The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of the Black British Experience

The title tells us of this album’s focus, but nothing quite prepares us for the introduction: spoken word written by Morrison following research into mid-20th century attitudes towards people of colour. These arresting ‘interludes’ crop up between songs to remind us to listen closely however difficult the content; though the presentation feels familiar, and suitably Topic Records, these songs are not in fact traditional, but compositions of Morrison’s own to ‘fill the void,’ the gaping absence of Black experience in the British folk song canon.

Morrison’s research throws up stories and characters as varied as the rumoured African ancestry of the wife of King George III, Black Welsh twins whose isolation fostered prolific creativity, and servant Fanny Johnson whose mummified hand had remained in a family for two centuries. It is not unusual for contemporary folk musicians to research a theme and write to it, of course, but where The Sorrow Songs differs is Morrison’s approach to songwriting itself: eschewing a contemporary approach to the lyrics, she instead uses British folk song’s recognisable lyrical language, to beguiling success. This, she hopes, will provoke further propagation, and, given the beauty of her songs, we look forward to hearing her wishes fulfilled.