I wonder how many times in the past people have sung that most brilliant chorus song 'Bring us a Barrel' and wallowed in a real traditional sing. There is little doubt that the 'unknowing' amongst us would think there are few more traditional songs than this. You may have guessed by now, if you didn't already know, that 'Bring us A Barrel' was written by one of the great talents of the English folk world Keith Marsden. Knowing the thoughts of many 'traddies' on the folk scene, the myth of 'Bring us A Barnel' being a traditional song was helped by Keith's early habit of introducing it as having been "collected from Old Charlie Hayes". Charlie Hayes was not a distant cousin of the Coppers or the Watersons but a cashier at the bank where Keith was the managerl
In the late 1960's Keith teamed up with a few regulars at folk clubs in the Yorkshire area to form New Heritage, a three to four voice, mainly unaccompanied, harmony group Through a growing involvement in folk clubs Keith and various combinations of personnel performed traditional songs and a growing number of Keith's own songs.
In 1981 Keith and his new wife Val teamed up with Peter Ogley to form Cockersdale. In 1985 they recorded 'Prospect Providence', a recording that introduced Keith's work to a much larger audience
Keith grew up in Morley, a mining and textile town close to Leeds. An ex-grammar schoolboy, Keith nevertheless retained a great affinity with the lives of the working folk of the town and much of his writing reflected the lives of the ordinary people of Morley.
However, it shouldn't be imagined that Keith's songs are deep and meaningful Northern dirges. Yes, there is beautiful incisive social comment in many of the songs but many others like 'Jack Ashton', 'The Funeral Song' and 'Left, Left, Right Steady Man' are some of the funniest songs you will hear this side of the millennium (whichever side of the millennium you read this!).
Keith had the rare ability to give real poignancy and poetic feeling to his songs. I don't know if there is a Morley Heritage Centre or if any attempt has been made by the local historians of Leeds to preserve any of the town's industrial past but Keith's songs will stand for many as a monument to a past era. 'Prospect' and 'Providence', along with 'Albert', 'Valley' and 'Crank', were the names of some of the mills that dominated Morley in the boom years of the Industrial Revolution. As the subject of one of Marsden's best songs it is where:
"Fifty years man and boy have I worked the mills,
Though I never could stand the place.
But I got to the top by my own boot strap,
And not 'cos they liked me face.
And I made a good life for my child and wife,
I'd respect from me fellow men. But the gaffer's giving me the gold watch next week
And he'd never see me again.Chorus.
Prospect, Providence, Perseverence
Albert, Valley and Crank. I passed me time in the dust and grime,
With never a word of thanks Oh the wages were low and the hours were long,
And the gaffers were hard, lads, hard
But the last time's coming, thank God coming soon,
When I'll walk up the damned mill yard."
The final Cockersdale line-up of Keith, Val, Graham Pirt and John O'Hagan carried on the singing of Keith's songs as well as traditional songs, mainly unaccompanied and built up a formidable reputation. The quality and power of the harmonies has rarely been surpassed. The excellent individual abilities of those in the group combined to form one of the best groups of unaccompanied singers ever to grace the world of English folk music.
Cockersdale performed together at most of the festivals throughout Britain. In 1991 they returned from a very successful appearance at Sidmouth Festival where they performed at the Arts Centre 'An Hour Or so Wth Cockersdale' The venue was packed with many people watching through windows from outside
Tragically, Keith died on Saturday 10th August from a heart attack on his return from Sidmouth.
Over the following few years Val, John and Graham met regularly but didn't do any singing until Chris Sugden (an acquaintance of Sid Kipper, apparently) encouraged them to help on one of his projects and this encouraged them to start performing together again
At Whitby Festival in the summer they worked together with a choir of festival goers on many of Keith's songs and on the Friday afternoon performed what could only be called a celebration of Keith's life There was much laughter, a few tears and a final overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the legacy left behind.
Keith's first group was New Heritage. As one of the dreaded 'traddies' mentioned earlier, I feel I can put the case forward for Keith's work to be considered as traditional as any songs that have gone before The songs of Keith Marsden and Cockersdale are undoubtedly our new heritage.
Being from the frozen North, Cockersdale are seen in the South too rarely. They are due to appear in Chichester and at the Fo'c'sle, Southampton in April [now March]. You'd be a fool to miss them.
Back to Fo'c'sle 1999-2000 Programme