Live at Last at Storm Force 10 Quiz

Answer: The Bible

The song is a love song based on words from the Bible, from the Song of Solomon. In particular chapters four and five.

The title of the song comes from the first two words of the lyrics, the opening lines being:
"Awake, awake oh northern wind
Blow on my garden fair"

This is similar to the wording from the chapter 4 verse 16.
"Wake up, North Wind. South Wind, blow on my garden" or possibly
"Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden"

Several bible versions give these words, other translations may use different but similar wording.

Answer: Beer

Here we have the story of how a chimney sweep sees life. He enjoys his job, takes pride in it and at the end decides he only wants to work for the gentry.
The answer to the question is at the start of the third verse;

"Arise girls, arise, wipe the sleep from off your eyes
Go and fetch to me some beer that I might swallow"

So he demands some beer, then says that he can climb to the top of the chimney without use of rope or ladder. Maybe boasting resulting from the effects of the beer.

This is also a clear breach of modern Health and Safety guidelines, both for the consumption of alcohol and the lack of safety equipment during the climb.

Answer: Bertholt Brecht

Both of the English and German language versions of the lyrics were written by Berthold Brecht for his play "Schweyk im Zweiten Weltkrieg", or in English "Schwejk in the Second World War". This play was written as sequel to Jaroslav Hasek's novel "The Good Soldier Svejk", which is set in World War One.

The song's verses detail the presents (or possibly loot) a soldier sends his wife. For example, a linen shirt from Prague and a silken dress from Paris. Then we come to the final twist at the end of this anti-war song, the soldier dies in distant Russia.

"And the end of the tale is the widow's veil
That she got from the distant steppes."

Answer: Complain

The majority of the English language songs about the battle of Waterloo focus on the victory or the death of Admiral Nelson. I am not familiar with any French language folk songs on the subject. This song differs in that it is focused on the death of the crew, the crew forced to serve by the press gang.

Back to this song, the singer is bemoaning the death of her sweetheart who was serving as a pressed man on the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. A great victory for the Royal Navy but not so good for those who died in the battle.

As the full chorus goes:
"Mourn, England, mourn and complain
For the brave Lord Nelson's men
That died upon the main"

Of the alternatives, both rejoicing and singing out loud might sound reasonable for celebrating a victorious battle. "Dance the Razor Dance" refers to a song by Richard Thompson.

Answer: The Threepenny Opera

The song "The Black Freighter" comes from the same work as "Mac the Knife", which is "The Threepenny Opera" by Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill. This work is itself an adaption of "The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay.

The lyrics tell the tale of a barmaid having a daydream about getting revenge on those she feels have wronged her. The song is also known as "Pirate Jenny".

The other options are operas or operettas by British composers all of which have the sea as the main setting: "Peter Grimes" by Benjamin Britten, "Dido and Aeneas" by Henry Purcell and "The Pirates of Penzance" by the duo of Arthur Sullivan and William Gilbert.

Answer: Six months hard labour

As per the first verse of this song:

"Step in, young man, I know your face, it's nothing in your favour.
A little time I'll give to you: Six months unto hard labour."

The song continues with the misery of the prison system.

Since the song talks about a treadmill the date of this song can be no earlier than the introduction of treadmills into the British system. That is possibly the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century depending on the source.

This song is also known as the "Goal Song". Another folk-rock band, the Oyster Band, recorded the song under this name on the album "Step Outside".

Answer: Cup of water

A Palmer in this context is a pilgrim who has been to Jerusalem. Historically a palm leaf was brought back as evidence that the pilgrim had really reached Jerusalem. Hence the name Palmer.

Similarly Julius Caesar is alleged to have brought shells back to Rome to prove he had been to England's shores.

The Palmer here may be more than just your average pilgrim since when the maid refuses to give him a drink of water, he calls out her sins. In particular her nine dead children buried around the property, the implication being that she killed all of them.

Subsequently the Palmer dictates to the Maid the terms of her punishment for these sins. In this version of the song this starts with seven years as the clapper of a bell. The knowledge of the maid's sins and the ability to sentence her to such punishments suggest that the Palmer is either a Saint or Christ himself.

Other versions of this song exist under other titles, including "The Well Below the Valley" and "The Cruel Mother". In the "English and Scottish Popular Ballads", the compilation by Francis Child known as "The Child Ballads", historical records of this song show various versions in Scandinavian languages. Frequently the children are described as being the product of incest and in at least one version the Parish Priest is mentioned as fathering one of the children. Understandably some singers prefer to avoid these issues and sing one of the more sanitised versions.

Answer: James

The opening lines of this song are:
"When James the King ruled by sceptred crown
With bishops and pen from London town"

A little later:
"At Ol' Montrose on a winter's morn,
The Fourth Earl's only son was born"

This provides the answer, but of more interest is the whole history of this very real gentleman. Although he was born into Scottish nobility, during the reign of King James I of England (and VI of Scotland), for most of his adult life King Charles I was on the throne. James Graham played a major part in the political and religious wars of seventeenth century Britain. This 15-minute live recording of the song covers just some of the events in his life.

The history of the seventeenth century wars in the British Isles is far more complex than just the "English Civil War". From this era there were multiple conflicts about religion, and politics in England, Scotland and Ireland. I would also contend that there has been more than one civil war in England since its formation. Stephen versus Matilda, the Barons Wars and the Wars of the Roses all seem to be Civil Wars, although the term "civil war" is an oxymoron in itself.

Answer: Those with blue tails

This song is a traditional one that dates back to the early nineteenth century. This version is about a schoolboy, who is educated, meeting a devil who tries to tempt him and get him heading to hell.
The various versions all seem to take the form of riddles set by the false knight (other evil doers are available) which the schoolboy, invariably with evidence of learning, such as books, responds to.

The moral of this tale seems to be that you should apply yourself to learning to turn away evil.

Back to the original question, the relevant verse from this recording is:

"Oh, what sheep and cattle's that?" says the false knight on the road.
"They're mine and me father's," says the wee boy and still he stood.
"And how many shall be mine?" says the false knight on the road.
"The ones that have the blue tail," says the wee boy and still he stood.

This verse also provides a clear illustration of the question-and-answer structure of the song.

Answer: Winter Gardens, Bournemouth

The album was recorded in March 1978 in Bournemouth. This was the first live album and according to the album cover the final album recorded by Steeleye Span. As the cover notes by Tim Hart state, "This is our eleventh and final album. Steeleye Span amicably disbanded five days after making this recording".

The wrong answers are all established venues for folk music in London.