The Folk Revival - Fred Woods

The songs relating to this period of his life established him as a songwriter of considerable potential, particularly in the eyes of other musicians. In public terms, little was known of him as he rarely left the Ross-shire glen where, until a few years ago, he ran a mountaineering hostel; nevertheless his song “January Man” was immediately accepted as one of the outstanding songs written during the revival period. It is, indeed, a remarkable song, written specifically for unaccompanied singing and lyrically so accomplished that it is now taught in schools as a poem.

The transition from the industrial Midlands to the Torridon Mountains inevitably provided Goulder with another source of raw material. In this later phase he produced many fine songs on natural themes, though few were idyllic. Indeed, and perhaps aptly for a man who lived in such rugged terrain, some even tended towards the macabre; Goulder is not an experienced naturalist for nothing.

Cyril Tawney - Folk Review

The bizarre streak shows itself often, as in “Three old men”, “The Raven and the crow” and the very eerie, “A most unpleasant way”, but most of all in “The carpenter and the sexton”. For me this is the outstanding song of 1971 and I can hear every songwriter echoing my reaction “God, I wish I’d written that.”
The creation of such material is near impossible without some prior study of British traditional songs, and it is the absence of such groundwork that clearly reveals itself in the tepid outpourings of so many current “folk” bards. Their produce is for the most part disappointingly rootless. Dave Goulder, on the other hand, while not always choosing to write in the traditional idiom, appears at all times to be at least glancing over his shoulder at it.

Goulder’s control and use of the macabre is one of his strongest assets; the characteristic is totally individual in the field of contemporary folksong though the influence of tradition has prompted many attempts in the genre. One of his more recent songs, “The Sexton and the Carpenter” is comedy noire at its best (or worst).
At the same time, it would be misleading to over emphasize this aspect of Goulder’s work. Songs such as “When They Laid You in the Earth" (a title reminiscent of Henry Purcell though the song’s content is very different), “Cold Unfriendly Way” and “Sandwood Down to Kyle” display a longing and a warmth that occasionally seem to be lacking in much contemporary song.
The Folk Revival – Fred Woods

“January Man”

Dave Goulder writes superb songs, finely crafted and welded to tunes as naturally as one stone sits on another in one of his dry stone dykes. “ I recommend singers and writers to get this collection.”
Brian Miller, Broadbeat.

“January Man”

“His preoccupations as a songwriter remain the savage and/or beautiful imagery of wild life, the moody evocation of rural scenes, and of course, the sheer comic force of much human behaviour, all often interlaced with references to the changing seasons. He is a complete individual as a writer and a singer”.
Alastair Clark, The Scotsman

“January Man” . Written by Dave Goulder, a one-time footplate man in the good old days of steam. This I believe, is one of the most perfect songs ever written. “Thanks Dave, for a great song.”
Mike Harding