Martin Carthy VRC0392 The Famous Flower Of Serving Men

[@henrytamblin463]

Make no mistake, this man is a genius and ought to be celebrated as a national treasure for ever more!

[@liegebricking]

Martin Carthy is. the folksinger and his timing and rythm in his playing is outerwordly. Masterclass.love him.

[@pigletti]

Good lord...the sweet tricks he plays with rhythm alone. The drones, the bass descending offbeat...such freedom! ...and singing like a soldier all the while

[@bustedfender]

Yohn Yohnson As he rightly puts it, English folk music is in the time signature of 1/1. It’s up to you where you put the beat and accents.

[@bustedfender]

Incidentally, did you once live in Wisconsin? Work in a lumber mill there? I was one of the people you met on the street who said “hey, what’s your name?”

[@anthonyclegg1511]

I'm very proud that I did a little classical guitar spot, at the tontine hotel in Ironbridge, in the late 80s, before Martin came on to do his spot.

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

I’m ashamed to say that I’m 47 and just became aware of this amazing artist. I feel that the last four decades have been a bit of a waste, without hearing him! And I would have probably gone to my grave ignorant of this, if it hadn’t been for KZbin- kind of ironic, being introduced to traditional, natural world folk tunes by a computer program/ website. Whatever, I’m just happy that I got to listen to his music before I die, and a boatload of other fantastic artists besides! I absolutely love Martin- I first heard him playing this, Dominion Of The Sword, and Willie’s Lady, and it’s what I’ve been searching for since childhood. He’s a treasure.

[@mcmanustony]

nothing to be ashamed of. You're here now. Enjoy and explore.

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

@@mcmanustony Many thanks for the kind words- it’s much appreciated. Enjoy your weekend!

[@johnmccallay3635]

I can't believe there was no reaction when the tile of the song was revealed. A true classic.

[@ragwort3369]

Maybe they knew how long it goes on for. That said, it is very good!

[@garywolstenholme4097]

@@jeremywolstenholme9277 He meant to type "title".

[@jamesrobert4106]

Unbelievable. This song is MAJESTIC. These idiots had no idea what they were watching!!!

[@judithweiss6727]

Back in the 70s I learned this by heart and could sing it a capella.

[@Wayzgoosey]

Without doubt my favourite rendering of a traditional song. i've been listening to this - on and off - for 35 years and never tire of it.

[@bertaga41]

It amazes me that I can listen over and over again to Martin carthy and it still seems fresh and exciting.

[@ronaldlongendyke3313]

I cannot describe the feeling I had when first hearing this back in '73. My older brother had just bought the amazing album "Shearwater", I was about 15. I started buying every Carthy LP I could find, still have every one of them. Thanks for posting!

[@moecurlythanu]

What a living treasure. I'm in the USA, and I was fortunate enough to see him live twice, and meet him once. They are among the highlights of my concert going career.

[@judithweiss6727]

me too. Philadelphia Folk Song Society was my education in British trad.

[@spudeleven5124]

Martin Carthy is a critical asset of English Folk.

[@daverigby23]

It doesn't get any better than this !!

[@JT-sr2pl]

Sometimes people criticise McCarthy for spending ages tuning before starting. But now I realise, he has a full on memorisation exercise ahead of him. Such a legend for making this all sounding so natural....

[@annother3350]

its Carthy

[@schlepworld]

This still gives me goosebumps, 40 years since I first heard it. Amazing song, and singer!

[@pupski]

Such a stunning guitar player

[@dfreeman120]

100%

[@stefanobertoncello7249]

Sir Martin Carthy is an absolute living treasure 🥇

[@jeffreysall7361]

Jaysus you can hear the fingers sliding on the strings. How superbly human.

[@salsmusicetc67]

"how superbly human" Iove that phrase

[@donnarawlinsfrench220]

This fabulous, beguiling and mysterious narrative is one of the biggest reasons I/we became folk song tragics! Thanks, Martin!

[@guittern]

This man has an unbelievable talent, depth, and presence. I knew 45 years ago I had to learn it, and despite being on the back shelf most of it has come back. Very powerful on a DADAD cittern. In the tradition of the best and greatest bardic ballads.

[@Harptree11]

I first saw Martin Carthy at Chelsea Town Hall about fifty years ago and he is still working! Brilliant rendition of the Famouse Flower at the Albert Hole in Bedminster Bristol (which has been repreived from demolition).

[@airyfairycelt]

Robert Delaney oh another old folkie. Went to first 10 Cambridge and odd one after that! Sid you see him on boat in Bristol too? Saw him all over country and in Ireland a while back, wish he would come here more often!

[@airyfairycelt]

One of. Y favourites. Just seen him at balladehob, take pm back years for I have watched him in folk clubs, at festivals all over the place for about 50 years! Was at the Albert too. He has an astounding repertoire and is a font of knowledge for he researches well. Happy birthday (bit late).

[@stonethecrows25]

This was searing in the Seventies, when as very young people we had been used to pop and rock (fine of course in its way), but then to hear Martin laying it on the line like this: “And don't you think that her heart was sore As she laid the mould on his yellow hair Don't you think her heart was woe As she turned about, all away to go “And how she wept as she changed her name From Fair Eleanor to Sweet William, Went to court to serve her king As the famous flower of serving men.”

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i've never seen him play live, but i did see him at waterloo station once.

[@Adibarum]

Can my eyes believe..that two you tubers have voted this tune down..obviously deaf and stupid..what is there not to like..you get to here a master guitarist and an amazing tune

[@mussie302]

This is wonderful! As soon as he started playing I thought wow. I think the two thumbs down are a product of the miserable brat, whining, society that lives on the internet. They seem to take great pleasure in saying 'I don't like this' to everything because it's just so easy. Well, they can bugger off.

[@LowdownBoy]

@@mussie302 "..just because it's so easy.."; I've never thought of it like that, you're right.

[@pigletti]

what a discipline and an expression are here combined, all on the framework of an ancient true loom

[@mullagh670]

Make it a ton likes, we have our darlings and our trendy and maybe Martin is the woodwork teacher of folk but we all love him and his music.

[@simonmorris4226]

My favourite ever! Mans a genius and I had the priviledge of singing in one of his sing around!

[@mouldybear]

Martin is an excellent performer of the great ballads.

[@guywolff]

One of the musicaligists on Mudcat Cafe said he was using an earlier tuning for Martin : DGCGCD .. It makes sence with those powerful sub dominant or fourth notes poping out at the right spots .. :)

[@ismaelbelda1]

What an amazing amazing guitarist. And that Fylde sounds nice.

[@sidefish8362]

Incredible talent.

[@stonethecrows25]

Unusually, it is possible to give a precise date and authorship to this ballad. It was written by the prolific balladeer, Laurence Price, and published in July 1656, under the title of The Famous Flower of Serving-Men

[@guywolff]

Thank you !!!

[@HarryNicNicholas]

He's my hero, nice to hear he squeaks up and down the fretboard too.

[@c.chrisarscott3621]

Amazing does not come close.

[@kololikate]

truly an epic performance by someone who is the master of his craft

[@HEADSUPBERKELEY]

Thanks to the scholarship of David Biggart I got to find this great song thanks for the post.

[@unnwean]

I love all those folk ballads about girls pretending boys. But verse ,,I changed my name form Fair Elanor to Sweet William" is the of them all. A famous flower of great lyrics. :)

[@josiestone4786]

Beautiful 😻

[@28westlodge]

Brilliant !

[@ProfileP246]

Amazing and intense!

[@tapper1477]

Wow. Way to go, Martin.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

excellent. happy to subscribe.

[@stagehand9002]

This gig looks like it couldve been 1966 London. Here comes Bert Jansch with a pot of soup...

[@Anorak_n_Roll]

You're right, it is a Fylde but Martin's Martin does in fact also have a zero fret. See my video "Martin Guitars 000-18MC Martin Carthy signature model"

[@daf827]

A national treasure!

[@walterthemusician8741]

Very nice!

[@Amysmith29]

Ha,Ha put your subtitles on (it's hilarious!)

[@mpgmittelgebirge3529]

does anyone know if/how he amplifies his guitar?

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

He doesn’t- the gods make the rest of the world quiet when Martin’s about to play.

[@kololikate]

he sang this song this evening in Wootton under edge. Truly a legend but the voice isn't what it used to be

[@McChimperson]

This is peak comfy

[@fritztheted]

großartig

[@tomokra]

Has anyone seen other clips from this particular night? He seems pretty en fuego here ...

[@MrScintilator]

Such a Hind as this I n'eer did see.

[@Sara-wx2pc]

Does anybody have the tuning for this?

[@thumbpickfingers]

DGCGCD

[@Mouldytone]

That'd explain it then! Thanks.

[@conorm9575]

This tuning is CGCDAD.

[@dalekenjarvis]

+Conor McCoy Is that low to high? Didn't work so well for me.

[@kenjarvis7764]

+Conor McCoy I tried it again....I'm starting to get it now. Thanks!

[@DaneCharltonMusic]

Not CGCDGA?

[@jjacuzio]

I tried this and it didn't seem to do the trick but it could be my right hand or the crappy Fender Telecoustic I am playing it on ;-)

[@robnic52]

In my big boy's book of Martin Carthy songs (Carthy transcribed the lyrics and tunings with great care it says in the frontispiece) the tuning is given as D G C G C D. I'm about to try it out but there is no way I'll ever memorise all those brilliant lyrics. To stand and perform a whole evening of epic songs like these is a super human feat. Martin and Dave Swarbrick together were so good it was almost unbearable.

[@Mouldytone]

Thanks for another cracking clip! Do my eyes deceive me or does Martin's OOO have a zero fret?

[@dalekenjarvis]

Awesome! Do you know what tuning Martin is using?

[@Glenechocreek]

That's not his Martin. It's a Fylde Falstaff.

[@TheFatPriest]

As there she burned like what?

[@Solsequiem]

Hokey green, a regional word for hawthorn.

[@stigolavfll4660]

Walter Benjamin all is returning most cruelly.

[@rubenpablo70]

Paul Simon stole a song from this singer-songwriter. You can not trust anyone. Creations must be registered

[@robnic52]

That's the beauty of 'traditional' ie out of copyright folk music, people have always made their own versions of ancient songs they love. Carthy did not write Scarborough Fair, he would have been flattered that Paul Simon was impressed enough to make another version. Simon fashioned a great guitar arrangement and simplified Carthy's vocal melody, he made it accessible for a modern audience used to hearing three minute catchy pop tunes on the radio, they had no appetite for raw, challenging old folk tunes. What is very wrong is that Paul Simon's music publishing company would demand royalties to cover that tune and enter litigation to protect their 'investment'. Ownership of traditional music is theft.

[@roldo23]

@@robnic52 The music publishing company has no claim to the traditional song "Scarbourough Fair" ("The Elven Knight") since what Paul Simon recorded was that song mixed with an original tune called "The Side Of A Hill" renamed as "Canticle" and it was titled on the album as "Scarbourough Fair / Canticle" so unless someone performs or records that particular version there's no real ground for litigation and they can be told to go whistle.

[@keithmosley8843]

Though Scarborough Fair is a traditional song, Paul Simon did 'steal' Martin Carthy's treatment of it when he toured the UK Folk clubs in 1965. Paul later acknowledged that he did steal Martin's version and apologised by video during Martin's 70th birthday gig in Oxford. He also praised Martin and those on the UK folk scene at that time.