Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Subject: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,Jonathan
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 10:22 PM

Am seeking information on, music, and lyrics to Wynkyn, Blynkyn, and Nodd or (We are the Fishermen Three) recorded sometime around the 1960's. It's a older nursery rhyme, but I can't seem to locate it anywhere.

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 10:32 PM

I know Fred Penner did it on one of his kid's albums... maybe that might help. LL

Subject: Lyr Add: WINKEN, BLINKEN AND NOD
From: fulurum
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 10:50 PM

WINKEN, BLINKEN AND NOD

Winken, Blinken and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea.
Nets of silver and gold have we,"
Said Winken, Blinken and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song
As they rocked in a wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in the beautiful sea.
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish.
Never afeared are we."
So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
Winken, Blinken and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam,
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe
Bringing the fisherman home.
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it not could be,
And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea.
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Winken, Blinken and Nod.

Winken and Blinken are two little eyes
And Nod is a little head;
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock on the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Winken, Blinken and Nod.

From the Irish Rovers "The Life of the Rover" album.

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 11:02 PM

Don't know who the "Irish Rovers" were, but the poem was written by Eugene Field (1850-1895), and may be found at a number of places on the net, including  Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (Dutch Lullaby)

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,Jonathan
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 11:19 PM

Thank you fulurum. I'm amazed at how much of that I had remembered! Hadn't sung it in years. And thank you Lyrical Lady, I'll try to find that version also.

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: lloyd64
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 11:31 PM

Thank you Malcolm Douglas. I have just the Gig for this song. I'm so glad I came to this site tonight.

lloyd62

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,Jonathan
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 11:37 PM

Thank you also, Malcolm. Glad to have the Amherst link, and to have my memory refreshed as to the origin of the poem. I'm a stickler for crediting authors.

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 08:23 PM

Did not Peter Paul & Mary--or maybe Mary Travers alone?--also record this?? That would be another "search key" to use.

CC

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: raredance
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:57 AM

The first version I ever heard was by the Simon Sisters (Lucy and Carly. I think it may even have been sort of their signature song or "hit". That was before Carly went off an became a fomous pop singer. It is on 2 of thier albums, "Winkin' Blinkin' and Nod" (196? Kapp KL-1359) and "The Simon Sisters Sing For Children" (1973 Columbia CR 21539, which is actually a reissue of the 1969 "The Lobster Quadrille & Other Songs For Children). Another recording was done by Buffy Sainte Marie on "Sweet America" (1976 ABC Records ,ABCD-929).

The spellings seem to vary, Simon's albums have "Winkin' Blinkin" while Buffy has "Wynken Blynken"

rich r

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,Jonathan
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 04:59 PM

The Simon Sisters version was the first one I ever heard sung, although I had had the poem read to me when young and often read it myself as I got to that stage. Am tracking them all down to have a listen, while I have worked up my own approach! Thanks rich r and Chicken Charlie.

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From:
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 07:55 PM

My wife took a trip back to her childhood, and was trying to remember these lyrics.   She was thrilled when I found them on your site. Thanks for helping her recapture some good memories. Never too old to remember!!
Calvin Pitts, Capt (Airline pilot)

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,Calvin
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 08:16 PM

Can anyone help me find the words to a poem I knew years ago, but have forgotten. The title is, "God Give Us Men." It starts something like this ... "The time demands ... great hearts ... willing hands ... men whom the lust for office cannot buy ... men who have honor, who will not lie ... "
Thanks,
Calvin Pitts

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 05:11 AM

I have this on a Brothers Four album which is called Cross Country Tour, it's probably 40 years old.
Giok

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 08:04 AM

Guest Calvin

God Give Us Men by Josiah Gilbert Holland can be found at several places on the net. Here's one: God Give Us Men

Giok - I too first heard WNaN from The Brothers Four more or less that same length of time ago.

Mick

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 08:05 AM

That anonymous post was me!

Mick

Subject: RE: Fishermen Three
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 01:18 PM

Eugene Field wrote quite a few poems that adapt very nicely to song. My father used to sing Little Boy Blue and The Little Peach.

SRS

Subject: Lyr Add: WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD (Eugene Field)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 01:20 AM

Copied from http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco/literature/eugenefield/poems/poemsofchildhood/wynkenblynkenandnod.html

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD (DUTCH LULLABY)
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
   Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
   Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
   The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
   That live in this beautiful sea;
   Nets of silver and gold have we!"
                     Said Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
   As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
   Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
   That lived in that beautiful sea---
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish---
   Never afeard are we";
   So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
                     Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
   To the stars in the twinkling foam---
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
   Bringing the fishermen home;
'T was all so pretty a sail it seemed
   As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 't was a dream they 'd dreamed
   Of sailing that beautiful sea---
   But I shall name you the fishermen three:
                     Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
   And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
   Is a wee one's trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
   Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
   As you rock in the misty sea,
   Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
                     Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Fishermen Three
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 02:14 AM

I wonder where the tune came from. It's a haunting melody, and I like it - but it seems nobody can agree on how the tune for the last two lines goes

Nets of silver and gold have we
Said Wynken Blynken and Nod

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Req: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 03:27 PM

Recorded by yours truly for the Mudcat Blue Bottle Special kids' CD!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Req: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 07:56 PM

As a child this was my favorite. I can still see the illustration with laughing stars caught in golden nets and three sleepy fisherman. Thanks for sharing.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: GUEST,Ellen sway
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 08:46 AM

Before the Simon Sisters I heard this song by The Big Three (mama Cass)

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 04:03 AM

I didn't even know this was a song, but my parents had three porcelain ornaments of Wynken, Blynken and Nod, issued by Wade who are still a big name in this field.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 05:09 AM

Ha! This makes me think of that lovely children's bedtime programme on CBeebies (BBC TV) called 'In The Night Garden'. It features a little toy that goes to sleep in its bed, which becomes a boat. It sets off across the sea to another land each night.

I find the poem absolutely haunting and beautiful. I remember it from my childhood.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 06:34 AM

It was used in the TV fantasy series 'Preacher'.

If anyone is interested :-)

DtG

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: leeneia
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 11:02 AM

Here's a link to a YouTube video of Carly Simon and her sister Lucy singing the song on the Phil Donahue show. Lucy wrote the tune, which was a hit in 1964, at the age of 14.

Joe, if that is the tune you are thinking of, then listening to the video will give you the definitive ending.

I think that a person who was actually singing a child to sleep with this song would need a gentler, more soothing tone than they use on the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzz1AZdj1LM

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 02:38 PM

Also recorded by David Gude. New Folks, Vanguard VRS 9096, LP (1961)

same album... Hedy West, Jackie Washington and The Greenbriar Boys.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: leeneia
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 06:01 PM

I forgot the link. Here it is.

simons

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 07:08 PM

I like Donovan's version, which is the one I recorded for the Blue Bottle Special. I can provide chords if desired.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 17 - 01:59 AM

Wikipedia says that the poem Wynken, Blunken, and Nod was written by American poet Eugene Field in 1889, and its original title was "Dutch Lullaby." There was a musical setting written in 1890, but that setting is long forgotten. Lucy Simon wrote a new setting, and The Big 3 (with Cass Elliot) released the song on their self-titled album in 1963. The Simon Sisters recorded the song in 1964 on Meet the Simon Sisters.

Here's another recording of the song by the Simon Sisters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgmKcbLJVxg

Carly's alto is dominant in this recording - I like it, but it may have been this recording that made it hard for me to learn the melody at the end of each verse.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: leeneia
Date: 27 Apr 17 - 10:39 AM

I agree with you, michaelr, that Donovan has produced a more interesting and enjoyable tune than Lucy Simon. But I suspect Lucy's is better known. And it's a good tune, as long as you don't make it sound like a clacking train.

The original Disney cartoon had a woman singing an "art song" tune. Very classical. I saw it in the 1950's or '60's and didn't like it. My goodness, but it's followed by quite the classical work-up. Hear it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx_ceIqVVQA

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 17 - 03:57 AM

Here's a combination of the Donovan recording and a nice edit of the Disney cartoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sal_pp_ptJQ

The comments say "Disney & Donovan teamed up," but I doubt that.

And here's a recording of Buffy Sainte-Marie singing the song on Sesame Street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub-XetKYDBw

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Apr 17 - 09:18 AM

Is Mr. Field the man who also wrote "The Gingham Dog and The Calico Cat"? Was that ever set to Music ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 17 - 02:55 PM

Yes, indeedy, Eugene Field wrote "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat," formally known as The Duel. Wikipedia says it inspired the 1993 album and its title track, The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat, by Chet Atkins and Amy Grant. I wasn't able to find the Grant/Atkins track on Youtube. From the listing at Amazon, it appears it may be a reading of the poem by Grant, with Atkins playing in the background.

YouTube (click) has lots of recordings of "The Duel" - but the ones I found were mostly recitations backed by instruments. Here's one that is more-or-less a recitative

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfF54Y3p-DU

It's cute.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Apr 17 - 11:41 AM

Version in 'Preacher' as on Yoiu Tube.

Quite eerie!

DtG

Subject: Tune Req: Who wrote tune to wynken blynken and nod
From: mg
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 03:16 AM

Found nAme on old sheet music. Something like Gilbert. Looking for copyright info.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 03:45 AM

MG, I'm going to move you over here, where this has been discussed quite a bit. As stated above and in the Wikipedia article, the text is a poem by Eugene Field, published in 1889 - so it is well into public domain. There have been a number of melodies for the song, but the one that most of us know is the one written in 1964 by Lucy Simon of the Simon Sisters, who sang the song with her more-famous sister Carly Simon. The father of the Simon Sisters was the Simon of Simon & Schuster publishing.
You can license the song for recording through the Harry Fox Agency at http://www.songfile.com/, It's quite easy to get a license, and it costs about 8 cents a copy (maybe a penny more). Let me know if you need help with licensing.

-Joe-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: leeneia
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 12:48 PM

If the minimum number of copies is 1000, then that's $80 to use an unspecial tune for a piece of PD poetry. Why not make up your own melody and save the money?

If you want to evoke the Simon Sisters' tune, use a lot of Am or Em.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: mg
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 11:01 PM

i am not doing anything that involves copyright. i found an old dutch lullaby tune to use

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 11:07 PM

The Simon sisters went to my high school (a few years before I got there).

Subject: RE: Origins: Fishermen Three/Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
From: leeneia
Date: 07 Jul 20 - 05:09 PM

That sounds very nice, mg. Good on ya.