I am really glad to have a similar familiar claim on Maine. I may not live there, but my family has lived there for 350 years and I know the state and every time I go back there it feels like I am home. I know the land, the people, the culture; it is part of who I am.
How can such a quaint, beautiful song stir up so much conflict on youtube? I think this is the place to celebrate music, not to argue about politics :(
@blairbond Totally agree. If these guys want to debate about politics, go to some politics debating website. They should leave youtube for the celebrators of beautiful music and beautiful videos such as this. I must have listened to this song a thousand times and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Such beauty and what I love more than anything is the stories that traditional folk music/poems tell. Thousands of years of history can be told in just one four-minute song.
High unemployment, Steamrolled over by businesses that polute, ignored by public services, lucky if you ever see a policeman, cr*p broadband and satellite reception, scarce public transport, if seriously ill you'd probably die before reaching a doctor. The last thing we need are townies moving in whose notion of the country is to remove the hedgerows to instal fences and tarmac over the footpaths. Chris Wood's is spot on in our contempt.
Sorry, bassplayinggoalie, but although I've noticed it in the past, I'm afraid I just can't remember. All I know is it's all controlled by a little box of tricks on a stand! Best to either see him for yourself, or ask him. All the best, John
kephanie, the only thing wrong with nationalism is that you and others put a negative spin on it. I'm an English nationalist who loves England and am proud to be English. Oh dear, how terribly racist of me! Still, it's different when any other race, creed or colour displays such emotions isn't it? Then it's simply a proud people being proud of themselves and their country. Regarding English pride as racism is typical (and ironic) left-wing fascism, all of whom are blind to their own hypocrisy.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
great song, i wonder if the police have been called to this guy, as a Scottish folksinger i've had the police called to a couple of my gigs because i had the audacity to sing Bannockburn or 1320, we call the english "white settlers" up here so i can relate to this lovely song, i wouldn't be allowed to sing anything like this, some people get confused by racism and Patriotism, i admire anyone who sticks up for where they come from, well done Chris Wood, fantastic song.
i understand what your saying but it's the same sentiments only in a smaller scale, Scotland sold itself "for a little wealth", this song is saying there are far greater riches than gold.
iverkenny, perhaps you'd like to reflect on the fact that the Scottish Lallens tongue is an Old English - i.e. Anglo-Saxon - dialect. In other words, English. And let's not forget the amount of place-names in lowland Scotland that are of English origin. All historical fact, and not just hearsay. Don't believe me? Check it.. We've influenced Scotland longer than you give us credit for - not that you ever will. Still nice to hear Scots singing Auld Lang Syne - Old English for 'Old Long Since'.
@TheMG63 dont get your point, it's a great song in whatever tongue, i think your type of english need to back off before you get hurt, i'm Scottish, we are the Scots, now back off.
Great, but there is one amazing song that's not on albums, as far as I know - with a similar theme - "My Grandfather knew the plough", recorded upstairs in a Devon pub. I only heard it once, can you tell me where I could hear it again? Thanks
As far as British music goes this is our blues, our soul and certainly no less emotive. Here's hoping more and more people feel that way and connect to their heritage, and the wide and varied world of folk!
I came to it late (bar Nick Drake, John Martyn and a couple of other er... 'vital' bits) and can't believe what I've been missing. The more you dig the gems like this you'll find.
Uiichps; I don't suppose you've tabbed this song have you? Would be great to play at my local club but I've never had an ear for tabbing. PM if you know,
or sentimental shite. If we all thought that our 'country' was in our blood we'd be living in feudal England again. I don't give a fig where I live and who's lived or died there, it's only an accident of birth.
what's being pilloried is their (& evidently your) presumptive worldview that money trumps all.
It's a pretty clear answer that no - there are things beyond money - & there are losses that no balance sheet ever shows.
I'm a Brighton & Hove Albion fan. It broke my heart - & that of thousands of others - when they smashed the Goldstone to the ground & put up another bl00dy shopping centre ... I know it's not coming back, but I still feel the loss.
I think you are making a category error. You're love of football and money can not be directly compared. Money is a measure of material things not sentiment. The price of admission to the ground is measured in money not your love for the game. They are plain different things. (though I doubt you would enjoy being a supporter as much if you never had the money to see a match0
@inverkenny Yeah, inheriting a half a million pound house is terrible. God forbid that you might have to sell it and move to a place where there is something to do at the weekend. This is death to you is it?
Hi there. In fact the tuning that Chris uses for all his guitar work now is CGCGCD, given to me by Chris himself. I agree with uiichps for the rest. This gives possibilities in C major, C minor, D modal, F major/modal, G major and G minor. The Cottager's Reply is a particularly nice piece. From a poem by Frank Mansell.
@superjoffen I think you've read the tuning the wrong way around. it's CGCGCD from thickest to thinnest string. The only string that goes up a fraction is the standard tuning B string: up to C. Everything else is tuned down to the note. Always point the guitar away from your face when retuning by the way, to avoid a nasty surprise!
Can any folk guitarists out there explain why he uses such an unusual tuning?What I mean is, can this song not be played with standard tuning?
stonedpicnic 1 month ago
I would stand in the snow to hear this man sing and come to think of it I find him kind of sexy!
howayakatie 6 months ago
£500k for somewhere with land in the Cotswolds is dirt cheap!
Beautiful song though =)
sofab16 6 months ago
get orf moi land!!! [fx: shotgun snapping locked]
to my mind this song describes a feeling about place. it's nether right nor wrong.
it's about change, about self-identity slowly changing from place to possessions.
it's about modernity. yah-boo-suckia-boo!
mebigfathead 8 months ago
I am really glad to have a similar familiar claim on Maine. I may not live there, but my family has lived there for 350 years and I know the state and every time I go back there it feels like I am home. I know the land, the people, the culture; it is part of who I am.
TheArtistOfKuroo 10 months ago
@TheArtistOfKuroo Your family's been in Maine since 1660? 40 years after Mayflower is pretty impressive.
limbusathelstan 9 months ago
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laksikakanchana 1 year ago
And now I need to visit the Cotswolds someday.
TheArtistOfKuroo 1 year ago
Not sure what you're saying here, superjoffen. It's Chris' choice of tuning, not mine!
Johnskillcorn 1 year ago
How can such a quaint, beautiful song stir up so much conflict on youtube? I think this is the place to celebrate music, not to argue about politics :(
blairbond 1 year ago 3
@blairbond Totally agree. If these guys want to debate about politics, go to some politics debating website. They should leave youtube for the celebrators of beautiful music and beautiful videos such as this. I must have listened to this song a thousand times and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Such beauty and what I love more than anything is the stories that traditional folk music/poems tell. Thousands of years of history can be told in just one four-minute song.
sammyhill69 1 year ago
High unemployment, Steamrolled over by businesses that polute, ignored by public services, lucky if you ever see a policeman, cr*p broadband and satellite reception, scarce public transport, if seriously ill you'd probably die before reaching a doctor. The last thing we need are townies moving in whose notion of the country is to remove the hedgerows to instal fences and tarmac over the footpaths. Chris Wood's is spot on in our contempt.
azraelfallenangel 1 year ago
Sorry, bassplayinggoalie, but although I've noticed it in the past, I'm afraid I just can't remember. All I know is it's all controlled by a little box of tricks on a stand! Best to either see him for yourself, or ask him. All the best, John
Johnskillcorn 1 year ago
This is lovely, good words. Nice easy style of singing & guitar, great stuff.
Teddyb1939 1 year ago
if we are talking about the song ,its about people who have made
a packet in the city,and can buy any property anywhere and force prices up .
it dosn,t just happen in the cotswalds ,it happens all over the world .they call it capitolism, and nothings changed since money was invented.
if you want to know the tuning just listen to the song and make your own tuning up, and be original like chris is
bigalli100 1 year ago
Where can i download his stuff?? Payed or not payed
WildBassfly 1 year ago
My father used to play cricket with Frank Mansell, our valleys are overun with townies, the house prices are sky high. Great song Chris!
adeblair 1 year ago 3
Chris is such a great singer, songwriter, guitarist it`s a shame he`s not better known outside the UK.
Mouldytone 1 year ago 2
hes known (and loved) in Eire too.
a joy
ulcanmcphetridge 1 year ago 2
On a lighter note, does anyone know what tuning he is using?
odessawheelwright 2 years ago
yeh, from low to high its CGCGCD...all his songs are in this tuning.
hakanozelguitarist 2 years ago
Great song ..forget the crap . Nice on Chris.
GibsonHummingbird 2 years ago
Comment removed
TwelveBells 2 years ago
The first and last verses point towards it being about gentrification and connection to a sense of home, rather than about nationalism. Gorgeous.
kephanie 2 years ago
kephanie, the only thing wrong with nationalism is that you and others put a negative spin on it. I'm an English nationalist who loves England and am proud to be English. Oh dear, how terribly racist of me! Still, it's different when any other race, creed or colour displays such emotions isn't it? Then it's simply a proud people being proud of themselves and their country. Regarding English pride as racism is typical (and ironic) left-wing fascism, all of whom are blind to their own hypocrisy.
TheMG63 2 years ago
@TheMG63 well said
HELLO2YOU3 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
great song, i wonder if the police have been called to this guy, as a Scottish folksinger i've had the police called to a couple of my gigs because i had the audacity to sing Bannockburn or 1320, we call the english "white settlers" up here so i can relate to this lovely song, i wouldn't be allowed to sing anything like this, some people get confused by racism and Patriotism, i admire anyone who sticks up for where they come from, well done Chris Wood, fantastic song.
inverkenny 2 years ago
I think you're confusing a stance against gentrification with nationalism.
iiiiiii0000 2 years ago
i understand what your saying but it's the same sentiments only in a smaller scale, Scotland sold itself "for a little wealth", this song is saying there are far greater riches than gold.
inverkenny 2 years ago
iverkenny, perhaps you'd like to reflect on the fact that the Scottish Lallens tongue is an Old English - i.e. Anglo-Saxon - dialect. In other words, English. And let's not forget the amount of place-names in lowland Scotland that are of English origin. All historical fact, and not just hearsay. Don't believe me? Check it.. We've influenced Scotland longer than you give us credit for - not that you ever will. Still nice to hear Scots singing Auld Lang Syne - Old English for 'Old Long Since'.
TheMG63 2 years ago
@TheMG63 dont get your point, it's a great song in whatever tongue, i think your type of english need to back off before you get hurt, i'm Scottish, we are the Scots, now back off.
inverkenny 1 year ago
Great song. Looking forward to seeing Chris in Dublin next week. Can't wait.
trishadem 2 years ago 2
modest,dignified and amazing
BrendaTheEnormous 2 years ago 3
Wow, that's absolutely amazing -love the song to bits. His guitar looks fantastic too!
themore09 2 years ago
the poem he adapted this song from first line said five hundred pounds. so that shows how much prices have changed
stormbird11 2 years ago
I love "John Ball" by Chris Wood, about the peasants' revolt. I have it on CD but it's not on youtube.
heliotropezzz333 2 years ago
brilliant!
angryman9 3 years ago
An exemplary performance! Just the right numbers of notes and words, woven with strategic spaces to let out both music and message.
[Tyneside, England.]
spring74light 3 years ago
I heard this song for the first time at Camridge Folk Festival, had never heard of Chris before but loved it, it was a special moment for me.
bigaln1971 3 years ago 3
Exactly the same! Got to see him twice that weekend. What a joy.
yurtmusic 2 years ago
Great stuff, slightly steve knightley but none the worse for that!
allyoursphotography1 3 years ago
I think that was Nic Jones in the audience at 1:23 - if you don't know his work, check him out, but be on the look out for legit albums only.
Scotsovertheborder 3 years ago
The great Nic Jones! How he changed my life.
MireilleT 2 years ago
Saw your post, got curious, quick Google search, bought Penguin Eggs, now buying old LPs on Ebay. Maybe modern technology isn't so bad!
Can't believe Nic isn't more widely known.
Chris Wood effortlessly stole the show at Hatfield
Hammondm73 2 years ago
I was there :)
Elimy93 2 years ago
Wonderful, wonderful Nic!
MireilleT 2 years ago
Great, but there is one amazing song that's not on albums, as far as I know - with a similar theme - "My Grandfather knew the plough", recorded upstairs in a Devon pub. I only heard it once, can you tell me where I could hear it again? Thanks
PeterOzanne 2 years ago
As far as British music goes this is our blues, our soul and certainly no less emotive. Here's hoping more and more people feel that way and connect to their heritage, and the wide and varied world of folk!
I came to it late (bar Nick Drake, John Martyn and a couple of other er... 'vital' bits) and can't believe what I've been missing. The more you dig the gems like this you'll find.
Top work Chris by the way...
MarkRevival 3 years ago 3
Uiichps; I don't suppose you've tabbed this song have you? Would be great to play at my local club but I've never had an ear for tabbing. PM if you know,
Kind regards,
Andrew
brotherfergus 3 years ago
WOW! What thought provoking lyrics..THANKs
JoMoMoss 3 years ago 3
or sentimental shite. If we all thought that our 'country' was in our blood we'd be living in feudal England again. I don't give a fig where I live and who's lived or died there, it's only an accident of birth.
pvuf431 2 years ago
I think your mixing up being a biggot in a BNP kind of way and being proud of where you come from.
Incidently if you don't like this kind of music what do you like, I'll give it a listen.
Bluebuthappy182 2 years ago 5
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its not just that... Its the glorification of poverty that particualy irks. I don't think we should be sentimental about the past.
incidently - I think the song does sneer at foreigners, except the foreigners are from London
"I need the soil that bore my race" - that line is positively crypto-facist.
pvuf431 2 years ago
what's being pilloried is their (& evidently your) presumptive worldview that money trumps all.
It's a pretty clear answer that no - there are things beyond money - & there are losses that no balance sheet ever shows.
I'm a Brighton & Hove Albion fan. It broke my heart - & that of thousands of others - when they smashed the Goldstone to the ground & put up another bl00dy shopping centre ... I know it's not coming back, but I still feel the loss.
TwelveBells 2 years ago
I think you are making a category error. You're love of football and money can not be directly compared. Money is a measure of material things not sentiment. The price of admission to the ground is measured in money not your love for the game. They are plain different things. (though I doubt you would enjoy being a supporter as much if you never had the money to see a match0
pvuf431 2 years ago
I've seen a lot of twattish things written on Youtube - & I dare say posted a few myself - but I did find your last one a little bit special:
"I think you are making a category error. You're love of football ..."
fail.
TwelveBells 2 years ago
do you live in Brighton
pvuf431 2 years ago
don't mean to be rude mate - but life's too short for this, for me. Good luck (honestly).
TwelveBells 2 years ago
ain't that the truth
pvuf431 2 years ago
what nonsense.
mow19 2 years ago
"Positively crypto-fascist". That phrase was positively moronic...
plevyman 2 years ago
@pvuf431 how can you say that? the whole point of the song is about where you live, and not selling out, once you give that up your dead.
inverkenny 1 year ago
@inverkenny Yeah, inheriting a half a million pound house is terrible. God forbid that you might have to sell it and move to a place where there is something to do at the weekend. This is death to you is it?
pvuf431 1 year ago
Is this in standard tunning does anyone know?
brotherfergus 3 years ago 2
CGCFGC (like DADGAD, but tuned down a tone)
He used to change tuning all the time, and eventually got fed up. This happened to be on his guitar at the time, and is what he has used ever since.
uiichps 3 years ago 2
Hi there. In fact the tuning that Chris uses for all his guitar work now is CGCGCD, given to me by Chris himself. I agree with uiichps for the rest. This gives possibilities in C major, C minor, D modal, F major/modal, G major and G minor. The Cottager's Reply is a particularly nice piece. From a poem by Frank Mansell.
Johnskillcorn 2 years ago 7
@Johnskillcorn Any idea what preamp/DI he's using there? His tone is just amazing and so round
bassplayinggoalie 1 year ago
@Johnskillcorn just tried tuning third string to G and snapped in my face...lovely.
superjoffen 1 year ago
@superjoffen I think you've read the tuning the wrong way around. it's CGCGCD from thickest to thinnest string. The only string that goes up a fraction is the standard tuning B string: up to C. Everything else is tuned down to the note. Always point the guitar away from your face when retuning by the way, to avoid a nasty surprise!
themachinist1000 1 year ago