Songs about seagull

Subject: Seeking songs about seagull
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 May 13 - 04:56 PM

Hi

I've searched google and mudcat for a specific song I heard at Rochester Sweeps sing around seesion at the Good Intent on Sunday 5 May.

All I can remember is that she said it was about a seagull and in the song referred to the bird as a sky pirate. Between verses she did this wonderful mewling call.

The young singer named Helen, said she hadn't been performing long and had never yet done a gig but had one scheduled.   She was amazing. The song was amazing. In fact all 3 songs she did in the session were so good.

Anyway, my search on seagull songs revealed only a few songs about seagulls. Joni Mitchell and Bad Company songs are not what I am seeking.

I thought I might start with a collective list of songs about seagulls here. Then go from there.

So please, post song titles below. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Paul Reade
Date: 06 May 13 - 05:17 PM

Try Lesbian Seagull by Engelbert Humperdinck - unforgettable!

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Deskjet
Date: 06 May 13 - 06:04 PM

Beyond the Blue

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 07 May 13 - 04:53 AM

Anne Lister has songs with seagulls in but I don't remember any titles

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:00 AM

A good Modegreen from the 'Stones 'Paint it Black'. I always hear -

No more will my green seagull turn a deeper blue.

Will that do you? :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:35 AM

"The Seagull's Name Was Nelson" - 60s or 70s minor hit - can't remember who.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:46 AM

Ranter's wharf by Jon Connolly.
thread.cfm?threadid=40577&messages=22#706881

Based on the belief that the souls of drowned sailors may return as gulls.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Max Johnson
Date: 07 May 13 - 06:46 AM

Anne Gregson wrote a very good song involving seagulls. I always liked it anyway. Called 'Seagull Fly' if I remember right.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 07 May 13 - 10:28 AM

"High Flying Seagull" - Dougie MacLean, on "Craigie Dhu".

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 07 May 13 - 12:49 PM

Ann Mayo Muir has a fine rendition of Snow Gull... check you tube.

the old foc's'le shanty from the whaling tradition "If I had the Wings of a gull" ... A L Lloyd "Leviathan"

are two that come to mind.. both haunting tunes

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,marian
Date: 07 May 13 - 02:28 PM

Mollymauk by Bob Watson. Beautiful song about an albatross. (Technically not a gull, but hey, close enough for folk music, right?

One version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMJZSS_98sU

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Anne Lister still sans cookie
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:42 PM

Yes, I have a song simply called "Seagull" ... on the almost impossible to find "Burnt Feathers" album, recorded with Mary McLaughlin on Fellside when we were Anonyma.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:50 PM

Seagull I don't want your wings..Pat Byrne..I think on youtube.

Jill K of Vancouver sings one about puffins maybe...

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 07 May 13 - 06:12 PM

Seagull I don't want your wings

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 May 13 - 10:02 PM

here is not the one i was thinking of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs_jwLSbWJc

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Frank
Date: 08 May 13 - 12:50 AM

Not what you had in mind, but my mind immediately flew (no pun) to Neil Diamond's "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" L.P. from 1973.
Some nice instrumental tracks for me, and several vocal ones.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 May 13 - 02:19 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emlbdTluHVk the hour that the ship comes in

one of mine has gulls in it...they'll follow after ? and gull as long as there are nets to pull but sometimes they are overfull do you need another hand

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST
Date: 08 May 13 - 03:15 AM

Nice ralph mctell song includes a seagull

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 May 13 - 04:24 AM

Several versions of The Dark Island, all mention seagulls.
Puffin song The Isle of May by Matt Armour.
Several species of seabird in The Back of the Aisler on McCalmans CD Keepers. You can liten to it on the CD page of their website.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Greg
Date: 08 May 13 - 07:43 AM

I believe I've searched for the same song myself, unsuccessfully, and came to the conclusion that it was an original by the person who performed it. I heard it (if it is the same song), performed by woman, who accompanied herself on guitar, as a floor spot at Faversham Folk Club in December. I seem to remember she had short hair. It was very good. Didn't find out who she was though.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 08 May 13 - 02:34 PM

Yes Greg

She has short blonde hair, cute pixie face. Her name is Helen. Plays an old classical guitar also blonde. Amazing singer.

Thanks all for the entries, thus far.

I am beginning to wonder also if the Sky Pirate song she sang at the GI on Sunday was one of her own.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 May 13 - 02:22 PM

She has accepted my friend request on Facebook. Maybe I will ask her about that song in a few days. Don't want to push it too quick.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,eldergirl
Date: 21 Jul 13 - 05:42 PM

Virginia, her name is Helen North and the Sky Pirate song is her own,IMO one of the finest seagull songs there is, along with Mollymauk, and one by Jez Lowe which I heard 2 or 3 years ago but didn't chase up at the time. Silly me.Helen has also written The Midshipman's Boast, shanty- style, probably known as The Rolling Heaving Sea by anyone who has heard it. And she is absolutely one of the best songwriters around. No question.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 03:14 AM

Ralph mctells the mermaid an dthe seagull somg about 1970.

Also donovan song seagull i dont want yoir wings i dont wqnt your freedom in a lie

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Helen North
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:41 PM

Glad you liked my sky pirate song- didn't realise people were looking for it . It's not posted anywhere but happy to send you the lyrics if you are interested.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Felipa
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 08:14 PM

another donovan song - how high the gulls fly over islay
donovan-unofficial.com/music/songs/isle_of_islay.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caSFVgg2EwA

verse re faoileag, gull, in Eilean I
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/tannas/illean.htm

Faoileán , gull Irish gaelic poem, both irish and english lyrics at;
http://michael-hartford.com/blog/tag/michael-davitt/

Invisible Wings/Faoileán, recorded by Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill with Touchstone

Faoileán also recorded by Niamh de Burca - I havent heard that recording, expect it is the same song
again dont know what version Tadhg MacDonagáin recorded

Faoileán - diffeent song, simple children's song - words + sheet music here: http://www.ppds.ie/pcsparchive/ceolweb2/per/songs/songshtm/all%20songs/faoilean.htm

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 08:53 AM

Bit surprised that the Steeleye Span song "Seagull" was not mentioned, but the mystery happily is solved.

Welcome to Miss North. Glad she found us. She seems to be a gifted young lady.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 11:44 AM

Didn't want to post this until the requested song had been found (sure I've heard someone sing it somewhere!)

There was a BBC news report a few years back of this cheeky bird:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6907994.stm

And see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4wkWTUm6ac


So I wrote a song about it: goes to a sort of calypso tune:

THE FEATHERED FELON                        

There's a lonely seagull in Aiberdeen toon,
He struts in the square baith up and doon
But there's ony ain thocht in his mind aroon
Tae steal some tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, tae steal some tangy cheese Doritos (rep)

So he walks in the shop jist as bold as brass
And he thinks tae himsel', "This'll be a gas,
I'll be oot o' here afore they kick my ass
Wi' ma tangy cheese Doritos.
Doritos, Doritos, wi' ma tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

And up he walks tae the bricht display
O' crisps o' a' sorts in the metal tray
And he grabs a bag and he's on his way
Wi' his tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, wi' his tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

And he comes in the shop every day at three,
He's never been bothered by CCTV,
So long as he can get awa' for free
Wi' his tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, wi' his tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

No, there's no other flavour would ever do,
Not chilli heatwave nor BBQ,
'Cos he loves that bricht orange bag, it's true,
Just has tae be tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, just has tae be tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

And oot in the square he drops the bag on the deck,
And he slices it open wi' one quick peck,
And he downs them all just as fast as heck,
A' they tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, a' they tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

And that cheeky seagull's never known tae pay,
So they ca'ed the Polis and the SSPCA,
When they tried tae arrest him, .............he jist flew away,
Fu' o' Tangy cheese Doritos,
Doritos, Doritos, fu' o' tangy cheese Doritos. (rep)

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 12:12 PM

Eldergirl - the Midshipman's Boast is getting around the country a bit, thanks to Hamish Currie (who sang it at Bude folk festival in May) and Liz Lawley (who sang it at the White Horse folk festival last August).

I hope to hear Helen sing it, and also Sky Pirate, somewhere before long!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,Helen North
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 01:45 PM

I'll be singing sky pirate and midshipman's boast at the Faversham Hop festival and again at the Sea ilfracombe festival and probably at a singaround during Broadstairs week so if you are at any of those kitty then come n find me.Ive just discovered Mudcat - what a great way to find new songs . Ive got to learn/ write nautical songs for sea ilfracombe so this site is great.Thanks for your encouragement guys - its inspired me to write a whole new song today.

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: The Barden of England
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 05:03 PM

Fabulous - that's part of what this site is for.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Seeking songs about seagull
From: GUEST,eldergirl
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 12:42 AM

Now looking forward to hearing Helen's new song somewhere, wherever.. Mr Barden has the right of it. A little encouragement is a wonderful thing. Ah, just heard a seagull outside my window! Shouting in the grey rainy dawn..