Lyr Req: Geordie Lad (Mike Donald)

Subject: Lyr Req: Geordie Lands
From: GUEST,Darlodave
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 03:50 AM

Looking for the words of a song about a sailor called Jack Thompson, his name is mentiond in the first line and tells of his exploits thro' the song. Last line of chorus finishes with the words Ceordie Lands. Can anyone help please.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Lands
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 08:17 AM

It couldn't be Mike Donald's "Geordie LAD", could it? I can't remember the name of the sailor though, just the chorus: He's just a seafaring man, and he'll do whatever he can, to be there in the good times and bad, Geordie lad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Lands
From: Darlodave
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 05:35 AM

Yes thats the song, can anyone provde the lyrics please.

Subject: Lyr Add: GEORDIE LAD (Mike Donald)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:37 PM

There is an archived radio program containing this song—Shrunken Planet with Jeffrey Davison, from WFMU, New York, December 29, 2001—that you can find and play on this page. The song begins at 1:16:42 from the beginning of the program. Here is my transcription:

[Note there is one place where I am doubtful, marked with (?).]


GEORDIE LAD
Mike Donald

1. John Thompson was born on the banks of the Tyne
In the days of the cutter and yawl,
And he learned his trade in a force-nine gale,
Jumpin' to the bosun's call.

CHORUS: He's just a seafarin' man
And he'll do whatever he can
To be there in the good times and bad,
Geordie lad.

2. He worked from the Humber to old Peterhead
And he knew all the ports of call.
He drank with the lads in the dockside inns,
Talked of the Diamond and John(?).

3. He learnt navigation by compass and star
When he served on the ships of the line.
From an old friend Armstrong he learnt many a song
Of colliers out of the Tyne.

4. He was rugged and strong from the years that had gone,
Just a common man of the time.
When his ship lost its sails in a wild northeast gale,
It was John that rallied the men.

5. Braced 'gainst the wheel with muscles of steel,
He fought the cold wind and spray,
An' he brought them all back past the South Shields stacks.
Twenty good lives he saved.