The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #121884   Message #2666247
Posted By: Commander Crabbe
27-Jun-09 - 10:44 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
You might try "Hoy's Dark and Lofty Isle"

Hoy's Dark and Lofty Isle

Traditional

At eve when glowed the setting sun
Above the Western wave
A lofty barque, her full sail on
Full, beautiful and brave
Robed in a gleam of golden smiles
She steers upon the Northern isles
She steers upon the Northern isles

'Twas from the polar icy seas
Dominion of the whale
She gently glides before the breeze
Which plays along her sails
Midst mighty oceans gentle play
She wings along her watery way
She wings along her watery way

But lo as they were sailing on
The islands still ahead
A sailor's dying hour had come
While mournful round his bed
Stood Britons sons who smile at fear
And scorned to blush yet shed a tear
And scorned to blush yet shed a tear

Land land a whisper, land was nigh
Hoy's dark and lofty isle
A smile lit up the sailor's face
A heartfelt homely smile
On deck they dying man they bore
To gaze upon his native shore
To gaze upon his native shore

Silent he lay, while o'er his cheek
Tears slowly stole
In vain it was for man to speak
The feelings of his soul
Then from his inmost heart there came
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name

Then from his inmost heart there came
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name

The melody on this website is from a version sung by Sydney Scott from North Ronaldsay.

http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ORKNEYSINGERS/documents/Songs/Hoy's%20Dark%20and%20Lofty%20Isle.pdf

The song is 'traditional' because, as yet, there is no record of who wrote it.
The lines in bold are those sung in harmony.

CC