Discussion: Historic O song
in: Orienteering; General
Apr 30, 2013 1:49 AM
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Last night I heard a song, and its history, which I beleive deserves a prominent place on the AP O song thread. Unfortunately I see that this thread is closed.
This song is a British folk song entitled "The Manchester Rambler" by Ewan MacColl, which I believe predates anything previously mentioned by ~30 years.
Furthermore the background of this song sounds remarkably historic for British orienteering, as it was part of a grass roots uprising which apparently lead to the creation of laws permitting much greater public access to open spaces. I heard this demonstration likened to the first Earth Day and the first Occupy demonstration, which might be overstatement, but it sounds historically significant nonetheless, yet timelessly relevant as orienteering continues to run up against exclusionary land management practices addressed in other AP threads.
I'm assuming some British orienteers are already familiar with this song and the history, and can clarify or add to what I have just learned.
For a start on the history, check out-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_trespass_of_Kind...
lyrics and link to audio here-
http://www.maxilyrics.com/ewan-maccoll-the-manches...
The lines-
"He called me a louse and said, Think of the grouse
Well I thought but I still couldn't see
Why old Kinder Scout and the moors round about
Couldn't take both the poor grouse and me"
sum up my perspective on the environmental issue.
This song is a British folk song entitled "The Manchester Rambler" by Ewan MacColl, which I believe predates anything previously mentioned by ~30 years.
Furthermore the background of this song sounds remarkably historic for British orienteering, as it was part of a grass roots uprising which apparently lead to the creation of laws permitting much greater public access to open spaces. I heard this demonstration likened to the first Earth Day and the first Occupy demonstration, which might be overstatement, but it sounds historically significant nonetheless, yet timelessly relevant as orienteering continues to run up against exclusionary land management practices addressed in other AP threads.
I'm assuming some British orienteers are already familiar with this song and the history, and can clarify or add to what I have just learned.
For a start on the history, check out-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_trespass_of_Kind...
lyrics and link to audio here-
http://www.maxilyrics.com/ewan-maccoll-the-manches...
The lines-
"He called me a louse and said, Think of the grouse
Well I thought but I still couldn't see
Why old Kinder Scout and the moors round about
Couldn't take both the poor grouse and me"
sum up my perspective on the environmental issue.
Apr 30, 2013 2:04 AM
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I love it.
"I may be a wage slave on Monday
But I am a free man on Sunday"
"I may be a wage slave on Monday
But I am a free man on Sunday"
Apr 30, 2013 8:14 AM
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I suspect the Kinder Scout trespass had more effect than Earth Day or Occupy, albeit only in England. I was always struck by the lack of public access to open spaces in the US (and the high likelihood of getting shot, even in the places you are allowed to go!). From an orienteering point of view, there's still a huge difference between English and Scots Law. In Scotland you're pretty much allowed to go for a run whereever you want - in England you have to stick to footpaths except on designated "access land".
For organised events you still need permission, with the capercaillie now playing the bogus environmental-issue role.
For organised events you still need permission, with the capercaillie now playing the bogus environmental-issue role.
This discussion thread is closed.