Week 97 – The Lakes of Coolfin

I’m yet to hear a bad version of this song, I think. Whether it be from traditional singers such as Charlie Scamp, Pop Maynard or Amy Birch; or revivalists such as  Nic Jones, John Jones with the Oyster Ceilidh Band or – my current favourite – Jackie Oates.

This version originates with Sussex concertina-player Scan Tester, but I learned it from Bob Davenport, via the Bob Davenport and the Rakes LP, 1977.  You can hear recordings of Scan himself singing the song on I Never Played to Many Posh Dances, and on O’er His Grave the Grass Grew Green (Voice of the People Vol. 3).

The lakes of Cold Finn, from the Bodleian Library collection; printed by Henry Such, London, between 1863 and 1885.

The Lakes of Coolfin

Tags: drowned lovers, Roud 189, Scan Tester, Sussex