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The Drummer

from Estren by TEYR

/

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A beautiful gatefold imprint with original artwork and a 24 page booklet filled with photography, scribbles and lyrics.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Estren via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

A song which has bubbled along through several centuries of singers, possibly from Queen Ann’s reign, possibly drawn from the legend of Mary Anne Talbot, but certainly recounting an age-old story: a woman disguises herself as a man and runs away to join the army. This tale stood out to us as the narrator doesn’t mention a child born out of wedlock, or soldier lover, as her motivation. We took inspiration from the Watersons’ arrangement, with some space for Ruth to work her magic.

lyrics

I was brought up in hardship and when I was sixteen,
I ran away from home, me girls, and a soldier I became,
With a fine cap and feathers, likewise a rattlin’ drum,
I learned myself to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.

Many years the pranks that I saw among the French,
And boldly did I fight the boys although I’m but a wench,
And buttoning up my trousers, how often did I smile;
To think I lay with a thousand men and a maiden all the while.

With a fine cap ‘n feathers, likewise a rattling drum,
I learned myself to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.
With a gentle waist so slender, my fingers long and small,
I can play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum the best of them all.

Well no one found my secret out until this very hour,
‘Cause they sent me up to London to be sentry at the tower. A lady fell in love with me, and I told her I was a maid,
And she went unto my officer and my secret she betrayed.

He unbuttoned my red tunic and saw that it was true,
“It’s a shame,” he said, “to lose a clever drummer boy like you.” So now I must return to me ma and da at home,
And along with my dear comrades no longer shall we roam.

But if not now then when my girls, we will not stay at home,
And along with our dear comrades there will come a day we roam. And when that day arrives my girls, the drum will sound once more: For you, and me, and one and all - we’ll put an end to war.

credits

from Estren, released April 30, 2021
Guests: Ruth Corey (vocals), Tad Sargent (bodhrán), Ian Stephenson (bass)

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all rights reserved

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TEYR London, UK

Folk trio TEYR evolved out of London’s thriving session scene, combining bothy ballads, focsle shanties, folk tunes and Irish poetry. Their unique blend of voices and instruments draws links between the many sounds of the Celtic and British isles.

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