The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep3 – ‘The Brisk Lad’, ft. Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

‘The Brisk Lad’ [Roud 1667] was collected from Edith Sartin by the Hammond brothers in 1906 in Corscombe, Dorset. Also known as ‘The Sheepstealer’ and ‘All I Have is My Own’, it has been performed and recorded by many traditional folk singers over the ensuing century (and a bit). Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith chose to speak about the song here for its political content, and will be singing it at their Cecil Sharp House gig on October 5th (tickets are available here). Jimmy and Sid chat here to Jon Wilks about the history of the song, where they first heard it, and what it means to them as modern interpreters of traditional songs. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Paul Sartin.

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The Old Songs Podcast is supported by the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

‘The Brisk Lad’ podcast notes

Links

Over the course of the hour, Jimmy & Sid and Jon Wilks mention the following links:

• The English Folk Dance and Song Society
• ‘The Brisk Lad’ [Roud 1667] on the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website
• Paul Sartin discusses Marina Russell on the Old Songs Podcast
• The Star Singers Session Facebook page
• The Matchstick Piehouse singaround sessions
• The Hyde Park Folk Club, Leeds
• Elsepth Anne’s performance of ‘The Brisk Lad’ on Instagram

Track listing

1. ‘Brisk Lad’, performed by Faustus
2. ‘The Brisk Lad’, performed by Henry Parker
3. ‘The Sheep Stealers’, performed by Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley
4. ‘The Brisk Lad’, performed by Mike Waterson
5. ‘The Brisk Lad’, performed by Elspeth Anne

For more info on Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, head to jimmyandsidduo.com