Sleeve note:
SIDE ONE
THE HOUR THAT THE SHIP COMES IN: Despite the overwhelming popularity of
Bob Dylans “Blowing in the Wind” and “The Times They
are A-Changing”, this characteristic song from America's most
eloquent angry young man is one of his best. Like most of the others, it
takes a sidelong swipe at something. Choose your enemy-you'll find the
song fits.
POLLY WOLLY DOODLE: A gem from the most authentic of folk sources. The
Islanders picked it up in snatches from a well-wisher in a Glasgow pub.
They've kicked it about a bit. added a line or two here and there, but
preserved the earthy honesty and robustness of the original.
FOUR STRONG WINDS: Ian Tyson, a Canadian singer, wrote this beautiful
song about his country and her migrant workers. The Canadian climate is
so extreme that casual, outdoor workers follow the sun in search of a
job. From the tobacco fields of Ontario they cross to the rolling wheat
fields of the prairies, then on again to the orchards of British Columbia. love
touches their lives it, too, must be left behind when the sun bids them on.
THE PAWN SONG: Unlikely as it may seem. Ian, the banjo player in the group,
is a pawn-broker. As such he is probably nearer to the roots of folk music than
any other performer in the British Isles. Ian wrote this song in between lending
half-crowns on such assorted valuable; as the sheets off the family bed or the
fireplace fender. The “knock”, by the way is a clock. The “cludgie”
as if you hadn't guessed, is the smallest room in the house.
MARY DON'T YOU WEEP: One of the “standards” amongst the gospel songs.
The group enjoy these rumbustious American hymns and sing many of them round the clubs.
This is a fair example of the enthusiasm and vigour which can make even a folk cliche sound
fresh and exciting.
SPANISH IS A LOVING TONGUE: A traditional and very beautiful love ballad based on the
Spanish phrase, “mi amor, mi corazon”. American scholars dispute its place
of origin, but it is obvious from its narrative that the border referred to is the line between
Mexico and United States.
JOHN HENRY: A whole book has been written about the heroic exploits of John Henry, America's
most redoubtable folk hero. By pitting his muscles against the power of the automatic steam
drill John Henry was not the first man to challenge the machine, but he remains the champion
of all who see something in the human spirit that no machine can ever match.
SIDE TWO
THE DARK ISLAND: The history of this song is complicated yet simple. The tune is a traditional
Highland pipe tune which was adapted and used for the B.B.C. television serial
“The Dark Island.” So far as anyone knows no lyric had been written for it up
until that time. I had always loved the melody but remained dissatisfied with such published
lyrics that appeared after the tune became popular. While we were making this disc I wrote
a lyric for the Islanders and they liked it enough to want to put in on their first LP. If this version
of “The Dark Island” disappoints, the fault is mine.
RED YO-YO: A happily daft little song from the prolific pen of
Matt McGinn,
a Glasgow ex-school teacher, whose great gift is his ability to write songs of contemporary life
in what sounds like an authentic, Traditional idiom. This one could be passed off as yet another
Glasgow street song. handed down from generation to generation, like the rituals and games of
the plavground. The chances are-and this would be a great tribute to
Matt
McGinn—that fifty years from now ' Red Yo-Yo “ will be as much part of folk history
as “Coulter's Candy.”
NO IRISH NEED APPLY: The Clancy Brothers sang this song to the late President Kennedy at the
White House. The President's grandfather had heard it in Boston in the middle of the last
century-at a time when “ no Irish need apply” meant what it said.
GOLDEN RIVER: To “ swim the golden river” in this context means to ' go over
the top”, to engage battle. This is a modern song, written by Jimmy Driftwood, about
the American Civil War.
JOLLY ROVING TARS: Jack the sailor, even to this day, is still one of the easiest “touches”
in the world. Sailors, they say, don't care. And they don't seem to leam, either, despite the fact that,
as this lyric shows, they know how welcome they are when they come ashore with empty wallets.
BANKS O' SICILY: Another pipe tune turned into a song. Hamish Henderson, whose contribution
to the preservation and revival of Scottish folk music will never be adequately rewardeo involved
in the Sicilian campaign in the Second World War. He wrote this fine lyric as a tribute to the
“Jocks ” who fought so well in that campaign.
W. GORDON SMITH
(Copyright, 1965)
The Bass player at all sessions was IAN BROWN Produced for WAVERIEY
RECORDS by W GORDON SMITH Sound: COLIN WATSON
