Fun Trivia : Show of Hands

Structure Sub-topic of: Music Q-S Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Special Topics A slice of 'Country Life' Music at the 'Cold Frontier'

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Show of Hands

In the "Innocents Song", who is the "laughing stranger with his hair as white as gin"?

Bearing folk Witness by a Show of Hands


Herod. Having revealed the stranger's identity, the question in the lyrics, "What is he doing with the children?" becomes more worrying. This is one of the few songs on the album not written by either (or both) of Steve Knightley or Phil Beer. The words are taken from a poem by Charles Causley and the tune is by Johnny Copin.



The song “Roots” bewails the apparent suppression of English heritage and tradition whilst all other cultures and traditions are supported and encouraged. Part of the song refers to a speech by a government minister in which he refers to his vision of hell as being certain elements of English tradition. Which government minister made this speech?

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Kim Howells. Kim Howells was Culture Minister at the time he made the speech. Although he is Welsh he was at the time in the British government and his words upset some of those who enjoy English traditions. This song is one songwriter's response.



In “The Bet” the hero of the song is down to £500 of his ill-gotten gains to launder and goes the festival at Cheltenham. He finds himself next to an Irishman putting £2,000 on a 20-1 outsider so he backs the same horse. What is the name of this long shot?

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Galway Bay. The Irishman in question is the subject of the “The Galway Farmer”, another Show of Hands song but from a different album. But in the song in question our hero walks away with £10,000. Then comes the sting in the tail (and in the tale,) of the song.



Most of the songs on the album are written by one (or both) of the duo, or are traditional and arranged by one (or both) of them. "The Innocents Song" is one exception to this general rule, the other exception on this album is "If I needed Someone" which is credited as being written by whom?

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George Harrison. Despite being considered part of the folk scene Show of Hands have recorded songs by all of these. It is probably not surprising in the case of Ralph McTell who is a very respected singer-songwriter on the folk scene in his own right. One example they have recorded of Ralph's work is “The Setting” on the CD “As You Were – Live on Tour 2004”. They have also recorded “The Downeaster 'Alexa'” by Billy Joel on the album (appropriately enough) “Covers” and Kelly Joe Phelp's “Tommy” on the CD “Country Life”.



The second half of the song “The Undertow” takes a darker turn when the narrator’s best friend steals a car, goes for a joyride and then torches it. The car's owners take exception to this and inflict some summary justice. In fact he is left for dead. Based on the car number plates which part of England do the assailants inhabit?

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London. The offenders are not strictly identified but the lyrics do state that “...if he had seen the London plates, he never would have forced the locks.” How they have identified the thief so fast is not revealed, a bit of a shame really as the police in this country could do with some hints to speed up apprehension of criminals. The moral of this story is of course, don't mess with "southern softies".



According to the song “Haul away Joe”, what spoiled the constitution of King Louis of France?

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Decapitation. To be precise the song states that he “got his head cut off”, which is enough to upset the constitution of anyone. Since the preceding stanza tells us that he was “king of France until the revolution” we can deduce that this is a reference to King Louis XVI and his method of demise.