This is a great podcast on the Right to Roam, comparing the USA with the UK. If memory serves, it does slightly overstate how good the access rights are in England which are arguably better that much of the USA but still appalling compared to Scotland.
I used to sing this song in shows a lot but it seems to have been nudged out. I’ve yet to hear anyone else sing or record it. Might pop that on the to do list… Taken from Roy Palmer’s excellent The Painful Plough.
Says the Master to me is it true as I’m told,
Your names on the book of the Union enrolled,
I can never allow that a workman of mine,
With wicked Disturbers of Peace should combine.
Said I to the Master it’s perfectly true,
That I’m in the Union I’ll stick to it too,
And if between Union and you I must choose,
I’ve plenty to win and little to lose.
For twenty years mostly my bread has been dry,
And to butter it now I will certainly try,
And though I respect you remember I pray,
No Master in England shall trample on me.
Says the Master to me in a word or two more,
We never have quarreled on matters before,
If you stick to the Union ‘ere long I’ll be bound,
You’ll come and ask me for more wages all round.
Now I cannot afford more than two bob a day,
And look at the taxes and rent that I pay,
And the crops are so injured by game as you see,
If it’s hard for you it’s hard for me.
Says I to the Master I do not see how,
Any need has arisen for quarreling now,
And though likely enough we shall ask for more wage,
I promise you we shall be first in a rage.
I loved this song as a teenager but knew nothing about the subject matter, nor would I have known where to find any in my Daily Telegraph reading Thatcher-lite household and community. But now we have wikipedia and easy to find interviews with the band about writing it.
I thought i heard someone calling me
I’ve seen the pictures on TV
And i made up my mind that i’d go and see
With my own eyes
It didn’t take too long to hitch a ride
With a guy going south to start a new life
Past the place where my friend died
Two years ago
Down the 303 at the end of the road
Flashing lights – exclusion zones
And it made me think it’s not just the stones
That they’re guarding
Hey hey, can’t you see
There’s nothing here that you could call free
They’re getting their kicks
Laughing at you and me
As the sun rose on the beanfield
They came like wolf on the fold
And no they didn’t give a warning
They took their bloody toll
I see a pregnant woman
Lying in blood of her own
I see her children crying
As the police tore apart her home
And no they didn’t need a reason
It’s what your votes condone
It seems they were committing treason
By trying to live on the road
If I could marry a song it would probably be this one. Alistair Hulett on fine form writing about Mary Barbour and the Glasgow Women’s rent strike at the start of the 1914-1918 war.
Mrs Barbour’s Army by Alistair Hulett
In the tenements o’ Glesga in the year one nine one five
It was one lang bloody struggle tae keep ourselves alive
We were coontin’ oot the coppers tae buy wor scraps o’ food
When the landlords put the rent up just because they could
A’ the factories were hummin’, there was overtime galore
But wages they were driven doon tae subsidise the war
Oot came Mrs. Barbour from her wee bit single end
She said, I’ll organise the lassies if I cannae rouse the men
‘Cos I’m from Govan and your from Partick
This one here’s from Bridge o’ Weir and they’re from Kinning Park
There’s some that’s prods, there’s some that’s catholic
But we’re Mrs. Barbour’s Army and we’re here tae dae the wark
Mrs. Barbour made a poster sayin’, We’ll no’ pay higher rent
Then she chapped on every door of every Govan tenement
She said, Pit this in the windae when you hear me bang the drum
We’ll run oot an’ chase the factor a’ the way tae kingdom come
When the poor wee soul cam roon’ he was battered black and blue
By a regiment in pinnies that knew just what tae do
Mrs. Barbour organised the gaitherin’ o’ the clans
And they burst oot o’ the steamie armed wi’ pots an’ fryin’ pans
Mrs. Barbour’s Army spread through Glesga like the plague
The maisters got the message and the message wisnae vague
While our menfolk fight the Kaiser we’ll stay hame & fight the war
Against all the greedy bastards who keep grindin’ doon the poor
If ye want tae stop conscription stand and fight the profiteers
Bring the hale big bloody sandpit crashin’ doon aroon’ their ears
We’ll no’ starve, said Mrs. Barbour, While the men we care for ain
Are marchin aff to hae their heart’s blood washed like water doon a drain
Well it didnae take the government that lang tae realise
If you crack doon on the leaders then the rest will compromise
They arrested Mrs. Barbour and they clapped her in the jile
Then they made an awfy big mistake, they let her oot on bail
She called men out the factories on the Clyde and on the Cart
They marched up tae the courthoose sayin’, We’ll tear the place apart
Mrs. Barbour’s Army brought the maisters tae their knees
Wi’ a regiment in pinnies backed by one in dungarees
I’ve still not got around to learning this, which is pretty poor – perhaps you can learn it and send us a recording?! Again taken from Roy Palmer’s excellent Ballad History of England. Tune is know nowadays as the Broom of the Cowdenknowes.
We seldom sing this in the show, opting to go for the Leon Rosselson song as it is a bit more of a romp. Lady Maisery’s version is a favourite. Roy Palmer has the full and original lyrics in A Ballad History Of England, which I’ve also included a photo of below as I’m feeling a little too lazy to type them up, sorry.
You noble Diggers all, stand up now, stand up now,
You noble Diggers all, stand up now,
The waste land to maintain, seeing Cavaliers by name
Your digging do disdain and your persons all defame
Stand up now, Diggers all.
Your houses they pull down, stand up now, stand up now,
Your houses they pull down, stand up now.
Your houses they pull down to fright poor men in town,
But the gentry must come down and the poor shall wear the crown.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
With spades and hoes and ploughs, stand up now, stand up now,
With spades and hoes and ploughs, stand up now.
Your freedom to uphold, seeing Cavaliers are bold
To kill you if they could and rights from you withhold.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
Their self-will is their law, stand up now, stand up now,
Their self-will is their law, stand up now.
Since tyranny came in they count it now no sin
To make a gaol a gin and to serve poor men therein.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
The gentry are all round, stand up now, stand up now,
The gentry are all round, stand up now.
The gentry are all round, on each side they are found,
Their wisdom’s so profound to cheat us of the ground.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
The lawyers they conjoin, stand up now, stand up now,
The lawyers they conjoin, stand up now,
To arrest you they advise, such fury they devise,
But the devil in them lies, and hath blinded both their eyes.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
The clergy they come in, stand up now, stand up now,
The clergy they come in, stand up now.
The clergy they come in and say it is a sin
That we should now begin our freedom for to win.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
‘Gainst lawyers and ‘gainst priests, stand up now, stand up now,
‘Gainst lawyers and ‘gainst Priests, stand up now.
For tyrants are they both even flat against their oath,
To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
The club is all their law, stand up now, stand up now,
The club is all their law, stand up now.
The club is all their law to keep poor folk in awe,
That they no vision saw to maintain such a law.
Glory now, Diggers all.
It’s fair to say that Professor Wallace House was probably a bit of a dude. An American who perfected the art of many regional English accents so he could sing his favourite folk songs authetically.
You can hear the full record of him singing Robin Hood ballads on youtube and other places – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kyO-qNn8xjStKmVXP2-LNkvd4P8GEsmdA
We adapted our version of ‘Robin Hood and the Three Squires’ from this record:
As Robin Hood ranged the green woods all round, all round the woods ranged he
He saw a young lady in very deep grief, weeping against an oak tree weeping against an oak tree
O why weepest thou, my dear lady? What trouble’s befallen thee?
Well I have three brothers in Nottingham jail, this day all hanged must be
this day all hanged must be
O what have they done , my dear lady, to pay such a costly fee?
Why they have killed three of the King’s fallow deer their children and wives to feed
Take courage, take courage, says bold Robin Hood, oh weep not against the oak tree,
And I will away to Nottingham fair, the High Sheriff for to see
Then Robin Hood hastened to Nottingham town, to Nottingham town went he
And there with the high master Sheriff he met and likewise the squires all three
One favour one favour I have to beg. One favour to beg of thee
That thou wilt reprieve these three young squires, this day and set them free
O no, o no, the high Sheriff says, their lives are forfeit to me,
For they have killed three of the King’s fallow deer and this day all hanged must be
One favour more I have to beg. One favour more of thee
That I may blow thrice on my old bugle horn that their spirits to heaven may flee
O granted, o granted, the High Sheriff said. O granted O granted said he
Thou mayest blow thrice on thine old bugle horn that their spirits to heaven may flee
Then Robin Hood climbed the gallows so high and blew both loud and shrill
Three hundred and ten of bold Robin Hood’s men came marching across the green hill
O whose men are these? The High Sheriff asks. And Robin Hood answered with glee,
They’re all of them mine and they’re none of them thine and they’ve come for the squires all three
O take them, O take them, the High Sheriff said. I’ll have no quarrel with thee,
For there’s not a man in fair Nottingham that can do the like of thee.
“An interesting thing about the Homefront squatters of the late 1940s is that they found support from both left-wing and right-wing politics. For the left – especially the Communist Party – the argument was that, just as the state had taken the lead in the war effort, ‘now a similar national effort to build houses was needed’ (Burnham 2009, p2). Whilst for the right, this was a perfect example of post-war national pride and the continuation of the ‘Blitz Spirit’, with The Daily Mail celebrating the squatters ‘robust common sense… [in taking] matters quietly but firmly into their own hands’ and presenting them as ‘exemplifying an English traditions of self-help made necessary by the government’s failings – a view which the squatters were happy to share’ (Webber 2012, p146). Overall, then, the actions of the ex-servicemen were well-received in the press and publicly celebrated as an expression of English patriotism.”
Burnham, P. (2009) ‘The Squatters of 1946’ Tenants’ History Conference
Friday 1st May is May Day, or International Workers Day. We’re showing our solidarity with migrants by hosting an online gig of political folk song, poetry, and spoken word, and later DJs with music and performers from around the world.
The Sandpipers and their lockdown friends will delight you with beautiful folk songs old and new, featuring delicious harmonies and an instrument or two. Feminist folk anthems meet angry politics and general silliness from this lovely lineup.
Join musicians, poets and storytellers from the Three Acres and Cow herd exploring land rights and protest in England, Wales and Scotland throughout the ages. Featuring Rachel Rose Reid, Owen Shiers, Roo Bramley and Robin Grey.
Get a drink, donate some money, tell your friends on social media how much fun you’re having, enjoy a stretch!
Naf loves everything connected to music. He plays percussion and the drum kit, and DJs anything from experimental to techno, and everything in between. He loves to buy records of all genres and thinks everything sounds better on vinyl to bring out the richness of the music, so expect an all vinyl set! He says, “I want people to have a good time when listening to music and will play what makes people enjoy and dance!”
Based in Sheffield, Kom Kom plays soca, kuduro, dancehall, afrobeat and other bassy dance music from all round the world. She also plays techno under the name KKTA. Kom is one member of the Barang! collective.
‘Specialist in all styles’, Nimble Jack is currently focusing on quirky house and percussive techno with the odd nod to bass music. Resident at Shambala Festival’s Rebel Soul, and Barang!
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak this show has been postponed and will be re-scheduled for later in the year.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak this show has been postponed and will be re-scheduled for later in the year.
Facebook event page – https://www.facebook.com/events/1096869720655290/
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak this show has been postponed and will be re-scheduled for later in the year.
Tickets – http://www.shillingfordorganics.co.uk/three-acres-and-cow-and-supper
Facebook event – https://www.facebook.com/events/242964493362285/
Yale University lecture on Popular Protest by Professor Keith E. Wrightson is taken from his Open Yale online course Early Modern England: Politics, Religion, and Society under the Tudors and Stuarts which has links to all the lectures as videos – the one on Popular Protest can be found as a podcast here or in video form here.
If you read our blogs often, you’ll know that we are massive fans of the podcast in the herd. This one was sent over to us by Peter Bearder who has recently launched an excellent book called Stage Invasion, on the history of spoken word and poetry.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak this show has been postponed and will be re-scheduled for later in the year.
There will be sumptuous teas and cakes for sale during the interval!
Tickets from – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3-acres-a-cow-a-history-of-land-rights-protest-in-folk-song-story-tickets-90599687103
Facebook event page – https://www.facebook.com/events/2793822667340817/
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, this show has been postponed and will be re-scheduled for later in the year.
Facebook event page – https://www.facebook.com/events/533570637370942/
Eventbrite page for tickets – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3-acres-a-cow-a-history-of-land-rights-protest-in-folk-song-story-tickets-85639416801
I am sad to tell you that we’ve decided to cancel this Three Acres And A Cow show due to the uncertainty around #coronavirus
After consulting with healthcare professionals in our networks it seems like the prudent thing to do, given that our shows are explicitly designed to move as much air around the room as possible, sharing in song and material sustenance with a wide age group of attendees.
I know this will be disappointing, I hope that you can understand this decision and our desire to err on the side of caution during this uncertain time.
We look forward to rearranging this show for later in the year.
Facebook event page – https://www.facebook.com/events/626891218062608/
I am sad to tell you that we’ve decided to cancel this Three Acres And A Cow show due to the uncertainty around #coronavirus
After consulting with healthcare professionals in our networks it seems like the prudent thing to do, given that our shows are explicitly designed to move as much air around the room as possible, sharing in song and material sustenance with a wide age group of attendees.
I know this will be disappointing, I hope that you can understand this decision and our desire to err on the side of caution during this uncertain time.
We look forward to rearranging this show for later in the year.
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/events/586509872203432/
I am sad to tell you that we’ve decided to cancel this Three Acres And A Cow show due to the uncertainty around #coronavirus
After consulting with healthcare professionals in our networks it seems like the prudent thing to do, given that our shows are explicitly designed to move as much air around the room as possible, sharing in song and material sustenance with a wide age group of attendees.
I know this will be disappointing, I hope that you can understand this decision and our desire to err on the side of caution during this uncertain time.
We look forward to rearranging this show for later in the year.
Facebook event page – https://www.facebook.com/events/588810021950571/
Eventbrite ticket page – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3-acres-a-cow-a-history-of-land-rights-protest-in-folk-song-story-tickets-86261146411
It’s a long read but this is a fabulous essay on the history of Glasgow around the 1914-1918 ‘great’ war. Featuring Mrs Barbour’s Army which some of you will know of from Three Acres And A Cow shows.
https://portside.org/2020-01-09/radical-atmosphere-red-clyde
Wikipedia also has a dedicated page to Red Clydeside which is how this period of history is often known
Mo mhallachd aig na caoraich mhòr
My curse upon the great sheep
Càit a bheil clann nan daoine còir
Where now are the children of the kindly folk
Dhealaich rium nuair bha mi òg
Who parted from me when I was young
Mus robh Dùthaich ‘IcAoidh na fàsach?
Before Sutherland became a desert?
Tha trì fichead bliadhna ‘s a trì
It has been sixty-three years
On dh’fhàg mi Dùthaich ‘IcAoidh
Since I left Sutherland
Cait bheil gillean òg mo chrìdh’
Where are all my beloved young men
‘S na nìonagan cho bòidheach?
And all the girls that were so pretty?
Shellar, tha thu nist nad uaigh
Sellar, you are in your grave
Gaoir nam bantrach na do chluais
The wailing of your widows in your ears
Am milleadh rinn thu air an t-sluagh
The destruction you wrought upon the people
Ron uiridh ‘n d’ fhuair thu d’ leòr dheth?
Up until last year, have you had your fill of it?
Chiad Dhiùc Chataibh, led chuid foill
First Duke of Sutherland, with your deceit
‘S led chuid càirdeis do na Goill
And your consorting with the Lowlanders
Gum b’ ann an Iutharn’ bha do thoill
You deserve to be in Hell
Gum b’ fheàrr Iùdas làmh rium
I’d rather consort with Judas
Bhan-Diùc Chataibh, bheil thu ad dhìth
Duchess of Sutherland, where are you now?
Càit a bheil do ghùnan sìod?
Where are your silk gowns?
An do chùm iad thu bhon oillt ‘s bhon strì
Did they save you from the hatred and fury
Tha an diugh am measg nan clàraibh?
Which today permeates the press?
Mo mhallachd aig na caoraich mhòr
My curse upon the great sheep
Càit a bheil clann nan daoine còir
Where now are the children of the kindly folk
Dhealaich rium nuair bha mi òg
Who parted from me when I was young
Mus robh Dùthaich ‘IcAoidh na fàsach?
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