Bert Jansch BBC Four Sessions

MUSIC: Guitar instrumental "Angie"

Don't film me just yet - get me good side!

'You are talking to an oddball.'

I don't play regular music, you know, so...

I don't always stick to the bars or how many of this, that and the next thing.

'Most people, actually, you know...'

if they follow musical rules,

they wouldn't write songs like I do.

It's always a challenge to play with Bert,

and the nicest kind of creative challenge,

because he and Davey Graham evolved this British style of playing blues and playing guitar, acoustic guitar.

And that's no underestimation.

'I've always had that ability to actually play with a sort of variety of people.'

Some of them have never met each other before.

'I've had Ralph McTell playing with Johnny Marr. I think it's quite amazing.'

What Muddy Waters is to Keith Richards or Eric Clapton or whatever...

When I was growing up, that figure for me

-was Burt Jansch.

-It's quite exhilarating,

because you don't know what's gonna happen, really.

And he does all these little things like dropping a beat,

just cos he fancies it or he forgets or something. And you're suddenly..."Oh!"

-'You have to be on your toes, that's for sure.

-Johnny was the original fan,

'and then Bernard was a fan of Johnny's,

'and through that whole sort of system, we ended up playing - all three of us - together.

'Bernard and I played together a few times,'

but getting to play a Pentangle tune with Bert and Jacqui is kind of knockout for me,

so I'd better get it right.

We had a rehearsal and ran through everything - once -

and, amazingly, it all came together very quickly.

'I know Jacqui backwards, so it clicks into place.

'I'm just looking forward to actually playing those songs again.

'It'll be good.'

'It always makes you feel it's worth actually keeping going,

'cos most people of my age would have given up ages ago!'

APPLAUSE, CHEERING AND WHISTLING

# Catch a boat to England, darlin'

# Maybe to Spain

# Wherever I have gone

# Wherever I've been and gone

# Wherever I have gone

# The blues run the game

# Send out for whiskey

# Send out for gin

# And room service

# And room service, baby

# And room service, darlin' We're living as a sin

# Living is a gamble

# Loving is much the same

# Wherever I have played

# Wherever I throw them dice

# Wherever I have played

# The blues run the game

# Try another city

# Try another town

# Wherever I have played

# Wherever I've throw them dice

# Wherever I have played

# The blues follow on down

# Catch a boat to England

# Maybe to Spain

# Wherever I have gone

# Wherever I've been and gone

# Wherever I have gone

# The blues run the game. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you very much. This kind of thing is...

I suppose what I'm known for.

This is called Blackwaterside.

# One morning fair

# I took the air

# Down by Blackwaterside

# Twas in gazing all around me

# The Irish lad I spied

# All through the first part of the night

# We laid

# Sport and play

# Till this young man arose

# And gathered his clothes

# Saying, "Fare thee well today"

# Well, then, go home now

# To your father's garden

# Go home

# Weep your fill

# And think on your own misfortune

# You've wrought with your wanton will... #

# One morning fair

# I took the air

# Down by Blackwaterside

# Twas in gazing all around me

# The Irish lad I spied. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you.

And now I'd like to bring to the stage

a very dear friend and one of my oldest friends -

Ralph McTell.

APPLAUSE

The song that I first heard Bert playing down at Les Cousins - if there's any here old enough

to remember Les Cousins in Greek Street -

and it seemed to sum up...

..the thoughts and dreams of adventure that were about then.

# Running, running from home

# Breaking ties that you've grown

# Catching dreams from the clouds

# And you walk on pavements so old

# You cast a glance at the young

# Girls a-making their way

# Yet be a beauty in age

# A pleasure pleasing my mind

# Your heart will shatter and a-fall

# Just like a fly when it's caught

# The spider soon takes its prey

# Spins a dance round your heart

# Yet be a beauty in age

# A pleasure pleasing my mind

# Your heart will shatter and a-fall

# Running, I'm running from home

# Breaking ties that I've grown

-BOTH:

-# And catching dreams from the clouds

# Running, I'm running from home

# Running, running from home

-TOGETHER:

-# Running, running from home

-Breaking ties that you've grown

# Catching dreams from the clouds

# Catching dreams from the clouds. #

APPLAUSE

This one's called Moonshine.

# Welcome to the sweet leaves

# That dance so merrily

# How I wish the wind would do the same for me

# But rooted here like a withered tree am I

# And I watch both day and night pass by

# Twas a cruel and wicked master

# Stole my freedom and charged me

# To fight for him and win him victory

# But now here am I in this damp and dreary cell

# And all I know of time is the church bell

-BOTH:

-# Moonshine soft and clear

# In a death-black endless sky

# Cartwheeling bright stars twinkling down

# And from the shadows calls the night owl

# He's echoing my loneliness

# Come the stag down from the mountain

# Come the owl from where he sleeps

# Come the eagle from his high, high nest

# To where the salmon does swim and does leap

# Come fast and boldly set me free

# I dream of waters flowing

# Sweet air to softly breathe

# Of meadowlands where the wagtail bobs and weaves

# Of sunny days where children dance and play

# And sweet music to drive my grief away

# And sweet music to drive my grief away. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Ralph McTell!

APPLAUSE

One of my greatest...

..idols...

is a man called Davey Graham.

I've known that man since I was 16 years old.

And he's one of the greatest guitar players I've ever heard.

And this is his famous Angie.

APPLAUSE

Thank you very much.

And now I'd like to bring on stage Bernard Butler.

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

This song is called Edge Of A Dream.

# Rock baby rock

# In your cradle serene

# Rock baby rock

# All is not what it seems

# You're living like a shadow

# On the edge of a dream

# Rock baby rock

# Give it all that you've got

# Rock baby rock

# All is not what it seems

# Living like a shadow

# On the edge of a dream

# Rock baby rock

# Can you hear your mama cry?

# Rock baby rock

# She's crying "Why, why, why?"

# Cos she bears the pain and sorrow

# Be you dead or alive

# Rock baby rock

# You gotta rock and roll

# Rock and roll

# Is good for the soul

# Come in from the edge

# Let the good times roll

# Rock baby rock

# Mmm

# Rock baby rock

# Rock baby rock

# Rock baby rock. #

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

This is called Crimson Moon.

# Crimson moon

# In the early, early morning

# Blue-black sky

# Tell me why if she loves me

# Sweet baby drives me wild

# Like a little child

# She's standing on the edge

# She wants to learn to swim

# She looks at the water

# But she won't dive in

# Crimson moon

# Tell me why

# She's like a new spring flower

# Come out to play

# In a garden in autumn

# She brightens up the day

# But does she know winter's coming?

# Jack Frost is on his way

# Yes, he is

# You've got to hide, little girl from his icy stare

# Run back to the sunshine

# He won't catch you there

# Crimson moon

# Tell me why

# Crimson moon

# In the early, early morning

# Blue-black sky

# Tell me why

# Tell her I love her

# She will listen to you

# Tell her she can hear the heartbeat of a dragonfly

# In full flight

# She can taste the spring water of a mountain stream

# Feel the burning kiss of a lover's dream

# Tell her I love her

# She will listen to you

# She'll know it's true. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Bernard Butler!

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

Now...

talking about very old friends...

..here's of the best -

Jacqui McShee.

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

An old Pentangle number, Bruton Town.

-BOTH:

-# In Bruton town there lived a farmer

# Who had two sons and a daughter dear

# By night and day they were contriving

# To fill their parents' heart with fear

# He told his secrets to no other

# But to her brother this he said

# "I think our servant courts our sister

# "I think they have a mind to wed

# "I'll put an end to all their courtship

# "I'll send him silent to his grave"

-JACQUI:

-# They asked him to go a-hunting

# Without any fear or strife

# And these two bold and wicked villains

# They took away this young man's life

# And in the ditch there was no water

# Where only bush and briars grew

# They could not hide the blood of slaughter

# So in the ditch his body they threw

# When they returned home from hunting

# She asked for her servant man

# "I ask because I see you whisper

# "So, brothers, tell me if you can"

# "Oh, sister, you do offend me

# "Because you examine me

# "We've left him where we've been a-hunting

# "No more of him we could not see"

# As she lay dreaming on her pillow

# She thought she saw her heart's delight

# By her bedside as she lay weeping

# He was dressed in his bloody coat

# "Don't weep for me my dearest jewel

# "Don't weep for me nor care nor pine

# "For your two brothers killed me cruel

# "In such a place you may me find"

# As she rose early the next morning

# With heavy sigh and bitter groan

# The only love that she admired

# Lay in the ditch where he was thrown

# Three days and nights she did sit by him

# And her poor heart was filled with woe

# Till cruel hunger crept upon her

# And home she was obliged to go. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Now, we'll bring up Johnny Marr.

APPLAUSE He's around somewhere.

APPLAUSE

This one is called Train Song.

JACQUI SCATS

# Fare thee well, little lady

# Trains are carrying me

# One and a two, three and a four thousand miles

# Oh, miles from you

# Thought I tried my best

# To be your man

# Can't you feel, can't you see that burning in my soul?

# Can't you understand? #

SHE SCATS

# Love is a basket of light

# Grasping so tight

# Shining bright just ain't right to be caught in the night

# Caught in a basket of light. #

SHE SCATS

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

I've Got A Feeling.

# I got a feelin'

# Concernin' you

# You know I got a feelin'

# Concernin' you

# Concernin' the things that you do

# I ain't dreamin'

# When I think of you

# You know I ain't dreamin'

# When I think of you

# When I think of what we're gonna do

# Ooh...

# Ooh...

# Ah...

# Ooh...

# Ah...

# Oh...

# I got a feelin'

# Concernin' you

# You know I got a feelin'

# Concernin' you

# Concernin' the things that you do. #

APPLAUSE

Jacqui McShee!

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

# To be exposed

# In all my strife

# And gaze upon

# My troubled life

# But it don't bother me

# What I do

# Oh, no, no, no, no

# It just don't bother me

# You take my name

# And you hang it high

# Paint my picture

# With coloured eyes burning

# Don't bother me

# What are you doing?

# Oh, no

# It doesn't bother me

# If I were a beggar boy

# I'd sing of riches

# I could enjoy

# But it don't bother me

# What they are

# Oh, no

# It doesn't bother me

# Thinking 'bout how

# I'd rather hide

# Turn my back

# And stand aside

# But it don't bother me

# What I do

# Oh, no

# Oh, it don't bother me

# It just don't bother me. #

APPLAUSE Thank you.

WHISTLING

Thank you.

# The Black Knight surveys all before him

# His charger is thumping the ground

# High on the hill the high Bishop looks down

# From his men and the horses

# Not a whisper of sound

# They're all dressed for the battle

# Their colours fly high

# And flutter in the wind

# The White Queen her face red with anger

# Turns to her left and her right

# To the men of the King she screams and yells

# "Let them know that you come from the fires of Hell

# "And we'll give them a fight"

# Like a black painted shadow

# Unmoved and unhurried

# One look from her eye

# And the King's men they roar

# And into the battle like never before

# The White Bishop he moves his men forward

# To guard his knight's men up ahead

# For fear of the Queen and love for their King

# They'll fight till they win or they'll fight till they're dead

# Ain't nothing in between

# Like a black hare that's chased by the Devil

# O'er the battlefield she flies like the wind

# She turns to look down the path to her prey

# This time she swears you won't get away

# Nobody to save you

# Kneel down before me

# For I have won the day. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you very much.

And I think I'd like for Bernard to come back on, please,

if he's ready. APPLAUSE

This is a little song called...

..called The River Bank.

# Sitting on the river bank

# Watching the water flow

# Sitting here thinking and a-wondering

# Which way to go

# Now the river sings the sweetest songs

# In a million harmonies

# But the sun shines brighter on the other side

# That's where I want to be

# So, please, Mr Ferryman

# Won't you take me to the other side?

# Where the songbirds sing for me

# Where life is led by the hand of fate

# It's how it ought to be

# When the evening shadows reach out

# At the setting of the sun

# Will I still be wishing and a-wondering

# When the morning comes?

# For I once could swim against the tide

# Like the salmon who swims for home

# But I'll be happy now just to hitch a ride

# And make it on my own

# So, please, Mr Ferryman

# Won't you take me to the other side?

# Where the songbirds sing for me

# Where life is led by the hand of fate

# It's how it ought to be

# "Well, I'll take you" says the ferryman

# "But if I should close my eyes

# "And fall asleep before we land

# "You must take these oars and forever more

# "Be at my command

# "Be at my command." #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

WHISTLING

Can you give a big hand for Johnny Marr?

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

WHISTLING

And Bernard Butler!

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

I'll just do you a couple of...

..folky numbers, just to...

..bring us back to Earth.

And the first one is...

I did a song about my...

very early attempts at hitchhiking.

Uh...

about 1959, I think this was.

It could have been 1960.

Anyway, it's... Do join in if you actually know the words.

# Strolling down the highway

# I'm gonna get there my way

# Dusk till dawn I'm walking

# Guitar on my back is a-rocking

# Well, I stroll

# On down

# The highway

# Cars won't stop for no-one

# But don't think that you're just rolling

# You think you are a spy

# Gonna shoot them as they roll by

# No, no cars

# They won't stop for no-one

# Strolling down the highway

# I'm gonna get there my way

# Dusk till dawn I'm walking

# Guitar on my back is a-rocking

# Well, I stroll

# On down that highway

# Cars won't stop for no-one

# But don't think you're just rolling

# You think you are a spy

# Gonna shoot them as they roll by No, no cars

# They won't stop for no-one

# People think I'm crazy

# Lord above, I ain't lazy

# Sunshine all day long

# Narcotics far too strong

# Well, I stroll

# On down the highway. #

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

Thank you very much. Thank you.

WHISTLING

# I see your face in every place

# I'll be going

# I read your words like black hungry birds

# Read every sowing

# Rise and fall

# Spin and call

# My name is Carnival

# Sad music in the night

# Sings a stream of light

# Out of chorus

# Voices you might hear

# Appear and disappear in the forest

# Rise and fall

# Spin and call

# My name is Carnival

# White haloes spin

# With an anger that is thin

# And turns to sorrow

# Stings of yellow tears

# Drip from black wired fears

# In the meadow

# Short and tall

# Enter the ball

# Touch the face of Carnival

# The fat lady frowns at the screaming frightened clowns

# That stand enchanted

# The shadow lion waits

# Outside your iron gates with one wish granted

# Colours all

# Hear my call

# My name is Carnival

# Without a thought or sigh

# You come to hypnotise the danger

# In a world that comes apart

# There is no single heart and life is stranger

# Wheel and call

# Cloud dreams all in the name of Carnival

# Wheel and call

# Cloud dreams all in the name of Carnival. #

APPLAUSE, CHEERING AND WHISTLING

Thank you very much.

I'll see you later, folks. Thank you.

Subtitles by Anne Walker Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006

E-mail [email protected]