Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)

Subject: The Whale (Fields & Dyer)
From:
Date: 13 Apr 97 - 01:41 AM

Looking for lyrics for a friend - I believe the song is called "The Whale" and was probably recorded in the '60's by (Fields & Dyer)?

TIA

Tony

Subject: RE: The Whale (Fields & Dyer)
From: belter
Date: 13 Apr 97 - 01:19 PM

could this be call me the whale wich is in the dt. if not is there anthing to distingish this song?

Subject: RE: The Whale (Fields & Dyer)
From:
Date: 13 Apr 97 - 06:04 PM

I checked the DT before posting the request - unfortunately I have no other info on the request - and I'm not personally familiar with the song. I was hoping someone might recognise or identify it by the combination of name, recording artists and the approximate era.

Thanks for your interest and response - if I'm able to get more info on it I'll add it to this request.

Tony

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: John Nolan
Date: 29 Sep 97 - 05:39 PM

Could the last chorus line be: An' wur gaun tae swallow it hale?

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: alison
Date: 29 Sep 97 - 06:45 PM

Hi

No, I don't think so, well not anytime I've heard it sung. They do sing "di di di di di-di di di" between verses if it's any help.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 01 Oct 97 - 10:04 AM

Alison, I know I've got it tucked away somewhere. Give me some time, I'll come up with it.
It is the one that the chorus goes:

"Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me Whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di DI DI Da DI DE DI DI"?

Ted From Australia

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 01 Oct 97 - 10:20 AM

Ali, here's a bit more straight from the MK 1 memory

The whale it came so close it almost wrecked the boat
The captain took his spear and he rammed it down it's throat
the whale it gave a mournfull cry and lifted its great tail
and brought it down a crushing their small boat like a gale

(spoken) Now 100 years have passed since the Captain and his men
went down to join the monster whale in Davy Joneses' den
The whale it goes on living but inside it bears a scar
and if you will but listen
A voice comes from afar

Ted from Australia

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: alison
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 12:04 AM

hi Ted,

Yeah, that's the one .

thanks

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 08:54 AM

G'day Ali. I have looked everywhere and tho I'm certain I have it I can't find it, my collection is a shambles.(as my typing skills allow I am slowly putting all I have into the beast:<)> , my kingdom for a scanner) Not to worry, I'll get it from one of my mad mates. It may be some time but I will not forget.

Ted from Australia

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 03 Oct 97 - 08:14 AM

G'day Ali. I have looked everywhere and tho I'm certain I have it I can't find it, my collection is a shambles.(as my typing skills allow I am slowly putting all I have into the beast:<)> , my kingdom for a scanner) Not to worry, I'll get it from one of my mad mates. It may be some time but I will not forget.

Ted from Australia

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WHALE
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 03 Oct 97 - 11:45 PM

OK Alison here we go, I have tried to format this so that it will come out in seperate lines but I won't know untill I look at the post
Ted from Australia.

THE WHALE
(Am) (G) (Am)
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

(Am) They sailed from port one morning the (G) weather it was (Am) fair
A gentle breeze it pushed them and (G) no one gave a (Am) care
They sang and danced and (Am7) laughed that night and D opened up a (E) keg
They're (Am) out to catch the monster whale that (G) took the captain's
(Am) Di Di Di Di Da (G) Di DE Di (Am)Di

(Am)The Captain said "a piece of gold for (G)him who sees me (Am)whale"
So bend your backs and row me boys I(G) know that we won't (Am)fail
Chorus (chords as Verse1)
So bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

They saw the whale one morning the weather it was fair
the men were white as ghosts, the Captain didn't care
I'll take this whale meself he cried the weak can stay behind
The strong can share my glory and tonicht they'll share my..
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

The whale it came so close it was bigger than the sky
they lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry
Chorus
Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

Chorus
The whale it came so close it almost tipped the boat
The captain took his spear and he rammed it down it's throat
the whale it gave a mournfull cry and tifted it's great tail a
and brought it down a crushing their small boat like a gale

(spoken) Now 100 years have passed since the Captain and his men
went down to spend their days in Davy Joneses' den
The whale it goes on living but inside it bears a scar
And if your ever neat that place a voice calls from afar

Chorus twice, last line:
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 03 Oct 97 - 11:46 PM

AARGGGH it did not work, Back to the drawing board

Subject: ADD: The Whale^^
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 04 Oct 97 - 12:07 AM

Thanx to the"how to" thread

The Whale
(Am) (G) (Am)
Di Di Di Di DA Di DE Di Di

(Am) They sailed from port one morning the (G) weather it was (Am) fair
A gentle breeze it pushed them and (G) no one gave a (Am) care
They sang and danced and (Am7) laughed that night and D opened up a (E) keg
They're (Am) out to catch the monster whale that (G) took the captain's
(Am) Di Di Di Di Da (G) Di DE Di (Am)Di

(Am)The Captain said "a piece of gold for (G)him who sees me (Am)whale"
So bend your backs and row me boys I(G) know that we won't (Am)fail
Chorus (chords as Verse1)
So bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

They saw the whale one morning the weather it was fair
the men were white as ghosts, the Captain didn't care
I'll take this whale meself he cried the weak can stay behind
The strong can share my glory and tonicht they'll share my..
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

The whale it came so close it was bigger than the sky
they lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry
Chorus
Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

Chorus
The whale it came so close it almost tipped the boat
The captain took his spear and he rammed it down it's throat
the whale it gave a mournfull cry and tifted it's great tail a
and brought it down a crushing their small boat like a gale

(spoken) Now 100 years have passed since the Captain and his men
went down to spend their days in Davy Joneses' den
The whale it goes on living but inside it bears a scar
And if your ever neat that place a voice calls from afar

Chorus twice, last line:
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea
^^

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: alison
Date: 06 Oct 97 - 12:25 AM

HI

Ted, you're wonderful!

Thanks

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 04:03 AM

In another thread, Bob Bolton said, "That one (on Pene Azul's blicky) is a modern song (obviously by some bloke that had just read Moby Dick), written in the last few decades, in Australia (Newcastle, NSW, I think)."

Do we have a songwriter name and copyright date?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 09:00 AM

G'day Joe,

I was looking for a reference on this one. I have heard it mentioned at local (New South Wales, Australia) folk festivals a few times - I think it came out of an early song-writing competition.

I was after an LP by local group Pinchgut called Dewy Dewy Grass ... and I just found it (having misremembered its colour ...). Unfortunately the only credit is (Fielding-Dyer)- presumably lyrics/tune.

Tomorrow, I will 'phone of the members of the group and ask him if he has more details.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 09:23 AM

Was there an initial message? This thread looks like the first posts were somehow dropped.

This isn't the first time this has happened. Maybe the clones need to look into what is causing it.

Just a suggestion. What was the original question?

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 12:46 PM

Dunno, Naemanson. The original request was from 1997, and we did have a number of threads that got messed up about that time.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 11:28 PM

G'day again Joe,

I have some refinements on my dodgy memories of this song: It appears that the area of origin is around Wollongong (coalmining, steelmaking town about 2 hours south of Sydney) not Newcastle (coalmining, steelmaking town about 2 hours north of Sydney). I have redirected a query to Illawarra locals that should know the authors.

I also checked the web site for APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association) and found a fairly incomplete list of recordings - and the authors listed as Dyer F / Fielding T. I hope that I can expand that credit in the near future.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:55 PM

G'day yet again Joe:

I just got the definitive reply on this song from Russ Hannah - universal organiser/stage manager/folk club doer from the Illawarra Region (south of Sydney):

"The Whale was written by Terry Fielding and Fred Dyer and produced as a single in 1972 when it reached the top five (It could have been on top in some charts) in the national charts. It was followed by another single called The Ghost. Terry Fielding in fact did live in the Illawarra (I think at Corrimal).

... In 1992 (maybe ~3) EMI produced their first album (on Axis) called Fielding and Dyer #7243 8 14786 2 2. Terry appeared at Jamberoo [the Illawarra Folk Festival] a few years ago and I have not seen him since. Fred's whereabouts I do not know ... "

My other enquiries with friends in working folk groups indicates that the song remains a (local, at least) standard with groups ranging from Folk to Rock - almost as much of a hardy perennial as Running Bear!

---

Thanks a lot, Bob!
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:39 AM

Good work, Bob!

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: GUEST,katya
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 05:35 AM

I just thought it was quirky that this page came up in a search for "The Whale" song, and contains msgs from '97 with a jump to '01. So I thought i'd add to the history of this page with another ('04 this time- how time flies!) thanks to all those who provided info - i really love this song! :)

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 08:46 AM

anyone have the melody for this?

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:24 AM

G'day MMario,

I could work out the dots myself (I've played it occasionally at gigs ... when requested) but I'll run it past Ralph Pride, the fiddler with Pinchgut on the Dewy, Dewy, Grass LP I mentioned back in 2001. He may already have the tune written out (then again ... why ... ? He is a bloody good ear player and wouldn't have much need of the dots.

Oh well, it might save me the job of transcribing ... shouldn't be too hard - it's a good rollicking tune (not high art song!).

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 10:08 PM

G'day again MMario,

Well - I haven't been able to contact Ralph ... yet. (He tends to work night and day ... as musicians are prone to!).

I'll keep an eye out for him ... or settle down and do the transcription myself ... some time.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 07:24 PM

Reads like the guys took the 'Moby Dick' story for their model. Anyway, to lighten up the thread, here is a different piece called 'The Whale' by Shel Silverstein:

The whale has a tail that goes flippity flop
And a mouth that goes crunchity crunch
And if you go with him for a swimmity swim
You may be his lunchity lunch, munch, munch
You may be his lunchity lunch

(sung by Hamish Imlach in inimitable fashion)

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:07 PM

Also do not confuse with "The Whale," as sung by Burl Ives, which is a simplified version of "The Greenland Fisheries." The Burl Ives Songbook, 1953, pp. 168-169.
Thread 7006: Greenland Fisheries

Subject: RE: The Whale
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:26 PM

.... or "The Whale" by Malvina Reynolds

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale
From: GUEST,irishwhaler
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:20 PM

wow this thread is old. i wonder how many years it'll be until the next post. heard this song from some really cool people at a music festival in the northwest of ireland. been looking for it ever since.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale
From: GUEST,liono
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 05:31 PM

I have a mp3 copy of The Whale (Fields & Dyer) if any one is interested in a copy let me know

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 05:51 PM

Fred Dyer's contact details here for buying "The Whale & Other Story Songs" CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale
From: GUEST,dickcherry
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 02:16 PM

i'm interested in an mp3 copy, liono! so how to contact you?

[e-mail]

:)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 09:51 PM

Hi, Dick -
I don't know where you can purchase an MP3, but you can listen to Terry Fielding's recording of the song at http://au.myspace.com/terryfielding.

-Joe Offer-
(e-mail sent)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: GUEST,JulieP
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 05:27 AM

I've been wanting all the words to this song for nearly 30 years and finally, I've got them.
Thank you very much!
Julie P

Subject: down load song The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: GUEST,sue black
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 11:50 PM

Does anyone know where I can get a down load of this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: GUEST,tcp
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 12:49 AM

What a great thread! This song has been popping in and out of my head for years. I first (and only) heard it on 2JJ back in the mid to late seventies.

Thanks for the lyrics and the links.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: GUEST,Ian W
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 01:44 PM

That is a great thread! I went searching for that song, had no idea it was from wollongong, I went to uni there! Also a fantastic song, I always assumed it was an older trad song, now I want the original version

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 19 - 01:36 AM

Just heard it for first time ever on My Generation-Australia-60s, 70s,Hits,Oldies. Went looking for lyrics and ended up here. Sounds very much in style of an old sea shanty. Will send to an amateur authority on sea shanties to see if he is familiar with it or perhaps some much earlier shanty from which it may have perhaps been developed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Whale (Fielding/Dyer)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Feb 19 - 04:44 AM

Fred Alan Dyer interviewed by Rob Willis Oral History collection, National library of Australia - 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 155 min.) 1997
Fred Alan Dyer talks about rock and roll music and stories which have influenced his life. His father, a singer &? musician migrated to Australia, settled in Wollongong &? worked as a miner at Wongawilli, NSW.. Dyer speaks of his father's interest in old Welsh songs and ability to play 17 instruments. Dyer talks about the early days of Rock n Roll in Australia; touring; agents; TV; anecdotes; how he and his partner Terry Fielding had a "hit" with a song titled "The whale" and were singing Australian material during the era of the Beatles.

Terry Fielding interviewed by Rob Willis & John Harpley, Oral History collection, National library of Australia. 1 digital audio tape (ca. 94 min.) 1997. Terry Fielding plays, sings, and tells yarns. Folkloric recording.

Terry's comment on writing of the song Terry Fielding, 7 years ago - that story about fielding and dyer writing THE WHALE "impromptu" at a pub somewhere is pure falacy. the truth is that terry fielding wrote most of the lyric in the late sixties as a poem (with apologies to herman melville) and didnt write the music until the early seventies when the song was completed with fred dyer's contribution.so in truth "THE WHALE" actually took years to write
?
video of The Whale Terry liked on his Youtube channel using scenes from 1998 movie "Moby Dick", starring Patrick Stewart