English Rebel Songs 1381-1984
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| English Rebel Songs 1381-1984 | ||
 |
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| Studio album by Chumbawamba | ||
| Released | 1988/2003 | |
| Recorded | 1988/2003 | |
| Genre | Anarcho-punk/A Capella | |
| Length | ??:?? | |
| Label | Agit-Prop Records/MUTT | |
| Chumbawamba chronology | ||
|---|---|---|
| Never Mind the Ballots (1987) |
English Rebel Songs 1381-1984 (1988/2003) |
Slap! (1990) |
English Rebel Songs 1381-1984 is a rerecording of the only a capella album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba, and their only album made up almost entirely of traditional English songs.
It was originally released in 1988 as English Rebel Songs 1381-1914, then re-released in 1994 by One Little Indian Records. In 2003, Chumbawamba rerecorded the album with two extra tracks, The Bad Squire and Coal Not Dole, and released it under their newly formed MUTT label.
[edit] Track listing
- "The Cutty Wren"
- "The Diggers Song"
- "Colliers March"
- "The Triumph of General Ludd"
- "Chartist Anthem"
- "The Bad Squire"
- "Song on the Times"
- "Smashing of the Van"
- "World Turned Upside Down"
- "Poverty Knock"
- "Idris Strike Song"
- "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire"
- "Coal Not Dole"
[edit] Notes
- The Cutty Wren was written at the time of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.
- The Diggers Song was written by Gerrard Winstanley leader of the Diggers, in 1649.
- Colliers March refers to a march of workers in Birmingham in 1782 protesting at the price of bread. The song was written by John Freeth around the time.
- The Triumph of General Ludd refers to the Luddite rebellion of 1812.
- Chartist Anthem refers to the People's Charter drawn up by the Chartists in 1838. It demanded universal suffrage. The song was written in the 1840s.
- The Bad Squire is an adaptation of a poem by Charles Kingsley written in the mid-1800s in defense of poachers.
- Song on the Times written in the 1840s after the repeal of the Corn Laws.
- Smashing of the Van refers to the Manchester Martyrs who were hanged in Manchester, 1867 for rescuing two Irish men from jail.
- World Turned Upside Down was written in the 1870s. It is the title of an 1647 diggers pamphlet. This tune was reputed to have been played by troops under the command of General Cornwallis as they surrendered at Yorktown to General George Washington, in the final major battle of the American Revolution.
- Poverty Knock a factory workers song from the 1890s.
- Idris Strike Song written in 1911 about a strike at the Idris soft drink factory.
- Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire written by soldiers during the first world war.
- Coal Not Dole written in 1984 about the UK miners' strike (1984-1985).
Some of the songs come from Stand Together by Hackney and Islington music group, 100 Songs Of Toil by Karl Dallas, A Touch On The Times, and A Ballard History of England by Roy Palmer.
