Hard copy of 'The Road Across the Hills' with stunning artwork by Somhairle MacDonald
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about
The Toil/Gourock Ellen
Life for the tattie howkers was miserable. The labour itself involved the men digging up potatoes with the women following behind, crawling on their knees dragging two baskets apiece into which the potatoes were lifted. After a hard day of work, they could only retreat into miserable accommodation – usually a hastily converted cattle byre.
In amongst the Irish labourers were two Scottish women, one of whom was Gourock Ellen, “the woman who was not ashamed”. She was loose lipped and done what she pleased, though was evidently a kind person. In typical catholic fashion, Dermod hated her, without even knowing why.
lyrics
The cold grub eaten in the dawn,
The wet shag smouldering as you smoke,
For ever being down and broke,
You learn to like it – later on.
You learn to like it – for you must,
Though hardly worth the pains you take,
Or yet the sacrifice you make –
The barter for the vital crust.
Of things abstruse I cannot sing
In fitting strains, so let me say,
From hand to mouth, from day to day
Is not the right and proper thing.
credits
from The Road Across the Hills,
released February 22, 2019
Music composed by Gráinne Brady with 'A Navvy's Philosophy' by Patrick MacGill
Gráinne Brady – fiddle
Andrew Waite – piano accordion
Innes White – guitar
Steve Forman – percussion
supported by 14 fans who also own “Fields of Renfrewshire”
So pleased to see your second album on its way. I’ve just about worn a hole in your first CD because I love it so much. Cannae wait due the whole thing to appear on 4th May. The taster track is AWESOME!! 🙏 floradouglas
supported by 12 fans who also own “Fields of Renfrewshire”
Just the most fun. Every set is one I want to sit down and learn, and they play with so much ENERGY and STYLE. Crunchy, tangible sound. I'll never get tired of listening to Kinnaris Quintet play. andpersand
supported by 12 fans who also own “Fields of Renfrewshire”
Listening to this album's rich, beautiful melodies and spirited performances feels like seeing a fantastical other-world emerge from the Earth itself. The emotions running through "A Mermaid at Fearn" are so complex and genuine it could convince anyone that mermaids are really out there. Gyakuten