This week's theme is Storyteller. As soon as I read the post a song that I love sprang to mind. The Terror Time is a song from a radio broadcast from the 1960s. The broadcast tells the story of The Traveller Communities in the UK. It highlighted their plights and the prejudices they faced that have been an age-old issue.
I was first introduced to this song when I lived in Sark. My friend asked me to join her band for the Summer Festival and this was one of the songs that we covered and I instantly felt a deep connection to it.
This song tells the story of how back in the day, The traveling people would be able to earn money from working on farms but when the season ended and winter drew in, they were faced with harsh living conditions. The cold winters made life difficult, and very often the people in the villages or towns would become unwelcoming.
“Winter—that's the terror time—no place to go nor doesn't know where to go. Doesn't know any place to go and sit. And it doesn't matter whether it's snowing or blowing. You've got to go.”
(Maggie Cameron, Inverness traveling woman. Recorded in a bow tent at Cookson's field, Alyth, Perthshire, 1964.)
My great-grandmother was a Romany Gypsy who married away from the community and it is only recently that I am starting to learn about one part of my roots. I've also found out that both sides of my family originated from County Cork, Ireland too. Perhaps this is where my love of traveling, gypsy culture, Irish folk music, pagan traditions, and music comes from.
I have enlisted the help of my dear, wonderful friends, @queenoftheworld, @thecryptidcrone, and @audiohive-me to add some beautiful violin, percussion, and harmonies too. A special thanks to Jim who spent this evening editing the video. I love getting together with you all and tonight was super fun.
The heather will fade, and the bracken will die
Streams will run cold and clear
And the small birds will be going
And it's then that you'll be knowing
That the terror time has come
Whaur will ye gang, and whaur will ye bide
Noo that the work's all done
And the fairmer doesnae need ye
And the Cooncil willnae heed ye
And the terror time has come
The woods give no shelter, and the trees they are bare
Snow's lying all around
And the children they are crying
For the bed on which they're lying
Is frozen tae the ground
When you need the warmth of your own human kind
You move near a town
But the sight of you is offending
For the police they soon are sending
And you're on the road again
The heather will fade, and the bracken will die
Streams will run cold and clear
And the small birds will be going
And it's then that you'll be knowing
That the terror time has come
Ewan MacColl was a folk singer, songwriter, actor-producer, and activist. He wrote many songs and was considered to be the "father of the folk revival".
I've put the whole album below and you can hear the original version of the Terror Time at 25:55.
Acknowledgments
In the Hive Open Mic community, every week is an inspiring musical journey. Here, talented musicians bring their gifts to the virtual stage, reaching around the world. Listeners gain human connection on levels of heart and mind, including people of various cultures and languages. This is the harmonizing power of music.
"Gratitude goes to the originators of Hive, who planted the seeds for us to grow and flourish here. Gratitude goes to the @OCD Incubation Program and other community cultivators, allowing newcomers to find their niches and comfort zones. Gratitude goes to all the people who share their energy here, helping each other to thrive".@cabelindsay
