Donkey Laugh - a novelty banjo tune played by Joe Morley @ChandlerRuss

Russ Chandler This is a very rare recording of the great banjo composer Joe Morley playing his own composition solo. Although he wrote hundreds of tunes and is recognised at the most important composer of classic banjo music he only ever recorded two sides on his own.

The other is The Jovial Huntsman which can be found here: youtu.be/r_-k9665xwc

The 78 is Homochord DD-903 and was recorded sometime before December 15 1925.

updated 1 year ago

Donkey Laugh - a novelty banjo tune played by Joe Morley

Russ Chandler 2025-08-11 | This is a very rare recording of the great banjo composer Joe Morley playing his own composition solo. Although he wrote hundreds of tunes and is recognised at the most important composer of classic banjo music he only ever recorded two sides on his own.

The other is The Jovial Huntsman which can be found here: youtu.be/r_-k9665xwc

The 78 is Homochord DD-903 and was recorded sometime before December 15 1925.

Jovial Huntsman as played by Joe Morley

Russ Chandler 2025-08-11 | This is a very rare recording of the great banjo composer Joe Morley playing his own composition solo. Although he wrote hundreds of tunes and is recognised at the most important composer of classic banjo music he only ever recorded two sides on his own.

The other is Donkey Laugh which can be found here: youtu.be/FUj8llKTjEs

The 78 is Homochord DD-903 and was recorded sometime before December 15 1925.

You and a Canoe - an Edwardian banjo romance by Emile Grimshaw

Russ Chandler 2025-07-19 | Accompanied by Charlotte Ridsale on piano.

Performed at the Samuel Worth Chapel, Sheffield on the 18th June 2025.

The Jovial Huntsman - a classic banjo tune by Joe Morley

Russ Chandler 2025-06-02 | A classic style banjo tune from the turn of the last century written by the great Joe Morley.

The Blue Sea Says Yes

Russ Chandler 2025-06-02 | Blue Sea Says Yes written by Robb Johnson.

Jana Is Sixteen

Russ Chandler 2024-04-18 | Jana Zakarneh was a sixteen year old young woman from the town of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. On the 11th December 2022 she went out late to find her cat and was murdered by the Israeli Defence Force.

Robb Johnson wrote this song.

Robb finished the song at my house after a visit involving lots of friends, drinks and cats. I felt privileged to have contributed at least a little to the inspiration for one of his songs, but unfortunately this one has a razor blade in the ice lolly and it's just too brutal for me to play out.

You can find Robb at @TheRobbjohnson

Transatlantique

Russ Chandler 2024-04-18 | Transatlantique is a banjo tune written by Tarrant Bailey Junior on the 12th August 1958.

He dedicated it to the American Banjo Fraternity. They are still going and have a website here - banjofraternity.org

I was helped in the making of this video by Charlie the cat!

Christmas Banjo - Hark the Herald Angels Sing & Little Drummer Boy (featuring Charlie the Cat!)

Russ Chandler 2023-12-22 | A medley of two Christmas carols played in the classic banjo style.

Featuring Charlie the cat!

The tunes were arranged by Clarke Buehling

Abide With Me played on classic banjo tremolo style

Russ Chandler 2023-05-30 | Arranged by SE Turner, this was a celebrated version of the hymn tune in banjo circles prior to World War Two.

This performance is by no means perfect, but I thought it was good enough to share and an interesting example of a tremolo technique that is very rarely heard today.

It was filmed at the Clowne Banjo Rally on 20 May 2023 by Carrie Horgan who has her own channel here - youtube.com/@banjotracks1

Hold the Line plus anti-fascist chants at the Bookmarks Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration

Russ Chandler 2023-02-20 | My performance of Pete Seeger's Hold the Line at the Fiftieth Anniversary celebration for Bookmarks held on 18 February 2023 in London.

Bookmarks is a radical bookshop located in the heart of Bloomsbury in London's West End.

On the platform are Roger Huddle (co founder of Rock Against Racism) Judy Cox, Hannah Lowe (author and poet), Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Rosen (author and former Children's Laureate).

Filming by Dominic McGrath

bookmarksbookshop.co.uk
holdthelinepeekskill.com

Banjotown - classic banjo tune live

Russ Chandler 2022-11-17 | The classic Joe Morley tune Banjotown played at the Greystones, Sheffield on 15 November 2022.

Banjo recording from 1899 - Old Folks At Home played by Clarke & Ray

Russ Chandler 2022-10-14 | This is a rare Berliner 78 with a hand written label dated May 10th 1899.

It was recorded in London. Clarke is Harry Clarke, a pioneering plectrum banjoist who played a banjo tuned eCDGA.

Pity the Downtrodden Landlord

Russ Chandler 2021-11-07 | Written by B Woolf with a tune by Arnold Clayton and dedicated to my previous landlord, who having had more then £100K out of us over ten years and subsequently selling the property for more than half a million quid refused to give us the deposit back because they wanted us to pay for dry cleaning the curtains and rehanging the doors.

Please open your hearts and your purses,
To a man who is misunderstood.
He gets all the kicks and the curses,
Though he wishes you nothing but good.
Well he wistfully begs you to show him,
You think he's a friend, not a louse.
So remember the debt that you owe him,
The landlord who lends you his house.

So pity the downtrodden landlord,
And his back that is burdened and bent.
Respect his grey hairs,
Don't ask for repairs,
And don't be behind with the rent!

Now, you're able to work for a living,
And rejoice in your strength and your skill,
So try to be kind and forgiving,
To a man whom a day's work would kill.
You can work and still talk to your neighbors,
You can look the whole world in the face.
But the landlord who ventured to labor,
Would never survive the disgrace.

When thunder clouds gather and darken,
You can sleep undisturbed in your bed;
But the landlord must sit up and hearken,
And shiver and wonder and dread;
If you're killed, then you die in a hurry,
And you never will know your bad luck,
But the landlord is shaking with worry,
"Has one of my houses been struck?"

Now when a landlord resorts to eviction,
Don't think that he does it for spite;
He is acting from deepest conviction,
And what's right, after all, is what's right.
But I see that your hearts are all hardened,
And I fear I'm appealing in vain;
Yet I hope my last plea will be pardoned,
If I beg on my knees once again.

COP26: Whats This? A song for the COP26 Coallitions Global Day of Action live in Sheffield

Russ Chandler 2021-11-07 | Here's my COP26 song performed as part of the COP26 Coallition's Global Day of Action in Barkers Pool, Sheffield on Saturday November 6 2021.

Find out more abut the song here - youtu.be/Cl5YroFK7Lg

Cop 26: Whats This? A song for the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

Russ Chandler 2021-10-31 | World leaders will meet in Glasgow in November at the global climate talks, COP26. We are organising decentralised mass mobilisations across the world, bringing together movements to build power for system change – from indigenous struggles to trade unions, from racial justice groups to youth strikers.

cop26coalition.org

COP26, what’s this?
COP26, what’s it gonna fix?
COP26, just more politics
And we’re running out of time.

This flooding is brought to you by Microsoft
This wildfire by Sainsbury's and our friends at Sky
This drought by Unilever and some others we forgot
We're saving the planet
One multinational at a time

Your speech is sponsored by “blah, blah, blah”
Your blind eye by corporate environmental crime
It’s greenwash, we know what you are
You’re not saving the planet
And were running out of time

You've got the tarmac, but we've got the glue
You're stuck on the motorway, and we're stuck on it too
You can stick your air source heat pump scheme,
'Cos that just will not do
You've got the tarmac,
but we make the glue!

Song by Steve White & Russ Chandler of Steve White & the Protest Family
protestfamily.com

Video footage from pexels.com, thanks to all the creators.

BBC 4 Sessions - Martin Carthy & Friends

Russ Chandler 2021-09-03 | Broadcast: Sat 4th Jan 2003, 21:00 on BBC Four

The venerated folk singer reunites with many of his collaborators for a concert at the Union Chapel in Islington, north London, featuring his daughter Eliza and wife Norma Carthy.

Palestine

Russ Chandler 2021-06-05 | My banjo arrangment of the song Palestine by Jim Page.

Find out more about Jim here - www.jimpage.net

I’ll tell you a story, make it clear as I can
About the far away troubles in the holy land
Pictures of the children etched in your mind
Layin' down their bodies on the firing line

The people who live there, they live under the gun
Where it was homeland for a thousand years before the soldiers come
Surrounded by the armies, airplanes in the sky
Everybody knows someone who had to die

Oh Palestine, there's a hole in your soul
Oh Palestine, will it ever be whole?

Talk about the settlers, come from so far away
Talk about the money from the U.S.A.
Talk about the bullets made of plastic and steel
Pictures of a Palestine underneath the Iron Heel

What do you do when they come to your home?
And they tell you your land is no longer your own
Do you let them take it, do you dare to resist?
Pictures of a Palestine underneath the Iron Fist

You say you want peace but you pay for subjugation
You talk about a settlement in terms of occupation
You call for human rights but Ye never say what kind
You can see what it's come to in the faces of Palestine

Does it ever make you think about the friends you endorse?
The armies of the generals riding on an iron horse
Does it ever make you wonder why it always seems to be
Such an undemocratic version of democracy?

Oh Palestine, there's a hole in your soul
Oh Palestine, will it ever be whole?
Oh Palestine, there's a hole in your soul
Oh Palestine, let your story be told

A banjo Christmas Card! Jolly Old Christmas by Leslie Sarony

Russ Chandler 2020-12-21 | Featuring Steve White & the Protest Family on "No!!".

Jolly Old Christmas was written by Leslie Sarony and released in 1932.

Russ Chandler Music - russchandlermusic.com
Steve White & the Protest Family - protestfamily.com

Christmas only comes along to see us once a year
So we're feeling very gay and hearty
Everyone is dressed up in their brand new Sunday gear
And everybody has a little party

The roads are full of mud and there is slush inside the yard
The only snow we ever see is on a Christmas card

It's jolly old christmas
Look at old father, got a cigar on
It's jolly old christmas
Everyone's happy singing all the latest songs

We all pull our bonbons
Nothing but junk inside them

It's jolly old christmas
All get a motto, everyone's blotto
It's jolly old christmas
Everyone's full of ginger beer and monkey nuts

It's jolly old christmas
Look at old mother, stuffing the turkey
It's jolly old christmas
Look at the kids smile when they see the Christmas pud

And on father's whiskers
Someone has tied a cracker

It's jolly old christmas
Look it's so pleasant, all get a present
It's jolly old christmas
All that Pa gets is a lousy pair of socks

Jolly old Christmas, four more weeks and our income tax is due!
But are we downhearted? No!
What did Gladstone say in 1442?
Drink and be merry, for the next ten years will be the worst!

It's jolly old christmas
There's sister Mary dressed like a fairy
It's jolly old christmas
Granny is laughing although she hasn't many teeth.

We all drink old Jims health
He comes out of quad at easter

It's jolly old christmas
Wear hats with bobs on, blooming great knobs on
It's jolly old christmas
Oh we stuff ourselves until we nearly bust

It's jolly old christmas
Look at our Nelly, she's full of jelly
It's jolly old christmas
Oh you'd think that we were blooming millionaires

They've got paper hats on
Fathers a blooming General

It's jolly old christmas
Look at poor Molly, she's sat on some holly
It's jolly old christmas
We won't have a blooming sausage when it's done

Syncopatin Shuffle - A radio documentary about the banjo.

Russ Chandler 2020-12-19 | Syncopatin' Shuffle is a BBC Radio documentary about the banjo, presented by Julian Vincent.

It was broadcast on the 29th January 2007.
I do not own the copyright to the audio or any of the images used.

russchandlermusic.com

Theyre Beginning to Notice Me! - A Victorian music hall song with banjo accompaniment.

Russ Chandler 2020-12-14 | They're Beginning to Notice Me is a Music Hall song written by Murray and Leigh in 1899 and sung by George "Prime Minister of Mirth" Robey.

The banjo part is from the song as it appered in Sheards 7th Banjo Album which you can download here: classic-banjo.com/files/JOURNALS_AND_ALBUMS/Sheards_Banjo_Annual_No_07.pdf

Lyrics:

1. I never care to mingle with the vulgar thong, not me!
By nature I’m intended for refined society
I make a point of dressing in the latest style you know
And ramble through those places where the titled people go.

Chorus:
They're beginning to notice me! They're beginning to notice me!
I raised my hat to the Duke today, His grace was looking the opposite way,
So I sauntered across to the Marquis, a very old friend you see,
He have me the end of his cigar!
They're beginning to notice me!

2. I'm awfully fond of ballet girls! I think they're Bally fine !
They've got some up in town just now, I wish each one was mine.
Each night I go to watch them from my own particular stall;
But, ah! I fear my fatal features fascinate them all.

Chorus:
They're beginning to notice me! They're beginning to notice me!
They come on the stage and at me they point,
And say to each other, "Ah, that's the joint!”
And when I go round to the stage-door they're as nice as they can be.
They borrow my bobs and half-a- crowns!
They're beginning to notice me!

3. You all know Lady Tiptop's house; I'm often there to dine.
The housemaid and the cook, you see, are dear old friends of mine.
Before they took to feeding me, my ribs were sticking out.
They hardly knew when I was there; but now I've grown so stout. For…

Chorus:
They're beginning to notice me! They're beginning to notice me!
My clothes were awfully loose at first;
But the seams have lately begun to burst.
The cook and Matilda, the housemaid , they giggle and laugh with glee.
They've kindly offered to patch me up!
They're beginning to notice me!

4. I've tried to clear our yard of cats, but, hang me, if I can!
Though lately I've been working on a somewhat novel plan.
Concealed within the fowl-house, I've been waiting every night;
But somehow both the husband birds, they hardly think it right!

Chorus:
They're beginning to notice me! They're beginning to notice me!
Their glances go through me like daggers and knives;
They think I've designs on their various wives.
And the way they look at the ladies, well, it’s, perfectly plain to see
I've sort of upset their domestic peace! They're beginning to notice me !

Dont mess with Banjo...

Russ Chandler 2020-10-10 | A clip from the 1969 movie Sabata starring Lee Van Cleef and William Berger.

This channel and I do not claim any right over any of the graphics, images, songs used in this video. All rights reserved to the respective copyright owners.

A Statue of Boris Johnson

Russ Chandler 2020-09-24 | A song by Steve White sung at the Watham Forest Stand Up To Racism Refugee solidarity day of action Saturday September 19 2020.

The Labouring Man - traditional folk song played on banjo.

Russ Chandler 2020-08-30 | My banjo arrangment of a traditional English song I heard on a Critics Group album.

The song dates from around the time of the Napoleonic Wars but it's central message hasn't aged a day. You can read more about the song here - mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/thelabouringman.html

You Englishmen of each degree,
A moment listen unto me:
From day to day you all may see
The poor are frowned on by degree.
To please you all I do intend,
So listen to the lines I've penned;
By them, you know who never can
Do without the labouring man.

In former days, you all must know,
The poor man cheerful used to go.
Quite clean and neat, upon my life,
With his children and his darling wife.
And for his labour it was said,
A fair day's wages he was paid.
But now to live he hardly can—
May God protect the labouring man.

There is one thing we must confess,
When England find they're in a mess,
And has to face the daring foe,
Unto the labouring men they go
To fight their battles, understand,
Either on sea or on the land;
Deny the truth we never can,
They call upon the labouring man.

Some for soldiers they will go,
And jolly sailors do we know,
To guard Old England day and night,
And for their country boldly fight.
But when they do return again
They're looked upon with great disdain;
Now in distress throughout the land
You may behold the labouring man.

When Bonaparte and Nelson too,
And Wellington at Waterloo.
Were fighting both by land and sea,
The poor man gained these victories!
Their hearts are cast in honour's mould,
The sailors and the soldiers bold.
And every battle, understand
Was conquered by the labouring man.

The labouring man will plough the deep,
Till the ground and sow the wheat,
Fight the battles when afar,
Fear no dangers or a scar;
But still they're looked upon like thieves
By them who bide at home at ease,
And everyday throughout the land
They try to starve the labouring man.

7. Now if wars should rise again,
And England be in want of men
They'll have to search the country round
To find the lads that plough the ground,
Then to some foreign land they'll go
To fight and dub the daring foe;
Do what they will, do what they can,
They can't do without the labouring man.

When the Old Dun Cow Caught Fire

Russ Chandler 2020-08-28 | When the Old Dun Cow Caught Fire is a music hall song written by Harry Wincott in 1893, and is most associated with Harry Champion. It's also become a real folk club Standard.

Some pals and I in a public house
Was playing dominoes one night
When all of a sudden in the potman runs
With a face all chalky white
'What's up?' said Jones 'Why you silly old fool,
Or have you seen old Aunt Mariah?'
'Me Aunt be buggered,' then the potman cried
'The bleeding pubs on fire.'

'On fire!' said Brown, 'What a bit of luck!
Come along with me ' shouts he.
'Down in the cellar, if the fire ain't there,
We'll have a fair old spree.'
So we all goes down 'long with good old Brown
The booze we couldn't miss,
And we hadn't been there ten minutes or more
When we was just like this.

And there was Brown, upside down
Licking up the whiskey off the floor
'Booze, Booze, ' then the firemen cried
As they came knocking at the door
'Don't let 'em in till it's all mopped up'
Someone said to Mackintyre
So we all got blue blind, paralytic drunk
When the old Dun Cow caught fire.

Old Johnson flew to a port wine tub
And he gave it just a few hard knocks
He then starts taking off his pantaloons
Likewise his shoes and socks
'Hold hard' said Brown, 'If you want to wash your feet
There's a barrel full of four ale here
Don't put your trotters in the port wine Jack
When there's more old stale beer'

Just then there was such a dreadful crash
Half the bloody roof gave way
We were almost drowned with a fireman's hose
But still we were all gay.
For we found some sacks, and some old tin tacks
Shoved ourselves inside
And we sat there getting bleary-eyed drunk
When the old Dun Cow caught fire
At last the fireman got inside
And found us all dead drunk
But like true heroes there they stood
They did not do a bunk
They saw the booze upon the floor
And gave a sudden yell
They took their helmets off and then
Upon their knees they fell.

'At last! At last!' the firemen cried
'At last we know the news'
'Come on! Come on! ' us lads all cried
'Come on and have a booze.'

John Foreman - The Ouses In Between Full LP

Russ Chandler 2020-06-06 | A very rare studio recording of music hall historian John Foreman.

Released by Reality records in 1966.

Track Listing:

The Four-oss Sharrybang
If It wasn't For The 'Ouses In Between
Your Baby 'As Gorn Dahn The Plug 'Ole
Married To A Mermaid
Pretty Polly Perkins
Don't Go Down The Mine, Dad
The Hob-Nailed Boots That Father Wore
I Live In Trafalgar Square
Down The Road
If Those Lips Could Only Speak
The Amateur Whitewasher
Villikins And His Dinah
The Winkle Song
Captain Ginjah, O.T.

Maggie Jane as sung by Florrie Forde

Russ Chandler 2020-05-17 | My arrangment of Maggie Jane as sung by Florrie Forde (1876–1940).It was written hy Maurice Scott and Fred Godfrey and I heard it on an Imperial 78 recoreded in March 1931.

It's a pretty slight song but has a chorus that's as infectious as coronavirus.

But here's a question - what's it about? Is Maggie pretending to be going out on the razzle? Or is she actually going out on the pull but not very good at it?

Let me know what you think in the comments.

In the boarding house that’s kept by Missus Payne
There lives little Maggie Jane
She’s so shy, she’s so good
Never had a kiss
She came home late the other night
The boarders shouted this...

Maggie Jane
You’ve been at it again
Maggie Jane
You’ve been at it again
Down in the town the other morning
You took the gypsy’s warning
Maggie Jane
Courting isn’t your game
What were you doing in lover’s lane?
You try to tell us that you’d kissed yourself goodnight
Maggie Jane you’ve been at it again!

All the boarders cry to little Maggie Jane
Tell us, what’s the heroes name?
Did he hug, did he squeeze?
Kiss you I suppose?
He’s greedy cos he’s even kissed
The powder off your nose!

Jazzbos Holiday by Tarrant Bailey Junior

Russ Chandler 2020-04-18 | A splendid piece of English ragtime written by Tarrant Bailey Junior in 1927.
Played by Russ Chandler (banjo) and Simon Armstrong (guitar).

russchandlermusic.com

Changes by Alan Price arranged for banjo

Russ Chandler 2020-03-15 | This is my arrangment of the song "Changes" written by Alan Price as part of the sountrack to the 1973 movie "O Lucky Man!" directed by Lindsey Anderson and starring Malcolm McDowell.

It's set to the old Salvation Army tune "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".

Everyone is going through changes
No one knows what's going on
And everybody changes places
But the world still carries on

Love must always change to sorrow
And everyone must play the game
Here today and gone tomorrow
But the world goes on the same

Round and Round the Picket Line by Hilda Sims and the City Ramblers

Russ Chandler 2020-03-10 | From a Topic 78rpm record TRC. 101.

The Ramblers were: Russell Quaye, Shirley Bland, Eric Bunyan, Vic Pitt, Bobby Taylor and Jimmie McGregor .

Released May, 1956.

The Man That Waters The Workers Beer sung by Paddy Ryan

Russ Chandler 2020-02-29 | The first Topic record, TRC1, released in 1939.
Performed by Paddy Ryan of Unity Theatre

I am the man, the very fat man
That waters the workers' beer
I am the man, the very fat man
That waters the workers' beer
And what do I care if it makes them ill
If it makes them terribly queer
I've a car, a yacht, and an aeroplane,
And I waters the workers' beer.

Now when I waters the workers' beer
I puts in strychnine
Some methylated spirits
And a can of kerosene
Ah, but such a brew so terribly strong
It would make them terribly queer
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers' beer!

Now a drop of good beer is good for a man
When he's tired, thirsty and hot
And I sometimes have a drop myself
From a very special pot
For a strong and healthy working class
Is the thing that I most fear
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers' beer!

Now ladies fair, beyond compare
Be you maiden or wife
Spare a thought for such a man
Who leads such a lonely life
For the water rates are frightfully high,
And the meths is terribly dear
And there ain't the profit there used to be
In watering the workers' beer!

A banjo carol - God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

Russ Chandler 2019-12-24 | An arrangment of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen by David Miles MBE.

Psychedelic Gin & Tonic

Russ Chandler 2019-11-22 | ...

Russ Chandler - Old Blue

Russ Chandler 2019-11-16 | Just a bit of fun.

Me playing something like Clifton Hicks version of Old Blue.

It's an old song but I added a verse of my own at the end.

Erika Kulnys sings Raven

Russ Chandler 2019-09-30 | Erika Kulnys sings Raven by Marca Cassity at Walthamstow Folk Club Spetember 29 2019.

Russ Chandler - For No One by The Beatles

Russ Chandler 2018-11-10 | My arrangement of The Beatles For No One, from the album Revolver.

russchandlermusic.com

Musical Dawsons Famous Choir of Canaries - Loves Old Sweet Song

Russ Chandler 2018-11-09 | A novelty 78 record from 1933.
REX 8066-A

Two Norfolk Singers: Harry Cox & Sam Larner

Russ Chandler 2018-05-16 | Interviewed by Charles Parker at their homes in 1962.
From the Pete Kennedy collection.

Copyright remains with the original holders.

Zog nit keyn mol (The Partisans Song) by Russ Chandler ft. Rachel Weston

Russ Chandler 2018-04-01 | From the album "On The Roof Of Your House, All Alone" to be released on 1st May 2018.

Written in the Vilna ghetto by Hirsh Glick it was the experience of hearing this song sung by a group of Jewish socialists led by David Rosenberg over one of the ruined Crematoria at Auschwitz which inspired me to try putting it on banjo. David and I changed the words very slightly and Rachel Weston is the featured singer.

Music © Russ Chandler. Copyright for images remains with their owners.

Never say the final journey is at hand
Never say we can't live equal in this land,
The longed-for hour shall come, oh never fear!
Our tread drums forth the tidings - we are here!

From land of palm-tree to the far-off land of snow,
We shall be coming with our torment and our woe.
And everywhere our blood has sunk into the earth,
Shall our bravery, our vigor blossom forth!

We’ll have the morning sun to set our day aglow,
And all our yesterdays shall vanish with the foe,
And if the time is long before the sun appears,
Then let this song go like a signal through the years.

This song was written with our blood and not with lead;
It’s not a song that birds sing overhead,
It was a people, among toppling barricades,
That sang this song of ours with pistols and grenades.

So never say that there is only death for you.
Leaden skies may be concealing days of blue -
Because the hour we have hungered for is near;
Beneath our tread the earth shall tremble: We are here!

A Christmas Message from Walthamstow Folk Club..!

Russ Chandler 2017-12-25 | A folkie seasonal from Walthamstow Folk Club greeting courtesy of the guys at Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

Aint It Grand To Be Bloomin Well Dead?

Russ Chandler 2017-12-24 | Written by Leslie Sarony
Arranged and performed by Russ Chandler
russchandlermusic.com

Lately there's nothing but trouble, grief and strife
There's not much attraction about this bloomin' life
Last night I dreamt I was bloomin' well dead
As I went to the funeral, I bloomin' well said,

Look at the flowers, bloomin' great orchids
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
And look at the corfin, bloomin' great 'andles
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

I was so 'appy to think that I'd popped off
I said to a bloke with a nasty, 'acking cough
Look at the black 'earse, bloomin' great 'orses
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

Look at the bearers, all in their frock coats
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
And look at their top 'ats, polished with Guinness
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

Some people there were praying for me soul
I said, "It's the first time I've been off the dole"
Look at the mourners, bloomin' well sozzled
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

Look at the children, bloomin' excited
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
Look at the neighbours, bloomin' delighted
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

"Spend the insurance", I murmered, "For alack,
You know I shan't be with you going back"
Look at the Missus, bloomin' well laughing
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

Look at me Sister, bloomin new hat on
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
And look at me Brother, bloomin' cigar on
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

We come from clay and we all go back they say
Don't 'eave a brick it may be your Aunty May
Look at me Grandma, bloomin' great haybag
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!

Look at the florists, counting their profits
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!
Look at the lawyer, reading the will out
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

Taxes and rents I'll have no need to pay
I dodged them by blooming well snuffing it, hooray!
Look at the landlord, Blooming old Shylock
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

Look at me schoolmates, blooming well giggling
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!
Look at the earthworms, blooming well wriggling
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

All my old chinas, I saw them standing round
I said as they slowly lowered me in the ground
Look at the tombstone, granite with knobs on
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

Now its all over, look at them scarpering
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!
Look at the weather, blooming well raining
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

Then I awoke with a really shocking start
I found me in bed, with the missus on me arm
I got the milk in, baby was screaming
Ain't it grand, to be blooming well dead!

Nobody Knew She Was There

Russ Chandler 2017-12-24 | A song by Ewan MacColl, arranged and performed by Russ Chandler.

russchandlermusic.com

She walks in the cold dark hour before the morning
The hour when wounded night begins to bleed
Stands at the back of the patient queue
The silent almost sleeping queue
Seeing no-one and not being seen

Working shoes are wrapped in working apron
Rolled in an oilcloth bag across her knees
The swaying tram assaults the morning
Blue grey steely day is dawning
Draining the last few dregs of sleep away

Over the bridge and the writhing foul black water
Down through empty corridors of stone
Each of the blind glass walls she passes
Shows her twin in sudden flashes
Which is the mirror image, which is real?

Crouching hooded gods of word and number
Accept her bent-backed homage as their due
The buckets steam like incense coils
Around the endless floor she toils
Cleaning the same white sweep each day anew

Glistening sheen of new-washed floors is fading
There where office clocks are marking time
Night's black tide has ebbed away
By cliffs of glass awash with day
She hurries from her labours still unseen

He who lies besides her does not see her
Nor does the child who once lay at her breast
The shroud of self-denial covers
Eager girl and tender lover
Only the faded servant now is left

How could it be that no-one saw her drowning?
How did we come to be so unaware?
At what point did she cease to be her?
When did we cease to look and see her?
How is it no-one knew she was there?

The photos in this clip were found online. They do not belong to me and all copyright remains with the original holders.

Russ Chandler - Pale Blue Eyes

Russ Chandler 2017-12-24 | Pale Blue Eyes by Lou Reed

As arranged and performed by Russ Chandler on the album "Last Night In Babylon".

russchandlermusic.com

Sometimes I feel so happy,
Sometimes I feel so sad.
Sometimes I feel so happy,
But mostly you just make me mad.
Baby, you just make me mad.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.

Thought of you as my mountain top,
Thought of you as my peak.
Thought of you as everything,
I've had but couldn't keep.
I've had but couldn't keep.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.

If I could make the world as pure and strange as what I see,
I'd put you in the mirror,
I put in front of me.
I put in front of me.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.

Skip a life completely.
Stuff it in a cup.
She said, Money is like us in time,
It lies, but can't stand up.
Down for you is up."
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.

It was good what we did yesterday.
And I'd do it once again.
The fact that you are married,
Only proves, you're my best friend.
But it's truly, truly a sin.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.
Linger on, your pale blue eyes.

No Master by William Morris

Russ Chandler 2017-08-22 | This is my arrangement of the song "No Master" written by William Morris from the 1894 collection "Chants for Socialists"

Life in the East of London

Russ Chandler 2017-06-20 | This song was written by Arthur West in 1891. It was sung by JW Rowley and a 78 recording of it was made by Pen Caws in the early twentieth century.

It's a pictorial journey around the East End of London. I don't know how much of it is authentic to the authors experience or was just taken from the news of the day, but I thought it was quite unusual to have a song of this type point up the injustice and poverty of the city.

The resonances with the present day East End were so striking I wrote an additional verse to bring it up to date.

"Donah" is old fashioned slang for "girlfriend".

Thanks to Natasha Munoz for her help in making the video, which we made in the same streets referred to in the song.

Additional verse by Russ Chandler
Arranged & Performed by Russ Chandler

"Life in the East of London"
By Arthur West, 1891

If you want to see the bustle of our East-end London life
Tis a matter very easy, soon you’re in the busy strife.
“Here you are, sir, Mile End Road sir, Jump up here along with me”
O’er the bridge and through the city off you rattle speedily

Hear the busman’s merry banter with the cabmen on the way,
“Now then old-un, Come pull up there, Ain’t you had a fare all day?”
Up through Fenchurch Street he takes you, and before long you get down,
Amid the scenes you’ve come to visit in the wild, wild East of Town.

There you see the busy throng,
How they push each other along,
Some with a jovial laugh and song,
Some with woe quite undone.
Who shall ever stay that tide?
To the end it will abide,
Riches and poverty side by side.
That is life in the East-end of London.

See the coster with his barrow, loudly shouting “Buy, buy buy!”
“Fine and large, who’ll buy a marrow?” sells his lot feels bloomin’ dry.
Goes into a pub, close handy, but he knows the one to choose,
Stops until he’s chucked out singing rorty songs and full of booze.

Then on Sundays he and others take their donahs for a drive,
And to seat behind one gee-gee they can manage twenty five!
Off to Epping, good old Epping, late at night come home again,
No one knows which is his donah, each one shouts a different strain…

“When the Bloom is on the Rye”,
“Hi-tiddley-hi-ti-tiddley-hi-ti-ti”,
“Drink up boys and never say die!”
Never is the fun done.
“Gipsy Maid” must harmonise,
with “Two lovely fine black eyes”,
“Happy go lucky the coster boys!”,
That is life in the East-end of London.

Mark the Jew there, old clothes selling, swears the coat’s a perfect love.
“Fits you where it touches, does it? So help me fits you like a glove”.
See the loafing drunken ruffian, children clinging to his knee,
“Come home father, we’re so hungry, do come home to mother please”.

See the chickaleary joker, does the dipping, knows his game,
See the outcast on the pavement, once so pure now lost to shame.
See the heartless wealthy sweater, fat and sleek and knows his book,
The upon his toil-worn victim let us cast a pitying look…

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch, in poverty,
Every night and day is she,
For her starving children three,
Harder work by none done.
Stitch, Stitch, Stitch, while bread they crave,
Doomed to die the sweaters slave,
Her only rest is the paupers grave,
Such is life in the East-end of London.

Walk up Brick Lane to Shoreditch High Street, squint your eyes and try to see,
The barista in the coffee outlet, can I get a chai latte?
Commutes for hours from distant suburbs or drowning in the flood of wealth,
A tide of glass and steel and concrete that blazes light but eats itself.

See the cleaner from the hotel, dreams of home across the sea.
See the broker in his Merc can sell you authenticity.
See the coster’s pub still standing, but lunch is a week of the living wage,
And the endless stream of data mongers, “reach out” and “scrum” and quietly rage.

Still you see the busy throng,
Still do the work but no place to belong,
Still the market, the bus, the lost ones,
Still the sweater strutting.
Who shall ever stay that tide?
To the end it will abide,
Riches and poverty side by side.
That is life in the East-end of London.

Cosmotheka presents The Two Leslies

Russ Chandler 2017-06-10 | An episode of the BBC radio show "Double Tops" recorded off-air in 1988.

The Two Leslies were a popular British double act of the 1930's and 1940's featuring Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes.

The first part of the opening track is missing.

Copyright remains with the owner.

Paris

Russ Chandler 2017-05-13 | Clive Palmer's song "Paris" as arranged by Wizz Jones.

Recorded in the Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub in Walthamstow, London.

Walk the lonely streets at midnight
In the gently falling rain
Throw some money to the clochard
Who is sleeping in the lane

And I remember how I loved you
All the pleasure and the pain
While the lovers all lie sleeping
In the early morning rain

See the lights across the river
In the water how they shine
And I remember all those faces
That have vanished into time

And I remember how I loved you
All the pleasure and the pain
While the lovers all lie sleeping
In the early morning rain

In the city all lie sleeping
Though the city never sleeps
And the autumn leaves they tumble
And they gather at my feet

And I remember how I loved you
All the pleasure and the pain
While the lovers all lie sleeping
In the early morning rain

Ive Never Wronged An Onion

Russ Chandler 2017-05-07 | I've Never Wronged an Onion

Written By Robert Hargreaves & S. J. Damerel
Arranged and Performed by Russ Chandler

We know it was performed by George Bass (1888 - 1928) and Ernie Mayne (1871 - 1937).

I've seldom hurt a single thing or person in my life
Except people who don't matter like the landlord or the wife
But now I'm puzzled and my heart is broken you will see
Perhaps you can give me comfort, this is what has troubled me

I've never wronged an onion
I hope I never shall
I've never wronged an onion
I treat them as a pal
Tell me, tell me, tell me why?
I've never wronged an onion
Why does it make me cry?

The trusting heart of cabbages I've broken I will own
I've torn a lettuce limb from limb no mercy have a I shown
I've poked potatoes eyes out and not a single tear I've shed
And the blood of many beetroots is upon my head

Olly Oakley - Gondolier Two Step

Russ Chandler 2017-03-11 | Gramophone Company single sided 78 record GC-6454

Tell Your Father - Tell Your Mother (That Im Good Enough For You) by Leslie Sarony

Russ Chandler 2017-02-26 | Sung by Leslie Sarony.

Gourd Banjo Tunes

Russ Chandler 2017-02-20 | Briggs Corn Shucking Jig & Joel Sweeny's Jig recorded at the Traditions Festival 19 February 2017