Roots&Branches, by GreenMatthews

Roots&Branches

by GreenMatthews

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vollsanger The Excellent Green Matthews -
Beautiful voices - expert instrumentalists across the ages
Love their work ... Keep it up Favorite track: Song of the Lower Classes.

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Full Digital Discography

13

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Songs of the Sea, Festive Favourites, The Wind in the Willows, Virtual Wassail, Midwinter Revels, Roots&Branches, Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite (live), A Christmas Carol: A Folk Opera, and 5 more. , and , .

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1.	The Escape of Old John Webb 04:01	lyrics	buy track
Nine men to guard the British rank and five to watch the town above And one to stand on either hand and one to let Bill Tenor out. He had eighty weight of Spanish iron between his neck bone and his knee, But Billy took Johnny up under his arm and carried him away right easily. And Billy broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh, Until he came to the dungeon door and that he broke right manfully. So they stole them a horse and away did ride and who but they rode gallantly, Until they came to the river bank, to the river running wild and free The British are comin' close sound their heels and who but they stood fearfully, 'Till Billy took Johnny up on his back and carried him over it easily. And Billy broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh, Until he came to the dungeon door and that he broke right manfully. So they stopped at an inn so that they might dance and who but they danced merrily And the very best dancer among them all was old John Webb who was just set free! And Billy broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh, Until he came to the dungeon door and that he broke right manfully. And Billy broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh, Until he came to the dungeon door and that he broke right manfully.
2.	The Bone Lace Weaver 03:27	lyrics	buy track
I am a maid new come to town but long I will not not tarry I have but two years for to stay and then I think to marry But if a brisk young man come in and he is no deceiver To court him then I will begin Like a bone lace weaver If that he be a gentleman and vows he'll love me kindly then for him I'll do what I can and strive to please him finely. Or if he be a yeoman good, and to me no deceiver, then I will strive to please his mood Like a bone-lace weaver. We get our living with our hands and have our wits about us. We hope to purchase house & lands though young men they do flout us. But let them all say what they can We'll trust in no deceiver, We'll sing you songs of peg and nan, Like a bone-lace weaver. We keep our hands both white and neat our pretty lace to handle, We sing our sonnets all complete By daylight or a candle, And when our task we ended have Our Mistress shows such fancy We sport and sing, that all do ring, O Brave Bone-lace weaver. And thus we lead most merry lives We heed no young mens saying We scorn for to be married wives We'll keep our fingers playing. We'll wear brave laces on our heads We scorn as yeat a beaver, We'll work apace brave Flanders lace O brave Bone-lace weaver.
3.	High Germany 04:07	lyrics	buy track
“Oh Polly my dear Polly, the rout has now begun, And we must march away, love, to the beating of the drum. And so, my darling Polly, you must along with me For we're off to fight the war, my love, in High Germany.” “Oh Billy love, oh Billy, come list what I do say, My feet they are so tender, I cannot march away. And besides, my dearest Billy, I am with child by thee, Not fitted for the war, my love, in High Germany.” "A horse have I for you, my love, and on it you shall ride So sweet and oh so tender all like a new-wed bride And so, my darling Polly, you must along with me For we're off to fight the war, my love, in High Germany.” Oh, cursed be the cruel wars that ever they should rise And out of Merry England press many a man likewise. They pressed my true love from me, likewise my brothers three, And sent them to the cruel war in High Germany." “Oh Polly my dear Polly, the rout has now begun, And we must march away, love, to the beating of the drum. And so, my darling Polly, you must along with me For we're off to fight the war, my love, in High Germany.”
4.	Daddy Fox 03:50	info	buy track
5.	Childegrove and Indian 04:08	info	buy track
6.	The Blue Cockade 05:37	info	buy track
7.	Song of the Lower Classes 04:11	info	buy track
8.	Worms and Palfreys 03:37	info	buy track
9.	Linden Lea 03:49	info	buy track
10.	The Miller of Dee/Begone Dull Care 03:35 video	lyrics	buy track
There was a jolly miller once Liv'd on the river Dee ; He danc'd and he sang from morn till night, No lark so blithe as he. And this the burden of his song For ever us'd to be I care for nobody, no, not I, If nobody cares for me. The reason why he was so blithe, He once did thus unfold The bread I eat my hands have earn'd; I covet no man's gold ; I do not fear next quarter-day; In debt to none I be. I care for nobody, no, not I, If nobody cares for me. Begone, dull care! I prithee begone from me; Begone, dull care! You and I will never agree. Long time thou hast been sitting here, And faith, thou wouldst me kill; But faith, dull care, You never shall have your will. Too much care Will turn a young man grey; Too much care Will turn all men to clay. We'll hunt the wild boar through the wood, And merrily pass the day; At night, over a flowing bowl, We'll drive dull care away. A coin or two I've in my purse, To help a needy friend ; A little I can give the poor, And still have some to spend. Though I may fail, yet I rejoice, Another's good hap to see. I care for nobody, no, not I, If nobody cares for me. So let us his example take, And be from malice free; Let every one his neighbour serve, As served he'd like to be. And merrily push the can about And drink and sing with glee; If nobody cares a doit for us, Why not a doit care we.

credits

released September 11, 2019

CHRIS GREEN: voice, guitar, mandolin, mandocello, cittern, piano accordion, piano, bass guitar, stomp

SOPHIE MATTHEWS: voice, English border bagpipes, flute, recorders, baroque musette

Recorded and mixed at The Garret, Coventry June/July 2019

Mastered by Steve Kitch at Audiomaster.

Photos by James Harris Photography

Artwork by Frank Doran

All tracks arranged by Chris Green ©2019 Blast Records

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about

GreenMatthews Coventry, UK

Chris Green and Sophie Matthews play English traditional songs and tunes in a thoroughly 21st-century kick-ass style. Using a blend of ancient instruments such as cittern, English bagpipes and shawm as well as modern folk instruments such as guitar, flute and piano accordion, they breathe new life into material from hundreds of years ago, making it fresh and relevant for a modern audience. ... more

shows

Jun 19

The Spotlight Theatre

Hoddesdon, UK

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