Hi Buvvy,

Thank you for you comments. I am not quite sure about the Magna Carta reference though, should I be pleased or insulted? I know I am old but not quite that old yet!!

Thanks too Fatstrings for your comments also. It is Helena's gift as a wordsmith that make the song.

Russ and Scott. I have great sorrow for you Americans who have not had the pleasure of pulling a cracker at Christmas. As kids we always looked forward to that, and the squabbling afterwards over who would have what out of the adult's crackers.

Roger

Not ever having heard this song before I went and found it on YouTube and I have to say it is a great song and well worth learning.

There are two versions of the song on Chordie, one in Gm which has some rather awkward chords and the other in Am which is relatively simple to play. You might have guessed, chords in the version of the song I heard was in Gm. In  this key the starting note is G (your 3rd string played open). If you are playing it in Am the the starting note will be A (your 3rd string played on the second fret).

Short of coming along and singing it with you this is the best help I can give.

By the way Ps. I'm not a boy... I'm a girl.. makes a great signture I think you should use it.

Roger

Thank you Ark,

You are the man we can always count on when something out of the ordinary is needed. It is great that, to use Kenny's phrase, 'The Power of Chordie' gives us the opportunity to enlist others to help with our recordings.

Hi Riddler,

Thank you too for your comments. I hope that some of our Chordie friends who are unable to produce recordings will utilise the services offered in the Recording section so their work can be heard also.

Roger

Hi Lightning Fingers Russ,

Thank you again for your help with this song, As you know we wanted a Christmassy feel to it and Ark's bell chimes, plus the last minute addition of what I can only describe as a stick with 12 bells on (borrrowed overnight from my friend's music shop), which I rattled between lines, added the finishing touches to it. I did work very closely with Helena and this was the 10th recording that I sent to her. She is probably fed up with listening to it by now .

Thank you Kenny,

I was very excited when I saw the lyrics that Helena sent me, she certainly has a way with words. As for the truth behind the story line. Well that is up to out little Irish wordsmith to explain, so I will leave that one to her.

Roger

No you should not put any oils onto the guitar body. The fretboard, and in my case the bridge block are untreated hardwood, and will absorb the oils keeping them in good condition.

On the laquered/varnished finish of the guitar body the oils would just sit there, slowly drying out, attracting dust and making a gungy mess. In warm weather the local fly population would probably treat it like a MacDonald's Drive In . So not to be advised.

Roger

A great song Phill,

This song brought back memories for me, as I suspect others too, who have thought that things were so bad that running away was the only answer. In hindsight of course it never is.

Your usual excellent standard of recording too.

Roger

Hi Phill,

Lovely song that I enjoyed playing along to.

I notice that your photo on Soundclick, just like your MySpace, has you holding a glass in your hand. I must come and visit you next time I am in the UK.............at the pub .

Seriously, a great song and recording.

Roger

Hi Daddycool,

You must have "she who must be obeyed" swooning at your feet with all the romantic songs you keep singing to her.

Nice one,

Roger

Hi Evsynator,

If you open the 'Sicky' that I put up "Members Willing To Help With Recording And Composing" (unfortunately closed 'Sticky' titles come up in grey and are not very prominent) you will find links to the threads where Russ was asking who could do what.

Follow the links for whatever you are able to help with, and add your name. This will bring the thread back to the top of the page and Russ can add your name to list of others willing to help.

You will see that Russ has already added your name to the Recording Producers

Roger

As I always have some extra virgin olive oil in my pantry this is what I use on my fretboard each time I change strings and give my guitars a good clean with furniture polish getting in the places that are impossible to clean properly with strings attached.

Never fancied taking a bite out of the fretboard though

Roger

Hello Sluggo and welcome to Chordie,

Unless someone points out that I have been wrong all these years:

        + means Augmented and
        - means Diminished

Roger