The Hiring Fair (Ralph McTell)

[2011bente]

Very beatiful and emotional with "folkroots".

[ichingiching]

a lovely storyline with roots in tradition.. 

[TravelingFolkGuitar]

How are you playing the Bm?

[ichingiching]

I normally Barre (bar) it David but there is one section where its like variation of a D.. they are similar and can often be interchanged.. it depends on what you want to do with the sound.. hard to explain..

[TravelingFolkGuitar]

@ichingiching Got it man! Just worked it out man whilst I was fiddling with it today! Must say this is one of the best story-telling songs I know of. Keep up the good work! Would you please consider doing a cover of John Hartford's classic "Gentle on my mind", would love to hear your take on it. Many thanks, David.

[ichingiching]

good stuff.. its a great story and a real tradition.. i'll look up 'Gentle on my mind'.. not posted anything for a while.. need to play more.. cheers David

[williammorris1]

What a beautiful song! Great rendition!

[ichingiching]

very evocative .. i use to play this song over and over..

[padraigpurseal]

Have just listened to this again a year later, God you do a great version of it..

Thanks for the posting

[ichingiching]

a perfect song that was a traditional reality.. its a fabulous story..

[jimbo9580]

Hi Mike, Can you tell me what Mike you use ...its obviously a good one...sounds great

[ichingiching]

hi jimbo.. its just a Logitech for aout 30 notes.. i'd like to upgrade if I knew what to??

[skipy936]

Soon be Warwick

[ichingiching]

hi skipy.. hope everything is going well your way.. yes soon warwick.. and hopefully a host of other fests..see you soon cheers Mike

[emmasparkle79]

i have had the pleasure to see Fairport play Ralph's Hiring Fair song on lots of live occasions.. i even met ralph when a young girl!

neway. fantastic thanks so much

will try and work this out to play as teaching myself to play guitar...

any chance of the chords?

[ichingiching]

Hi em.. the chords are not that difficult.. it's all based around Em, C G and D.. but there are some tricky little bits if you want to augment the tune.. I could record a little mimi 'how to' M:)

[DagwoodTheGreen]

Excellent playing. I am sitting here with my own guitar and trying to figure this song out. Thanks for including the hand movement view in this video. I was searching for a good folk song and I found this. Needless to say, I'm going to play this song over and over so as to match it myself. Thank you for play this, I really enjoyed it..

May you live as long as you want,

And not want as long as you live!

Dagwood The Green

[ichingiching]

Hi DGD.. if there is anything i can help with , let me know.. this is a great song and great story.. also based on the truth of Hiring Fairs.. thank you for your kind words of wisdom.. Mike

[jimbo9580]

hi mike, in reply to some of the comments ...ralph has a songbook out "songs for six strings" 41 of his well known songs with chords and tab .Published by Leola music,( and worth every penny) £28.....keep on pickin'

[ichingiching]

thanks Jimbo.. must save up for it.. cheers M:)

[carnutter360]

Fairport Convention did a really good cover of this

[ichingiching]

not heard it but I know that they and RM'cT are very good friends so it doesn't surprise me.. cheers M:)

[CalumBarrow]

He actually wrote the song for Fairport!

I love this song it's a favourite of mine to play. I think I might have to do my own version!

[ichingiching]

please do.. love to hear it.. M:)

[padraigpurseal]

Thank you ichingiching lovely as always.

Paddy P.

[ichingiching]

thanks paddyp.. thats kind.. M:)

[alecj2005]

Do you know where I can get tab for this song?

[ichingiching]

I know RM has a song book out with it in, but I just learnt it from listening as I always do. Cheers .M

[crafter111]

I first heard Ralph play this live at the Belfast festival at Queens University quite a few years ago and I remember rushing home to try it out , it took me a few days to get it down almost as well as you have it.

Once again you are a refreshing inspiration on youtube and what makes your videos so complusive is your friendly banter and down to earth approach.

Many would be guitarists are learning from your work here so long may you reign, and once again a big thank you!

[ichingiching]

thank you david.. I have seen him play this song several times and it always lets me think of those simpler times or has courtship ever thus been complicated??

I hope I can give a little bit back to anyone who wants to play.. mike

[ichingiching]

Hi theMP.. not heard that version but it doesn't surprise me.. R McTell and FC are close friends.. its a great song and a good story based on folk lore..

[themoneyplant]

Great performance!

Great song. First heard it on Fairport Convention's "Old-New-Borrowed-Blue" album.

I always knew the chords but could never come up with a decent picking part... now ive found one!

Thanks

[jammie056]

Thank you for bringing this beautiful song to my attention. After hearing your version I used it as a model for my own slightly more simplified version. I would love you to listen to my version and tell me what you think. As always your guitar work is fantastic and your voice pleasent to listen to. Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing.

[ichingiching]

Hi Jamie.. thanks for your kind words .. where are you up to with the song.. I'm always happy to listen to songs.. let me know when you up load it.. cheers.. Mike

[JacktheBeard]

Perfect as usual. I'm slowly going through all your videos and I keep stumbling upon some which I'm sure I haven't seen before; not sure how I missed this gem.

[ichingiching]

thanks JTB.. I think I need to remind myself what I have put down too and start a new series.. cheers Mike

[BerzStefan]

Thanks a lot for this cover-version :-)

Very good guitar playing, and your voice is also perfect. I belive, you are FEELING this song ! It would be better, you would have a professional roaming for your samples....

(sorry for my bad english)

Best Regards,

Stefan

[ichingiching]

Hi Stefan.. good point thanks for that.. cheers Mike (sorry for late reply) Mike

[melhaler]

Very nice, i loved it! Ill be putting some songs on soon by Ralph Mctell.

[ElvenDane]

Great, we are still waiting ... *LOL*

[ElvenDane]

waiting ....

[ichingiching]

and again.. lol lol

[ichingiching]

remind me!! lol

[ichingiching]

was this a year ago... have you got your songs up yet?? cheers Mike

[Ramirez1234]

Best riff, period.

[ichingiching]

good call.. M

[ElvenDane]

Yes ! One of his best ;-)

Have you seen his great version here at YouTube ?

Great version btw. - love it.

Will try and figure it out - I "already" had

that descending baseline LOL.

[MegMerrilies]

I love this song. The live version ElvenDane mentions was in my favourites but it's gone! Just had to hear it again. You do a good job.

[ichingiching]

thanks.. a year to reply... sorry!! regards Mike

[ichingiching]

have you got it yet.. was this note a year ago!!!!!

[ElvenDane]

Yes, more or less. I have the basic scheme

( had forgotten that it was act. in my tab-book )- just need to make it more flowing now.

How do you mean ? That you are surprised it was already a year ago ? haha. Yes, time surely flies like an arrow ;-)

I see you are busy catching up LOL

About time !

[ichingiching]

yes every day since I have been in Hanoi.. I have about 20 songs that i need to catch up on.. nearly there..

[tommysuet]

You're right Mike, it is a fabulous song. I like the very flexible time signature in your arrangement. Thanks for the clear view of the left hand chord fingering. I may have to learn this one.

[ichingiching]

I try and get the left hand in the frame for that reason. I've learnt from others in the past, its good to pass it all on. Its a great song to learn.