Hazel writes: When thinking about different interpretations of the word 'separation', I remembered this song and the image of the outcast women gazing at the distant city lights. It seemed like such a poignant depiction of homelessness and the gap between rich and poor, which is unfortunately still so relevant today, particularly in London where poverty and wealth sit so closely together. The woman in the song is rejected first by her lover, then by her family for the 'shame' of having a child out of wedlock, an attitude towards women that still exists around the world and remnants of this belief and related issues still survive in the UK. Despite its setting, almost all of the surviving examples of this song were collected in Scotland and my version is largely from the singing of the Scots Traveller Lizzie Higgins. It's likely it originally began life in the music halls, and a little bit of that spirit has crept into our version. The intertwined Scottish and English roots of this song felt perfect for this project.
credits
from Songs of Separation,
released January 29, 2016
Traditional music and lyrics arranged by Hazel Askew, Jenn Butterworth, Eliza Carthy, Hannah James, Jenny Hill, Mary Macmaster, Karine Polwart, Hannah Read, Rowan Rheingans, Kate Young
a friend introduced me to this album two winters ago, and it's very quickly become a staple in my household (it isn't the holiday season until sing we all merrily plays).
the tracks that particularly strike me though are heading for home, the bear song, and the old churchyard - the way the world cycles on, the turning of the wheel, life and death in a beautiful dance. we could despair that our time is short, but we seek joy and love again and again.
I love this album. sophie
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