How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
brain opener
Disadvantages:
you'll get odd looks if you stick this on at a party
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Yet another CD review! This time it’s with a difference!
No pop, dance or toe tapping fun to be had here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chumbawamba ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ English Rebel songs 1381~1914 In the name of all the oppressed in the land of England
-------------------- ****** Due to popular demand I have cut down the lyrics on the longer songs, but you’ll still get the idea! ******
As most people of at least average intelligence, will know that the England’s history has been a very turbulent one! Chumbawamba has looked back at England and dug out the rebel songs that were around… It is important to understand that it is our violent past as well as our peaceful past that has shaped the lives in which we live today -
Most of the songs are not to music, they are, as they should be, just peasant songs, some have a few percussion instruments. As these songs have been Dug up from centuries old books or handed down through the generations, the actual tunes that Chumbawamba use may be wrong, but it all seems to fit and to my ears it sounds pretty darn authentic!
It is also interesting to see how our language develops over the centuries, and to see words that have come and gone!
# The Cutty Wren 0.51 Written in 1381 at the time of the Peasant’s Revolt. This is the Year that the Poll Tax had been first introduced the poor, who were already crippled by taxes had enough! They first began to murder the Tax Collectors then the Lords and Bishops! Wat Tyler started an opposition army, and for 6 days the army marched on London Killing the clergy and ransacking palaces. The king proclaimed that all servants, peasants and commoners were now all freemen. However Wat was murdered and the peasant army was routed. The Poll Tax was re-introduced six hundred years later – with pretty much the same effect!
Lyrics *trimmed* Oh where are you going? said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you! Said Festel to Fose We're off to the wood! said John the Red Nose We're off to the wood! said John the Red Nose And what will you do there? said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you! said Festel to Fose We'll shoot the cutty wren! said John the Red Nose We'll shoot the cutty wren! said John the Red Nose Oh how will you cut him up? said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you! said Festel to Fose With knives and with forks! Said John the Red Nose
This has some strange lyrics, and you need to read between the lines to get the gist of the song, I suppose it's a case of "you'd have to be there!" to get it! But then, it was 1381and we weren’t talking "proper" English! innit! --------------------------
# The Diggers Song 3:29
Written in 1649 by Gerrard Winstanley, leader of the Diggers(farmers). The Diggers were unable to pay the exorbitant rents to landlords, so took up wastelands and developed their own communities they were continually attacked, and their crops laid waste by local soldiers retained by the rich landlords and the clergy. The Diggers never retaliated with physical violence. They moved from place to place, they struggled for two years preaching a vision of common ownership of the land and shared labour
Lyrics *Trimmed* You noble diggers all stand up now, stand up now You noble diggers all stand up now The wasteland to maintain seeing cavaliers by name Your digging does maintain and persons all defame Stand up now, stand up now Your houses they pull down stand up now, stand up now Your houses they pull down, stand up now Your houses they pull down to fright your men in town But the gentry must come down and the poor shall wear the crown Stand up now diggers all With spades and hoes and plows stand up now, stand up now
Simple song, for the simple peasantry, It's sad that all through our ages that the week have always been attacked, it must be something about human nature - the Diggers were simple farming folk who simply believed in sharing labour and the wealth that comes with it, but I suppose for the Lords, gentry, Clergy (of the time) and royalty Hard work and sharing were swear words!
------------------------ # The colliers march 2.30 In 1782 Workers in Birmingham marched together to demand a regulation of food prices. So alarmed were the authorities that they promised to curb the prices of malt, flour, butter, cheese; they realised that any refusal would have meant food riots, arson, looting and the usual pillaging. The “Black Gentry” in the song reflect the Colliers from the Black Country “Midlands” they marched from Dudley into Birmingham and were the subject of several songs and ballads.
Lyrics *Trimmed* The summer was over the season unkind In harvest a snow, how uncommon to find The times were oppressive and well it be known That hunger will strongest of fences break down 'Twas then from their selves the black gentry stepped out With bludgeons determined to stir up a rout The prince of the party who revelled from home Was a terrible fellow and called Irish Thom He brandished his bludgeon with dexterous skill And close to his elbow was placed Barley Will Their instantly followed a numerous train As cheerful as bold Robin Hood's merry men Sworn to remedy a capital fault And bring down the exorbitant price of the malt From Dudley to Walsall they trip it along And Hampton was truly alarmed at the throng Women and children wherever they go Shouting out 'Oh the brave Dudley boys! Oh!'
You get the feeling from this song, that whenever miner’s strike there is always violence! This was certainly the case during these strikes, it nearly caused general war through out the midlands, especially when the home secretary armed and trained the middle classes!
-------------- # General Ludd’s Triumph 3.00
This celebrates the Luddite rebellion of 1812; in a twist the term Luddite means someone who hates progress! The original Luddite was merely against progress that put them out of work! Luddism was a fight against unemployment and a fight against greedy employers who laid of workers in an effort to amass wealth! The main struggles were historically in the cloth finishing mills of northern England – where new machinery made hand finishing a thing of the past! People got together and using the name luddites began smashing the new machinery. Eventually luddites were caught and tried some were hanged in York Castle.
Lyrics *Trimmed* No more chant your old rhymes about old Robin Hood His feats I do little admire I'll sing the achievements of General Ludd Now the hero of Nottinghamshire Those engines of mischief were sentenced to die By unanimous vote of the trade And Ludd who can all opposition defy Was the grand executioner made Whether guarded by soldiers along the highway Or closely secured in a room He shivers them up by night and by day And nothing can soften their doom
Although in this day and age we love our gadgets i.e. bread makers, coffee makers, washing machines etc... In fact we are still going the same way as the Luddites! New robots are being developed to replace the need for human work force etc. Makes me wander if one day there wont be more strikes or possibly more to stop the progress! ----------------------
# Chartist Anthem 1.48 In the early 1800’s there were uprisings by many sections of the poor classes, naval mutinies, revolts by agricultural workers etc… thus Trade unionism and Chartists were introduced. This anthem dates from the 1840’s. a peoples charter was drawn up in 1837, demanding more of a say for the peoples working in the large factories and living in hovels. What this new charter drew up was, votes for all adult male, annual parliaments and secret ballots. The movement grew and spread and spread and split into 2 main groups “Moral force Chartism” and “Physical force” Birmingham chartists rioted so much that the city was eventually placed under martial law. The then home secretary called upon the middle classes to form a volunteer corps and armed them! An invitation to open class war! The chartist movement eventually faded away sometime after 1847
Lyrics A hundred years, a thousand years, we're marching on the road The going isn't easy, yet we've got a heavy load; oh we've got a heavy load The way is blind with blood and sweat, and death sings in our ears But time is marching on our side, we will defeat the years, oh we will defeat the years We men of bone of shrunken shank, our only treasure dearth Women who carry at the breast heirs to the hungry earth, oh heirs to the hungry earth Speak with one voice, we march, we rest, and march again upon the years Sons of our sons are listening to hear the Chartist cheers Oh, to hear the Chartists cheers
----------------- # Song of the Times 2.59 This song was written around 1845, just after a repeal of the Corn Laws (a repeal that promised to bring cheaper bread, higher wages and more work). It in fact brought increased prices, lower wages, and factories on short time. A famine struck and Ireland was devastated, as a result any Irish people moved over to the UK.
Lyrics *Trimmed* You working men of England one moment now attend While I unfold the treatment of the poor upon this land For nowadays the factory lords have brought the labour low And daily are contriving plans to prove our overthrow (Chorus) So arouse you sons of freedom the world seems upside down They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town There's different parts in Ireland, it's true what I do state There's hundreds that are starving for they can't get food to eat And if they go unto the rich to ask them for relief They bang their door all in their face as if they were a thief
Even today, there’s a lesson to be learned! check thoroughly, when you are offered something attractive, t could be hiding something with an unpleasant sting! ------------------------
# Smashing of the Van 1.19
Written in 1867 this song tells the tale of the Manchester Martyrs. 3 Irish men who rescue 2 Irish rebel leaders. They attacked van that was carrying Kelly and Deasey from their trail to Manchester Gaol a guard and Deasey were accidentally shot during the attack. The 3 men were captured soon after and even though there was little in the way of evidence they were sentenced to hang.
Lyrics *trimmed* Attend you gallant Irishmen and listen for a while I'll sing to you the praises of the sons of Erin's Isle It's of those gallant heroes who voluntarily ran To release two Irish shamrocks from an English prison van On the eighteenth of September, it was a dreadful year When sorrow and excitement ran throughout all Lancashire At a gathering of the Irish boys they volunteered each man To release those Irish prisoners out of the prison van
---------------------
# The world turned upside down 3.13
This one dates from the mid 1870’s however the idea of turning the world upside down is centuries old. Its origins date from old customs and feasts. A dream of a new world where equality replaces division, where shared wealth replaces starvation.
Lyrics Through eating too much supper before I went to bed Strange thoughts came o'er my slumber, strange thoughts came in my head This world seemed topsy-turvy and people of renown Were doing the most peculiar things as the world turned upside down I dreamt all men were equal and there were no starving poor And nations never did quarrel, nor never went to war I thought all men were angels and women ne'er wore a frown Old maids they had large families as the world turned upside down
Wouldn’t it be funny to rub shoulders with the likes of Peter Sringfellow or Naomi Cambell in the Dole office or in the Kebab house after a night out in the local, or to hear of Bill Gates being nabbed in America for burglary - what would the world be like if everything was turned upside down? What would I be? -----------------------
# Poverty knock 2.50
This is a factory workers song, and was written to be sung over the rhythm of the flying shuttles and clacking of the mill machinery. Conditions for the workers were hot, noisy and dangerous. Many women and children died working the cloth mill machines, the knocking noise of the machines were welcome as it meant that the machine was working fine, if the machine failed the workers would not be paid the full days wage
Lyrics 'Poverty poverty knock,' my loom is a-saying all day Poverty poverty knock, gaffer's too skinny to pay Poverty poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go, 'poverty poverty knock' Up every morning at five, I wonder that we keep alive Tired and yawning, another cold morning It's back to the dreary old drive (Repeat chorus) Oh dear we're going to be late Gaffer is stood at the gate We're out of pockets, our wages they'll docket We'll have to buy grub on the slate (Repeat chorus) And when our wages they'll bring, we're often short of a string While we are fratching with gaffer for snatching
Good song, with a lot of local words, the chorus "poverty poverty knock" actually sounds like the noise made by the shuttles on the machines - in the song you can hear the machines and it adds a lot to the song - it's a sad fact that when these machines broke down the shuttles could go flying and many a woman was hurt or killed, many children also died as they were used to keep the cotton strands in one piece that meant them crawling through the machinery (as they were small) and knotting back the broken strands - many died horrible deaths caught up in moving machinery! ----------------------
# Idris Strike Song 2.07
Written in 1911, and sung as a music hall appeal to the general public and the ‘Scabs’ who were breaking strike at Idris. The strike came about because Idris Soft drinks had tried to cut the women workers wages twice, when that failed the management then tried to charge the workers for the improved sanitation which the union had forced upon the factory. The management sacked the union leader, a Mrs Lowin (single mum of 2) the strike followed. The management drafted in unemployed people to continue the work, which broke the strike.
Lyrics *Trimmed* Have you been to work at Idris? No we won't go in today! For we're standing by our comrade And we'll never run away She stood bravely by the Union And she spoke up for us true And if she gets the sack No we never shall go back What e'er they do, what e'er they do Now you boys who're washing bottles It really is a shame To take the place of women Don't you think you are to blame? Come with us and join the Union Never heed what Idris say We are out to right the wrong And now we shan't be long Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray Master Willy, master Willy You must give in once again It was wrong to sack a woman With two children to maintain Thirteen years she's faithful served you Though she was three minutes late But our little sister Anne Why she never checked the man At the gate, at the gate Oh you great king in the palace And you statesman at the top When you're drinking soda water Or imbibing ginger pop Think of some who work at Idris For very little pay And who only get nine bob For a most unpleasant job
Again, a striking song from the north - Idriss (not sure if they are still about or not) the Union leader Mrs lowin was sacked for being 3 minutes late for shift, she was also responsible for the factory being forced to put in sanitation and she fought to stop wages being cut - a brave woman. ------------------------
# Hanging on the old barbed wire 0.49
This song was written by the soldiers who were in the trenches during the first world war, as with most things military it’s a marching song, but this one shows the dissent prevalent and disgust in the way the common person does the killing and dying so the rich an get medals
Lyrics If you want to find the general I know where he is I know where he is I know where he is If you want to find the general I know where he is He's pinning another medal on his chest I saw him, I saw him Pinning another medal on his chest Pinning another medal on his chest If you want to find the colonel I know where he is I know where he is I know where he is If you want to find the colonel I know where he is He's sitting in comfort stuffing his bloody gut I saw him, I saw him Sitting in comfort stuffing his bloody gut If you want to find the sergeant I know where he is I know where he is I know where he is If you want to find the sergeant I know where he is He's drinking all the company rum I saw him, I saw him Drinking all the company rum Drinking all the company rum If you want to find the private I know where he is I know where he is I know where he is If you want to find the private I know where he is He's hanging on the old barbed wire I saw him, I saw him Hanging on the old barbed wire Hanging on the old barbed wire
There are numerous versions of this song in all 3 forces (Army/Navy/Air Force) as there are many marching songs of dissent - it wasn’t the Americans that started marching songs (as seen in full metal jacket)
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