Songs relating to the Titanic

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 02:16 PM

I am working as musical director on a theatre show about the Titanic at present, so have looked at a lot of these. I don't think anyone has mentioned Blind Willie Johnson's "God Moved on the Water" which is quite splendid. Pink Anderson (S Carolina blues/ragtime guitarist) also did a very good variant of the "Sad when that great ship went down" song.
Leadbelly's song(so he said) came from Blind Lemon Jefferson.
And then there are the numerous hymns reputed to be the last tune played by Wallace Harley's band. Myth has settled on the Bethany tune for Nearer My God to Thee, but there are numerous other candidates.

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,Ryan
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 02:03 PM

I should also note it's in ABAB, and the Title is simply called "Titanic."

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TITANIC
From: GUEST,Ryan
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 01:58 PM

Here's a Newfoundland Song that was collected by MacEdward Leach in '50-'51 when he visited Newfoundland (click). It's one of the Earliest recorded songs from the island and was sung by a Mrs. John Powers of Tors Cove, Avalon Peninsula.
Recording*:
http://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/sounds/NFLD1/2-05.mp3

THE TITANIC

On the 10th of April 1912 her whistles they did sound
Her power of motion was released her twin screws turned around
Designed by skillful builders at Belfast, Ireland
The honour fell to Captain Smith the liner to command

Nine hundred seamen to form the crew some wore the golden braid
With … and millionaires strolled on her promenade
Southampton's piers were crowded down on that eventful day
To see the largest ship afloat sail for Amerikay

As the engines thrust great clouds of smoke rose from her funnels high
For she was bound down on the main her record for her to try
With engines new her turbine flew around with lightning speed
Onto the dangers of the sea they gave but little heed

Three days were spent in merriment they still kept steering on
'Til the 14th day of April one hour before the dawn
When an iceberg white it loomed in sight it lay right in our course
From trunk to keel our ship of steel … in force

Upon the main confusion reigned we knew our end was nigh
When our lifeless bodies in the deep a-mouldering would lie
O sorrow mingled with despair their fatal hour had come
When the White Star Queen lay on the main her engines ceased to hum

O come to us we're sinking flashed a message o'er the blue
The Titan's powers are broken and her bows are open through
… The message flashed again
While the watchful eyes of hundreds failed to see her on the main
Too late the ship has vanished and nothing more is seen
And fourteen passengers went down all with that White Star queen

As the great and mighty sepulchre pushed onward to her doom
Four hundred miles from Boston and four from old Cape Race


*It is only the first verse, but I suspect that there is somewhere to contact Memorial University for access to the recordings.

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 01:51 PM

The Pete Seeger song, It was sad when that great ship went down, was recorded by Ernest V. Stoneman in 1925. He apparently added a chorus to a poem and sang it to an existing tune. It may or may not have been recorded by Lead Belly, but Lead Belly composed a song, Fare Thee Well, Titanic, in 1912, recorded in 1935 - a different song i think.
All info here from Peta Webb's article...
Derek

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 01:25 PM

George Millar of the Irish Rovers has a new one out...can be seen on You tube..nice little video...

I think that one is coming into my head about Pat Blessington, friend of my father's, who is an undocumented survivor. mg

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 09:15 AM

The Pete Seeger song mentioned is Leadbelly's Titanic. Les Barker, of course, wrote about the iceberg.

RtS

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: johncharles
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:19 AM

here is one I wrote about Wallace Hartley the band leader on the titanic.
wallace hartley
john

Subject: ADD The Titanic
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:08 AM

According to the late DK Wilgus there are 70 songs dealing specifically with the sinking of the Titanic.
This is one of several versions we recorded in Clare, it is to be found on the double CD of local singers, Around the Hills of Clare.
Jim Carroll

16-2 The Titanic (Roud 18475) Jamesie McCarthy, Mount Scott, Mullagh. Rec. July 1976


THE TITANIC

You landsmen all, on you I call,
And gallant seamen too,
When I relate on the sad fate
Of the passengers and crew,
On board of The Titanic
That lately did sail o'er,
In joy and cheer in going their way,
Their fortune to pursue.

The Titanic called at Queenstown
Upon a Thursday,
And eight hundred emigrants
From Ireland sailed away.
Their hearts were light and merry
As on the deck did stand,
But little was their notion
Some would ne'er again see land.

For four long days she ploughed the sea,
As everyone have read,
And at ten o'clock that fatal night
Our ship struck an iceberg.
Some passengers being in their beds,
They received an awful shock,
When the captain shouted from the bridge,
"I fear our ship is lost."

When the ship struck the iceberg
It was mournful to see
Each mother rushing frantically
Trying to save her family.
When the crew of the Titanic
Did all his best to save
The women and the children
All from a watery grave.

In other lands the grief is all
For wealthy millionaires,
But still our Irish lads went down
With braver hearts than theirs.
Although in consecrated clay
They are not laid to rest,
And they'll never be forgotten
In the green isle of the west.

And for their calm repose with God
I continually pray,
A loving last and long farewell
To them 'til judgement day.

The sinking of The Titanic on 14th April 1912, described at the time as 'the most appalling shipping disaster in the history of the world', gave rise to a great number of songs. According to D K Wilgus, 70 have been collected, 14 of which were found in Ireland.
I have been unable to find another example of this particular version, though it does have some similarity to an Irish broadside entitled The Sorrowful Lamentation on The Loss of The North Star (see notes to track 22-1).

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: cooperman
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:01 AM

I wrote a song from the perspective of the iceberg.
It's on my album 'The Years' with graphic of an iceberg on the cover.
I guess there will be lots of songs written this year. Steve Paul Cooper

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:49 AM

There is a comprehensive article on songs about the Titanic in the current issue of English Dance & Song magazine written by Peta Webb. The article covers songs in the USA, England and Ireland. The words and tune of one song are given in the article and a recording can be heard on the website. www.efdss.org then look under publications. If you are not a member of the EFDSS, there is a link on the site enabling you to purchase a copy.
Derek Schofield
Editor

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: MartinRyan
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:43 AM

As you may know, there are some relevant specifically Irish songs, both young and old...

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: MartinRyan
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:41 AM

A "Lyrics and Knowledge" search on "Titanic" will start you off with a handful of songs in the DT and more threads than you could shake an iceberg at!

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:40 AM

~~~ Pete Seeger singing "It was sad when that great ship went down"

http://www.uulyrics.com/music/pete-seeger/song-the-titanic/video-titanic-it-was-sad-when-that-great-ship-went-down/


~Michael~

Subject: RE: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,Square The Circle
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:39 AM

Colin Pitts has written a very good song about the Titanic called Let Her Lie. It's on his album Looking for England.

Subject: Songs relating to the Titanic
From: GUEST,AnCiotog
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:32 AM

I'm doing some web related work on the Titanic at the moment. I'm based in Cork in Ireland so the majority of it is related to the Cobh connection. However, I'd like to add a piece about songs related to the ship. Any ideas and You Tube links?