Derek Simpson is a singer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Cambridge. He has played in folk bands for many years including Tickler’s Jam, Proper English, and the Harbour Lights Trio, and has run folk clubs and sessions in London and Suffolk, including the popular Harbour Inn session in Southwold. He joined me at my home in Suffolk and for some songs and an interview.
Proper English: https://properenglishdotdance.wordpress.com/
Harbour Lights Trio: https://acoustic-east.org.uk/?page_id=622
NB: These recordings were made in July 2020 during the COVID-19 period. They were undertaken with social distancing measures in place according to government guidelines, with Derek singing in a separate room. As a result, some voices may be quieter than normal.
A summary of the interview can be downloaded above.
Interview keywords: folk, music, singing, Cambridge, school, teaching, informal, school concert, guitar, Careless Love, traditional, enjoyment, acoustic, country, folk club, teenager, Red Lion Hotel, atmosphere, Irish, Cambridge Folk Club, Cambridge University Folk Club, Crofters Folk Club, Cambridge Crofters, solo singing, chorus songs, 1960s, 1970s, duo singing, accompany, professional performance, bookings, gigs, London, Leyton, Tower Folk Club, residency, quartet, Tickler’s Jam, harmonies, melodeon, concertina, English music, music hall, folk festivals, Suffolk, session, intimate atmosphere, small rooms, small gatherings, communal participation, singing together, social music, singaround, participation, friends, Harbour Inn, Southwold, well-known, The Full English, Proper English, EFDSS, barn dance, Harbour Lights Trio, Suffolk, songs
- Title: Come Write Me Down
- Performer: Derek Simpson
- Date recorded: 14.7.2020
- Location: Wissett, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Roud No: 381
- Notes: Also called “The Wedding Song”. Derek learned this from the Copper Family. It was first collected in 1899 and dates from the 17th Century. See https://mainlynorfolk.info/copperfamily/songs/comewritemedown.html
- Title: Dido, Bendigo
- Performer: Derek Simpson
- Date recorded: 25.8.2020
- Location: Wissett, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Roud No: 584
- Notes: Derek learned this from Mike Waterson singing at a folk club. See https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/didobendigo.html
- Title: Jolly Jack Tar
- Performer: Derek Simpson
- Date recorded: 14.7.2020
- Location: Wissett, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Composer: Edward Harrigan (around 1885)
- Notes: Written for the musical Old Lavender. The original last line of the chorus is “Get up Jack, John sit down”. Derek sings “stand up Jack Tar, sit down” due to a mishearing.
