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Keywords:
Komrade K (21), Stevel (37), traditional (65), English (24), fiddle (25), rubbish legal system (1), poaching (1)
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Description:
When I was growing up my parents were never into folk music (my dad's a jazz musician) but they did have a copy of The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs and that's where I first found this song and took a special liking to it. I couldn't sight-read music well enough to work out any of the melodies from the book so I just used to imagine what the songs sounded like.
Thirty years later I still can't sight-read but I have now found out how the tune goes.
I've been lucky enough to have the assistance of two fine collaborators on this track. Stevel plays delightful psychey-electric guitars to supplement my twanging and Komrade K weaves his unique fiddle magic. I'm very grateful to them both for their sublime musicianship and for the encouragement they've given me.
For old times' sake I've used the words from The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, although it's only one of a great many different versions ... I especially love the defiant final verse, which is missing from some versions.
The death penalty may seem a bit extreme for livestock theft ... but for many centuries in England that was the norm. Particularly with wild deer because they were the property of the king, and any offence against the king was classed as high treason. In these progressive times you'd probably get away with a thirty quid fine and an ASBO.
One thing I did discover back then as I read through that book was that most English folk songs are either about death or sex (or imaginative combinations of the two). So it's no surprise that in Scottish versions of Geordie the girl successfully wins him a reprieve and they happily ride off together into the sunset. It's only in this miserable English version that the poor bloke gets it.
Rebsie: vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar
Steve: electric guitar, 6-string acoustic guitar
Martyn: electric fiddle
© 2007 Rebsie Fairholm/Martyn Kember-Smith/Steve Lang
Words and music traditional, arranged by Rebsie, Martyn and Steve.
Lyrics:
As I went over London Bridge
One misty morning early
I overheard a fair pretty maid
Lamenting for her Geordie
Come bridle me my milk white horse
Come bridle me my pony
That I may ride to London's court
To plead for the life of Geordie
And when she entered in the hall
There was lords and ladies plenty
Down on her bended knees she fell
To plead for the life of Geordie
Oh Geordie stole no cow nor calf
Nor sheep he never stole any
But he stole sixteen of the king's wild deer
And sold them in Bohenny
The judge looked over his left shoulder
And said I'm sorry for thee
My fair pretty maid, you've come too late
For he's condemned already
Let Geordie hang in golden chains
Such chains as never was any
Because he came of the royal blood
And courted a virtuous lady
I wish I was in yonder grove
Where times I have been many
With my broad sword and pistol too
I'd fight for the life of Geordie
Hardware:
Three Macs and some instruments and some other stuff
Software:
GB
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I'd fav this twice &mdash 02/07/07 - 07:57:33 PM
&mdash 02/08/07 - 03:36:10 PM
*mouth drops* &mdash 02/07/07 - 08:05:49 PM
&mdash 02/08/07 - 03:39:12 PM
So very pretty... &mdash 02/07/07 - 08:13:27 PM
What a pretty voice you have!!! Such a magical enchanted sound in the stell guitar picking, on sees the clear water and lush green fields. Violing so moving. Gorgeous electric guitar. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/08/07 - 03:42:23 PM
What a Singer! &mdash 02/08/07 - 12:01:44 AM
I love the way that you sing the lead vocal in a lower voice than you normally use but then come in with the high harmony to perfectly compliment it. Super job girl! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/08/07 - 03:45:50 PM
Thanks Tom. I don't have the biggest vocal range and this song stretched both ends of it! [ Reply to This ]
Wot, no mandolin!! &mdash 02/08/07 - 01:49:40 AM
Beautiful rendition of this wonderful old song - excellent performances all round. Rebsie, you nailed the vocals on this so well - had me near tears - and your 12 string sounded lovely. Virtuoso (rather than virtuous) performances by KK and Steve.
Loved it!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/08/07 - 03:57:20 PM
I'm very glad you like the vocal ... I was unsure about it and was about to re-record it (again) when KK suggested perhaps I ought to just leave it as it is. Left to my own devices I never know when to stop! Thanks for the nice comment. [ Reply to This ]
eat yer heart out joan baez and... &mdash 02/08/07 - 10:29:22 AM
what happened to the other 52 verses!!!!! lovely rebs - when i grow up .. i want a voice like yours. s'fab to hear the stevel guitar and the kk fiddle too - just beautiful chaps - ty soo much xoxoxo [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/08/07 - 04:06:04 PM
Ah, has Joan Baez recorded this one? I didn't know that. They get around a bit, these songs. I don't know where the other 52 verses went but I'm gonna do a version of the 38-verse whopper Tam Lin some day, hehe ... [ Reply to This ]
So lovely! &mdash 02/08/07 - 10:51:31 AM
What a wonderful piece of music to listen to first thing in the morning!
This particular song has compelling lyrics, and you deliver them so well. Your voice is perfect for this.
I love the way the guitars and violin intertwine, weaving in and out of the texture, creating beautiful splashes and washes of color. Very, very pleasing.
This recording is well-balanced and CD-ready, as far as I am concerned.
This is just GREAT. Bravo to all involved! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/09/07 - 07:25:03 PM
*blush* It means a lot to get such a vote of confidence from you, Cameron. The fiddle and guitar blend their colours in a way I never imagined when we started work on it, and I'm very very pleased with how they sound together. [ Reply to This ]
beautiful... &mdash 02/08/07 - 08:40:38 PM
Love your voice, Rebsie... very touching and very gently caressing my eardrums... soothing. Guitar sounds are like the lullaby of your voice, too... overall very scenic and sedating to a ruffled soul... [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/09/07 - 07:31:36 PM
One of my favorite songs, Rebsie... &mdash 02/08/07 - 10:23:58 PM
My dad more or less raised me on Joan Baez's versions of Childe ballads, including this one... Even at eight years old, I'd get all sad and outraged over it...
The interplay between the guitar and the fiddle here is exquisite and heart-piercing... I'd say it recalls Richard Thompson skirling away against Dave Swarbrick, but I think your collaborators here out-do Fairport...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Not the first time... &mdash 02/09/07 - 07:59:28 PM
...that I've been likened to Swarb (don't know whether Steve's had RT comparisons before...) But to say we may have out done them... well I'm staggered!!
KK
---
Latest track: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/27907"> In Echo of Emptiness (Mystified w/Komrade K) </a> [ Reply to This ]
Forgot to mention... &mdash 02/09/07 - 08:29:19 PM
...that Swarb has been a huge influence over the years (indeed it's his stuff that really got me fiddlin' in the first place).
KK
---
Latest track: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/27907"> In Echo of Emptiness (Mystified w/Komrade K) </a> [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Ed! &mdash 02/09/07 - 08:01:49 PM
I must check out the Joan Baez version ... the only other version of this song I know is by the amazing underrated 70s folk-prog band Trees, whose singer I admire immensely ...
As for my two musos here, I agree they are brilliant and I wouldn't swap 'em for anyone. I'm sure Steve is delighted with the Richard Thompson comparison, hehe! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/09/07 - 08:09:53 PM
Enchanting &mdash 02/09/07 - 05:48:41 AM
and very beautifully performed on everyones part. Great, great stuff! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/09/07 - 08:13:45 PM
A total tear jerker... (yes me ) &mdash 02/09/07 - 11:02:24 AM
Thanks so much for this Rebsie Girl... you pass on inspiration so fine and subtle that your Muse must be so in love with your creativity. Stunning beautiful, perfect and with a profdessional polish that I long for.
... yes the defiant last verse makes it... completely.. and your sweeping harmonies at the end.. my gods girl you are a forever flower en bloom.
Wonderfulness by the barrel. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/10/07 - 11:46:11 AM
Thanks Jason ... it certainly does seem to be true that if you put some inspiration out there it soon comes back to you.
I always appreciate your eloquent comments. [ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 02/09/07 - 01:09:11 PM
Very nice singing, Rebsie. I especially like when Komrade's violin backs your voice. An excellent collaboration all around. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/11/07 - 10:39:23 AM
Thank you kindly PV ... yeah, I'm pretty pleased with how his violin lifts those verses. He's really done me proud on this. [ Reply to This ]
Well done! &mdash 02/09/07 - 01:18:04 PM
I really enjoyed this. I think I can hear a Chris de Burgh influence coursing thorough your veins! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/09/07 - 08:16:24 PM
Another powerful yet sweet lament .. &mdash 02/09/07 - 03:30:38 PM
now it's me that's late to the party, sorry ...
beautiful singing, lovely multi-tracking of the two acoustics (smooth picking all round) and very appropriate 'weeping' fiddle adding oodles of expression.
Although the electric adds a touch of 'colour' and is excellently played and sounding characteristically Stevel, it's seems a little out of place and unnecessary to me, in an otherwise very traditional sounding folk piece - a small nit-pick needless to say.
Are you sure that in the Scottish version the recently reprieved lucky chap and his missus don't get run over by a herd of deer leaving the court house - what are the chances? ;o)
Great collab lords and lady, deservingly high rated. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:15:33 PM
Hehe. You are funny. I will always have that mental image of stampeding deer every time I sing this song now.
You know what I'm going to say, haha ... I'm really happy with the interplay of the electric guitar with the fiddle and I purposely mixed it so that they balance and contrast each other. If that makes it sound less traditional so much the better! :) [ Reply to This ]
sweetly delivered &mdash 02/09/07 - 06:53:07 PM
gorgeous song, and to have Steve's great guitarwork, KK's awesome violin swooping through, and Rebsie's rich solid singing/harmonies, well, it's just a treat! Thanks!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:18:27 PM
Great Song &mdash 02/10/07 - 08:57:13 AM
Brightened my morning. I think I'll listen again when I get home this evening for a refill! Thanks to all who put this wonderful song together. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:21:12 PM
nice collab!!! &mdash 02/10/07 - 11:19:40 AM
But you know you cant beat 3 macs...:D
Avery nice balance between the guitars and vox..
Its refershing to hear a violin outside of classical music and country music
Like you..My parents where into jazz and blues.
Great collab....Great voice great playing...great mix [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:25:50 PM
Ah, without those three Macs none of this would be possible!
Not sure I can forgive Apple for their incredibly irritating UK advertising campaign at the moment though ...
Many thanks for coming to listen! [ Reply to This ]
Really lovely &mdash 02/11/07 - 04:15:08 AM
This a great track Rebsie, it is wonderful to see how confident you have grown as a singer and interpreter of traditional music. Thanks for inviting me to add to this one, it was a pleasure to collaborate again. KK's violin is very beautiful on this too.
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:36:36 PM
Well thank you Steve for your wonderful contributions.
I really wish your music got the attention it deserves on MacJams ... you're very talented. [ Reply to This ]
I am speechless &mdash 02/11/07 - 06:58:46 AM
&mdash 02/12/07 - 01:45:48 PM
Beatles? &mdash 02/13/07 - 05:14:53 AM
Hmmm, just imagine running with your loved one up a beautiful hill with lushes green trees, flowers, a nice warm breeze and lots of sun. Like u have in UK and especially Scotland (queens view). Just something i wish for you and everybody else. This is the song that i would play while being there and having a pick nick. Maybe with some of the veggies you grow, haha. All in all, something i crave for with my non-existing loved one. One day..
---
if you don't succeed at first skydiving is not for you [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 05:38:06 AM
Ah, thank you, I understand now.
Well, I live in a town surrounded by magical lush green hills and that's where I go to find inspiration for songs like this. [ Reply to This ]
A Nice Treasure of the History &mdash 02/11/07 - 08:57:17 AM
Even though it's a sad song, similar to the ones I had to grow up with, everytime I hear something like this I feel I feel so proud that somebody takes the time to bring back something like this. You do it with honesty and an open heart. Gives of the full story which I for one appreciate very much. It would still be a very good song, but to me it gives me the depth and meaning; and of course the lyrics does it themselves too. Komrade K's and Stevels contributions is a very good match for this I believe, with their great performance and your vocals it brings me back in time, a most pleasurable journey. /Mikki [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:14:54 AM
Well thank you Mikki! I do try to be as open and honest as I can with the songs in the hope that some truth will emerge from them. So it's good to know that you picked up on that. Cheers. [ Reply to This ]
Magnifico! &mdash 02/11/07 - 09:44:01 AM
Wow, Rebsie. You sound a bit like Sandy Denny in this. Nice going all. A great cover of an old folk standard. Now i want to break out all my old Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span recordings!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:26:19 AM
Thank you! Bring out the Fairport and Steeleye ... I learned most of what I know about folk singing by warbling along to their stuff in the car. [ Reply to This ]
Lovely and Sad = Good Times? &mdash 02/11/07 - 04:01:32 PM
It's lovely, it's sad, and it sounds as though you all had a wonderful time making this! Thanks so much to all! [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:30:03 AM
Many thanks indeed ... it was quite a long haul doing this one, but it certainly did feel wonderful when it started to come together. [ Reply to This ]
Nice &mdash 02/11/07 - 09:03:19 PM
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:31:40 AM
Geordie... &mdash 02/11/07 - 11:59:35 PM
What a beautiful tune and wonderfully expressive execution: vocals are perfect for this little "folk" song; loved the great guitar work and the mix of vln is always providing a poignant counterpoint to the tune. Gentle songs like this that carry a strong message should be heard much more often. Thanks for sharing it here.
Paul [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:38:06 AM
Thanks very much for listening and commenting, I'm glad you like it. [ Reply to This ]
BEAUTIFUL!!! &mdash 02/12/07 - 05:00:10 PM
I know that comparisons are sometimes not really all that desired, but have you ever heard the albums by Lauren Auerbach and Bert Jansch? The mix of instruments, styles, and your lovely voice remind of their stuff.
This has a wonderful, authentic British folk sound--sounds like it might have been sung this way centuries ago, but still resonates today...
Faved and Downloaded
Jim [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:43:27 AM
Thanks very much, I really appreciate that! :)
I have one Bert Jansch album but haven't heard the stuff he did with Lauren Auerbach ... I will look out for it. [ Reply to This ]
Perfect in everything ....!!! &mdash 02/13/07 - 05:50:31 AM
how sweet ....how tastey ... well
I do heard couple done this but sue the most famous
is Joan Baez .. now this rendition surely
a real gem in the heart ..the violin is realy
a bleeding wonder ...such a feelin you add there KK
love the Elect fillins .. the singin is so calm ..
ye very perfect : )
[ Reply to This ]
&mdash 02/13/07 - 08:54:24 AM
Thank you Feter! I must admit I've never been a fan of Joan Baez, although I love the sweet honest and much less trained voice of her younger sister Mimi.
Yep, I think "really a bleeding wonder" sums up KK very nicely. [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 02/13/07 - 09:38:38 AM
&mdash 02/15/07 - 05:57:22 AM
Thank you! I'm very pleased you like it and your support is much appreciated. [ Reply to This ]
late to the party &mdash 02/13/07 - 02:51:30 PM
Wow, yes... Wow! I'm short on words, but full of peace after hearing this marvelous work. Something very Mark Knopfler about this.... I love it. [ Reply to This ]
Very High Quality ! &mdash 02/13/07 - 02:57:30 PM
Really enjoyed the song from start to finish, to me it's
one of those songs that from the very beginning it has
that really special quality evident. I have enjoyed your other collaborations but I must say this is the finest
(IMO) the instruments are fabulous and do not compete
for space and your voice Rebsie is just brilliant.
As my title state's Very High Quality! Congrtats! [ Reply to This ]
excellent &mdash 02/13/07 - 03:20:15 PM
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