I’ve got the song “Bread and Fishes” in The Yetties Songbook, published 1994, but someone was singing it at singarounds when I was at University 1976-79. The book leaves out the verse “I sat down beside them with gay flowers round, we ate from a mantle spread out on the ground. They told me of people, of prophets and kings and all of the one God who knows everything” but that’s got me wondering how I know those words! I know they’re not quite the words you have for that verse, particularly the ‘gay flowers’ this may indicate an origin before the word acquired its current meaning. There are other significant differences in the words as well.

Netta Gibbs

Good Day:

I first heard this song in 1993 in Uganda, East Africa. I am not sure how old the song is but it is also known as “Wind in the Willows” by some other sources.

Sincerely, Sumayyah

Hi there,

I stumbled across the song "Bread and Fishes" and you ask if anyone can help take it back beyond 2002. I've no idea where it originated but I've sung this often in church and I'm very fond of it - I heard it first from the Spinners folk band on TV in what must have been the 1970s. I don't know if that helps at all but I hope so.

Philip Hyne

Bread and Fishes was one of my favourite school songs back in the 80's. I would like the song sung at me wedding, i have the lyrics from your website. Any ideas where I could obtain the music sheet from?

Kind Regards, Sally Crowther

Interested to see the 'bread and fishes' query on your website. Did your friend grow up as a Roman Catholic? This song was very well known as part of the Catholic Folk movement of the early 1970s although not well known outside of that I think. I attended a Catholic secondary school and can recall it being used extensively at that time in those circles. I can't help you with author/copyright but it certainly goes back a good 30 years.

Kind regards, Belinda Copson

You ask about the origin of Bread and Fishes. I am also anxious to find that as well. One thing I can tell you is that on a visit to Priddy (in the Mendips) last year we were privileged to meet with an elderly lady in her 80s, who told us that she used to sing this song when she was but a small girl. So that would take it back to about 1925-1930. Although Alan Bell has made the song popular, he cannot be the composer of the words, nor less the music. More than that I cannot find as yet. If you have heard from anyone else, please let me know.

Best wishes, Arthur Eedle

Dear Jimmy and Val,

I found your site when I was looking for a song and it took me to your website – Great! I would very much like to know what is on at the Ashington Folk Club. I live near Alnwick. You asked a question about the Song Bread and Fishes, I have been singing that song for more than 15 years in fact I think it was in the Herford Folk Club in Germany that I first heard it sung by the McCalmans when they were on tour (I ran a few Folk Clubs in Germany and had my own group) so why it is down as copyright © in 2002 is strange! I think the McCalmans might have something to say about that!

Kind Regards Nick

Hi

I remember singing this song at school with my friend, Ruth Bowen for the whole school. We both played the guitar as we sung together. What great memories and I have often thought of this song many times since. It was great to find it on your site. Would love if there was an MP3 extract thought.

Regards Julie-Ann Bowden

The song Bread and Fishes was indeed written by Alan Bell....one of the Blackpool group the Taverners. It must have been written in the late 60s or early 70s as I haven't seen him since then. Alan wrote quite a lot of decent songs. I was in another group...The Pendlefolk.

Christine Edwards (Westbrook in those days)

Your website seeks information about "Bread & Fishes". This evening I was going through a cassette I recorded off the radio - probably in the late 1970s or early 1980s - and there are three songs on it by The Spinners including "Bread & Fishes". Therefore the copyright should be much earlier than 2002 as The Spinners had their Final Fling in 1989. I hope this helps a little.

Richard Banyard

I certainly remember the chorus part of the song from when I was little in the 1960's, being sung in the folk song world.

Helen

Hi Jimmy and Val,

A few bits of info as promised- all in links I’m afraid. Bread and Fishes references- sorry- no date as yet

• http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart528.htm
• http://www.musicscotland.com/acatalog/Alan_Bell.html
• http://www.mally.com/details.asp?id=518

See you soon, thanks for a great night!

Eileen Skinner