'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???

Subject: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Ian HP
Date: 13 Jun 99 - 06:58 AM

I have just borrowed from a friend a cassette of an old Nick Dow album - without album title, song title or any credits! On it is a stunner of a song with the repeated refrain, "I sang me song . . .", the gist of it being that in various incarnations the singer sang about a battle he was killed in, sang love songs for a suitor, sang about being a pit worker, loom worker, etc.. It mentions Hastings in the first verse. It's a wonderful capturing of the spirit of traditional music - but what is the song??? Who wrote it??? What is this album??? Help!!!

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Ian HP
Date: 13 Jun 99 - 02:39 PM

I've just been told that this is a Graham Pratt song, called something like The Minstrel or The Troubadour (the person couldn't remember the exact title). Any clues, anyone?

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Ian HP
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 02:13 PM

Please? Pretty please?

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Ballardere
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 03:31 PM

Talking of Nick Dow Does anyone know his present wherabouts please? Cheers

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Bert
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 03:33 PM

Are you thinking about that Highwayman song, sung by Willie Nelson, Johnnie Cash and others?

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Stewie
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 06:23 PM

I have 2 Dow albums - 'A Poor Man's Gift' and 'Burd Margaret' - and it is not on either. However, on 'Poor Man's', he sings a Graham Pratt song - 'The Ballad of Lumley Kettlewell' - and says in his note to it that he had recorded a Graham Pratt song on his previous album. That would probably be it, but I don't know the name of that album. That may at least narrow down your search.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 08:49 PM

Graham Pratt is indeed the author of the Minstrel. On a long out of print LP he did with his wife Eileen. It has been covered by some other singers as well. I have a copy of the album (somewhere in my disorganized collection) but don't think there was a lyric sheet. It is a good song. Canadian singer, Ken Brown, performs the song sometimes these days as well.

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Stewie
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 01:31 AM

I just remembered that I have the Pratt album. The song is sung solo and unaccompanied by Eileen Pratt. The details are: Graham and Eileen Pratt 'To Friend and Foe' Dingle's Records DIN308. Phil is right - there is no lyric sheet.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: IanC
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 07:02 AM

More info about Graham & Eileen on their home page:

Diary

Cheers! IanC

Subject: RE: 'I SANG A SONG'? - Nick Dow - what song???
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 05:42 PM

It is the Minstrel,by Graham Pratt. It starts off: "I sang my song at Hastings Battle, to praise the deeds of Charlemagne", and I'm sure I posted the words or at least a request for the words sometime last year, probably around July/August/September. So that should narrow it down!!!

The Nick Dow album might be 'A branch of May' or something like that. It's been a while since I saw my copy anywhere....

LTS