"The World Turned Upside Down" orh & alfstone cover D. Gaughan for Workfest

[alfstone]

I discovered (and fell in love with) this song many, many years ago.

It was on Dick Gaughan album "Handful of Earth" (1981), and it's also known as "The Diggers' Song".

A very powerful song about a true story...

Thanks James, I always wished to cover it.  

Techincal stuff:

guitar (EKO EVO) tuning: DADGAD, capo 1st fret. The guitar sound comes from the THR10 ("alfstone acoustic preset"  )

backing tracks by BIAB

The World Turned Upside Down

In 1649 To St. George's Hill,
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste ground grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feed the rich
While poor folk starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
Still we are free
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down

Enjoy!  

Alfredo

[Oldrottenhead]

i stumbled in from the pub quiz last night burling drunk, to find alfredo had sent this, recorded at 1.15am in a haze. i woke my wife up she gave me what for and sent me packing to bed.

[alfstone]

i stumbled in from the pub quiz last night burling drunk, to find alfredo had sent this, recorded at 1.15am in a haze. i woke my wife up she gave me what for and sent me packing to bed.

....probably your wife hates me... 

Alfredo

[Jean Pierre]

ouah it s perfectly well done
Who is the singer in this song? you Alfredo?
the DADGAD tuning is very good and the mixing with BIAB add is very well measured

PS I did not t know this song before...and i listened on you tube by D Gaughan...and i  prefere this version

[alfstone]

ouah it s perfectly well done
Who is the singer in this song? you Alfredo?
the DADGAD tuning is very good and the mixing with BIAB add is very well measured

PS I did not t know this song before...and i listened on you tube by D Gaughan...and i  prefere this version

The singer? Me?

Noooooooooooo........   

He's the MYTICAL Giacomino Higgins, of course!   

(...also known as orh....)

Alfredo

[Jean Pierre]

aaahhh....OK is a very good singer...  don't know all the labyrintic ways of songcfater


so did you play guitar and mix backtrack?

[alfstone]

aaahhh....OK is a very good singer...  don't know all the labyrintic ways of songcfater


so did you play guitar and mix backtrack?

...yes, as always here...

 

[Jean Pierre]

OK very good tuning

Ciao Alfredo i come three days in mycountry in Savoie ...and there No phone No internet radio silent! 

[Blooby]

This is bloody marvelous. Nice mix, great playing, and I find your vocal inflections in this one among the very best you've done. Really digging the mix of marvelous instrumental textures here.

Alfredo, were you a fan of Pierre Bensusan at all?

Blooby

[alfstone]

Many thanks, Blooby! 

Yes, of course I love Bensusan's music...and during my years as reviewer/journalist I interviewed him a couple of times, if i remember well...

Alfredo