BREAD AND FISHES
(Wind in the willows)
Tempo: Moderate |
Alan Bell
It may have been musically influenced in part by an older Irish ballad, as many people in Ireland believe. |
Heads Up: Ignore the "bar-lines", and play this BA3 Unit 2 selection as a (treble) melody.
Accordion Notation
Beats per bar = 3
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
Either row = Buttons 2* - 7*
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Verse 1 (of 4)
.3 | :3 "4 "5 | "5* ;4* .4 | :3* "4 "4* | .:5~ | ~:
As I was a walk - ing one morn - ing in spring__ /
.4 | :3 "3* "4 | "4* ;3* "3* "3 | :2* "3 "3* | .:3~ | ~ : .r |
I met with some trav'-lers in an old coun-try lane___ /
.3 ;4 "5 | .5* ;4* "4 | "3* :4 "4* | .:5~ | ~:
One was an old man, the sec-ond a maid__ /
"4 "3* | :3 "3* "4 | .4* ;3* "3 | :2* "3 "3* | .:3~ | ~:
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said___ /
Chorus:
"6* "6 | ;7* "6 .5* | "5* ;5 "6* "6 | ;7* "6 .5* | :5
With the wind in the wil-lows and the birds in the sky /
"6* "6 | .7* ;6 "5* | .5* ;5 "5 | "5* ;6 .4 | .:3*~ | ~:
There's a bright sun to warm us wher - ev - er we lie____ /
.3* | .3 ;4 "5 | "5* ;4* "4* "4 | :3* "4 "4* | .:5~ | ~:
We have bread and fish - es and a jug of red wine___ /
.4 | :3 "3* "4 | "4* ;3* .3 | :2* "3 "3* | .:3~ | ~: .r |
To share on our jour-ney with all of man - kind___ /
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Fourteen videos in keys: A=1 Bb=2 C=3 Db=1 D=4 Eb=1 G=2
Key: D
Composer & Singer: Alan Bell Posted by: TheAdvancedMusic "Alan Bell discusses his hit Bread and Fishes and (then) performs it as part of the 17th edition of the Fylde Folk Festival (1989), whose coverage was undertaken by BBC North West, from which this cut was taken." |
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Key: D
Composer & Singer: Alan Bell Posted by: kisskari |
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Key: D
Performer: Geoff ? Posted by: geoff1945 |
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Key: Eb
Group: McCalmans Posted by: cheerydavie |
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Key: Bb
Singer: Seamus Kennedy Posted by: Seamus Kennedy - Topic |
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Key: Bb
Singers: Simon Orrell and Natasha Orrell Posted by: Simon Orrell Beautifully done. |
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Key: Db
Singer: Michael Davitt Posted by: Erin Yedinak MICHAEL W. DAVITT, 57, died March 20, 2009 in Humble, TX. In NJ Michael started an Irish folk band (The Freemen) with Tommy Shannon. He was responsible for the renaissance of Irish music in Houston. |
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Key: D
Singer: Anthony (Tony) Archibald Posted by: threelegsoman |
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Key: C
Group: Girls' Choir of Wilmington Posted by: GirlsChoirWilmington Sandy Errante, director Amanda Taylor, flute Justin Hoke, guitar Steven Errante, pianist and arranger |
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Key: G
Group: Fylde Ukulele Network Posted by: David Campbell |
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Key: C
Event: The Big Sing Posted by: MassivePorridge Recording begins after the choir has started singing. Also, the ending notes of 2nd line of chorus have been changed from that given in the notation above. |
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Key: G
Singer: Marion Daufenbach Posted by: mdaufenbach From Germany |
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Key: C
Group: St Malachy's Primary School Choir Event: Liverpool Garden Festival Posted by: Chris Eyre The ending notes of 2nd line of chorus have been changed from that given above. |
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Runs from time 0 to 3:58
Key: A Group: Blackmore's Night Singer: Candice Night Posted by: DarkOcean87 Dandelion Wine is also a beautiful song (begins at 3:58) |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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As I was a walking one morning in spring I met with some travellers on an old country lane. One was an old man, the second a maid The third was a young boy who smiled as he said Chorus: With the wind in the willows and the birds in the sky There's a bright sun to warm us wherever we lie We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine To share on our journey with all of mankind So I sat down beside them with the gay flowers around We ate from our mantle spread out on the ground. They told me of people of prophets and kings And all of the one god who knew everything. So I asked them to tell me their names and their race That I might remember their kindness and grace. My name it is Joseph this is Mary my wife And this is our young son who is our delight. We are travelling to Glaston down Englands green lanes To hear of mens troubles, to hear of mens pains. We travel the wide world, over land over sea To tell all the people how they can be free. So sadly I left them on that old country lane I know that I never shall see them again. One was an old man the second a maid The third was a young boy who smiled as he said NOTE: Some singers blend the third and fourth verses into one verse. |
Background Link:
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Click HERE for biographical info on Alan Bell, which includes the following quote from Bell:
"The easiest song I ever wrote was 'Bread & Fishes'. It was a Wednesday afternoon, I had the idea and the tune, I'd been doing some paperwork and began singing the song, and I jotted it down and finished it in about two hours. I sang it at the club on the following Tuesday, it went down all right, but was a bit long, so I cut it down and suddenly many other artists were singing it too. I've heard it introduced many times as a traditional song, the Irish call it 'The Wind In The Willows', and insist it's traditional Irish, but I take it as a great compliment. My writing style isn't spontaneous, more like a dog worrying over a bone, trying to get everything just right." |