So could anyone
You took my dreams From me
when I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

 

SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS

As I went home on Monday night, as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a horse outside the door, where my old horse should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns that horse outside the door, where my old horse should be?

Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
That's a lovely sow that my mother sent to me.
Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but a saddle on a sow, sure, I never saw before.

As I went home on Tuesday night, as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a coat behind the door, where my old coat should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns that coat behind the door, where my old coat should be?

Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
That's a woolen blanket that my mother sent to me.
Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but buttons on a blanket, sure, I never saw before.

As I went home on Wednesday night, as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a pipe upon the chair, where my old pipe should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns that pipe upon the chair where my old pipe should be.

Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
That's a lovely tin-whistle, that my mother sent to me.
Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but tobacco in a tin-whistle, sure, I never saw before.

As I came home on Thursday night, as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw two boots beside the bed, where my old boots should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns them boots beside the bed where my old boots should be.

Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
They're two lovely flower pots my mother sent to me.
Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but laces in flower pots I never saw before.

As I came home on Friday night, as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a head upon the bed, where my old head should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns that head upon the bed, where my old head should be.

Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
That's a baby boy, that my mother sent to me.
Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but a baby boy with his whiskers on, sure, I never saw before.

LEAVING LIVERPOOL or FARE THEE WELL MY OWN TRUE LOVE

Farewell to Prince's Landing Stage
River Mersey, fare thee well
I am bound for California
A place I know right well

Chorus So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me
But my darling when I think of thee

I'm bound off for California
By the way of stormy Cape Horn
And I'm bound to write you a letter, love
When I am homeward bound

Chorus

I have signed on a Yankee Clipper ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the Captain of her
And they say she's a floating Hell

Chorus

I have shipped with Burgess once before
And I think I know him well
If a man's a seaman, he can get along
If not, then he's sure in Hell

Chorus

Farewell to lower Frederick Street
Ensign Terrace and Park Lane
For I think it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again

Chorus

Oh the sun is on the harbour, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Till I see you again

KITTY AND I ALONE

Saw a crow come flyin' low,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
Saw a crow come flyin' low,
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
Saw a crow come flyin' low,
And a cat a-spinin' tow.
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.
First came in a little bat,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
First came in a little bat,
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
First came in a little bat,
With some butter and some fat
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.
Next came in a honey bee.
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
Next came in a honey bee.
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
Next came in a honey bee.
with his fiddle 'cross his knee
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.
Next came in two little ants.
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
Next came in two little ants.
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
Next came in two little ants.
fixin' for to have a dance.
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.
Next came in was little Pete.
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
Next came in was little Pete.
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
Next came in was little Pete.
Fixin' for to go to sleep
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.
Bye-O, bye-o, baby-o.
Kitty alone, Kitty alone.
Bye-O, bye-o, baby-o.
Kitty alone, Kitty a-lye.
Bye-O, bye-o, baby-o.
Bye-O, bye-o, baby-o.
Kitty alone, a-lye.
Rock a-ma-rye, ree.

 

Music Alive offers opportunities, activities and support to enable children and adults with disabilities to make and enjoy music.

Visit the MusicAlive Yahoo Group, you'll need a Yahoo ID

Email the site

Infernal Machine - recording studio who do Wild Wolf & more

The Bell Hotel, Old Town, Swindon

Hands On Music - Folkie weekends in Witney, which, despite the efforts of the Royal Mail, are still happening.

Celtic Chris' website (how to build a roundhouse, sail a coracle to London (why?) etc.)

The Wiltshire Ocelot has a good gig guide

Intro to abc notation How to abc tunes

JC's ABC music collection More abc files, tutorials & links

Oxford Folk Tutors Alice & friends doing folk in Oxford

abc navigatordownload page for this PC abc tune player/organiser/printer

The abc homepageeverything about ABC

The Session.Org Mainly Irish but excellent database of folk music

Aunt Adele Pretty good Canadian site full of links to trad music - including us! (thanks)

Mr Reds South West Folk Directory - v g

Icknield Way MM A list of sessions in the Oxford area, not as good as ours obviously!

Musical Traditions Rod Stradlings trad mag - good site

We like Sweet Plums even though Rachael has left

Devizes & Swindon Folkclub Details

Tinkers Bag - Wiltshire songsters, turn up to sessions occasionally

 

Pictures can be viewed online at Picasa

Pictures of an early morning stint at the Festival of Literature (what were we doing there?)

You might recognise some heavily disguised features at the Jack-in-the-Green celebration at Highworth?

 

Contact Music Alive on 01793 770699

Music Alive
Bentham House
Bentham Lane
Purton Stoke
Wilts.
SN5 4HZ

mess@music-alive.org.uk

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4/10/9
The Bells from Pete

27/8/9
Waltzes - Swindon/Elsey's

31/7/9
Butterfly added

12/7/9
Wind That Shakes set...

27/6/9
Details updated

18/6/9
Tunes for the St Mary's School Fayre
Shepherd's Hey, Not For Joe & The Ball

16/6/9
Diary update
RanTan Ceilidh was good!

13/5/9
Added PDFs & MIDIs
Scan Tester's 1&2
Lemmie Brazil's 1&2
Monkey/Dartmoor HPs
Fools Jig

10/5/9
Chords updated

9/5/9 Update of:
MESS Tunebook
Chord book
PDFs:
Three Around Three with Speed the Plough
Bourées
Jiggery Pokerwork with Horizonto
Jackie Tar / Sligo Maid
Harpers Frolic / Bonny Kate
MIDI files for above and:
Pernod Waltz
Little Polly
Johnson's Polkas
Humours of Tulla
Going to the Well for Water

5/5-7/5/9
Redesign of site