Rout Of The Blues

2015
05.25

Jon acknowledges that “This will always be associated with Robin and Barry Dransfield, although Graham Metcalf also does a fine version. It sort of feels like it’s going to be a sad song but then it just gets happier and happier, which makes it very unusual – it’s normally the other way around…”

I must say this one confused me a little to start with (It’s not hard let’s face it!) with the word ‘rout’ and my instant thought of disaster. Thankfully Mudcat was at hand with this most useful post explaining that the word used has another meaning of muster or bring out of hiding. It’s also interesting to see that it derives from Old English rather than Old French via Middle English. I’m also grateful for the regimental detail and if there are any military historians looking in who know more about the regiment I’d like to know. Anyway, the song makes sense now, with the young lasses presumably lamenting the imminent deployment of the gallant young soldiers and everyone else swept up with the glory of it. Marvellous!

 

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27 Responses to “Rout Of The Blues”

  1. Shelley says:

    Thanks for the etymological detail – I must admit, I hadn’t realised “rout” had another meaning.

    A great one for singarounds.

  2. Phil says:

    Seems a bit inappropriate now that City have finally won something, but give it a few months…

  3. Joe Offer says:

    I’ve combined Mudcat threads on “The Rout of the Blues,” so the Mudcat link above doesn’t work any more. I think you’ll find a much more comprehensive discussion of the song at this link:
    http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6482#37667
    Take special note of the post from Pete M, dated 9 Sept 1998. I’m sorry if this causes confusion.
    -Joe Offer, Forum Moderator, The Mudcat Cafe-

  4. Diana says:

    Like it! A complete change from the usual suspects.

    Happy Birthday Pewter, have a lovely evening.

  5. Phil says:

    In reference to my comment last year… oh, forget it.

  6. Linda says:

    Saw Fay at Bury met last night, brilliant. Can really recommend if you get chance to see one of the shows.

  7. Diana says:

    Lovely surprise late morning – “Orfeo” arrived. Excellent presentation.

  8. Reynard says:

    Yes it’s wonderfully sung and arranged and the excellent liner notes are well researched. There is a funny doozie of a typo in one of the song lyrics – see if you can find it.

  9. Peter Walsh says:

    Thanks Diana – oh, we did!

  10. Diana says:

    I expect you mean “Sir Orfeo was a gallant night” unless you found something else that I have overlooked. I see that the hounds are after you yet again.

  11. Diana says:

    Pewter you have sneaked in whilst I was busy replying to a message, but glad you had a good time and I am sure you could not have had better company.

  12. Reynard says:

    Diana, it’s a run of the mill question: What is Hannah James dancing with?

  13. Diana says:

    I can only presume that Hannah is dancing with her clogs on a wooden board. If that is not the answer you were seeking, then I am stumped.

  14. Reynard says:

    Good, Diana, you’ve got the hint and you’re nearly there. Just go to the mill song lyrics and find the typo in the line with the clogs.

  15. Diana says:

    By George I’ve got it Reynard – the clogs should have soles and not souls.

  16. Reynard says:

    Yup. Except for Hannah’s, of course – they way she’s dancing, *her* clogs surely have souls 🙂

  17. Diana says:

    Quite! I am astonished that I did not catch this on first reading but there you are, no-one is perfect! Still I got there in the end, and by the way, did you spot the “night” instead of “Knight” typo?

  18. Reynard says:

    Yes I did. And there are a few other minor disceprancies between Fay’s singing and the printed text, but all that is only interesting to nit-pickers like me and is quite insignificant to this album being the best one I have heard in a long time.

  19. Diana says:

    I entirely agree with you, and I have found quite often that the singing and the written words do not tally but it really does not matter. Enjoy what you are hearing. As a relative newcomer to Folk Music my opinion can’t carry much weight, but I do think this is an absolutely beautiful album, and dare I say it, yes I dare, better than “The Looking Glass” CD.

    You are not the only nit picker. I am always finding spelling mistakes on shop fronts, in books etc. and wonder how they could possibly not have been spotted.

  20. Diana says:

    Reynard I have just been watching a TV programme about the British. It appears that your Anglo Saxons landed on the coast of Norfolk and founded a town called Snettlesham. Evidently played a large part in founding the english language and obviously played a large part in our history. A far bigger part than Bill Bryson wrote about. Just thought you might be interested that is if you ever read my little anecdotes (not sure I have picked the right word here).

  21. Diana says:

    Hope you have a marvellous time tomorrow.

  22. Old Muzza (NW Surrey-UK) says:

    Just having a browse and I must spring to the defence of the singer singing different words to the written words………..Usually caused by the same stress that makes a snooker player or golfer, fluff the easy winning shot. You are doing the song for the umpteenth time and you have everything crossed as you get near the end. Then you fluff it and have to decide whether to do it again or say……s*d it…that’ll have to do” (roast it and set fire to it as Diana’s dad would say!)
    If you want an example of this….here’s my ‘Little Pot Stove’ where I mucked it up two lines from the end…….that sickly smile is not real…….I had a good cursing session when thecamera shut off!

  23. Peter Walsh says:

    Excellent rendering by Jon as usual. The Blues would be The Royal Horse Guards I presume, as was a favourite of George III; all this according to the British Army website – I’m not a military historian! Hiya Muzza.

  24. Old Muzza (NW Surrey) says:

    Hi Peter…………….I guess the young cat botherer is neglecting THIS site as her wrath seems to be directed toward facebook……cats, cats and more cats.

  25. Old Muzza(N.W.Surrey.U) says:

    I should have said this on morning of the 25th….but I’ve been away
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEWTER…I wont tell anybody that you are 60………blimey…I was doing my national service when you were giving your mum and dad sleepless nights!…so get some in!

  26. OldMuzza(NWSurrey UK) says:

    Blimey….you miss coming on line for a couple of days and miss saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to old Pewter yet again!!!!

  27. OldMuzza(NWSurreyUK) says:

    Happy birthday Peter W (Pewter)….
    wey hey….got it in on the correct day at last!
    No doubt going to celebrate with the lil ole Bradford cat botherer….I hope she is well enough!

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