England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom accounting for more than 83% of the total UK population. It occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with fellow home nations Scotland, to the north, and Wales, to the west. Elsewhere, it is bordered by the sea.

England is named after the Angles, one of a number of Germanic tribes believed to have originated in Angeln in Northern Germany, who settled in England in the 5th and 6th centuries. This is also the origin of its Latin name Anglia.

There are four primary components of the United Kingdom, each with their own diverse and distinctive folk music forms - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, there are numerous distinct and semi-distinct folk traditions from the Isle of Man, Cornwall and the Channel Islands, as well as immigrants from Jamaica, India, the Commonwealth and other parts of the world.

English traditional music is an extremely broad concept, as there is much variety between the different regions of England. Folk music varies across Northumbria, Kent, Sussex and Yorkshire, and even within cities like London.

A TRIP TO PARIS

click to listen

ARNOLD'S CIRCLE

click to listen

BLACK NAG

click to listen

THE BOATMAN

click to listen (2nd part in mp3)

click to download lyrics

If I could choose the life I pleased
Then I would be a boatman
Along the canals and the rivers free
No hasty words are spoken
My only law is the river breeze
Would take me to the open seas
If I could choose the life I pleased
Then I would be a boatman

If I could choose the life I pleased
Then I would be a rover
And if the road was not for me
Then I would choose another
Across the mountains and the valleys deep
I would take these weary feet
If I could choose the life I pleased
Then I would be a rover

But these things are so hard for me
I cannot choose my own destiny
And all the things that I want to see
Are so unclean

I wish I could choose the life I please
But I am not a free man
Others choose my destiny
But my will's never broken
I know someday I will be
Everything that I dreamed I'd be
If I could choose the life I pleased
I would be a boatman.

CIRCASSIAN CIRCLE

click to listen

click to listen (2)

DARGASON

click to listen

click to listen (2)

DE'L TAKE THE WARS

click to listen

DUKE OF KENT'S WALTZ

click to listen

GALOPEDE

click to listen

GATHERING PEASCODS

click to listen

click to listen (2)

click to download lyrics

Gathering peascods,
Amidst the rows so green,
With bonny Bet, my queen;
Tossing the peascods
I' faith we had rare fun,
The work seem'd never done;
'Twas sweetest summer weather,
I plucked the peascods fast,
Then in her apron cast,
So being together,
Each turn I did not miss
To pluck as well a kiss.

Shelling of peascods
Beside the pretty wench,
A-seated on one bench;
Shelling of peascods
Into a maple bowl,
And she a merry soul;
So shelling without missing
A single pea, I said,
My labours must be paid
Only by kissing.
Fly winter! I were fain
'Twere peascods time again!


GREENSLEEVES AND YELLOW LACE

click to listen

HOLE IN THE WALL

click to listen

click to listen (2)

LOVELY NANCY

click to listen

PICKING UP STICKS

click to listen

ROYAL EMPRESS TANGO

click to listen

SELLENGER'S ROUND

click to listen

SQUARE TANGO

click to listen

TANGO WALTZ (also USA)

click to listen

UPON A SUMMER'S DAY

click to listen

WILLOW TREE

click to listen

click to listen (2)