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about
"I found The Lads of Virginia in a folk songbook. Versions of the song have been sung since the 18th century, before we began shipping our prisoners off to Australia. Although I loved the words I wasn't so keen on the tune, so I had a bit of tinker and came up with the song you hear here.
The London Particular was written on a foggy day and not long after I found out that the infamous London smog was commonly referred to as the Particular. By chance, it complimented Virginia and the two have lived together happily ever since."
- Mark Bowler, October 2013
lyrics
Come all you young fellow wherever you may be,
Come listen a while and I'll tell you,
There's many a young fellow myself I have seen,
More fitting to serve Victoria our Queen,
But those hard-hearted judges so cruelly have been,
For to send us poor lads to Virginia.
In the city of London I served my time,
Many hours I served duly and truly,
Till those buxom young lasses they led me astray,
My work I neglected more and more every day,
And so to maintain it I took to the highway,
By that I got lagged to Virginia.
We arrived in Virginia, that old ancient place,
Which now I renown in my story,
And our captain he stands with a rod in his hand,
To bargain for us like slaves out of bond,
And I saw those young fellow a-ploughing the main,
How hard was my fate in Virginia?
Old England, old England, I'll see you no more,
If I do, it's ten thousand to twenty,
For my fingers are rotting, my bones they are sore,
I wander around, I'm brought down to death's door,
But if I only live to see seven years more,
Then I'll bid adieu to Virginia.
Yes if I only live to see seven years more,
Then I'll bid adieu to Virginia.
credits
released October 28, 2013
The London Particular: written by M. Bowler arr. Tribe of Tinkers.
Virginia Lads: lyrics trad. Music by M. Bowler arr. Tribe of Tinkers
Recorded at Soup Studios, London.
Additional recording at Bass Bin Studios, London.
Produced by Graham Crockford
Mixed by Graham Crockford at Bass Bin Studios, London.
Mark Bowler - guitar and vocals
Polly Bowler - cello
Hannah Dunster - flute
Joanne Gibson - tuba
Emma King - percussion
Ashton Mills - fiddle
Guy Passey - saxophone
Racheal Perrin - clarinet
Jon Roskilly - trombone
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