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The Confluence

by Stray Hens

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The Confluence is a 12 track album featuring Sally Taylor, Richard Grace, Ryan Tews, Carmen O'Brien and Mandy Connell.

    Each artist leads a song (Vocals) and the CD features

    Tom Paine's Bones (Graham Moore
    Mad Tom of Bedlam (Arr Stray Hens. Tune by Nick Jones and Dave Moran)
    Diamantina Drover (Hugh McDonald)
    Song of the Inland Rain (Roger Montgomery / Jack Sorenson)
    (With Tune "The Confluence" by Ryan Tews
    The Dreadful End of Mariana For Sorcery (Karine Polwart)
    The Cruel Mother (Trad Arr Mandy Connell)
    Pot & Tinker (Mandy Connell)
    The Handweaver & THe factory Maid (Trad/ A L Lloyd)
    Riddles Wisely Expounded (Trad)
    Ballad Of Accounting (Ewan MacColl)
    The Recruited Collier (Trad Arr Mandy Stray Hens)

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1.
Dreadful End of Marianna For Sorcery Marianna o' the Howe was a young lassie wi' gowden hair Sweet and honest, true and bonnie, and lover of one John Sinclair Marianna met the factor at the dawning, at the fold And he said, "Lie with me now, Marianna, and you will not want for gold" "Well, I thank you for your offer, but I fear it canna be I maun lie with John Sinclair, for he's the only one for me" So the factor, sore affronted, whispered evil of her name Every sorrow and misfortune 'twas Marianna was to blame Soon there came a deputation Marianna for to see For to slight her reputation, "The de'il has laid his hands on ye Ye've soured the cream and blighted the corn and danced wi' fairies on the hill Ye who are of devil born and ye who bow to no man's will" Seven evenings, seven mornings they spoke of Marianna ill There they shamed her, stripped her and maimed her, but they never tamed her will "Let her sweetness not deceive you, evil hides itself right well Once within, it will never leave you, Marianna, you'll burn in hell" "Who are these who stand against me? Who are these who slight my name? Let them tell their lies before God and let them hang their heads in shame" Then she saw a sight that grieved her, all the hope inside her died John Sinclair all clad in satin standing at the factor's side "I was child and now a woman, but I shall be no man's wife For my love has me forsaken, and I want no more of this life" They've shorn the hair from Marianna, the witch's snare o' gowden thread Marched her tae the Gallowsha' and whipped her sair until she bled In the crowd she spied her lover, and he had his new coat on Soon the flames danced all above her, and the people danced 'til the dawn Marianna o' the Howe, was a young lassie wi' gowden hair Sweet and honest, true and bonnie, betrayed by the factor and John Sinclair
2.
Pot & Tinker (Lyrics)- ©Mandy Connell I can make a pot, I’m a tinker and I can make a lock, I’m a fitter I can build a boat, and row her; I can make a house from sleepers I grew up in Essendon, deep in the heart of Melbourne All the mods were chasing dreams: all they found were dragons I spent a year in Langi-Kal, ‘fore I met your mother Down on my knees in soap and suds; Polishing the floorboards Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai dai da Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai dai da Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da I got out and started workin leather, went to work in plastic manufacture Learned to build the tools to fix the motors, spare time I fixed my bosses jaguar I went to live in Omeo where the hops and the tobacco grow: 20 years clean I can’t come home- if I did I’d still be tempted. Darlin, don’t you know it’s worth the tears you cried, the letters penned? I’m glad you made the visits though I did not understand This room I’m sleeping in is creeping slowly earthward, Loneliness is easier when love comes winging, you come singing Darlin- keep the visits comin. Heart attacks and valium, seizures when the pills don’t come Ulcers when the drugs don’t work- how my hips and shoulders hurt But once I could turn somersaults, and though I had so many faults I loved you and your mother though I couldn’t find the words to say Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai dai da Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai Da, Dai dai da Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da I can make a pot, I’m a tinker and I can make a lock, I’m a fitter I can build a boat, and row her; I can make a house from sleepers Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da Da dee da dee dee da dai de da da Copyright © Mandy Connell
3.
I went walkin in the woods one night All alone and aloney O I saw two babies playing at the ball Down by the Greenwood Sidey O Oh Babes Oh Babes If you were mine I’d dress you up in Scarlet Fine I wouldn’t go walking by the river side Down by the Greenwood Sidey O Oh Mother Mother we were thine You didn’t dress us coarse or fine You went walking by the riverside Pushed your back against a thorn Pushed and you pushed ‘til we were born Put the rope around our neck and you Pulled on the rope ‘til we were dead Oh Babes Oh Babes what am I to do For the cruel thing that I did you you Bonnie Boys come tell to me What kind of death I’ll have to die Seven years as a fish in the flood Seven years as a bird in the wood Seven years a tongue in the warning bell Seven years in the flames of hell Ooooooooh Oooooooh Ooooooooh Oooooooh Ooooooooh Oooooooh Ooooooooh Oooooooh I went walkin in the woods one night All alone and aloney O I saw two babies playing at the ball Down by the Greenwood Sidey O
4.
Recruited Collier Intro | D | G A | | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | V1 "What's the matter with you, me lass, and where's your dashing Jimmy?" "Them soldier boys have picked him up and taken him far from me Last pay-day he went into town and them red-coated fellows, Enticed him in and made him drunk, and he'd better come to the gallows. V2 The very sight of his cockade, it sets us all a-cryin', And me, I nearly fainted twice - I thought that I was dyin' Me father said he'd pay the smart and he'd run for the Golden Guinea, But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book, so now they've got young Jimmy. Fiddle riff x 2 | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | V3 When Jimmy talks about the wars, it's worse than death to hear him. I must go out and hide me tears, because I cannot bear him. A Brigadier or a Grenadier he says they're sure to make him, So now he jibes and cracks his jokes and bids me not forsake him. Solo - whole verse - End on riff | D | G A | | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | V4 - Guitar only As I walked o'er yon stubbled field - below where runs the seam, I think on Jimmy hewing there, but it was all a dream. He hewed the very coils we burn, so when this fire I'm leetin', To think the lumps was in his hands - it sets me heart a-beating'. (Fiddle HIGH notes long bows) V5 So break me heart and then it's o'er, oh break me heart, me dearie, As I lie in this cold, cold bed, of a single life I'm weary." Exit on fiddle tune | Bm | G A | | Bm | G A | | D |
5.
Handweaver and the Factory Maid (Trad / A.L. Lloyd) I am a hand weaver to my trade Bm I fell in love with a factory maid Bm And if I could but her favour win Bm I would stand beside her and weave by steam Verse 2 My father to me scornful said "How can you fancy a factory maid? When you could have lovers fine and gay Dressed like unto the Queen of May" Verse 3 As for your fine girls I don't care If I could but enjoy my dear We'd stand in the factory all the day And she and I'd keep our shuttles in play Backing Vocal x4 Shuttle goes forth and the shuttle goes back Verse 4 I went to my lover's bedroom door Where I'd been often times before But I could not speak nor yet get in To the pleasant bed where my love lay in Verse 5 - Hens sing in 6/4, back to 5/4 on "enjoys she" Bm A/E Bm How can you say it's a pleasant bed Bm A/E Bm When nowt lies there but a factory maid? Bm A/E Bm And a factory maid though ere she be Bm A/E C Bm Blest is the man who enjoys she Verse 6 O pleasant thoughts all come to my mind As I turn down the sheets so fine And I seen her two breasts standing so Just like two white hills all covered with snow Verse 7 - stop on "rise at dawn", last line is spoken Where are the fine girls, I'll tell you plain They've all gone for to weave by steam And if you'll find them you must rise at dawn And trudge to the mill in the early morn Handweaver Tune “The Musical Priest” | Bm A | Bm A | Bm A | E F# | | D A | D A | D A | G F# | | Bm A | Bm A | Bm A | E F# |
6.
Tom Paine's Bones (Graham Moore) Verse 1 C F As I roved out, late one night, by a river of discontent F G Am I ran straight into old Tom Paine as running down the road he went C F He said, "I can't stop right now, child, King George is after me F G Am He'd have a rope around my throat and hang me on the Liberty Tree" Chorus C F But I will dance to Tom Paine's bones, dance to Tom Paine's bones F G Am Dance in the oldest boots I own to the rhythm of Tom Paine's bones C F (/G) (/A) (/G) (/F) (/E) I will dance to Tom Paine's bones, dance to Tom Paine's bones F G Am Dance in the oldest boots I own to the rhythm of Tom Paine's bones Instrumental - start on hanging Am, turnaround on G. | Am | Am | | C | C | F | F | | F | F | G | Am | | C | C | F | F | | F | F | G | Am | G | | C | C | Verse 2 "I only talked about freedom and justice for everyone But since the very first word I spoke I've been looking down the barrel of a gun They say I preached revolution let me say in my defence That all I did wherever I went was to talk a lot of common sense" [Chorus] [Instrumental] Verse 3 (we don’t sing the second half) Old Tom Paine he ran so fast, he left me standing still And there I was, a piece of paper in my hand standing at the top of the hill It said, "This is the Age Of Reason, these are The Rights Of Man Kick off religion and monarchy" it was written there in Tom Paine's plan (Not on our recording:) Old Tom Paine, there he lies Nobody laughs and nobody cries Where he's gone or how he fares Nobody knows and nobody cares [Chorus x2]
7.
Ballad Of Accounting Ewan McColl In the morning we built the city In the afternoon walked through its streets Evening saw us leaving We wandered through our days as if they would never end All of us imagined we had endless time to spend We hardly saw the crossroads and small attention gave To the landmarks on the journey from the cradle to the grave. X3 Did you learn to dream in the morning? Abandon dreams in the afternoon? Wait without hope in the evening? Did you stand there in the traces and let 'em feed you lies? Did you trail along behind them wearing blinkers on your eyes? Did you kiss the foot that kicked you, did you thank them for their scorn? Did you ask for their forgiveness for the act of being born? X3 Did you alter the face of the city? Make any change in the world you found? Or did you observe all the warnings? Did you read the trespass notices, did you keep off the grass? Did you shuffle off the pavements just to let your betters pass? Did you learn to keep your mouth shut, were you seen and never heard? Did you learn to be obedient and jump to at a word? X3 Did you demand any answers? The who and the what and the reason why? Did you ever question the setup? Did you stand aside and let 'em choose while you took second best? Did you let 'em skim the cream off and then give to you the rest? Did you settle for the shoddy and did you think it right, To let 'em rob you right and left and never make a fight? X3 What did you learn in the morning? How much did you know in the afternoon? Were you content in the evening? Did they teach you how to question when you were at the school? Did the factory help you grow, were you the maker or the tool? Did the place where you were living, enrich your life and then Did you reach some understanding of all your fellow men? X3 Written in 1964 as theme music for the BBC radio-series 'LANDMARKS', this is a summing-up song, an accounts sheet. Its Brechtian style and deceptive simplicity mark it as unique among MacColl's compositions.
8.
DIAMANTINA DROVER HUGH MCDONALD Arr. Stray Hens Intro - Sally Fiddle drones Verse 1- (Carmen sings over Sal solo Fiddle) The Faces in the photograph have faded And I can’t believe he looks so much like me For it’s been ten years today Since I left for Old Cork Station And I won’t be back ‘till the drovin’s done Chorus (Sal, Mandy, carmen harmonies) For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina And a drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone, like the drays from Old Cork Station and I won’t be back ‘till the drovin’s done Verse 2 Well it seems like the sun comes up each morning Sets me up then takes it all away For the dreaming by the light Of the campfire at night Ends with the burning by the day Chorus (Sal, Mandy, carmen harmonies) For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina And a drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone, like the drays from Old Cork Station and I won’t be back ‘till the drovin’s done Solo break over Chorus chords x1- Twin Fiddle Verse 3 Sometimes I think i’ll settle back in Sydney But it’s been so long it’s hard to change my mind For the cattle trail goes on and on, And the fences roll forever And I won’t be back till the drovin’s done Chorus (Sal, Mandy, carmen harmonies) For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina And a drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone, like the drays from Old Cork Station and I won’t be back ‘till the drovin’s done Rubato: For the years have surely gone, like the drays from Old Cork Station and I won’t be back ‘till the drovin’s done
9.
Bonnie Broom Am Song in 3/4 except guitar riff in 4/4. Drop 1 beat before fiddle riff & between them when there is two, & after V4. All Instruments stop on the very last “Fa” (la la, la la, la la la, la la) for an acapella ending. Guit riff x 2 4/4 V1 Unison There was a Lady in the West, Lay the bent to the bonny broom She had three daughters of the best, Fa la la, la la, la la la, la la V2 Unison A strange young knight he came to the gate... He knocked loud and he knocked late... Guit riff x 2 (Fiddles long bows - Sally Low, Carmen Middle) V3 Mandy The eldest sister she led him in…In the door with a... V4 Mandy The middle sister she made the bed... V5 Carmen The youngest sister was bold and bright… She went to bed with the strange young knight... Fiddle riff x 1 (Sally High, Carmen Low) V6 & 7 Sal Now young maiden you’ve lain with me... I’ll ask you questions 3 by 3... Answer me these Qs 9... Or else you surely shall be mine... V8 Sal louder than the horn (Thunder) sharper than the thorn (Hunger) whiter than the milk... (Snow) V9 Sal softer than the silk (Love) higher than the tree (Heaven) deeper than the sea... (Hell) V10 Sal rounder than the ring (World) greener than the grass (Poison) worse than woman e’er was… (Devil) Fiddle riff x 2 (Sally High, Carmen Low) V11,12&13 Carmen ^ see above for answers in brackets ^ Guit riff x 2 (Fiddles rhythmic long bows) Ryan’s Rhythm EXTRAVAGANZA! V14 Carmen Now I’ve answered your questions nine... So I never shall be thine... V15 3vox He clapped his wings and aloud did cry... In a blaze of fire away did fly...
10.
Hey Rain / Innisfail Song (Cmaj?) Intro Hey Rain, (Low) Hey Rain (Normal) Verse 1- Acapella There's rain in me beard and rain on me face, Oh muddy old Innisfail's a bloody wet place, Hey rain, hey rain. ( harmony on second ‘rain’) Verse 2 - (Acapella) Rain in me beer and rain in me grub, And they've just fitted anchors to the Garradunga pub, Hey rain, hey rain. (Band Comes In) Chorus........ x 1 (Harmonies) Verse 3 (Band in) There's a Johnstone River crocodile livin' in me frig' And a bloody great tree on the Jubilee Bridge Hey rain, hey rain (Harmonies on both) Verse 4 Bloke from out west nearly died of fright, Cos the River rose thity five feet last night Hey rain, hey rain (Harmonies on both) Chorus..... x 2 Verse 5 Monsoon Sky so black and big Theres an old flyin' fox in the Moreton Bay fig, Hey rain, hey rain (Harmonies on both) Verse 6 It's the worst wet season we've ever had, And I'd swim down to Tully, but it's just as bloody bad Hey rain, hey rain (Harmonies on both) Chorus x 2 Acapella Chorus x 1 -------------------------------------------------
11.
Mad Tom of Bedlam CH ...well that we sing bonny boys Bonny mad boys Bedlam boys are bonny for they Go bare and they live in the air And they want no drink nor, money Acapella Chorus Slow - pause on “air” Bass Intro Drums in V1 + Bass riff start together V2 V3 Key up V4 Bridge Drum Solo V5 Key up Outro To see mad tom of bedlam, Ten thousand miles I've travelled Mad maudlin goes on dirty toes To save her shoes from gravel So well that we sing bonnie boys, bonnie mad boys Bedlam boys are bonnie For they all go bare, and they live in the air And they want no drink nor money I went down to satan's kitchen For to break my fast one morning And there I got souls piping hot All on the spit a-turning So well that we sing sing bonnie boys, bonnie mad boys Bedlam boys are bonnie For they all go bare, and they live in the air And they want no drink nor money A spirit hot as lightening Did on that journey guide me The sun did shake and the pale moon quake Wherever they did spy me Yet it's well that we sing bonnie boys, bonnie mad boys Bedlam boys are bonnie For they…
12.

about

This album consists of 12 folk ballad tracks, arranged for Drums, Bass, Vocal Harmony, Keys, Guitar and Twin Fiddles.

Recorded mostly in Echidna Studios in the Christmas Hills, Victoria, it was engineered and produced by Luke Plumb (The Mae Trio, Kate Burke & Ruth Hazleton, Andy Irvine) and sent to Mattie Foulds (UK) for mastering.

Track Listing

1) The Dreadful End of Marianna for Sorcery (Karine Polwart)
2) Pot and Tinker (Mandy Connell)
3) The Cruel Mother (Trad Arr Mandy Connell & Stray Hens)
4) The Recruited Collier (Trad Arr Stray Hens)
5) The Handweaver and the Factory Maid / The Musical Priest (Both Trad Arr Stray Hens)
6) Tom Paine's Bones (Graham Moore)
7) Ballad of Accounting / The Ledger (Ewan McColl / Sally Taylor)
8) Innisfail Song (Hey Rain) (Bill Scott Arr Stray Hens)
9) The Diamantina Drover (Hugh McDonald)
10) Riddles Wisely Expounded (Bonny Broom) (Trad Arr Stray Hens)
11) Mad Tom of Bedlam (Trad Arr Stray Hens)
12) Song of the Inland Rain / The Confluence (
Words by Jack Sorenson, music by Roger Montgomery / tune by Ryan Tews)

credits

released December 2, 2016

Recorded and Mixed by Luke Plumb.
Co Produced by Stray Hens and Luke Plumb
Mastered by Mattie Foulds
All Songs Arranged by the Stray Hens (Ryan Tews, Richard Grace, Mandy Connell, Carmen O'Brien, Sally Taylor, Mandy Connell & and early on in the piece, in the case of Riddles Wisely Expounded, Rowena Wise).

license

Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.

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about

Stray Hens Melbourne, Australia

Three stunning frontwomen, on fiddles, vocal and guitar, backed by drums & double bass. No one in Australia is arranging folk revival songs with such passion. Complex harmonies, jazz & old-timey inspired rythms, & anceint anglo ballads create a theatrical show.
Formed in March 2013, & already booked for some of the country's Premier festivals, their debut EP has us anticipating the full album!
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