From June 2010 I began to showcase the Old East End of London in song. For a year I posted weekly videos telling factual tales and then wrote a song inspired by the same story. These instalments are all laid out below, songs are free to download.
In October 2011 I began a second series hosted at Londonist.com, entitled ‘Folk Olympics’ – stories from the Five London Olympic Boroughs. Some songs have been temporarily removed for inclusion in that project.
‘The Howling Sea’
52 songs over 52 weeks culminating in this last song, ‘The Howling Sea’. From The Tower of London to the banks of the River Lea, from Victoria Park to the tides of the Thames. East London life. Songs From The Howling Sea. I hope you have enjoyed the content as much as I have enjoyed creating it. Play song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
This post has been removed for upcoming inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs’ hosted exclusively at Londonist.com
This post has been removed for inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs’ which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
‘The Taste Of Light And Song’
I thought I’d tie this week’s installment in with current events and who could ignore the Royal Wedding? No 49 song ‘The Taste Of Light And Song’ is inspired by another Royal celebration. Play song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
This post has been removed for inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs’ which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
‘The Widow’s Son’
To celebrate the Easter Weekend here’s a song in memory of an old East End tradition continued to this day at the ‘Widow’s Son’ pub in Bow. Play song above, view video for story.
‘Me, My Girls And I’
This song ‘Me, My Girls And I’ is inspired by writer Wilkie Collins’ private affairs. The author of ‘The Woman in White’ and ‘Moonstone’ isn’t normally associated with London’s East End. But then again during his lifetime he wasn’t associated with a double life, two ‘wives’, an opium addiction and a ghostly twin. Play/download song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
‘Sometimes A Crow Sings Like A Lark’
‘Sometimes A Crow Sings Like A Lark’ is inspired by the tale of Bow resident William Bury. Murder does seem to pop up now and again on this London history blog but I never thought I’d utter the word ‘Dundee’. But then again I suspect Bury never thought he’d be eternally tied to the place either. Pardon the pun. Play/download song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
‘Hear Your Master Sing’
No.44 from my Song A Week project comes ‘Hear Your Master Sing’, a piece inspired by the struggles of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Being born female in London’s East End wasn’t just tough for the poverty stricken, it had it’s challenges even for the ruling class. Play/download song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
