Project & background

This book came about as a result of a project called Shout Kernow, undertaken in 2012 by Hilary Coleman and Sally Burley. The project aimed to record, celebrate and help sustain the living tradition of pub singing in Cornwall. We realised that it would be one of the trickiest collections to create, because we were dealing with such a living tradition; all over Cornwall people get together to sing these songs using various different words, melodies and harmonies. For each group of singers, the version they sing is their own, and in their eyes the ‘correct’ one, and so we were aware that there was a risk of creating a ‘definitive’ version and thus excluding others. We didn’t want to ‘standardise’ these versions though; we felt that variety and difference were to be celebrated. There was also risk of a collection becoming a ‘bell jar’ which might fossilise a living tradition. Yet a collection still felt much needed, all the more so because during our work we often heard people say things like ‘In ten years’ time how many Male Voice Choirs will there be?” or “I remember looking in the back room of the pub at the men singing, waiting till I was old enough to join in, and thought it would be there forever. Now there is no back room, just a place for the one-armed-bandit’. We were aware that sometimes some special experiences, particularly something as ephemeral as a rendition of a few verses of a well-loved song by a group of friends, are not appreciated until their existence seem to be threatened. What seems normal today is only transitory, after all, and may be gone tomorrow.

In the end we decided our approach would be to travel around Cornwall, record the variations and then publish versions from a particular place and present a collection of the songs as we heard them. We hoped this would create a snapshot of what is being sung where and would also celebrate the life of these communities. We are very aware that are visits were not exhaustive and some occasions have not been covered, for example, the singing during Padstow and Helston Maydays. We would also like to apologise to all those places that we didn’t manage to get to where we know singing goes on such as Boscastle, St Issey, Philleigh and Polperro. There are also groups not mentioned who are developing this singing such as The Fishermans Friends from Port Isaac, The Oggymen from Falmouth and Boilerhouse from Penzance. We also need mention the many Male Voice Choirs who have contributed to this tradition over the years but not referred to here.

Once we had visited and recorded the singing we collated this book and CD as a written, pictorial and sound archive of the singing, with background to the songs, some history of the pubs or events and the relevance of a song to a particular place. We have included words, tunes and some harmonies. The words and melodies are as far as possible transcriptions of the recordings made on our visits. The harmonies are mostly the same or based on what we heard. Occasionally we have used arrangements from other sources as stated on the page.

Along the way we collected some interesting stories to share and were warmly welcomed everywhere. After all as someone commented “You can’t be angry when you sing!”  What we also experienced was an overwhelming love for Cornwall.

 

Pubs/places visited

• Atlantic Hotel, St Marys, Isles of Scilly
• Bencoolen Inn, Bude
• Bishop & Wolf Inn, St Marys, Isles of Scilly
• Bristol Hotel, Newquay
• Cadgwith Inn, Cadgwith
• Commercial Hotel, St Just
• Cornish Arms, St Merryn
• Countryman Inn, Piece
• Cutty Sark, Marazion
• Fountain Inn, Mevagissey
• Golden Lion, Menherion
• Kings Arms, Paul
• Kings Arms, St Just
• Lemon Arms, Mylor
• Mounts Bay Inn, Mullion
• New Inn, Tywardreath
• Newquay Fish Festival
• Queens Head, Albaston
• Rashleigh Arms, Polkerris
• Seiners Arms, Perranporth
• St Aubyn Arms, Praze-an-Beeble
• St Day Inn, St Day
• Tamar Inn, Calstock
• Turks Head, St Agnes, Isles of Scilly

Also visits to:

• Harry Glasson, Goldsithney
• John Blunt, Boscastle
• Will Coleman, Bodmin

What’s a Shout?

Firstly, the very name is debatable. We found a variety of terms to describe such an event. As with many things happening naturally and not contrived, the need for a descriptive name isn’t always necessary, but we began to use ‘Shout’ after hearing it at Lanlivery and Philleigh. We particularly liked the irreverence implied in this name and the self-effacing description so typical of Cornishmen! It is also a term used for Shanty singing.

Most people didn’t have a ‘proper’ name for the singing and we didn’t conduct a formal survey on this but found it interesting to observe these terms in the following areas:

• ‘Ave a sing: general
• Pitch’n up: general (start off the singing)
• Afterglow: Marazion, Paul, Mevagissey (this very much related to the Male Voice Choirs going to the pub after a practice)
• Shout: Polkerris, Piece, Marazion, Philleigh
• Hoot: Camborne
• Bit toot/ toot: Marazion, Cadgwith
• Chirp: St Merryn, Newquay
• Strike sound/ strike up/strike out: Isles of Scilly, Goonhavern, St Merryn, Mylor (command to sing)
• A bit of a tuney: Redruth/Camborne
• Singalong/singsong: Countryman, Marazion
• Pub/Inn singers/singing: Mullion, Marazion
• Traditional Cornish singing: Mullion
• Cornish choirs: Piece
• Song session: Polkerris

So what do we mean by a Shout? We came across many different gatherings but generally we mean something that is not a ‘performance’ but rather an experience of making music for the singers’ pleasure without the need for an ‘audience’. There are however some key elements. There is a leader who starts off the songs and is often referred to as the ‘pitcher’ although others may lead off their favourite song or ‘party piece’ and generally the ‘leading’ is understated. The songs may have choruses but generally everyone joins in the whole song. There are often harmonies, many developed over a period of time. People generally stand up usually with a pint of beer in hand, and there is generally a standard repertoire with particular favourites in different areas. Finally and most importantly, anyone is welcome to join in.  These gatherings can be regular or sporadic, celebrating an event or they can be completely unpredictable; people happen to be there and feel like singing! However a key individual is often important and without them the shout may not happen.

Celebrating Pubs

Pubs in Britain are so much more than ‘drinking dens’. They are often vital community assets and play a huge role when it comes to social cohesion. They are also places of amazing social history. At present, many are struggling to survive. According to CAMRA (May 2013) statistics say that as many as 26 pubs a week are closing across Britain yet the survey also reports that 84% of people believe that a pub is as essential to community life as a shop or post office.  As Nick Lake of the Countryman Inn says “pubs have done social networking for over 300 years!” At present, however, in Cornwall there is a very successful real ale culture and it is most often these pubs that which also encourage social activities such as singing. Without such venues, ‘shouts’ would probably become a thing of the past. So this book also aims to celebrate those wonderful institutions and to encourage people to go to their ‘local’.

Contents

1. Little Eyes (Little Lize)
2. Cornish Lads
3. Farewell Shanty
4. Maggie May
5. Harry’s Song For Cornwall
6. Sweet Nightingale
7. Grandfather’s Clock/ Old Time Religion
8. Pleasant and Delightful
9. Peter’s Choice
10. Lily of the Valley
11. Sloop John B
12. Thousands or More
13. Lamorna
14. Kerra Kernow
15. The Miner’s Anthem
16. Old Grey Duck
17. White Rose
18. Fisherman and His Child
19. Trelawny (Song Of The Western Men)
20. Cadgwith Anthem (Robbers’ Retreat)
21. South Australia
22. Camborne Hill
23. Hail to the Homeland
24. Shine and Rain (Baby Train)
25. Black-Eyed Doll (Down By The Riverside)
26. Railroad Medley
27. Safe in the Arms
28. Cornwall My Home
29. Harbour Lights (Lower Lights)
30. Soldier’s Farewell

 

 CD Track listing:

CD.1

1. Thousands or More Boscastle Bow-Wow, Singers at The Napoleon Inn, Boscastle, 1975
2. Little Eyes (Little Lize) London Cornish Rugby Club and friends at The Hotel Bristol, Newquay, 5th October 2012
3. Cornish Lads Mike Tame and members of The Bencoolen Wreckers at The Bencoolen Inn, Bude, 31st July 2012
4. Farewell Shanty Singers at The Tamar Inn, Calstock, 7th May 2012
5. Maggie May Mike Curgenven and members of Singers and Ringers at The Cornish Arms, St Merryn, 2nd October 2012
6. Harry’s Song For Cornwall Richard Rust and singers at The New Inn, Tywardreath, 1st April 2012
7. Sweet Nightingale Singers at The New Inn, Tywardreath,1st April 2012
8. Grandfather’s Clock/ Old Time Religion Singers at The Rashleigh Arms, Polkerris, 6th October 2012
9. Pleasant and Delightful Singers at The Rashleigh Arms, Polkerris, 6th October 2012
10. Peter’s Choice Gareth Rawle, members of The Newquay Rowing Club Singers and friends, Newquay Fish Festival, 16th September 2012
11. Lily of the Valley Nick Nicholls and members of The Mevagissey Male Choir, the Fountain Inn, Mevagissey,16th July 2012
12. Sloop John B Members of The Perraners and friends at The Seiners, Perranporth, 11th December 2012
13. Thousands or More Members of The Perraners and friends at The Seiners, Perranporth, 11th December 2012
14. Lamorna Singers at The St Day Inn, St Day, Feast Day, 17th June 2012
15. Kerra Kernow R. Curnow, S. Burley, H. Coleman and The Treggy, Red River & Ingleheart Singers and friends at The Countryman Inn, Piece, 2nd September 2012
16. The Miner’s Anthem Members of The Treggy, Red River and Ingleheart Singers and friends at The Countryman Inn, Piece, 2nd September 2012

 

CD 2.

1. Old Grey Duck Lin Shevill and singers at The Golden Lion, Stithians, 20th October 2012
2. White Rose (An Rosen Wyn) Members of The Lemonaires, at The Lemon Arms, Mylor, 19th September 2012
3. White Rose Jack Spurr and friends at The Tamar Inn, Calstock, 7th May 2012
4. Fisherman and His Child Members of The Inn Singers at The Mount’s Bay Inn, Mullion, 26th August 2012
5. Trelawny (Song Of The Western Men) Members of The Inn Singers at The Mount’s Bay Inn, Mullion, 26th August 2012
6. Cadgwith Anthem (Robbers Retreat) Members of The Cadgwith Singers at The Cadgwith Inn, Cadgwith, 12th October 2012
7. South Australia Members of The Cadgwith Singers at The Cadgwith Inn, Cadgwith, 12th October 2012
8. Camborne Hill Members of The St Aubyn Singers at The St Aubyn Arms, Praze an Beeble, 23rd August 2012
9. Hail to the Homeland Members of The Penzance Ladies Orpheus Choir at The Cutty Sark, Marazion, 1st August 2012
10. Shine and Rain (Baby Train)/ She wore a Tulip/ Abie (Avie) my Boy Members of The Mousehole Male Voice Choir at The King’s Arms, Paul, 12th July 2012
11. Black-Eyed Doll (Down By The Riverside) Members of The Mousehole Male Voice Choir at The King’s Arms, Paul, 12th July 2012
12. Railroad Medley Members of The Cape Cornwall Singers and friends at The King’s Arms, St Just, Feast Day, 4th November 2012
13. Safe in the Arms Members of The Cape Cornwall Singers and friends at The King’s Arms, St Just, Feast Day, 4th November 2012
14. Cornwall My Home Members of Bone Idol and singers at The Bishop and Wolf, Hughtown, St Marys, Isles of Scilly, 30th September 2012
15. Harbour Lights (Lower Lights) Singers outside The Turks Head, St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 29th September 2012
16. Soldier’s Farewell Singers on the quayside and the Scillonian, St Marys, Isles of Scilly, 1st October 2012

We have set up a facebook site for individuals and groups to network and there are new events happening all the time

Publishers: Frances Boutle, London, 2015

Kresen Kernow Reference