Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 7th April 2021

7.30pm start if attending the Zoom meeting

Hello everyone. Following on from previous ‘At Home’ sessions we have decided to carry on with these sessions until an opportunity to meet up in person arises. We are slowly getting closer to meet up but we will need to hold on a bit longer with the ZOOM or AT HOME Worthing sessions.

If you are unable to join by ZOOM, or you feel it is not for you, then please join us in spirit by singing the same songs.

The song list below is adaptable to a Zoom or a no-Zoom session. Either way, all singers welcome – and welcome to our April Zoom. It is not designed to take over from Tina’s wonderful sessions, but is there to supplement our Worthing sessions which are currently based around singing alone in our own homes (but at the same time). It would be really good it we were to do some interaction with each other which will lead into small, local, socially-distanced groups when the current climate eventually changes, for those who may wish to.

Though I’m not musically gifted like a lot of our members, I am content to put my IT skills to the use of the group so we can keep these sessions going. Therefore I have set up an initial Zoom Session for Wednesday 7th April at 7.30pm. Currently Zoom sessions are free as long as I keep them below 40 minutes in duration; however we can have two sessions back to back. Therefore I would suggest that once we get this one running, we have a 35-minute session, followed by a coffee/beer break of 5 minutes, followed by another half-hour session for those that want to. All is subject to change. To log into the session use the following details below.

Join Zoom Meeting
Wednesday 7th April 2021 at 7.30pm
Meeting ID Number: 553 923 1152
Password: SDFSApr21
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/5539231152?pwd=U2JKc2U2Y3FUamgrcHZleTMxMVdKZz09

The following is a list of proposed songs which we can pull from.

• Thousands or More
• Brisk Young Ploughboy (Lead requested please)
• Country Life
• Lark in the Morning
• Life of a Man
• A Smuggler's Song (individual verses – volunteers required)
• The Fields Lie Silent
• Rosebuds in June
• The Magpie (Lady volunteer please)
• Where Stormy Winds Do Blow
• Twanky Dillo

If you would like to bring along an individual song, poem or story then feel free to so do. If you let me know at the beginning then I will ensure we fit it in.

Dave W

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 16th March 2021

**NOTE EARLIER START TIME FOR THE SUNDAY ZOOM**

Hello again singers in Lewes or anywhere else. As we reach the anniversary of lockdown starting, first vaccinations continue to be rolled out for many people, so things appear to be heading in the right direction, however slowly. Here are my “sing along at home” suggestions for this month. No new songs to learn but I have attached recordings HERE of the two Spring songs which were new last year and have not yet had a public airing. All the other recordings can be found in the previous months.

Anyone reading this anywhere is also invited to join us to sing and chat at one or both of the following Zoom sessions where those present will decide how we use the time.

TUESDAY 16TH 7:30PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82819627897?pwd=VVZjL3E0a3BMQUFpUVNkMk5lVTF4QT09
Meeting ID: 828 1962 7897
Passcode: 779314

SUNDAY 21ST 1:30PM (NB earlier time than previously as I have another Zoom at 4pm)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84736383945?pwd=azlabmx2aDhkTEhxVkVvaWxlOFk5QT09
Meeting ID: 847 3638 3945
Passcode: 027485

• Let’s warm up with Ale Glorious Ale and Country Life.
• Next two songs looking towards Spring since, while we might still yet have snow in April, at the moment there is a decent amount of sunshine and blue sky – When Spring Comes In and Birds On The Spray.
• Leading us into the break, a couple of songs about outdoor rural occupations – The Brisk Young Ploughboy and The Turmut Hoer.
• With replenished beer/wine/juice/water/coffee or other beverage of choice on hand, we’ll sing two Kipling songs – Oak, Ash and Thorn followed by A Smuggler’s Song (in which Lewes singers have regularly heard me launch into “Five and Twenty Blackbirds” but I've highlighted “PONIES” on my wordsheet now so hopefully I will get it right this time).
• Two songs follow with birds in their titles and love as their theme – The Lark In The Morning and The Turtle Dove.
• To bring our (sadly still virtual) session to an end we will finish with very old favourites Pleasant and Delightful and East Sussex Drinking Song.

Best wishes, solidarity, golier etc!

Tina

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 3rd March 2021

7.30pm start if attending the Zoom meeting

Hello everyone. Following on from last month’s ‘At Home’ Session we have decided to give it another go. We are getting closer to being able to meet up hopefully, but in the meantime we will need to be a bit longer with the ZOOM or AT HOME Worthing sessions.

If you are unable to join by Zoom, or you feel it is not for you, then please join us in spirit by singing the same songs.

The song list below is adaptable to a Zoom or a no-Zoom session. Either way, all singers welcome – and welcome to our March Zoom. It is not designed to take over from Tina’s wonderful sessions, but is there to supplement our Worthing sessions which are currently based around singing alone in our own homes (but at the same time). It would be really good it we were to do some interaction with each other which will lead into small, local, socially-distanced groups when the current climate eventually changes, for those who may wish to.

Though I’m not musically gifted like a lot of our members, I am content to put my IT skills to the use of the group to get these sessions moving. Therefore I have set up an initial Zoom Session for Wednesday 3rd March at 7.30pm. Currently Zoom sessions are free as long as I keep them below 40 minutes in duration; however we can have two sessions back to back. Therefore I would suggest if we are able to get this one running, that we have 35-minute session, followed by a coffee/beer break of 5 minutes, followed by another half-hour session. All is subject to change. To log into the session use the following details below.

Join Zoom Meeting
Wednesday 3rd March 2021 at 7.30pm
Meeting ID Number: 553 923 1152
Password: SDFSMar21

The following is a list of proposed songs which we can pull from.

• Pleasant and Delightful
• Oak, Ash and Thorn (Lead requested)
• The Bee-Boy’s Song
• Lark in the Morning
• Ebernoe Horn Fair
• A Smuggler’s Song (individual verses – volunteers required)
• Rosebuds in June
• Green Grow the Laurel (Lady volunteer please)
• West Sussex Drinking Song
• Where Stormy Winds do Blow
• Country Life or The Life of a Man (to finish)

If you would like to bring along an individual song, poem or story then feel free to so do. If you let me know at the beginning then I will ensure we fit it in.

Dave W

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 16th February 2021

Hello again singers in Lewes or elsewhere. Hope you’re still surviving. At least now some people have had the first vaccination and the days are getting longer with occasional sunshine, despite the recent flurries of snow. Here are my February song suggestions. Just one new song this month with attachments to sing along at home HERE (the others recorded in previous months are marked *).

If you would rather sing and chat with others there are also two Zoom sessions where, as usual, those present will decide how we use the time. Stay as long as you want, all welcome from any area. If anyone is reading this who does not yet belong to SDFS do feel free to come and see what we do.

Tuesday 16th at 7.30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83024913881?pwd=emdVWnFULzlLYXN5SDlmVmRTY09WZz09
Meeting ID: 830 2491 3881
Passcode: 802923

Sunday 21st at 3pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87825799809?pwd=SThZSFo2VGwvdkI5UVRwMThSTHM2UT09
Meeting ID: 878 2579 9809
Passcode: 500968

• We’ll kick off with Drink me Brave Boys* and Fathom the Bowl*
• Then our new item, one last wassailing song for the year – Wassail the Silver Apple from the West Country. On the website you can hear Alan & Anne from the Chichester group performing it in two parts with instruments. I’ve attached here each part recorded separately and the words.
• Taking us to our virtual comfort break a pair of sea-themed songs, both sad tales but set to lively tunes – The Constant Lovers* and Our Captain Cried, “All Hands”*.
• Welcome back with two songs concerning local Sussex places – Brighton Camp* from the East and Ha’nacker Mill* from the West.
• Next our thoughts turn to love with The Three Maidens* and The Sussex Wedding Song*.
• And to end another distanced evening, apart but together in spirit, our old favourite Thousands or More* with a slight topical change to the lyrics: “With my bottle and friend you will find me on Zoom!”

Best wishes, solidarity, golier etc!

Tina

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 3rd February 2021

Following a fun night of laughter and joyous celebrations (oh and a bit of singing) in January, it has been decided to try another Zoom session for the Worthing Group. If you are unable to join by Zoom, or you feel it is not for you, then please join us in spirit by singing the same songs.

The song list below is adaptable to a Zoom or a no-Zoom session. Either way, all singers welcome – and welcome to our February Zoom. It is not designed to take over from Tina’s wonderful sessions, but is there to supplement our Worthing sessions which are currently based around singing alone in our own homes (but at the same time). It would be really good if we were to do some interaction with each other which will lead into small, local socially-distanced groups when the current climate eventually changes, for those who may wish to.

If you would like to bring along an individual song, poem or story then feel free to so do. If you let me know at the beginning then I will ensure we fit it in.

Though I’m not musically gifted like a lot of our members, I am content to put my IT skills to the use of the group to get these sessions moving. Therefore I have set up an initial Zoom Session for Wednesday 3rd February at 7.30pm. Currently Zoom sessions are free as long as I keep them below 40 minutes in duration; however you can have two sessions back to back. Therefore I would suggest if we are able to get this one running, that we have a 35-minute session, followed by a coffee/beer break of 5 minutes, followed by another half-hour session. All is subject to change. To log into the session use the following details below.

Join Zoom Meeting
Wednesday 3rd February 2021 at 7.30pm
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/5539231152?pwd=c05qclVGeTcxYlRzdGFFZGxtRXdTUT09
Meeting ID number: 553 923 1152
Password: SDFSFeb21

Song List (we can select the order on the evening to suit our mood):

• The Farmers Toast
• On Sussex Hills
• Country Life
• Thousands or More
• The Magpie
• Poor Froze-Out Gardeners
• Fathom the Bowl
• Where Stormy Winds Do Blow
• Life of a Man
• The Fields Lie Silent
• Hares on the Mountain

Please do not get too worried, this is a list to pick from, not all that will be covered.

Dave W

The Silver Apple Wassail

Thanks to Anne and Alan for this recording of The Silver Apple Wassail. Enjoy!

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Don't forget, all our singers are invited to send in contributions. Read this post for more information.

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 19th January 2021

Hello again singers in Lewes or wherever you are. Happy 2021 and I hope you managed a peaceful and restful holiday period. Some of you may still be waiting to celebrate with family and friends who were in the wrong tier at the wrong time and the whole country is now back in lockdown awaiting the long-promised vaccines. As we have more time this year and no public performances immediately on the horizon, we can string out and enjoy the Christmas and wassailing songs for a bit longer than usual. Here are my January suggestions with attachments for you to sing along in the privacy of your own homes. New recordings for this month can be found HERE (those recorded previously are marked *).

If you prefer to sing with others, however chaotically given the limitations of latency and connections, everyone is welcome at these two Zoom sessions. The singers present will decide how to use the time. Do pop in, even if you just want to say a quick hello, being visible on camera is optional too! You should have received the links already, but they are:

TUESDAY 19th 7.30PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83131009406?pwd=Z2kyUnNhR3YzQ05lZWNxeGhZOWFMUT09
Meeting ID: 831 3100 9406
Passcode: 515155

SUNDAY 24th 3PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82077361404?pwd=dlBZeHRyMTkwV2Z4VDlsRGtsVUR5dz09
Meeting ID: 820 7736 1404
Passcode: 943906

• Let’s warm up with two old favourites celebrating our local landscapes – Ha’nacker Mill* and The Song of the Sussex Downsman*
• Next a trio of songs from our usual Christmas collection – The Sussex Mummers’ Carol, Sweet Chiming Bells and While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (to the newer tune Pentonville)
• To take us to our break, two new songs which some of us already know and love from singing with Brighton Pub Carols – Then Let Us be Merry (from the singing of William Harris, blacksmith and church musician at Rodmell) and Wake Ye Shepherds (from William Boyce of Handcross)
• Welcome back with another new, but more recent, seasonal song. When It’s Christmas Time was written in 2010 by Glen Redman of Brighton Morris and Brighton Pub Carols. He gave permission for SDFS to use it five years ago when we had a lot of other new material to consider, maybe time for another look. Geoff suggested it as one of his favourites at the last Zoom.
• The last of our familiar wassailing songs for this year – Apple Tree Wassailing Song, Here We Come A-Wassailing and Wassail Wassail All Over the Town.
• And to round off the night raise your hearts and voices in Thousands or More* and East Sussex Drinking Song*

Best wishes, solidarity, golier etc!

Tina

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 6th January 2021

Update 6th January 2021: There may be some issues with connecting for the 7.30pm Zoom session. If so the second session will commence around 8.05pm.
Meeting ID: 553 923 1152
Password: SDFSJAN21

7.30pm start if attending the Zoom meeting

A Happy, Brighter, Calmer and Safer New Year to all our SDFS singers and followers. As 2021 begins with alarming levels of the virus still amongst and between us, but also positive news of vaccines and light ahead at the end of this long tunnel, what better way to comfort our spirits, celebrate our hope and express our New Year resolution to keep the SDFS going than to SING – even if it is just to ourselves at home. Many thanks again to Tina for her generous contribution to keeping our SDFS spirits up and song repertoire aired during the shutdown, and to Keith for his support in maintaining our website and posting the monthly notices which keep us in touch – and now also to Dave W, who has offered to host an interactive Zoom session for this month’s Worthing session.

The song list below is adaptable to a Zoom or a no-Zoom session. So for non-Zoomers it still has no mute facility or pictures, so your sound, chosen setting and attire are unrestricted, subject perhaps to others in your household and your neighbours! Either way, all singers welcome – and Welcome to our new Zoom host Dave!

Henny

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And now over to Dave:

Hi all, after speaking to Henny and the rest of the team it seemed that we should consider having a local (Worthing) group Zoom session for the SDFS. It is not designed to take over from Tina’s wonderful sessions, but is there to supplement our sessions which are currently based around singing alone in our own homes (but at the same time). It would be really good if we were to do some interaction with each other which will lead into small local social-distanced groups when the current climate eventually changes, for those who may wish to. Although not musically gifted like a lot of our members, I am content to put my IT skills to the use of the group to get these sessions moving. Therefore I have set up an initial Zoom Session for this Wednesday at 7.30pm. Currently Zoom sessions are free as long as I keep them below 40 minutes in duration; however you can have two sessions back to back. Therefore I would suggest if we are able to get this one running, that we have a 35-minute session, followed by a coffee/beer break of 5 minutes, followed by another half-hour session. All is subject to change. To log into the session use the following detail below.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/6202775062?pwd=MHJzWlBWYmRMRnJ4SFRVLzNCbWZTZz09
Meeting ID: 620 277 5062
Password: TnAX4Q

To get us into the swing of it I would suggest we consider the following songs for this first meeting. All these can change on the day if considered unsuitable or difficult to control via a Zoom session. We can discuss how the songs will be controlled at the first session. So if you have any experience in the conduct of such sessions then happy to take your advice.

• Pleasant and Delightful
• The Fields Lie Silent Now
• Righteous Joseph
• The Holly and the Ivy
• Wassailing songs: Here We Come a-Wassailing – Sugar Wassail – Apple Tree Wassail
• When Stormy Winds do Blow
• I heard a Bird Sing
• Country Life

Anyone who wishes to sing a song or recite a poem to the group would be very welcome. This also applies if anyone would like to take the lead on any of the songs.

Dave

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Finally may I (Keith) say thank you to everybody who has contributed material for this website to keep us all singing our SDFS songs throughout 2020 despite the various restrictions we have had to observe. For any more SDFS singers who would like to contribute, remember an open invitation was posted here about a week ago (here's a direct link if you've missed this).

Here's looking forward to a new year and let us all hope we can safely start to get back together again.

Golier!

Three Short Stories

Thanks to Amaryllis for giving us these three short stories to keep us amused.

TEA TIME TALES

Terry, the terribly tuneless trombonist, tried tromboning, ‘Twankydillo’, troubling the touchy twosome, twenty–three, The Towers. Tremendous thuds, throwing things, taunting threats… Terrible!

Thus Terry tried the triangle. Terry’s tame thrush, tunefully trilled. Together they tried the ‘Titanic’ theme. Terry tested the tuba, then the trumpet, trumpeting the telling tune to ‘Thousands…’ The thrush twittering to time.

Terry turned to the tambourine – taking time to train the talented thrush to trill the theme to ‘The Terminator’.

Then there’s the time Terry taught toucans. The trouble though, Terry’s truculent toucans took things. Tasty tomatoey toast, tinned tuna, tantalising tiramisu…

Together the two toucans tormented Tulip, Terry’s touchy tortoise, tenaciously taking Tulip’s ‘Turmits’.

Terry, tired to the teeth, tricked the toucans to try the treacle tart. Then they tried to take Tulip’s third turnip. ‘Tough,’ thought Terry. They trickled the thickening treacle. ‘Those thieving toucans, the treacle’s turned to toffee. They’re thwarted. Teehee!’

Then they thought to tease Terry. These two took Terry’s thyroid tablets, thereafter, the troubled toucans took to the trees towards the town. The trials, the tribulations…!

Terry telephoned the taxi that took Terry to the tip. There, taking the trombone, Terry transformed the tender tune, “Tiptoe through the Tulips” to terrifying thunderous trumpeting toots! Thus the tip took Terry’s tuneless trombone.

This tale terminates thus: Terry turned totally to the triangle, the tambourine, thrilling the trilling thrush, tempering Tulip the tortoise.

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EPISODE E

Eventually elderly eccentric, Enrique Espinoza’s exhibition entitled: ‘Elgin’s Equivocal Experiences’, ended.

Enrique’s encore: ‘Empires Exposed’, excited Erica Ebernoe, (Endurance Electrics, ex-employee).



Every evening Ernest Edmundson, Erica’s escort, explored each enlightened exposé, expounding elicit escapades. Enrique Espinoza’s enterprising experiments, examined ersatz explanations.

Erica enthusiastically emailed Ernest. “Espinoza’s exposed empirical executives exploiting every émigré entirely, even enslavement ensued! Eventually every emigrant employee expelled! Evidently, egotistical employers engaged, exclusively, experienced experts! ‘Extremists!”



Enrique’s egregious, embarrassing exposure, electrified everyone, especially every evil, execrable establishment! Everyone’s expecting expiation. Even Erica’s Ernest’s extremely excited. “Enrique Espinoza’s extraordinary exposures, emboldened everyone! Enrique’s efforts evoke exultation everywhere!”

Excitedly exhausted, Erica exuberantly echoed Ernest’s enthusiasm. “Enrique’s exceeded everyone’s expectations! Enrique’s enabled everyone’s emancipation!”



Everybody extols Enrique Espinoza’s exceptional epithet: ‘Earth’s Emblem Epitomised’.

“Excellent ending!” exclaims Erica Ebernoe.

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MY MATES

Memorable Movie moments move me. ‘Mad Max’, ‘Marathon Man’, ‘Mash’, ‘Memento’ …

Mum’s mania’s – magical melodies. ‘Magic Moments’, ‘Macarena’, ‘Moonshadow’, ‘Magpie’. ‘Magpie?’

My mum Mary, makes me marvellous mouthwatering meals. Mainly meaty mince mixes. My mum’s my mentor.

My main mate, Max, mimics making movies. Maxie – ‘Mighty Mouse’; me – moth-eaten ‘Maid Marian’! Meanie!

Moreover Max’s mental! Mischief-maker! Makes moronic masks – me, Martian monkey, mumbling: ‘Munchy, Munchy, Monster Munchy’. Max – Martian Master! Manhandling my magical Meccano, monopolising my model Maserati, mangling my microscope. Mum’ll murder me! Max makes me miserable…

Mum mentioned Maisie. “Maisie’s much more mild-mannered.”

Mmmm… Mmmm! Maisie – ‘Maid Marian’, me – ‘Martian Master’!

Marvellously, Max moved!

Maisie’s ‘Maid Marian’s’ magnificent!

Mum’s making Maisie magical minced muffins. Maisie’s mum’s making me massive minty mousses!

Maisie’s my main mate! Maisie makes me marvellously merry.

Mmmmm!

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Four Songs From Alan

Here we have four songs from Alan. They were sent to me quite some time ago, so they are not specifically winter songs. Apologies for the delay and I hope next year we will all be together and singing these songs.

Buttercup Joe

Alan has introduced this song at Chichester and Worthing.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3

England For Me

Alan writes: Patriotic, but about the nicer things of England, so not nationalistic.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3

Love And The Ball

Alan writes: I thought this is an interesting song as it is the earliest such thing I can find re. stoolball, the local game that predated cricket but with similar rules. I used to play it at the Youth Club up in Surrey 'when I were a lad'.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3

Off We Go A hunting

Alan writes: Just for fun. I don't which know set of words came first, Donkey or Fox. I added a verse to make it a bit Sus-sexy. Note that nobody caught Mr Reynard. Horses Neck is a cocktail.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3