Jerome: Just One More Song! Local, Social & Political History in the Repertoire of a Newfoundland-Irish Singer

by Margaret Bennett

Jerome Just one more Song! A Local, Social & Political History in the Repertoire of a Newfoundland-Irish Singer. This timeless Songs collection, recorded in Codroy Valley, Newfoundland, 1980 by folklorists Kenneth S. Goldstein and Margaret Bennett, is a tribute to singer Jerome Downey. This is not only a song book but is a Local, Social & Political History of Newfoundland's Codroy Valley. To appreciate the way of life in any part of Newfoundland, the reader should bear in mind that, until 1949, Canada was another country. Anyone born before that year, is, first and foremost, a Newfoundlander, belonging to a unique island with a long history - it has the distinction of being Britain's oldest colony. Given that Canada's newest province was less than twenty years old when Bennett first went there, it was very common to hear folk explain, 'I'm not a Canadian, I'm a Newfoundlander.' Thus, to understand the social, cultural and historical context of a song, it is essential to appreciate where it comes from, and especially to acknowledge the people who compose and sing the song. 'If there is no land or work, there are no people, no livelihood, no stories, no music, no songs...' (Gavin Sprott) In the Codroy Valley, the folk who have worked on the land or fished the rivers and coastal waters for nearly two centuries are a mix of Irish, English, Scottish Gaels, French and Mi'kmaq. For as long as anyone remembers, they have enjoyed getting together for 'a few tunes', songs, yarns and a cup of tea. The kettle is always on the stove and, more often than not, a few glasses appear from the cupboard and make their way to the kitchen table- they need no excuse for a ceilidh or a kitchen party, with accordions, bagpipes, fiddles, guitars, spoons and mandolins as well as songs that would lift the heaviest heart. To Jerome and his people, songs and music are way of life. Kenneth S. Goldstein; Margaret Bennett; Newfoundland Folklore Collection; songs of the Codroy Valley; Jerome Downey; Newfoundland-Irish Singer; Newfoundland Irish Folklore; Anthropology; the onset and progression of Alzheimer.

190 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

Folklorist, singer and writer Margaret Bennett is from the Isle of Skye and comes from a long line of traditional singers and pipers — Gaelic on her mother’s side and Lowland Scots on her father’s. She credits her family upbringing with her expertise in Scottish Folklore and folksong, though she has a post-grad Master’s in Folklore and a PhD in Ethnology.

Widely regarded as “Scotland’s foremost folklorist” she is known to “wear her scholarship lightly,” lecturing, singing and storytelling on both sides of the Atlantic. Scottish Arts critic Judy Moir wrote “It’s rare to witness such a charismatic and fascinating raconteur.”

Prize-winning author with 15 books to her credit, her awards include The Michaelis Ratcliffe Prize for Folklore (1991), The Scotch Malt Whisky Society award “for notable service… rendered to the people of Scotland” (1994), the Master Music Maker Award “(USA, 1998) in celebration of a lifetime of musicianship and teaching”, Canadian Historical Association/Société historique du Canada: Cleo Award for History (1999), the Celtic Women International 2003 award for “lifelong service to Scottish and Celtic Culture” and Le Prix du Québec (for contribution to Quebec cultural studies (2011).

She has also featured in theatre, film and documentaries and with her son Martyn Bennett (1971–2005) collaborated on recording projects, including the lament in the National Theatre of Scotland’s critically acclaimed play, ‘Black Watch’.

Since 2009 she has been the driving force behind the charity Grace Notes Scotland, (“Dedicated to handing on tradition”), organizing and teaching community workshops as well as recording local traditions.

Also, since 2009, she has been a Patron of the Traditional Music and Song Association. In 2011, for her services to traditional music she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; in 2012 the Royal Scottish Academy elected her Professor of the RSA; in 2014 she was inducted into the Traditional Music Hall of Fame; in 2017 the Saltire Society (Highland Branch) presented her with an award “for outstanding work in conserving and sustaining the oral traditions, music and song of the Highlands and Islands“. In 2019, the Saltire Society awarded her their Outstanding Women Award, as one of ten women who have made an outstanding contribution to Scottish society.

As the late Hamish Henderson wrote, “Margaret embodies the spirit of Scotland.”