Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)

Subject: Origins: stow brow
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 12:13 PM

Is this a'The drowned sailor'derivative or a different song altogether?

Subject: RE: Origins: stow brow
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 03:18 PM

Stow Brow (on Reinhard's Watersons site). You'll find on that site also Lloyd's sleeve notes to this song. They are relevant to your question.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Origins: stow brow
From: Folkiedave
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 04:23 PM

Can I just say that to hear Lal Singing this live was just the most superb experience I have ever known in 40+ years of listening to folk music. Bar none. Not even Susanna Seivane. Or Anne Briggs.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: Liamtho
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 10:24 AM

Could anyone help me with the Chords for this song - thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 02:14 PM

I found the following online, but my internet is acting funny so I don't know if this is what you're looking for.


"Backing Chords Lyrics Arrangement by Thomascow, Photos by Google Images,Audio enhancements & video Magix pro 13,Traditional English Folk Song, Roud 91, Child 216 , Ballad Index C216

G C Dm
As [G] I was a-[Am] walking
Down [Dm] in [G/D] Stokes [Dm] Bay,
I [Dm] met a drowned [Dm7] sailor
On the [G] beach as he [Am] lay:
And [Dm] as I drew [Am] nigh him,
It [Dm] put me to a [F] stand,
When I [C2] knew it [Dm] was my [Am] own true Love, [F]
By the [G] mark on [C] his [Dm] hand."

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 02:52 PM

Many versions go to the same tune as The Golden Glove which might be easier to find the chords for. Which version of the tune do you require? People who live on Stoup Brow and in Bay still sing the song.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 03:59 PM

Per Steve's suggestion, here are Fairport's chords for The Golden Glove.

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/irish-folk-music/irish%20songs/Golden%20Glove.htm

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: JHW
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 04:04 PM

I learned it long ago from a Dave Burland LP. Trailer LER 2082. I like that melody but its not the one you'd hear at Bay.
John Greaves (lovely to hear him again) sings the Bay melody. (I've heard it from many singers in Bay over decades). Recorded by Steve Gardham above. John Greaves
No chords sure but the melody is a start!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: JHW
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 04:20 PM

P.S. If you ever have a chance of visiting Fylingdales Old Church, on the road out of Bay to Hawsker and Whitby you won't find the memorial to the Stow Brow lovers but there is a magnificent stone Cross memorial with a chain wrapped around it, all in stone. Wonderful piece of work.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 06:17 PM

I've looked at every gravestone in there with no luck.   Not a lot of chance anyway as they're nearly all sandstone and on that hillside open to all weathers the engravings don't last long in terms of centuries.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Drowned Sailor (On Stow Brow)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 06:19 PM

John farmed on Stow Brow for most of his life and he learnt it off another farmer nearby.

Subject: ADD: Stow Brow (from the Halliard)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 01:22 PM

Fara sang her version of this song at the Mudcat Singaround this week. I'd like to know more about it.

STOW BROW

In Stow Brow in Stow Brow a damsel did dwell
And she loved a young sailor he loved her as well
He promised for to marry her when back he did return
But a mark what hard fortune on them did run

As they were a-sailing a storm did arise
The moon was overshaded and dismal was the sky
The wind it blew a hurricane the billows loud did roar
Which tossed these poor sailors all on a lee shore

Now some of them was single and some of them had wives
And some of these poor sailors was a-swimming for their lives
This unfortunate young man he happened to be there
And instead of getting married he got a watery grave

From the top of Stow Brow she went all on the sand
And tearing of her hair and a-wringing of her hands
Crying All you cruel billows come toss my love on shore
That I may view his features just one time more

As she was a-going to Robin Hood's Bay
She spied a drowned sailor all on the ground did lay
Where she went right up to him and amazed she did stand
For she saw it was her own true love by a mark upon his hand

She kissed him she blessed him him ten thousand times o'er
Saying Oh you cruel billows you tossed my love ashore
Now happy and contented lay down by his side
In a few moments after this this young maid she died

In Stow Brow in Stow Brow a damsel did dwell
And she loved a young sailor he loved her as well
He promised for to marry her when back he did return
But a mark what hard fortune on them did run


Recorded by The Halliard on The Last Goodnight! (1968)

Source: https://songsear.ch/song/The-Halliard/Stow-Brow/773924


2018 recording by Bellwether: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZTNH-akKJM

2013 performance by Liz Davenport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyNbcRpEAkM

Subject: ADD: In Scarborough Town (from Sam Larner)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 01:39 PM

Sam Larner called it "In Scarboro Town," but it's clearly the same song.

IN SCARBOROUGH TOWN

'Twas in Scarborough fair town a young damsel did dwell,
She loved a young sailor, she loved him full well.
When they were about to marry her this was this young man's lot:
Instead of a married life a watery grave he got.

Now as we were got sailing through Robin Hood's Bay,
The wind came down all on us and dismal was the day.
The wind came down all on us and the seas like lions roared,
Which tossed these poor sailors all on the lee shore.

Now as we were got swimming, yes, swimming for our lives,
Some of them had sweethearts and some of them had wives.
And it was about our landing, it worked to be this young man's lot,
For instead of a-marrying her a watery grave he got.

Now as soon as this fair maid these tidings did hear
She pulled off her ringlets, she tored off her hair,
Crying, “Come, all you cruel billows, come, toss my love on shore
So that I may behold his sweet features once more.”

Now as she was got walking down by the sea side
She met a pretty sailor washed up all by the tide,
And when she saw him she immediately did stand,
For she knew it was her own true love by the marks on his right hand.

“And now that I have found my true love I do adore,
I'll kiss him, I'll embrace him ten thousand times o'er,
I'd be happy and contented to lay down by his side.”
And the very next day morning this pretty fair maid died.

Now in Scarborough fair town these two couple do lay,
And written on their tombstone in full memory,
Crying, “Come, all you loyal lovers, this way as you pass by,
Think of those unfortunate couple who now here do lay.”

Lyrics from https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/stowbrow.html

from Voice of the People, vol 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWb1kUnukWo

from A Garland for Sam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_w-QToMZM

Subject: RE: Origins: On Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 01:46 PM

Considering how far this local piece has travelled around the world, it doesn't vary that much in oral tradition, suggesting that the broadsides from the early 19th century are the origins. On balance I would say it is probably all fiction, but some of the details give it the ring of truth.

Off the top of my head I think one of the earliest broadsides implies that the girl was originally from Portland which would make some sense as coastal communities were always closely linked particularly east and south coast. On the other hand it may just have been a broadside writer's ploy to increase sales on the south coast.

I spent many hours in the North Yorkshire Record Office at Northallerton
trying to fit the information in the ballad to deaths and burials at Bay
in the early 19th century but nothing matched.

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: GUEST,JHW had to delete cookie for the ads to let
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 03:01 PM

Jim Foster of RHB has republished Songs from Robin Hood's Bay (in 2021) from the manuscript collection of Margaret Moorsom 1877. Includes Stow Brow.
ISBN 978 0 9530357 2 4
No-one seems to have mentioned that Stow Brow is a corruption of Stoupe Brow. Cliffs local to RHB

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 06:05 PM

In Scarborough Fair Town - Harry Cox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06n8Nki3buQ

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 10:35 PM

here's a version from Maine
Robin Hood's Bay
Manuscript From the Phillips Barry Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard Univ.
Frank Matthus / Matthers 1927
Titled "Sea Song"
Crossed out is Sailor's Return
Robin Hood's Bay ( underlined )

Spelling errors corrected by JL

In Robin Hood's bay a fair damsel did dwell
She was courted by a sailor who did love her well
He promised he would marry her when he did return
Mark his sad fortunes this young man was drowned

2
For then these poor sailors they put out to sea
In a terrible gale that chanced for to be
Oh the winds they did whistle and the wild waters roar
Which drove them Poor sailors far from the sea shore

3
Then these poor sailors they swam for their lives
Some they had sweethearts and others had wives
But this poor young sailor he chanced to be one
Marked his sad fortunes a watery tomb

4
When these sad news this young girl did hear
She wrung her white hand and she tore out her hair
Crying "All you wild billows bring my love back on shore
That I may behold his sweet features once more"

5
As she was strolling in Robin Hood's Bay
She espied a dark object come adrifting her way
She stopped and she gazed, brought herself to a stand
She knew it was her true love by a mark on his hand.

6
She hugged him and kissed him o'er and o'er
She cried and she kissed him a dozen times o'er
Crying, "I am contented to die by your side!"
One more kiss on his cold lips; broken hearted she died.

7
In Robin Hood's churchyard, this young couple does dwell
Over their grave is a covering this sorry does tell
So come all you young sailors who pass by this way
Think of this young sailor of Robin Hoods Bay

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 10:44 PM

Since nobody has submitted a link to this very interesting article about this song here it is
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/dung03.htm

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 04:27 AM

Julia L, I think the article is written by Steve Gardham http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/dung03.htm

Subject: RE: Origins: Stow Brow (Drowned Sailor?)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 10:36 AM

Geoff, very likely;-)