Blood and Gold

                                                                                                                                     Bela Bertok 

The song has been covered  by Maddie Prior and June Tabor, also called the Silly Sisters.

Listen to the song.

                                                                                           The Silly Sisters

Also the song has been arranged in 1980 by Andy Irvin and Jane Cassidy on a Bulgarian tune. This is the only version that I know with  East European  music (all along the song).

Listen to this cover.

                                                                                               Jane Cassidy

                                                                                                  Andy Irvin 

The story of Andy Irvin's version telling by himself:

"This one started as a Romanian song collected by Bela Bertok in the early part of this century. A friend of mine, Jane Cassidy and myself re-wrote it a few times and put it to a Bulgarian dance-song tune"

The rhythm and harmonies are Bulgarian. The song (and the dance) is a paidushka rythm 5/16. The lyrics could refer to any of the never-ending border campaigns against the Ottomans (some others think that they could have been written while the Napoleonic war...). Blood and gold has to do with the contrast between the gold used in banners and decorations on weapons and helmets and the  blood realities of the war.

To listen to the Gurt Lush Choir live 2010 version, click the link below.