‘Hear Your Master Sing’
No.44 from my East London 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
‘Harriet’
Song no. 43 is inspired by a macabre tale from London’s history. Most of us caught up in romantic liasons gone wrong have contemplated break-ups, some of us have even gone through with it. But very few have taken it past the metaphorical. Right down to wrapping up the ex in little parcels. Play/download London song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
‘Where The Two Halves Meet’
Here’s this week’s song, ‘Where The Two Halves Meet’. Inspired by a life lived in the East End cracks, the story of Ikey Solomon. Charles Dickens is known all over the globe thanks in no small part to his novel Oliver Twist set in amongst the workhouses and slums of London. But arguably the most colourful character in this story is Fagin who wasn’t entirely a creation from the creative impulse of Charles but based on a well known East End rogue of the day, Isaac Solomon. Download/play London song above, see video above for the story.
Lyrics available here
Due to a completely expected issue, literally my first issue – a baby daughter born this morning, I decided to have a day off! And why not. But fear not there WILL still be a song and video up by Friday. Something to do with Dickens..
‘Ballet Of Blood’
‘London Song a week’ entry number 41 is tribute to a real East End hard man, boxer Daniel Mendoza. Forget the sport of kings this is the sport of London’s Old East End, pugilism. Or as it’s better known, boxing. The tale of Daniel ‘The Jew’ Mendoza, a hero from the pages of London history inspired this song, ‘Ballet Of Blood’. 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.’ Olympics songs which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
This post has been removed for inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs.’Olympics songs which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
This post has been removed for inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs.’ Olympics songs which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
This post has been removed for inclusion in my new project ‘Folk Olympics – Songs From The 5 Olympic Boroughs.’ Olympics songs which can be viewed exclusively at Londonist.com
‘When The Lion Roars’
Here’s ‘When The Lion Roars’ in memory of one of London’s finest social activists, Frederick Charrington. Some would say he was mad, others would claim he was a saint. Whichever way you look at it Charrington was certainly an interesting character and one passionate individual.The family name can be found all over the East End of London but Frederick broke the family mould and in doing so cemented a place in London history. Play London song above, view video for story.
Lyrics available here
