ADD: The Last Leviathan (Andy Barnes)

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST,Joseph
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 12:46 AM

As a Greenie and preservationist, I applaud the motivation of the song. But as a folkie and a musician, I am sorry to disagree with the majority of posts here. I find the song to be mediocre, badly written and overly sentimental. Kenny Rogers should record it, collect his CWA award and put a final nail in it.

Subject: ANENT: Whale songs
From: Haruo
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:42 PM

Father Mapple's hymn The Ribs and Terrors in the Whale from chapter 9 of Moby-Dick is in my online hymnal, as is the Dutch Reformed metrical psalm text Death and the Terrors of the Grave it was modeled on. I have set both to Old 100th — we have sung Melville's text to that tune at Fremont Baptist, and it's in my Jonah "comic worship oratorio", Jonah was a Prophet (Minor) — but would welcome suggestions of more authentic and/or potentially authentic plus more interesting settings. I'd especially like to find something of Billings's to sing them to. PM me if you want. And while I've got Billings on the brain, I might as well mention my version of his "When Jesus Wept" canon, with links to both one-voice and four-voice MIDIs. No Leviathanic connections there, just an aside.

Liland
Busy preparing my Esperanto translation
of MD for next year's centennial

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Barbara
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:25 PM

Anyone care to have a go at posting the tune?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: richardw
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 05:33 PM

The first time I heard this song it was sung by the late great David Perry at a Toronto Story Telling Festival about 5 years ago. David included in an hour-long program where he quoted a early whaler's journal, told a few other whale stories and returned to this song as the link or theme. It was stunning. I wept. I could not move at the end. I believe he used the oft-missing verse 4.

I don't know if David ever recorded the program. I wish he had.

Ricahrd Wright

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 04:23 PM

This may qualify as thread creep, but even the whales we still have are still under attack. Its seems the U.S. Navy is going ahead with plans to deploy low frequency active sonar for submarine detection. 235 decibels. This is sad and scary. Here's a link (hope it works):

Click here

Bardford

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 03:39 PM

Hi, Michael - HearMe is a slick little program that allows us to sing to each other. It's not an actual part of Mudcat, but we have some clever people who have set things up so we can easily make use of it. You'll find links to HearMe in our FAQ thread, and in the QuickLinks you'll find on most Mudcat pages. When there's a session going on, you'll see a thread about it in the Forum. You have to download the HearMe program the first time you log on, but it's a fairly simple process.
-Joe Offer (also sent by e-mail)-

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Peg
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 12:38 PM

also, for those interested, the new Solas CD has a recording of this song, sung by their new singer Deidre Scanlon (she sang it beautifully in concert, too!)

They call it "The Last of the Great Whales."

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: WyoWoman
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 10:46 AM

I had been planning on doing this on my Mudcat concert on Hearme Oct. 19. I learned it from the Rory Block CD, and I thought she said "burn" as well. In fact, I was going to find this thread to see if anyone explained what the "burn" reference meant. I'll listen to it again, but I honestly believe she says "burn." Maybe whoever wrote the lyrics on the CD cover thought it was "gun?" Just a thought.

I'm not going to be running afoul of any copyright issues if I sing it for a small, albeit world-wide, audience and don't make a penny on it, am I?

Welcome to the Mudcat, Michael, and thanks for your information and questions.

Regards,

WyoWoman

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Morticia
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 10:36 AM

Michael, welcome....I've been listening to Andy do this song for the last... I dunno,... 8 or 9 years I guess, never heard him do the last verse, why is that?

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Jock Morris
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 10:31 AM

Wolfstone are a Scottish Band, not Irish. After a brief spell of a breakup they are back, but I believe they are without Ivan Drever now. I've heard them live doing the Last Leviathan and it's brilliant.

Scott Davies

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST,Michael Batory
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 07:49 AM

Thanks Alan. I look forward to an interesting association.

Miahael.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 07:42 AM

Welcome to the Mudcat, Michael!

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST,Michael Batory
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 07:25 AM

Hello all " Last Leviathan "correspondents.

I've accessed this thread and would like to make the following contributions.

But first, in case you are wondering "Why". I am following the progress of this song, in the context of my research into the modern oral tradition here at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College and would welcome as much information about performances, locations of these, recordings etc. This information would help my in my research and I can be reached on
[e-mail]

Anyway here goes.

1. Re: Allan C and Joe Offer: You should be aware that the worldwide publisher of The Last Leviathan (also and originally known as The Last of the Great Whales) is Friendly Overtures Ltd. The copyright credit is (c) 1986 Friendly Overtures and should be attached to any transcription of the lyric together with the composer's name, which Joe has done.

It's interesting that you quote from the Rory Block version and from Golden Bough. Rory Block's is one of the most different and superb. However she makes the one mistake that really annoys Andy. That is she substitutes the word "Gun" for "Burn". This happened I believe because UK Artist Melanie Harrold who also has a briliiant recording with Ollie Blanchflower first did so and it was heard not only by Rory but also by Scottish band Disney Moon. Whether Rory heard Melanie's or Disney Moon's recording, I do not know. If any one does I would be keen to have that information.

What is also interesting is that Joe offers the incomplete lyrics. This is probably because there are very few complete recordings. The missing verse is verse 4 and goes as follows:-

And so since time began, we have been hunted
Through oceans that were our home, we have been haunted.
From Eskimoes in canoes, to mighty whalers,
Still you ignored our plea,
None came to save us.
(c) 1986 Friendly Overtures

There are altogether some 35 recorded versions of the song, more if I include those I've learned of by reading the various messages herein. If anyone wants a complete list please e-mail me on [e-mail]

2. Re: rich r: The song is also available in a small songbook entitled The World Turns ( Earth Movements in Contemporary Folk Song ) Published by Friendly Overtures. This also includes another of Andy's songs " Nut Brown Ale" and several other good songs.

3. Re:Kevin Ryan: I agree about Sheena Wellington's version. This appeared shortly after the first recording and the only totally complete one by Bryony on Dragon records. Both in 1986.

Do you have any further information about Jean Redpath's version? I've not heard about this one

4. Re: GUEST [e-mail]: You mention two recordings that you have. "Water Sign" and "Ancient Mariners" I've not heard about these either. Can you give me any further info. i.e label, release dates, album title, etc.

Andy has not made a commercial release of his song.

5. Re:Dave (the ancient Mariner): I'd love to have a copy of your recording. Could you please e-mail me [e-mail] and let me know how I can acquire one.

6. Re: Jeremiah McCaw: Wolfestone eh? Do you have any other detail? ie. release date, label. album title etc.

7. Re: Liz the Squeak: Andy has not made a commercial recording but you are right about Towersey ( Near Thame in Oxfordshire, UK) This brilliant international festival runs every August Bank Holiday and Andy is usually there. So are many people with hand-held recorders, so I guess there are quite a few "private" recordings around.

8. Re Animaterra: The release by Angels in Daring in 1986 was the first US one that I came across and I agree it is great and set the scene in terms of there arrangement for others that followed.

Forgive me, but can you please explain Hearme?

9.Re: Lena: How intersting to hear of Roy Bailey's performance in Australia. Do you know of any other performers' versions. Are there other recordings available?

Well dear readers, I hope I have not bored you senseless. I'd love to hear from anyone who can help with my research.

All the best,

Michael Batory.^^

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Brendy
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:35 AM

Yo, there Jer. The rhetorical question asked by the guest further up the page was never really answered. If you can get through the Danish Language (I'm fortunate enough, as I can 'transpose' into Danish from Norwegian), you will find that Wolfstone are playing at this year's Tønder Festival

We have tripped over each other many times in pubs *BG*, and although I haven't seen them around in a while, here they are again. Here's another piece on them

B

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Lena
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 02:12 PM

Ooops!I started a new topic on that song!! However,as i said there,Roy Bayley performed beautifully that song a couple of months ago at the Australian National Folk Festival. He said that some years ago,before going to perform at the Vancouver children festival,he went on a boat with a friend.They suddenly spotted a Whale,and he nervously thought:"Jona".But the whale,gracefully,without a sound,slipped under their boat leaving them with tears in their eyes."Everyone has done a cover of this,but I don't care..." And he sang us this song at ten o'clock in the morning.I cried on my cornflakes. I'll be eternally grateful to Roy Bayley for coming over at the festival.His performances where such a big gift. Besides,it's whale season here on the coast in Australia.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 07:01 PM

Cindy Kallet, Michael Cicone, and Ellen Epstein do this on their lovely "Angels In Daring" cd, available at Folk Legacy.
And Dave the Ancient Mariner did a wonderful rendition last night on Hearme!

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 06:39 PM

Ah, not a dry seat in the house.....

LTS

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Morticia
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 02:47 PM

Caitlin, you aren't the only one........when Andy does it at Towersey, it's a rare opportunity to see many people sing and sob at the same time.....including me.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 02:13 PM

Does anyone know if the author, Andy Barnes, has made a recording of this song?

Go to Towersey festival and for a small consideration (and several pints) you can hear the author do this himself. He is small in stature, quite often people don't even know what he wrote, but when he sings this, it is with all his heart, soul and voice. The barn is a noisy place always, except when Andy sings this. I don't know if he has recorded it, but he bloody well ought to!

LTS

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Catlin
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 01:18 PM

Er I have this song recorded by The Dubliners.... and in never fails to make me cry.
*Hugs*
Catlin

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:39 AM

"Defunct"? "Irish"? Is my information incorrect? I'd heard they'd broken up. Having heard of them only by reputation, I'd love to find myself in error.

(Sorry 'bout the thread creep, BTW)

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST,Alan F at Office
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 08:39 AM

Melanie Harrold's version was pretty amazing. She sang it over a really haunting bass continuo played by Ollie Blanchflower, and it still raises the hairs on the back of my neck to listen to it.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 12:34 AM

"Defunct"? "Irish"?

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 12:28 AM

As well, the defunct Irish group "Wolfstone" has recorded this song combined with "The Bonnie Ship, The Diamond". Sort of a whale/whaler point and counterpoint.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 04:11 PM

A Canadian Group called The Irish Descendants did a very nice version of this song... Yours,(almost as good as my own verion anyway) Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 04:10 PM

It's not really relevant to this thread, but Tom Chapin does a "Whale Song" that uses whale noises he makes into the microphone. Get real close to the mike, and softly (so you don't break eardrums)go--whoooooooo sliding up, then down. When he does it, it sounds really neat.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From:
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 04:05 PM

I have two recordings of this song - one by "Water Sign" and one by "Ancient Mariners Chanteymen."

Does anyone know if the author, Andy Barnes, has made a recording of this song?

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: kevin ryan
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 08:22 PM

Another fine version is by Sheena Wellington on her recording, "Kerlaw". And I've heard that Jean Redpath has a wonderful version, too.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: rich r
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 05:47 PM

Search the Forum for "leviathan" will give you a couple 1997 threads that list some additional recordings. The words and music are in: "For The Beauty of the Earth, An environmental songbook to benefit Hudson River sloop Clearwater". the book is available from Singout!

rich r

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From:
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 05:11 PM

Archie Fisher does a lovely version, backed up by Garnet Rogers, on Off The Map Live. Good luck finding it. Of all the versions I have heard (I haven't heard Golden Bough's) I think his is the best.

Subject: RE: The Last Leviathon
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 02:11 PM

Thanks! Who could ask for more? The song has totally captured my imagination. I hope I can do it justice. P.S. Thanks for teaching me the correct spelling of "leviathan". Just a word I haven't worked into very many conversations, I guess.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST LEVIATHAN (Andy Barnes)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 01:09 PM

THE LAST LEVIATHAN
(Andy Barnes)

My soul had been torn from me
And I am bleeding
My heart it has been rent
And I am crying
All beauty around me fades (for the beauty around me pales)
And I am screaming
I am the last of the great whales
And I am dying

Last night I heard the cry
Of my last companion
The roar of the (A blast from a) harpoon gun
And I was alone
I reflect on the days gone by (I reflected on days gone by)
When we were thousands
And (but) I know I soon shall die
The last leviathan

This morning the sun arose (did rise)
Crimson in the sky
The ice was the color of blood
And the wind it did sigh
I rose up to take a breath
It was my last one
From the burn (from a gun) came the roar of death
And I am undone

Now that we’re all gone
And there's (there’ll be) no more hunting
The big fellow is no more
There's no use lamenting
Which (what) race will be next in line
All for the slaughter
The elephant or the seal
Or your sons and daughters?

(Rory Block version - major differences of the Golden Bough version in parentheses. Golden Bough tends to take liberties with lyrics, making minor changes here and there.)

Recorded by Golden Bough, Rory Block, Patty Larkin^^
© 1986 Friendly Overtures

Subject: The Last Leviathon
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 09:36 AM

I've been trying to transcribe the lyrics to this song performed by Golden Bough. I think I have most of it but can't seem to fill in a couple of blanks. Can someone help me please?

The Last Leviathon

(Chorus) My soul had been torn from me And I am bleeding My heart it has been rent And I am crying

For the beauty around me pales And I am screaming I am the last of the great whales And I am dying

(1st verse) Last night I hear the cry Of my life's companion A blast from a harpoon gun And I was alone

I reflected on days gone by When we were ??????? But I know I soon must die The last leviathon

Chorus: My soul has been ....

(2nd verse) This morning the sun did rise In the crimson north sky The ice was the color of blood And the wind did sigh

I arose to take a breath It was my last one From a gun came the roar of death And I am undone

Instrumental Chorus

And now that we are all gone There'll be no more hunting The big fellow is no more And there's no use lamenting

What race will be next in line All for the slaughter The ??????? the seal Or your sons and daughters?