FTX-043 - BLACKDOG & SHEEPCROOK
CAROLYNE HUGHES - Dorset gypsy
Carolyne Hughes (1902-1971) was the most regal of English gypsies. 7 Classic
Ballads, 16 traveller songs, dance-tunes, & some down-to-earth talk provide
a vivid picture of this "Queen of the Romany Gypsies". These are some
of the tracks from a memorable stereo recording by Peter Kennedy, made in her
caravan near Blandford in 1968, during which the farmer, over-laced with cider,
tried unsuccessfully with the aid of his two sons & two tractors, to tow
her caravan out of the field. Carolyne paid no attention, but just carried on
singing.
1. BLACKDOG AND SHEEPCROOK (or FLORA) talk after about her grandmother
-1'13"
2. BLIND BEETLES (or DIED FOR LOVE) explanation of song after - 2'54"
3. THE JEW'S GARDEN (Child #156) talk & words spoken bef & aft
- 1'25"
4. LORD THOMAS & FAIR ELLEN (Child #73) explan aft - 2'12"
5. THE BIRD IN THE BUSH (or THREE MAIDENS) - 1'21"
6. PADDIES LIE DOWN (or PADDY BACKWARDS) talk bef - 1'15"
7. BILLY BOY (or MY BOY, BILLY) - 1'05"
8. THE DRAGGLE-TAILED GIPSIES (Child #200) explan bef & aft - 1'48"
9. TUNING UP (talk bef) Two pieces of mouth-music for Step Dancing - 1'10"
10. FLASH GIRLS AND AIRY (SEVENTEEN COME SUNDAY) - 0'56"
11. AS I WAS A-WALKING (THE SWEET PRIMEROSES) explan aft- 2'22"
12. JEALOUSY THOUGHTS (POISON IN A GLASS OF WINE) sung by her daughter,
Celia with talk bef - 2'05"
13. THE DROWSY SLEEPER by Carolyne with explan of Romany aft - 2'31"
14. GEORGIE (Child #209) talk bef & aft - 1'47"
15. THE SOLDIER AND THE LADY (NIGHTINGALES SING) talk bef & aft
- 3'13"
16. I AM A ROMANY (SONG OF THE THRUSH) talk bef - 1'17"
17. TALK about her Romany life, travel, parents, today and future - 4'00"
18. ADIEU TO OLD ENGLAND, ADIEU talk bef & explan aft - 2'45"
19. THE FLOWER OF SERVANTMEN (Child #106) talk bef - 3'39"
20. THE LONDON MURDER (CRUEL MILLER) Talk after about grandmother -
3'24"
21. A BLACKSMITH COURTED ME talk aft - 2'34"
22. THE SPRIG OF THYME (related to SEEDS OF LOVE) talk before about the age
of the song - 2'31"
23. THE LITTLE BOY (LADY MAISRY Child #65) - 2'54"
24. THE BRAKE OF BRIARS (BRIDGWATER or BRUTON TOWN) sung by her husband,
John Hughes (81), with talk after about his work - 3'58"
25. HENRY, MY SON (Child #12) sung by her daughter, Carrie - 2'42"
Recorded in Carolyne's caravan in a field near Blandford, Dorset 1968. Edited
by Peter Kennedy and first published by Folktrax 1975.
A further selection of songs recorded on this same occasion in 1968 are to
be found on FOLKTRAX 143:-
IF I WERE A BLACKBIRD -. CATCH ME BOLD ROGUE IF YOU CAN (Highwayman Outwitted)
- YOUNG WILLIE DROWNED Talk before & after - BRAKE OF BRIARS -- THE LONG LOST
CHILD (Little Chimney Sweep) - JEALOUSY THOUGHTS (Poison in a glass of wine) -
THE BUTCHER BOY - THE WAGER SONG (The Broomfield Wager) - GAME OF CARDS - ONCE
I HAD A COLOUR (The False-hearted Lover) - POLLY AND THE SAILOR - MY TRUELOVE'S
A SAILOR BOY - MEET ME TONIGHT BY MOONLIGHT (Prisoner Song) - O LORD I'VE SHOT
MY CHILD ( Burglar Song) - DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE - CAN YOU POOKER ROMANES? Conversation
& explanation - . SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN PICTURE - ROAMING BEGGAR BOLD
- THE LAND WHERE THE SHAMROCK GROWS - MOTHER'S LAST LETTER - ERIN-GO-BRAWN - THE
THREE-LEAF SHAMROCK - BLUE-EYED LOVER - NEVER LEAVE YOUR MOTHER. TOM - BUTTERCUP
JOE - RING DAN DOO - ALICE BENBOW - COLD WINTER'S NIGHT (THE FORSAKEN MOTHER AND
CHILD) - SWAN-NECK RIVER - BOLD ROBERT EMETT - OLD TIME'S SAKE - MEET ME TONIGHT
IN DREAMLAND - DONNELLY AND COOPER -WHAT IS THE MEANING OF MOTHER? - COME BACK
TO ERIN - BARBARY ELLEN - COME ALL YOU FEELING MOTHERS. Other songs by the Hughes
family can be heard on FTX-408 and on the Second of Carolyne's Albums on FOLKTRAX
143.
Further recordings of Romany gypsies: Rebecca PENFOLD (Devon) on FTX-042: Welsh
Romany gypsies: Hywel and Manfri WOOD with Nansi Richards (triple harp) on FTX-053;
Phoebe and Joe SMITH (Kent/Suffolk) on FTX-100; SMITHS, FUKKERS and SCAMPS (Sussex/Kent)
on FTX-140 - CAN YOU POOKER ROMANY? (Romany & Tinker Cant) on FTX-441.
