While on tour, Dublin-based singer Lisa O’Neill visited 251 Menlove Avenue, Liverpool, a 1930’s semi-detached property better known as the childhood home of John Lennon. While there, Lisa, accompanied by two supporting musicians, performed the popular traditional ballad Leaving of Liverpool which is also our Song of the Day.
Ewan MacColl came across it via a book by the song collector W. Doerflinger who, according to Library of Congress editor Stephen Winick, recorded the songs he collected at Sailors’ Snug Harbor in Staten Island from 1938 to 1940.
MacColl recorded it on the album A Sailor’s Garland for the Prestige International label in 1962. That album featured Louis Killen as an accompanist and backup singer, so he learned the song for the album. Killen soon decided to perform it himself and recorded it in 1963. He also taught it to his friend Luke Kelly. Kelly, in turn, taught it to the folk group The Dubliners and the singer Liam Clancy of The Clancy Brothers, who were then living and working in America (wiki).
Lisa recently released ‘Heard A Long Gone Song’, her first album for the new Rough Trade imprint River Lea. It’s a record that is personally political, uniquely beautiful, heartfelt and witty. And perhaps as timeless as the passed down songs Lisa sings as if they were hers. Read more here.
You can also hear a track from the album on our latest Folk Show here.
UK LIVE Dates
Wed 17 Oct. – Oporto, LEEDS
Thu 18 Oct. – The Castle, MANCHESTER
Fri 19 Oct. – 81 Renshaw, LIVERPOOL
Sat 20 Oct. – Hug & Pint, GLASGOW
Sun 21 Oct. – The Greystones, SHEFFIELD
Tue 23 Oct. – The Lexington, LONDON
Wed 24 Oct. – Colston Hall, BRISTOL
Thu 25 Oct. – The Glee Club, BIRMINGHAM
Heard A Long Gone Song is out now via River lea Records
www.facebook.com/RiverLeaRecords