Here’s one to stir the radicals, written by Sydney Carter, who apparently also gave us Lord Of The Dance and Jon says, “This was sung most nights in the Half Moon in the days when Ian Giles and myself lived upstairs. Happy days.”
The John Ball in question here is the Lollard priest who became associated with Watt Tyler’s Peasants Revolt. Chris Wood included this on his excellent Trespassers CD and he’s joined by Karine Polwart on this track. You can read about John Ball on Wiki here and note his gruesome demise, perhaps as you’d expect. The thrust of this song comes from a sermon that Ball preached to the rebels at Blackheath that included the question “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?” A link to Mudcat here is most interesting in several ways. There’s more information about the author, a Quaker apparently and that this was written on the 500 year anniversary of the Peasants Revolt. I note with great irony that the song has been removed from Mudcat at the insistence of the American copyright holders. That may be in response to Michael Flatley’s Riverdance, but seems so utterly contrary to the sentiment of this song. I am not in any way in favour of stealing music but in this case I wonder who the beneficiary is. I am, therefore, moved to suggest a mass trespass. Anyone who can should sing this out, loud and proud, but learn it quick or buy the Chris Wood CD (you should do that anyway if you can) and learn it from there, as I wonder whether we will be able to keep this track up.
You can buy the January digital album now from all good download stores.
If you are still checking in, Happy Birthday, YOUNG Muzza, and no talking of checking out, except at the supermarket! Xx.
Just seen from yesterday that you are still checking in, Young Muzza! But I got to ‘yesterday’ today, so ‘today’ became ‘tomorrow,’ if you get my drift. In other words, I’m still keeping owlish hours! Lol.
Do you ever visit Folking.com?
“The folking team are a dedicated group of people with a passion for music who give their free time to furthering the interests of the folk, acoustic and Americana music movement; we are a growing team of writers & interviewers, reviewing the latest releases from the world of folk, each in own inimitable style…”
I also noticed a photo of the New Forest Folk Festival on there. Check it out at:
https://folking.com/?fbclid=IwAR0uDEyNM9WwUSYwmO08DjhQRYY_HyM682qP-7KcxryRxVlQgGHkI-SbQO0
Thank you for your good wishes young Janie/PW…..I will check out your links.
Happy Birthday, Young Muzza! If you thought you’d get away, you were wrong! Lol. I might even record another of my star solo performances to send you as a ‘gift.’ Not John Ball, though I really like it. I’m thinking ‘mill song’… hahahaha!
Oh Dear me….the mill is runnin’ fast……..that would be a nice one Jane…..doesn’t have to be perfect…..can your snippets be posted on here?
I read the book “When Adam Delved…” a long time ago. I agree that Chris Wood’s version on Trespasser is a great.
Happy birthday, Muzza!!
So obliging of Jon to provide this splendid performance of an upbeat, forward-looking song for the first day of your new year.
A great song for your birthday Muzza, a Happy Birthday and enjoy your day
Thank you Jane (Marylands) and John for your good wishes….and here I go to start my next 365 day journey around the sun!!!!
Happy birthday, Muzza! 🥳 Hope this uplifting song gets your new year off to a great start.
Happy birthday Muzza nice song hope your joining in!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Muzza, enjoy your day
Ha….I had pc prob but here I am at last to thank Jane(Maryland) Lindy lou and John for your birthday wishes…..gonna sing a belated John Ball this very moment.
no fun getting old is it( older)
Hope to read this again next January.!!
Ha….just found out, that, on 29thJan that our little cat botherer(Jane-Yorkshire)
was in her car and rammed by a drugged up, uninsured numpty. The emergency services had to cut her Clio car to pieces to get her out and she had serious injuries.Good news is 3Feb..she is showing signs of her cheeky self shining through and she is on the mend!.huzzah!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUZZA
Happy birthday, Muzza! 🎂 Wishing you a thoroughly delightful day with many joys in the year ahead.
Lindy Lou,Jane (Maryland), Jane Yorks and Pewter….Thank you all for your birthday wishes…..Blimey….just as the UK hit by 90mph winds of storm Eisher….I wonder what life has in store for us all as I start my latest 366 day journey around the sun (It’s a leap year!)
Hang in there
Happy Birthday Muzza, enjoy your day 👍😀
Ha…Thanks John (the old John B!) good to see that you are still lurking!
Happy birthday, Muzza!! A stirring song to start your new year!
Happy birthday Muzza xx busy on the wreckage today
Another year on Muzza, where does the time go? Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday, enjoy your day 🧁😀
Bit late to send thanks but ….Awww thank you all for your birthday wishes…now….will I make another year!!…see you then!….deep joy…gotta go for an Endoscopy today (24th)
Happy birthday Muzza!! 🎉🎂 Hope you have a wonderful day.
Happy Birthday Muzza, enjoy your day, best wishes, John
Sadly, Mike (Muzza) Musgrove (and stalwart of this site) made one last birthday and then crossed over to Fiddler’s Green, no doubt wearing one of his various comic costumes. He wanted to be remembered with smiles, not tears, so for as long as they are there, enjoy his videos on YouTube. This is a personal favourite of mine, ‘Any News Of The Iceberg:’
https://youtu.be/QTGLELwcF-o?si=qJvw4HW87LExJCIg
RIP Mike, my positive daily penpal since AFSAD, whose encouragement got me singing solo in various venues, at the Saltaire Festival, and even on a soon-to-be-released film stemming from Bradford 2025 City of Culture called The Local.
He became a much-loved star turn at Topic (Folk Club) Zoom sessions and will be sadly, but fondly missed. RIP Muzza.
Thank you, Jane, for sharing the sad news. I’m sure I’m not the only one who was concerned when Muzza didn’t respond to birthday wishes as he usually did. These songs and the comments from Muzza and the rest of the AFSAD crew have provided much delight to my husband and me since covid lockdown. I’m smiling as I imagine his reunion with Diana in the hereafter, no doubt continuing to tease her about her spelling.
I do hope The Local will be available online, having followed your progress from reluctance to daring to sing in public!
I’ll miss Muzza’s contributions to the comments but will enjoy the humor, information, and videos he left behind. RIP indeed, Muzza.
Hello, Jane. I wasn’t sure if anyone would see my posting but, as Mike was probably the most loyal supporter of this site, I thought a tribute only proper and most definitely in the right place.
I understand Mike was with his 3 children through the night before he left for Fiddlers’ Green (the day after his birthday, I think) and they were holding hands and sharing memories of life past. His daughter, Tina, said he was a wonderful father and had a positive impact on everyone he met.
Certainly he did on me. He was funny, erudite, upbeat, a master of suggestive innuendo (yet always polite with especially the ladies – I swear more than he ever would! Lol) principled, patient, encouraging and kind. I note he mentioned a special thought for you in his last ’round robin’ email.
When I find out precise information about the premiere of ‘The Local’ I will let you know, Jane, through posting here under this song. It is the third film of a Bradford documentary trilogy by Labor of Love Films (independent film makers, Kim & Margareta, if you want to look them up.
The first was called ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ about Bradford Film Club, members of which will turn up in ‘The Local’ as well. You may still be able to see that film on BBCiplayer.
The second film is called ‘Still Pushing Pineapples’ following the late life career of singer Dene Michael (formerly of Black Lace ‘Aga do do do, push pineapple, shake that tree’ fame.)
I have no idea yet how ‘The Local’ has turned out. It is with some trepidation I will approach my first watch, which may be at the public premiere in Bradford’s Pictureville Cinema, where cast members usually host a Q & A session at the end of the film. Kim says my rendition of ‘Crow On The Cradle’ is very haunting. I hope that is in a good way! Lol.
I also hope Mike would be proud of me. Shame he’s not here to see ‘The Local,’ though I did send him various voice recordings, so he did hear the fruition of his encouragement.
It will be sadly strange not to have his comic emails dropping into my virtual letterbox every day. So yes, RIP Muzza, but with smiles as exhorted for a life well-lived. It was a privilege to share it.
@ Jane(Maryland)
The details of Mike’s funeral can be found on his Much Loved page, link below. If you’re not able to be there in person, you can join via a weblink which is also on the Much Loved page. If you want to, you can also leave a tribute to him on there.
https://michaelmusgrove.muchloved.com
Jane,
Thanks so much for sending the link. Since I live in the Maryland on the East Coast of the US rather than the one in London, I won’t be able to attend the service, much as I would love to.
Thanks also for telling me that he mentioned me in the email. For the past week I’ve caught myself checking AFSAD to see if he’d added a comment. I think that’s going to be a tough habit to break.
I found the Labor of Love website and watched the trailer for ‘A Bunch of Amateurs.’ I think it might be available on Netflix. Fingers crossed.
Just realized that my last post included a tribute to Muzza’s banter with Diana (“Marlyland”).
Seems fitting somehow…
@ Jane (Maryland)
Saw your lovely comment on Mike’s Much Loved page.
I am not attending the funeral service in person either, as rather too far to get there for 11am from the North of England, where I am. I have no car and haven’t driven since it was written off in a serious car crash 3 years ago, leaving me with multiple injuries. (Singing has been a great solace, so thanks again, Mike.)
I never was good at long distance driving anyway, being geographically-challenged! Public transport would take 5+ hours there and the same back in one day, and not always reliable. You need reliable for such an occasion.
So a friend who lives near me and also knew Mike through folk music has invited me and others to watch the service via the weblink at her house. It will be a comforting gathering.
Jane R.,
I remember that Muzza wrote on the site about your accident. Not having a car must have made your “cat bothering” as he called it more difficult. Have you been able to continue that? As longtime cat servants we have admired your dedication since we know how much effort it takes to get one cat to the vet, let alone a series of them!
I’m so glad that you will be with others to watch the service.