What is your favourite folk song?

[TheYearOfSmallThings]

I've just accidentally listened to Dougie McLean singing Green Grow The Rashes (Scots), and realised pretty much all the folk music I know is Irish.

What is your favourite folk song of any nation but sung in a normal voice (no fonny nonny no and I don't want to be picturing morris dancers).

I haven't heard her. I'll have a listen. I loved her dad's band the Bad Shepherds and saw them live a few years ago.

Oh I like Mumford and sons already. It's just that I feel there are really obvious UK folk songs on a level with Carrickfergus or Raglan Road or She Moved Through the Fair or Spancil Hill or The Black Velvet Band but whereas you hear those in Ireland you don't hear equivalent music here (possibly London isn't the place!)

Placemarking. I've gone down a Taylor Swift rabbit hole and need to listen to something else.

The fields of athenrae (sorry, Irish)
my Lagan love

I sing Bonny at Morn to my children.

My mum used to sing loads to us

we’ve always loved raggle taggle gypsy-oh!

not sure it’s folk but an old Scottish song I sang to my children was Coulter’s Candy.

Can't decide. I listen to folk all the time and I love so much.

Currently, and just because I saw them the other day, If I Die Tomorrow (Lyon and Bird) is going round in my head. But that's not actually released anywhere yet.

Are we talking traditional song or modern?

Cara Dillon, Thea Gilmore, Gilmore and Roberts, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Jim Moray, Sam Carter, Seth Lakeman, The Magpies, Iona Lane, Kathryn Priddy, The Trials of Cato, Sam Sweeney, Bellowhead, The Last Inklings, Sarah Jarosz, Nickel Creek, Eliza Carthy, The Young'uns, Talisk, Lizzy Hardingham, Megson, Hem, Christina Alden and Alex Patterson, Karine Polwart, The Often Herd, Anaïs Mitchell.

Will that do?

Will that do?

I mean it will keep me occupied for a while!

I'd forgotten Karine Polwart - Rivers Run is a favourite of mine.

the trees they do grow high Joan Baez
Fotheringay Sandy Denny
Anachie Gordon Mary Black
Lagan love Charlotte Church
she moves through the fair by anyone

One of my DC plays with a Samba band and they do a brilliant set of north east folk songs, mainly mining. Sounds strange with samba but they team up with brass and match at the miners gala and it is epic. Things like Blaydon Races, Jowl, Jowl and listen, Farewell Jonny Miner, Ee Aye, Aa Cud Ye Hew.

Obviously I'm biased but their performances are excellent.

Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry

I think it’s classed as a folk song, it’s a brilliant song I love her story telling it’s such a clever song and Bobbie Gentry conveys a number of emotions

love Moonshiner too

The Keys of Canterbury by Show of Hands

June Tabor’s version of the one about the lad who seduces someone else’s wife - can someone remind me? Really insistent rhythm and air of tragedy.

Can we fit 10,000 Maniacs in here?

I love Richard Thompson (obv) but my absolute favourite is Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs is the most gorgeous collection of songs, he is (well, was - he is still alive but can't play due to injuries sustained in a near-fatal car accident) an incredible guitarist as well as having a lovely voice.

Turpin Hero. Preferably sung at a good pace.

I love Seth Lakeman and Karine Polwart. O'Hooley and Tidow are probably my favourites - so many fantastic songs I couldn't choose a favourite, but I love Two Mothers, Colne Valley Hearts, Beryl, Ronnie, Gentleman Jack, Chimneys, Moors and Me.

In English Scarborough Fair and Greensleeves.
In Welsh there are plenty, but Ar Lan y Mor and Myfanwy are among the most famous. I also like traditional Plygain carols. You can look up Welsh folk music and also the band Plethyn.
In Breton I like Tri Martelod.

Steeleye Span - Long Lankin
The Albion Band - Danse Royale
Fairport Convention - Meet On The Ledge

I'm not sure these are all technically folk songs, but they are songs my folk-loving parents listened to when I was a child. Hated the genre at the time, rather like it now.

Try Calam band for Welsh music www.calan-band.com/

Karine Polwart’s The Sun’s Coming Over the Hill is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, and has helped me come to terms with similarly sad events to those in the song. She has said that she’s had many people contact her to tell her that.

All of my faves are on OakleyStreet's list! Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman, Talisk etc
I also like early Show of Hands (the preacher, Santiago etc) Jim Causley, Jon Boden.
If you want songs to bawl to, try Hollow Point by Chris Wood, or 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (First time I heard this was covered by Blair Dunlop at a festival, and I sobbed).

The Hiring Fair - Fairport Convention
Peppers and Tomatoes - Ralph McTell
The Keys of Canterbury - Show of Hands

The Lark Rise to Candleford album by the Albion Band is another, it's beautiful.

Also, Gone to America - Steeleye Span

Matty Groves is a great trad song. Fairport do a v famous version and it's also really popular over on the States