158 - Blow The Wind Southerly - Shore Song

This song is called "The Fishes", it is the origin of the shanty under the same title. What we know about it this song is undoubtedly a Scottish fishermen's song. The melody and text, which you will hear in my reconstruction, were taken from the earliest source I can achieve W. G. Whittaker "Blow The WInds Southetly" (1921 by J.Curwen & Sons Ltd.), but the origin of course is much older and some part of this song was first in print in the Sharp, Cuthbert, ed. (1834) "The bishoprick garland, or A collection of legends, songs, ballads, &c. belonging to the county of Durham".
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).


Blow The Wind Southerly


Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea;
Blow the wind southerly southerly southerly
Blow bonnie breeze, my lover to me

They told me last night there were ships in the offing.
And I hurried down to the deep rolling sea;
But my eye could not see it, wherever might be it
The barque that is bearing my lover to me.

                                  *2*

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly
Blow the wind south, that my lover may come;
Blow the wind southerly southerly southerly,
Blow bonnie breeze, and bring him safe home.

I stood by the lighthouse the last time we parted,
Till darkness came down o'er the deep rolling sea!
And no longer I saw the bright bark of my lover--
Blow bonnie 'breeze, and 'bring him to me.

                                    *3*

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly
Blow the wind south, that my lover may come;
Blow the wind southerly southerly southerly,
Blow bonnie 'breeze, and 'bring him to me.

Is it not 'sweet to 'hear the breeze singing,
As lightly it comes o'er the deep rolling sea?
But sweeter and dearer by far when 'tis bringing
The bark of my true love in safety to me.