Chris Wood - The Cottager's Reply

Great song. Looking forward to seeing Chris in Dublin next week. Can't wait.

I think your mixing up being a biggot in a BNP kind of way and being proud of where you come from. Incidently if you don't like this kind of music what do you like, I'll give it a listen.

"Positively crypto-fascist". That phrase was positively moronic...

great song, i wonder if the police have been called to this guy, as a Scottish folksinger i've had the police called to a couple of my gigs because i had the audacity to sing Bannockburn or 1320, we call the english "white settlers" up here so i can relate to this lovely song, i wouldn't be allowed to sing anything like this, some people get confused by racism and Patriotism, i admire anyone who sticks up for where they come from, well done Chris Wood, fantastic song.

I think you're confusing a stance against gentrification with nationalism.

i understand what your saying but it's the same sentiments only in a smaller scale, Scotland sold itself "for a little wealth", this song is saying there are far greater riches than gold.

Great, but there is one amazing song that's not on albums, as far as I know - with a similar theme - "My Grandfather knew the plough", recorded upstairs in a Devon pub. I only heard it once, can you tell me where I could hear it again? Thanks

On a lighter note, does anyone know what tuning he is using?

yeh, from low to high its CGCGCD...all his songs are in this tuning.

My father used to play cricket with Frank Mansell, our valleys are overun with townies, the house prices are sky high. Great song Chris!

Where can i download his stuff?? Payed or not payed

if we are talking about the song ,its about people who have made a packet in the city,and can buy any property anywhere and force prices up . it dosn,t just happen in the cotswalds ,it happens all over the world .they call it capitolism, and nothings changed since money was invented. if you want to know the tuning just listen to the song and make your own tuning up, and be original like chris is

This is lovely, good words. Nice easy style of singing & guitar, great stuff.

@TheMG63 dont get your point, it's a great song in whatever tongue, i think your type of english need to back off before you get hurt, i'm Scottish, we are the Scots, now back off.

@pvuf431 how can you say that? the whole point of the song is about where you live, and not selling out, once you give that up your dead.

@Johnskillcorn Any idea what preamp/DI he's using there? His tone is just amazing and so round

Sorry, bassplayinggoalie, but although I've noticed it in the past, I'm afraid I just can't remember. All I know is it's all controlled by a little box of tricks on a stand! Best to either see him for yourself, or ask him. All the best, John

High unemployment, Steamrolled over by businesses that polute, ignored by public services, lucky if you ever see a policeman, cr*p broadband and satellite reception, scarce public transport, if seriously ill you'd probably die before reaching a doctor. The last thing we need are townies moving in whose notion of the country is to remove the hedgerows to instal fences and tarmac over the footpaths. Chris Wood's is spot on in our contempt.

Not sure what you're saying here, superjoffen. It's Chris' choice of tuning, not mine!

And now I need to visit the Cotswolds someday.

@superjoffen I think you've read the tuning the wrong way around. it's CGCGCD from thickest to thinnest string. The only string that goes up a fraction is the standard tuning B string: up to C. Everything else is tuned down to the note. Always point the guitar away from your face when retuning by the way, to avoid a nasty surprise!

I am really glad to have a similar familiar claim on Maine. I may not live there, but my family has lived there for 350 years and I know the state and every time I go back there it feels like I am home. I know the land, the people, the culture; it is part of who I am.

@TheArtistOfKuroo Your family's been in Maine since 1660? 40 years after Mayflower is pretty impressive.

get orf moi land!!! [fx: shotgun snapping locked] to my mind this song describes a feeling about place. it's nether right nor wrong. it's about change, about self-identity slowly changing from place to possessions. it's about modernity. yah-boo-suckia-boo!

£500k for somewhere with land in the Cotswolds is dirt cheap! Beautiful song though =)

I would stand in the snow to hear this man sing and come to think of it I find him kind of sexy!

Can any folk guitarists out there explain why he uses such an unusual tuning?What I mean is, can this song not be played with standard tuning?

Proper folk writing for the 21st Century.

Chris Wood may be the one true heir to Bob Dylan's heritage. His words may be a little plain in comparison, but he hits that nail on the head just as hard! Lovely guitar playing and sound too.

Aye right !!! Spot the show off. Thanks Chris.

I just listened to the original poem being read on Spotify and it was ten thousand pounds in the poem! How times change.

Hi - I'm a big fan of his work - is that definitely the case for his tuning or do you know if he uses other tunings as well?

As far as he told me, he uses only that tuning. He 'got tired' of using several open tunings and that happened to be the tuning he was in at the time. That was a year or two ago, so he may have changed since then. I somehow don't think so, though.

Fairytale world. Get real. Get more social equality for your dreams. Move to Holland. :)

Brilliant musician, great lyrics.  Yes this can be played in standard tuning but I cant get the accompaniment anywhere near good.  I believe Chris uses Open C for this and I'm still learning!

Much needed writing.

FABULOUS! Thanks Chris

I've not trawled all the responses here, but I can't see anyone picking up on the irony the Chris must have been all too aware of. Those folk sat round them tables are just the types the song is about. He should have ffffffinished his ffffff'uck off's.

Cant help but think the prospective buyers in the song might have been somewhat cheesed off for having travelled all that way for nothing. The seller should have indicated his preferences beforehand. A phone call would have sufficed. Bloody yokels.

Cheer up FFS.

This is a beautiful song Chris. I love the the arrangement you've done on guitar. I especially like the way you stick your middle finger up on certain chords. Any chance of sharing the chords? The simpler version doesn't sound as good.

Ouch! How often have I heard locals complain about houses and cottages sold to incomers as second homes? The Cotswolds, North Norfolk, Devon, the Peaks... the list goes on...

Taken from Cotswold ballads by frank mansell . A fine poet

Shyte crowd :-/

Absolutely brilliant! Second home owners take note...

The audience look very uncomfortable 😂😂😂 Fantastic song and musician

Even more valid today than ever as the fat cats push locals out of their ancestral homes all over the world. Unless you are willing to commit 100% stay in the city and let us get on with life.

The irony ...the advert prior to this was for The Royal Mint..