Lindsay/Two Bold Singermen and the English Folk Revival, 9. "All We Had for Entertainment"

This chapter’s title comes from Sam Larner, who talked of the limited chances for fun that were available in the villages of Norfolk while emphasising the key role of song in the local social life. What is unclear, however, is exactly how singing fitted into the leisure time of rural workers. Harry and Sam’s singing activity took place in four spheres of activity. In this chapter, three of them are discussed: private (when alone), personal (in the presence of family and close friends only) and public (informal gatherings at work, or in the pub or perhaps at a village fete or festival).