Origins: Fair Stood the Wind (Alan Bell)

Subject: Lyr Add: FAIR STOOD THE WIND (Alan Bell)
From: stallion
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 05:41 AM

Anyone have any ideas who wrote it? I heard it on a live recording of the Staithes Fishermans Choir circa 1992.

FAIR STOOD THE WIND
By Alan Bell

Now that the fishing has ended, now that the boats have all gone,
And now that the quay is deserted, there is talk as to what can be done;
For once we had fishing a-plenty; once we had cod by the stone.
Once we had fish landings daily, just as in the fisherman's song:

CHORUS: Fair stood the wind for the old fishing ground
As we hoisted our sails once more outward bound
To hunt for the herrin’ wherever they’d be,
And take all we could from the plentiful sea,
Then home once again on the swift flowing tide,
The harbour lights shining way on the port side,
Our catch in the hold, our day’s labour through,
A share for the skipper, the boat and the crew.

Gone are those shoals of herring; gone are those long busy days.
Gone are the men who remember how to fish in the old-fashioned ways;
For fishermen now of all nations forgather to fish the seas dry.
For they don't care about conservation, as they did in the days long gone by. CHORUS.

Farewell to those far distant waters; farewell to the ice and the storms.
Farewell to the nights in the minches; we’re ashore and we'll never return;
For now that the fishing has ended, and now that the boats have all gone,
And now that the quay is deserted, there is only an echoing song: CHORUS.


[Title and author added.--JoeClone]

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 06:10 AM

The song was written by Alan Bell, and titled FAIR STOOD THE WIND (in the DT) .

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: Gedpipes
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 07:20 AM

its just started again in Hull

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: Greg B
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 11:42 AM

By far my favorite rendition of this song (and he sings it as 'Now
that the fishing is over') is by Geoff Kaufman, on his 'Fair Stood the
Wind' CD. That album has a bunch of other gems on it as well.

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 12:27 PM

It seems to follow the pattern of Billy Edd Wheeler's The Coming of the Road(s), which has a truly awful MIDI in the Digital Tradition. Could it be they have the same tune?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: stallion
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 07:24 PM

cheers guys knew it would be out there!

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 30 Jun 07 - 11:00 AM

'its just started again in Hull'

What has? If my information is correct even the last fish finger has left Hull with the closure of Birdseye.

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: BB
Date: 30 Jun 07 - 12:53 PM

Joe, no. It's a good song, but 'The Coming of the Road' has a better, if not more singable tune.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: stallion
Date: 30 Jun 07 - 04:41 PM

Ok BB where can I get it?

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: BB
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 03:27 PM

That could be something of a problem, Stallion, as my source is the same as yours. You could try the Veteran website, as that's who originally issued the Staithes Fishermen's Choir tape, I think. (Don't know definitely, as all our tapes have been put away for the moment!) You could also try contacting Alan Bell, the composer, through the Fylde Folk Festival website.

If you can't get any further, PM me, and I'll try to help.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 08:26 PM

Stallion-

Good to track these things down. One can never thank the composers of such songs enough, and often it's the only credit they receive for their creative effort.

Hope your heads are still above water!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: stallion
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 03:52 AM

Know what you mean about the tune BB but I am afraid I / we have taken liberties with tunes (as Charley knows) and tend to make modifications to bring them into our comfort zone, as yet it hasn't had the treatment but I suppose it will ( like I keep getting told I am singing the wrong melody in Rose of Alandale!)
Peter

Subject: Lyr Add: I ONCE WAS A FISHERMAN (Barry Dransfield)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 04:06 AM

I looked into this thread expecting to find Barry Dransfield's I Once Was A Fisherman.

Since I didn't, here it is:

There's gold in the channel when the sun lights the sea
But the boats are all pulled up and stranded like me
I once was a fisherman, now come ashore
'Cause they won't let us go to sea anymore.

To the sea anymore,
No, they won't let us go to sea anymore.

In the old town of Hastings the people can see
Our sheds and our tackle it puts them at ease
And we make a fine sight from above Rock-A-Nore
But they won't let us go to sea anymore.

To the sea anymore,
No, they won't let us go to sea anymore.

And isn't it crazy, when we are so strong
That we can't fight the bullies that are doing us wrong
But you can't fight the faceless, the ghosts of the law
And they won't let us go to sea anymore.

To the sea anymore,
No, they won't let us go to sea anymore.

Now I have a son and he's nearly sixteen
A fishing family we always have been
And it fills me with sorrow that he'll stay ashore
'Cause they won't let us go to sea anymore.

To the sea anymore
No, they won't let us go to sea anymore.

There's gold in the channel when the sun lights the sea
But the boats are all pulled up and stranded like me
I once was a fisherman, now come ashore
Cause they won't let us go to sea anymore.

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: GUEST,The Barden of England at work
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 05:20 AM

This song is on Alan Bell's CD "The Definitive Collection" which can be bought here:- http://www.musicscotland.com/acatalog/Alan_Bell.html

or for further information on Alan Bell and his works and recordings contact:
Tamlyn Music Ltd, 55 The Strand, Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. FY7 8NP.
Tel: [phone].   Fax [phone].


All material copyright of Alan Bell and Tamlyn Music Ltd ©

John Barden

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: Flash Company
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 10:15 AM

I had forgotten that song! I seem to remember The Auld Triangle singing it, they did a few of Alan Bell's songs.

FC

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 12:28 PM

Yes Diane

An thoroughly well crafted song by Mr Dransfield with geographical references to my part of the world.

If only i could remember which of the singers I know down here sings it. The song gets an outing every now and again.

Dave

Subject: RE: Origins: Now that the Fishing has Ended
From: BB
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 02:41 PM

Thanks, Barden, for posting that info. I just didn't have time to go searching further on the 'net.

Barbara