The Folk Orc RSB - July 2025
- Chris J Barber-Hopgood
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
The Folk Orc RSB (Regular Sessions Band) continues its journey through world of traditional british folk music with another six songs. In this selection we look at begging, trouser theft, interesting ways to defrost hats and the funeral services of woodland creatures. Recorded at Coda Music Centre on 17th July 2025.
A Begging I Will Go
Begging is a fairly common topic in British folk song and often romanticised, in this song we see it as a viable career option, like a song to be sung at a school jobs fair. It should be noted that the protagonist in this song was born with only one leg and therefore in the reality of the time in which this song was written begging may have been their only option. That being said, it is still quite a jolly song and a great tune to sing.
The Tailors Breeches
A tale of alcohol, arrogance and cross-dressing. The young tailor in this song loses his trousers whilst trying to impress a lady with his dancing only to be robbed by the end. A pretty average friday night in some quarters. Breeches are formal britches, which are knee length trousers. Being that they are more casual of the pair it would be mildly less embarrassing to breach your britches than your breeches.
The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
This is one of the more well known folk songs from the traditional songbook. It has been covered by everyone from Planxty to The Waterboys and for good reason - it's a cracking tune.
Cold Blow and The Rainy Night
I first heard this song on Eliza Carthy's album 'Heat, Light and Sound' which was one of my first introductions into folk music as a teenager. Not the easiest to play but a great tune. It is also one of the most common stories in english folk song. The soldier (or sailor) liaising with a local daughter and leaving her unceremoniously with a gift.
The Three Ravens
This is a tale of knight - deceased - being protected from becoming the ravens breakfast by his hounds and hawks before being carried over into the afterlife by a passing deer. All pretty standard stuff if you live around the New Forest.
Hard Times of Old England
This song first came into the Folk Orc Repertoire a few years back when we played the Billy Bragg re-write which he did for the incredible Imagined Village album in 2007. Here we have gone back to an earlier version although keeping a nod to Bragg's version in. I'm not sure if interesting is the right word but it should certainly be noted that this song is as relevant today as it was when it was written.
More detailed posts on the stories behind these songs will be forthcoming and official folk orc song sheets with lyrics, chords, notation and mandolin tab can be found in the members area of this website. (It's free, you just have to log in.)
For a more detailed look into other aspects of music you can come and join us over at the Music Humans substack where we talk about about why we play music and delve into techniques, theory and lessons.
The Folk Orc RSB meet every thursday evening in term time at Coda Music Centre, Christchurch, Dorset, UK. All abilities are welcome join, this about playing folk music for the enjoyment of it.
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