Songs about women & the sea

Subject: Lyr Add: HANDSOME CABIN BOY^^^
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 09:28 AM

I'm putting together a set of traditional songs about women and the sea. In addition to a few "my love has left me for the sea" songs, I'd like to do some that have women in a more active role. For example, Maid on the Shore (woman as a pirate), Handsome Cabin Boy (woman becomes sailor, gets pregnant), and Willie Taylor's True Love (woman becomes sailor, finds her false love, shoots him). I found a few variations on these themes in the DTdatabase, as well as couple of mermaid songs. I'd appreciate additional suggestions on themes or songs I've missed.

Since Handsome Cabin Boy isn't in the database, here it is:

HANDSOME CABIN BOY

'Tis of a lusty female, and you must understand
Her heart bein' set on ramblin' unto a foreign land
She dressed herself in sailor's clothes or so it did appear
And she signed with a captain to serve him for a year.

The captain's wife, her bein' on board, her heart was filled with joy
To think the captain had engaged such a handsome cabin boy
And many's the time she slipped a kiss and she would have liked to toy
But 'twas the captain discovered the secret of the handsome cabin boy.

Whose cheeks they were like roses, his hair was all in curls
Many's the time the sailors said "Well he looks just like a girl"
But eatin' of the captain's biscuits her color did destroy
And the waist did swell of pretty young Nell, the handsome cabin boy.

'Twas off the Bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plow
One night amongst the sailors there arose a terrible row
It tumbled the men from out their bunks, their sleep it did destroy
Terrible cursin' and a moanin' from the handsome cabin boy.

It's "Doctor dear, oh doctor!" the cabin boy did cry
"My time has come I am undone, and surely I will die!"
The doctor comes a runnin' a smilin' at the fun
For to think a cabin boy should have a daughter or a son.

The sailors, when they heard the news, they all did stand and stare
"The child belongs to none of us" they solemnly did declare
The captain's wife, she says to him "My dear, I wish you joy"
"For 'twas either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy".

So sailors take your tot of rum and drink good health to trade
And likewise to the sailor lad that was neither man nor maid
Here's hopin' the wars don't rise again our sailors to destroy
And here's hopin' for a jolly lot more like the handsome cabin boy. ^^^

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 10:04 AM

Susan-Marie, "Female smuggler" and "Female sailor bold" from the DT-database (which has, by the way, Handsome Cabin Boy), not a very active role in "Dreadful ghost"...I just see that entering "@transvestite @sailor" brings all these and many others, active role or much less active.
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Bert
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 10:29 AM

Do a Forum search for Grace Darling.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 12:16 PM

Bert and Wolfgang - Thanks for the suggestions (I keep forgetting that the keywords aren't infallible: Handsome Cabin Boy didn't show up under "sea" so I assumed it wasn't there).

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: judy
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 01:44 PM

I love the "Lady Leroy" which has two versions in the DT. I've heard the second one done by an Irish group: "Oisin".

In this song the rich woman disguises herself as a man to buy a ship from her own father to run off with her sailor. The father sends one of his captains after them, they fight, the Lady Leroy (the name of the ship, not the woman) wins and they escape to Boston:

Here's a health to pretty Polly! Long may she enjoy Her proudest of heros and the Lady Leroy

judy

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Petra A. Cosgrove
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 06:13 PM

If you feel like doing one in gaelic, use keyword Grainne, or Grania, I haven't the first clue where you would find the music unfortunately... But it's a song about Grainne Ni' Mhaille, (Grace O'Malley) a real life, historically accurate Irish pirate in the 17th century... (she lived at the same time as Elizabeth I, R.)

Pei

Subject: Lyr Add: FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR (from Ian Robb)^^^
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 07:21 PM

Don't forget "Female Ramblin' Sailor":

FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR

Source: Ian Robb
Topics: Australian, English, Sailor/ship, Women.

Come all young maids both near and far,
And listen to my ditty;
'Twas near Gravesend there lived a maid--
She was both neat and pretty.
Her own true love was pressed away
And drowned in some foreign sea;
Which caused this fair maid for to say:
"I'll be a ramblin' sailor."

So with jacket blue and trousers white,
Just like a sailor, neat and tight;
The sea it was the heart's delight
Of the female rambling sailor.
From stem to stern she bravely goes;
She braves all dangers, fears no foes.
But soon you'll hear of the overthrow
Of the female rambling sailor.

For although her courage did not fail
'Twas stormy seas and wintry gales
That o'er this fair maid did prevail--
The female rambling sailor.
From stem to stern she bravely went,
Where offtimes she'd been many,
But her hand it slipped and down she fell.
She calmly bade this world farewell.

And when her lily-white breast in view it came
They found it was a female's frame.
Rebbecca Younge it was the name
Of the female rambling sailor.
On the river Thames she is known well.
No sailor there could her excel.
Let fall one tear as a last farewell
To the female rambling sailor.

So come all young maids, both near and far,
And listen to my story.
Her body is anchored in the ground--
Let's hope her soul's in glory.
May the willows wave around her grave
And round the laurels planted.
May flowers sweet grow at the feet
Of the one who was undaunted.

Note: I rearranged the order in the last two verses to make it sound more logical a progression to me.

Another really good one is "Lowlands"--the one that starts off:

I dreamed a dream the other night,
Lowlands, lowlands away my Joe,
I dreamed I saw my own true love,
Lowlands Away.

^^^

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Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Barry
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 07:45 PM

In the DT see the riotious "For The Love Of Willy" & the more romantic ending "Canadee-i-o". Barry

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Bruce O.
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 08:42 PM

Petra, Do you have what is said to be the original "Granuaile" (Grainne Mhaol, or Ni Mhaille) from Hardiman's 'Irish Minstrelsy'? I'd love to see it, and will in turn post no less than 5 variants of the tune ranging from 1786 to 1859, which I've already coded in ABC.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 08:48 AM

Judy - thanks for suggesting Lady Leroy. I've been meaning to buy an Oisian CD, do you know which one this song is on?

Petra and Bruce - A version of Grace O'Malley is in the DT database in english and gaelic as AN DO/RD FIANNA. However, there's no tune for it so it would great if Bruce could post one or two.

Moira - Thanks for the Female Ramblin Sailor. Do you know which Ian Rob CD it's on?

Barry - Yes, I found "For The Love Of Willy" and Canadee-i-o". Great Stuff. Do you know where I could find the tune for "For the Love of Willy"?

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 09:46 AM

Found something during another search: Female Warrior Ballads , some of them obviously about life at sea ("Female Captain" and many others). I haven't found out yet whether this is more than just a list of titles. (Of course, if you need at the end of the book/essay (?) something under "curiosa" there are always the many Mermaid ballads)
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 09:53 AM

some more information here Wolfgang

Subject: Tune Add: GRANUWAIL - GRANA UILE - GRAINNE MHAOL^^
From: Bruce O.
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 10:41 AM

Susan-Marie, Thanks, I couldn't find it in DT.

The song there looks like it might be the original. There were others in the 19th century, sometimes to other tunes.

The last are obviously insrumental versions. I can't cope with all of Bunting's ornamentation of X5 below in ABC, so that part is ommitted here. The 2nd strain, which seems to be simply a variation of the first, is also omitted.

X:1
T:GRANUWAIL
N:Hime's 'New Selection.. Irish Airs', c 1800
N:probably pirated from Cook's selection, c 1793-5.
Q:90
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G dorian
(B/2c/2)|d>ed cAd|G>AG G2 A/2B/2|cAB cAG|\
F>GF F2(d/2e/2)|fed cAc|de^fg2(a/2g/2)|\
fed cAd|G>AG G2 (d/2e/2)|fed cAc|de^fg2(a/2g/2)|\
fed cAd|G>AGG2:|]

X:2
T:GRANA UILE
N:One Hundred Irish Airs, 2nd Series. P. M. Haverty Co.
N:New York, n.d. (copyright 1859)
Q:90
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:Gm
B/2c/2|d>ed cA d|G>GG G2(A/2B/2)|c>Af (cAG)|\
F>FF F2d|gag fdc|dgg g2(b/2g/2)|(fd)d (cA)A|\
G2GG2|]

X:3
T:GRAINNE MHAOL
N:Dublin Monthly Magazine, May, 1842
N:Via Zimmermann's 'Songs of Irish Rebellion', 1967
Q:90
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:Gm
B/2c/2|d3/2 e/2 d/2 d/2 c A d|G2GG2A/2B/2|\
c3/2A/2 fc AG|F2FF2d|g a g f d c|d g g g g a/2 g/2|\
gd d c A2|G2GG2G|d3/2e/2 d c A d|G2GG2A/2B/2||
c3/2 A/2 f c A A/2 G/2|F2FF2d|g3/2 a/2 g f/2d3/2 c|\
d g g g2 b/2g/2|fd d c A A|G2GG2|]

X:4
T:GRANUWEAL
N:Henry Beck flute MS, 1786
L:1/8
M:3/8
K:G dorian
B/2c/2|def|d/2c/2B/2A/2G/2^F/2|G2G|G2A/2B/2|cAf|cAG|G2G|F2e|\
fff|ggg|af/2g/2a/2f/2|g2a|fef|d/2c/2B/2A/2G/2^F/2|G2G|G2::\
((3 d/2e/2f/2)|^GdB|gab|G2G|A2((3c/2d/2e/2)|fcA|fga|F2F|F2e|\
fff|ggg|af/2g/2a/2f/2|g2a|fef|d/2c/2B/2A/2G/2^F/2|G2G|G2|]

X:5
T:Granu Weal
N:from Bunting's 3rd collection, 1840
N:almost same is O'Neill' Music of Ireland, #546
Q:90
M:6/8
K:Gm
.A|(.d.=e.f) (d/2c/2)(B/2A/2)(G/2^F/2|(.G2.G.G2) (A3/4B/4)|\
(.c.A.f) (d/2c/2)(B/2A/2)(G/2E/2)|(.F2.F.F2)(d/2=e/2)|
(.f.=e.f) (d/2c/2)(B/2A/2)(G/2^F/2)|(Gg) (.g .g) (g/2b/2)(a/2g/2))|{fg}(.f.=e.f) (d/2c/2)(B/2A/2)(G/2^F/2)|\
(.G.G.G) .G2:|]

^^

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 01:16 PM

Wolfgang, thanks for the link to the Female Warrior Ballads list of titles. The only one they currently have words and music to is Female Rambling Sailor, but I think there will be more available in the future. I'm curious to see "The Female Press Gang" and some of the others! As for mermaid songs, I do intend to include one. I'm putting together these songs for a set at a local coffehouse.

Bruce, thanks for the melodies. Now, over to the ABC homepage for translation...

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Petra A. Cosgrove
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 03:37 PM

Bruce- ::drool, drool:: thank you.. the lyrics i found were here on the data base, but Susan Marie already said that one..

Okay.. I'm being kicked off the machine.. for some people people working on finals get annoyed when you're just surfing and there are no more computers in the labs.. :)

(can't figure out why...) petra a.c.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD GRANNAU WEAL^^
From: Bruce O.
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 06:12 PM

Notes and errata on the tune "Granuaile", and another 18th century "Granuaile" song.

x1: Cook's Selection should be Cooke's Selection, a book in the British Library which contains "Granuaile", but which I have not seen.
X4: The Henry Beck MS is in the library of Congress.
X5: Although Bunting's key signature is Gm all E's are natural, so it, too, is really G dorian.

There are two fouled up versions of the tune in the Complete Petrie Collection. "Poor old Granua Weal", #790, starts ok and ends ok, but is in 4/4 time and rather fouled up between the ends. "Graine Mael", #1455, is in F, but should be Fm or F dorian.

I discovered that one has to be carefull with ABC's if you want to display them in HTML. I had used left and right angle brackets in my original notation of X3, only to find that an HTML browser hides a left angle bracket followed by a right angle bracket, and everything in between. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out why about half of my tune had disappeared.

Other 18th century songs to the tune.

Commodore Gale, Tune - Granny wale. [Granuaile] I posted the song previously on a thread of Guys Songs.

"Grania Meuel" is cited as the tune for a two verse song in 'Songs in Jack the Gyant Queller', Dublin, 1749, from Henry Brooke's suppressed Irish ballad opera of 1748. The song there fits the tune given above (Hime's, X:1).

Granau Wale/Weal is (Mother) Ireland in a song which I think is probably American, although set in Dublin and London. "Old Granau" here complains to several English statesmen about the hard times the English are giving to her sons in America. The song mentions events in America from the Boston tea party up to, but not including the Declaration of Independence. The song was printed in the very rare 'The Green Mountain Songster' of 1823, with the first nine verses reprinted in the Vermont folk song collection, 'The New Green Mountain Songster', (by Flanders, Ballard, Brown and Barry) 1939, reprinted 1966. For this song the title is "Old Granny Wales." A later copy, with several corruptions, is printed from the Stevens-Douglas manuscript (c 1841-56) of western New York in 'A Pioneer Songster', (by Harold Thompson and Edith Cutting) p. 85, 1958. In the latter the song is entitled "Old Grannau Weal." Neither copy contains a tune direction, nor do any of the editors suggest one, but the song fits our tune here quite well. I suspect the song was actually written in America by an Irish American: the writer does not seen to know the names of any real streets in Dublin or London, and even after the date of this song Irishmen were being executed for treason for less provocative acts against the English.

Is this the first Irish-American song?

[From 'A Pioneer Songster', 1958, with some corrections from 'The New Green Mountain Songster', 1939 and 1966]

OLD GRANNAU WEAL

Old Grannau she arose in the morning so soon
She put on her petticoat apron and gown
Saying very bad news last night came to me
They are wronging my children thats over the main [sea]
Old Grannau [mounted her gelding] in rage
And straight way for Dublin it was her first stage
And as she was prancing it was up Dublin street
She with lord Cornwall [Conner] had a chance for to meet

He says noble Grannau come tell me in haste
Have you any good news from the East or the West
O bad news says Grannau that makes me complain
They are wronging my children thats over the main

That news is to true lord Cornwall [Conner] he said
They will bring them to slavery soon I'm afraid
Theres lord North and Cranville [Granville] and infamous Bute [No North in
That brought on the tea act that[s] now in dispute [New Gn. Mtn. text]

(Old Grannau set out with her grand equipage) [Pioneer
[The weather being wet and her sorrows increas'd] [New Gn. Mtn.
And straight way for london it was her first [next] stage
And as she was prancing it was up london street
Twas there with Lord Granville and Bute she did meet

You are three [two] villains as I understand
Who are wronging my children in yon foreign land
And it is reported and told as a fact
You are the three [two] villains that made the tea act

(You are wrongly informed says these gentlemen) (Pioneer
[They say noble granny you're wrongly informed] [New Gn. Mtn
(To yield to your slavery we never intend) (Pioneer
[To enslave America we never intend] [New Gn. Mtn
That land is our kings we solmnly say
And we will make laws and your sons must obey

You are three [two] arrant liars says old Grannau in haste
Tis very well known from the east to the west
My children they ventured their lives o'er the flood
And purchased that land with the price of their blood

They said noble Grannau do'nt give such a vent
We'll cool your sons courage and make them repent
With our great ships of war and our men in the field
We'll cool your sons courage and make them to yield

I would not have you think for to frighten my sons
At Lexington battle they made your men run
They are men of experience in every degree
The[y]'ll turn your proud ships with a hell-a-ma-lee

O says noble Grannau give me leave for to tell
Of a battle that was fought it was nigh Bunker hill
Where twelve hundred Britons lay dead on the field
And five hundred more have since died of their wounds [rhyme lost]

O Grannau do'nt tell us about bunker hill
For in that battle we gained the field
You once had warren but now he is slain [Joseph Warren, killed at
You have no more Warren's now over the main [battle of Bunker Hill

Well well says old grannau though Warren is dead
A Washington lives and our armies he'll lead
We'll handle your troops as polite as you please
And pay them their trouble for crossing the seas

We cannot deny but your Washington's brave
Then only think of what armies we have
We'll send over bigsby old Derby and Graves
Your sons must submit or we'll make them our slaves

Well Well says old Grannau go on with your cause
Our sons will never submit to your laws
And when they've beat you and drove your troops home
My sons will be free and make laws of their own

Too late will you see your desperate crimes
And mourn and lament to the end of your times
That ever you sent your troops o'er the flood
To spill my dear innocent childrens blood

I have a millions of sons in america born
To yield to your slavery they hold it in scorn
They are men of experience in every degree
They never will yield to your bloody tea Act [rhyme lost]

Sing wobaroo bob-a-roo says old Grannau weal
The fox is in the trap he's caught by the tail
They are men of experience and never will fail
Sucess to our sons say old Grannau Weal.

Hell-a-ma-lee in verse 10 and wobaroo bob-a-roo in the last verse are probably corrupt Gaelic expressions rather than nonsense expressions. One lost Gaelic tune of the middle of the 18th century was entitled "Suba roo roo."

^^

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN I WAS A FAIR MAID (T Ni Dhomhnaill^^
From: Dale Rose
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 06:38 PM

What about When I Was A Fair Maid by Triona Ni Dhomhnaill? It is on an album entitled Triona that I think is available both on Gael Linn and Green Linnet. It is similar in theme and words to Soldier Maid in the data base.

WHEN I WAS A FAIR MAID
as sung by Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, 1975.

When I was a fair maid about seventeen
I listed in the navy for to serve the queen,
I listed in the navy a sailor lad to stand
For to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand.

Well, the officer that listed me was a tall and handsome man,
He said you'll make a sailor, so come along my man,
My waist being tall and slender, my fingers long and thin,
And the very soon they learned me I soon exceeded them.

Well, they sent me to bed and they sent me to bunk,
To lie with a sailor I never was afraid,
But taking off my blue coat sure it often made me smile
For to think I was a sailor and a maiden all the while.

Well they sent me up to London for to guard the Tower,
And I'm sure I might be there 'till my very dying hour,
But a lady fell in love with me, I told her I was a maid,
O she went unto the Captain and my secret she betrayed.

Well the Captain he came up to me and he asked if this was so,
Oh I dare not, I dare not, I dare not say no.
It's a pity we should lose you, such a sailor lad you made,
It's a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid.

So it's fare thee well Captain, you've been so kind to me,
And likewise my shipmates I'm sorry to part with thee.
But if ever the navy needs a lad, a sailor I'll remain,
I'll put out my hat and feathers and I'll run the riggin' again.

At the end of each verse, repeat pretty much in this fashion: And the music so grand, and the music so grand, for to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand.

Note too, that this "fair maid" more than holds her own when it comes to duties on the ship, rather than just beating the drum as in the other song. ^^

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Petra A. Cosgrove
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 10:50 PM

Dale- How interesting.. I thought that that was a traditional tune- going to have to go back to my Dad's Steeleye collection (he's got a few more years of collecting folk tunes than I do) and see what it's listed as. Because they do a tune very very similar to that entitled ::thinks:: female drummer boy.. forget which album it's on though.. .

Petra

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 10:11 AM

Dale - Thanks for "When I was a Fair Maid". I like the fact that she joins the navy for the music, rather than the usual search for Willy-Oh.

Petra - Let me know if you find it on Steeleye, and whether they list the source as traditional. I suppose Triona could have taken the Female Drummer Boy or Soldier Maid and written her own seafaring version.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Jon W.
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 10:20 AM

I'll bet "Fair Maid" is traditional - Triona does write a few songs but I believe she sticks pretty solidly to traditional sources - especially back in 1975.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Dale Rose
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 10:36 AM

I have the Green Linnet version, and the notes are not completely helpful, but better than none at all. It does not credit Triona herself in anyway for the words, though that does not mean than she did not adapt them, of course. Her sources for some of the songs on the album are given, but this is not one of them.

Complete notes:
This is a fine, humorous version of the well known and widely sung "Female Drummer". The most striking feature here is that our brave maiden inclines to "run the rigging" instead of "beating upon the rub a dub". By all accounts, the high seas of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries must have been swarming with sailor lasses. She shows great spirit and resolves that if the navy ever needs her she'll "run the rigging" again. "Britannia and Women's Liberation rule the waves."!

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 01:41 PM

Susan-Marie:

The Female Rambling Sailor is on Ian Robb's "Rose and Crown" album.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Rebecca H
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 10:00 PM

The song entitled When I was a Fair Maid is sung by The Rude Girls on one of their albums. On there it is called Running the Rigging and it says it is traditional. They sing another female sailor song, but I'll have to go look it up.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Petra A. Cosgrove
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 10:09 PM

Okay then.. So I'm not loosing my mind.. Susan, I won't be able to check until the 19th (earliest) since unfortunately my father's Steeleye is all in NJ, and I'm at school in CO.. and unfortunately, I'm certain that female drummer boy is not on of the ones that I have on CD out here.. I have it copied onto a tape.. ::SIGHS:: However, it looks like I was right (WOW!! What a concept.. wonder if that would count towards any of my history finals??? )

Petra

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 12:01 AM

Sally Rogers sings "When I was a Fair Maid" on her album The Unclaimed Pint and attributes it to a Triona n'Domnhaill recording. Apologies in advance for what will probably be a triple posting...

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 01:56 AM

G'day,
Steeleye Span recorded "Female Drummer" on the album "Please to See the King". They acknowledged "A Yorkshire girl via Percy Grainger, Bert Lloyd and the Watersons" as the source. I suppose that makes it traditional.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Petra A. Cosgrove
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 05:38 PM

Thanks Alan.. Saves me having to go hunting though the CDs to find it.. :)

petra

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From:
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 07:15 PM

I thought that the Maid On The Shore was a mermaid.

There is If I Was A Blackbird, although the lady in question sings about wanting to follow her true love to sea.

There is Three Fishers, as sung by Stan Rogers on For The Family, although the women aren't out on the boats.

Banks of Newfoundland mentions a lady on board who tears up her flannel petticoats to make mittens for the sailors. This is the version sung by Chris Foster. (There is another completely different song by the same name.)

The Flower of Serving Men has nothing to do with the sea, but it is a fine song about a woman impersonating a man. Considering its sad and bloody beginning, it's odd that it ends with a joke.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 08:36 AM

I've never been able to picture the Maid on the Shore as a mermaid because I would think a mermaid would stick to the sea. I think of her as a female land pirate, using herself as a decoy the way other land pirates would use lanterns to lure ships onto rocky coasts. I know there's a better term for that than "land pirate" but I can't remember it.

I do plan on using If I Was a Blackbird, I think it's one of the prettiest "my love left me for the sea" songs.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone. The coffee house is in March, I'll let you know how all the songs went over.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Earl
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 08:56 AM

I beleive "land pirates" were called mooncussers because the plan didn't work when the moon was bright.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Jon W.
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 12:29 PM

The Maid on the Shore also had some magical powers, to be able to sing all the seamen to sleep. Right?

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Barry
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 04:37 PM

Mooncussers were those on shore who would set up false lights, on moonless nights or durning storms, to lure ships to the shore & then reap the landfall. The term I think you're looking for, instead of Land Pirate would be Land Shark. The maid on the shore, as I've been told, is a caster of spells, a witch, she magically (sometimes with an instrument) lulls the full crew to sleep. Susan-Marie, sorry I don't know how to write the music or where you'd find For The Love Of Willy, a friend of mine does it. Barry

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 23 Dec 97 - 02:32 PM

The Maid on the Shore--I've seen several versions of this one written down. Of course, each version had it's own interpretation. In some she is clearly a supernatural being; in others she is simply a very smart young woman. I sing it with the latter interpretation. Why do we have to consider as having magical powers in order for her to outsmart a ship full of sailors and a captain?

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Bert
Date: 23 Dec 97 - 03:10 PM

Moira,
I thought that ALL women had magical powers. I know my wife does.
Bert.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 08:57 AM

...I would like to refresh this thread for my father, who has now become a Mudcatter whose name is "The Navigator"...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Grab
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 08:15 AM

Re Susan-Marie, they're often known just as 'wreckers'.

Grab.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Wavestar
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 11:24 AM

I feel as if I'm coming in late here, but I am almost certain that there is a version of "For the Love of Willy-O" on one of the February Tapes, by Gordon Bok and Friends... I know you're looking for traditional songs, but I always thought "The Ways of Man" (in the DT) was a wonderful woman's song about the sea, if a bit depressing. I know I should be thinking of some others, but am not... -J

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 06:10 PM

refried

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 05:58 AM

Seattle chantey singer David Lovine recorded a song called "Bridget McCaughan The Bonnie Lass"(not sure if I have the spelling of her name right) about a crew member on a sailing ship. She not only takes an active role, she is, by all accounts in this song, a top-notch sailor. The words were written by David Lovine, set to the melody of a traditonal chantey. The album's called "Pierhead Jump."

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: karen k
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 06:43 AM

Chantyranger,

I knew someone once who knew David Lovine and sang a couple of his songs but David didn't have anything recorded then. I've since lost track of that person who knew him. I liked the songs of David's that I heard. Do you know how to get a copy of his recording? I'd appreciate knowing. Thanks in advance.

k

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: GUEST,shlenny from Bloomington
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 07:05 AM

Another song that you might interested is Jack-a-roe (in the database). Not an uncommon song, but relevant I bellieve to your goal.

Subject: Lyr Add: A BRAVE WOMAN ^^
From: GUEST,Bill Scotland
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 01:58 PM

This song is about the North East of Scotland and the traditional role of the fisherman's wife. How the fishermen's braveness is more than matched by the courage of the women. The women used to carry the men to and from their boats so as the men didn't get their feet wet.

A BRAVE WOMAN

Feel the tide carress the bow
The saat stings in yer een
Feel the wind across yer face
As the land is left aleen
Wi nae si much as a backward glance
And ivvery boat's the same
It taks a brave man ti gang ti sea
A brave woman ti bide at hame

A fisherman aboord a boat
Fan he's sailing on the sea
Can ging for days in gales and storms
Athoot a wink o' sleep
But his wife'll tak him on her back
And cairry him fae far he came
It taks a brave man ti gang ti sea
A brave woman ti bide at hame

Chorus

Brocht up ti the fishing wye
Nae thocht o' naething else
Feed yer man and yer bairnies first
Afore ye feed yersel

Bait the sma lines through the nicht
Shielin mussels ivvery day
Wash his feet and shave his face
Sleep wi him and pray
For God ti save him fae the sea
And her fae anither bairn
It taks a brave man ti gang ti sea
A brave woman ti bide at hame

See the sail boats runnin hame
Afore November's gales
See the weemen on the beach
Fillin their mussel pails
Ivvery year a boat gings doon
A wife and mither is left again
It taks a brave man ti gang ti sea
A brave woman ti bide at hame

Chorus

See the aal wife starin oot
Pullin tee her shawl
Thinkin back ti her younger days
Afore the purse and trawl
A picter o' her fower young loons
Stares back fae a silver frame
It taks a brave man ti gang ti sea
A brave woman ti bide at hame

Chorus
Chorus

Cheers

Bill

^^

---

--- Line breaks
added ---
-- PA --

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 07:30 PM

Karen K -

David Lovine moved to Germany last year and I don't have his current contact info. I do have an extra copy of "Pierhead Jump" and would be glad to send it to you as a freebie. If you'd like, go to my personal messages and leave me your snail mail address and I'll send it along.

chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: karen k
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 08:23 PM

Chanteyranger,

Thank you for your kind offer. Have sent you a personal message.

karen

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: IanC
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 08:36 AM

For a real horror, I like singing this one (in DT):

THE BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW (2)

Cheers!IanC

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: IanC
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 08:49 AM

re: Banks of Green Willow.

Sorry!

Now I've looked at it, it's only a fragmentary version of the one I sing. Perhaps the other version in DT will be more complete. If not, I'll post the whole works.

Cheers!IanC

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:03 AM

I know its modern but don't forget "Polly on the Shore"

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 12:38 PM

A song about a parrot, eh? -:

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Melani
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 03:31 PM

For a really funny one, try "How to Gain A Husband", by Annie Lore, recored on "The Grey Cocked Hat". It's pretty old and might be hard to find. "Jackaroe" IS in the data base, two different versions. It's also called "Jack Monroe", but that one's NOT in the data base(at least I couldn't find it just now).Recorded by Teresa Morgan on "Victory Sings At Sea".

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 02:07 PM

refresh for Kathryn of "Women Outlaw" thread.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 07:50 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:36 AM

You've all named all the female sailor songs I know. The only one I can think of that no one has named is "My Johnny Was a Shoemaker" that heard Steeleye Span do many years ago and it isn't an active-female-sailor-song. I think those would naturally be somewhat limited.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:36 AM

Don't think anyone's mentioned Steve Sellors' brilliant satire of the Willie-0 songs, appropriately titled "Willie-O."(All for the Love) New Brunswick's Quigley Ensemble recorded a wonderful rendition of this on QUIGLEY ENSEMBLE:Renovation in 1992.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:40 AM

There are some songs about women and the sea at the contemplator site here. [http://www.contemplator.com/sea/]

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 09:21 AM

I can't see any previous mention of "A sailor's Life" which is yet another (rather improbable) story of a girl going off to find her sailor love and hearing of his demise. I often wonder if the sailors wrote these songs to encourage fidelity, or if it was wishful thinking on behalf of their bored and lonely sweethearts on the shore.

Of course in "House Carpenter" the lady does actually dump her partner and go of to sea with someone else !

As for women pirates, besides Grace O'Malley mentioned above, there were also others such as Ann Bonny and Mary Read.

How many women successfully posed as men and went to sea undetected will probable never be known, but for some women (especially if their looks were rather masculine) both the sea or army could seem a more attractive life than that of a female drudge.

Still, a female (posing as male) managed to rise to the rank of surgeon-general in the British army at the time of the Crimean War. The deception was only discovered after her death. Someone else must have known, however, because in the best "Handsome Cabin Boy" tradition, she had at some point given birth to a baby !

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Teribus
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:11 AM

"When I was a fair maid" and "Female Drummer" The latter is traditional coming originally from the North-East of England around the early 1700's, although there is an up-dated version complete with chorus relating to the Wars of the French Revolution (Ref Siege of Valenciennes 1795).

"When I was a Fair Maid" has too many inconsistencies and far too much of the Female Drummer to ring true, the song is a nonsense:

"I listed in the navy for to serve the queen," would have to have been Elizabeth I, or Queen Anne (Victoria is too late).

"Well, they sent me to bed and they sent me to bunk," No bunks in naval ships of that time, men either slept on the deck or in hammocks, officers in hammocks or cots that doubled up as coffins.

"But taking off my blue coat" Not until Revolutionary War/ Napoleonic war. A mistress of the Prince Regent decided on the colour of the Navy's uniform for officers - Dark blue coats, white breeches and gold lacing. What the men wore was up to the captain of individual ships

"Well they sent me up to London for to guard the Tower," There may have been an outside chance of that happening in Elizabethan times but not thereafter as the Navy Royal's guns were stored elsewhere. Besides at that time sailors had nothing to do with guns - not their part of ship - so why would they send a sailor to guard the Tower of London??

Women definitely did go to sea. The most celebrated of them was Hannah Snell who served for fifteen years and was fore-top-man onboard HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. When she was discharged (honourably) she was adjudged to be of good character and profficient in her rate and duties.

I know and sing both versions of the "Female Drummer", but I wouldn't even bother learning, "When I was a fair maid" there are better far funnier parody's to sing.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:19 AM

It is interesting that "When I Was a Fair Maid" makes reference to "bunk". That makes me wonder when it was written. First of all, nobody says "bunk" in the American or British Navy but rather "rack". Moreover, my father served aboard a ship in WW2 and he told me they also slept in hammocks. So even as late as the 1940s, the rack had yet to be introduced it would seem aboard Navy ships.

Bunk, indeed.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: CapriUni
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:58 AM

Although not a traditional song, there is a neat (and funny) little song in tribute to Ann Bonney written for the PBS children's show "Between the Lions" sung in the character of Ann Bonney herself (in the episode, the older brother and his friend tell his little sister that she can't play pirates with him because all real pirates were boys. His father finds a picture book about Ann Bonney, and when he opens it, her illustration comes to life and off the page to set the record straight).

It's a copyrighted song, so I won't post it here directly. But if you click here, and scroll down to "It's Great to be a Pirate", you can choose between a Quicktime, Real Player or Shockwave version.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Bennet Zurofsky
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 06:38 PM

If the topic is women and the sea, you should certainly include the various "Silkie" songs about mysterious beings who are women on the land and seals in the sea. This is a rich body of lore and there could hardly be a closer relationship between the women and the sea.

On a lighter note, you might consider the Eddystone Light:

Oh my father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light And he married a mermaid one fine night Out of this union there came three A cod and a mackerel and the third was me! Singing yo ho ho, the wind blows free Ah for the life on the rollong sea!

-Bennet

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Gareth
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 06:49 PM

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Grace Darling, Click 'Ere

Gareth

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: CapriUni
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:24 PM

I clicked there... you're right, Gareth! What a great song!

I wonder what the date was, and if it refers to an historical event. ...

Would make a great children's book!

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: GUEST,Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 09:56 PM

I don't think anyone mentioned the ballad "William Taylor" (sometimes known as "Billy Taylor") another of the "warrior maiden" motif.

Incidentally, a friend once did some research on this phenomenon and discovered an 18th century English law stating that any woman who left her husband, cut off her hair and joined the Navy to look for her lover would be dragged through the street and flogged. I'm reasonably sure the law is no longer on the books.

Dan

Subject: Lyr Add: LEGEND OF THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER (Seibel)
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:15 PM

My favorite, Paul Seibel's "LEGEND OF THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER" which I used to do in D and went something like:

Well, the ship went down in the icy waters
Captain cried, "where is my daughter?
Put her in a lifeboat she must go free
Chain my body to the masthead
I would rather see myself dead
Than to see her drownin' in the sea

Wild geese were flying low
Saw the sinking ship below
Heard the final cries of the crew
Well, a vigil through the stormy night
But with the dawn no life in sight
So on to the south the wild geese flew

People came from miles around
To save some souls but none was found
And never did they find the captain's child
Somewhere off the coast of Iceland
Near the fearful rocky island
Swims the damsel in the ocean wild

Some times in the night a-passin'
Sailors hear a frightful laughin'
A warning from the rocks to stay clear
Some say it is the maiden
Still alone and forsaken
Waitin' for the angels to appear

So if you're sailin' in the northern waters
And you meet the captain's daughter
Leave her golden apples one, two, three
Do not speak to her with lies
And do not cast away your eyes
Or else you'll never leave the Iceland Sea

For I have lived beneath
The ocean and her secrets keep
And I know where the legends come and go
Yeah, kings and queens and paupers too
Have written down the truth for you
Time is now... And will be long ago

That's the jist of the song, I may have a few words out of place, though...

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 10-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:39 PM

Sorry about the lousy spellin and typing. You see, my teenager has worn the letters off all the important keys and... well... I guess a lot... Being lexdexic don't help much either....

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Melani
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:06 PM

Yes, "Grace Darling" refers to a real historical event, 19th century, I forget the exact date. See the book "Grace Had An English Heart," by Jessica Mitford.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE and WHALING WIFE
From: Hrothgar
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 12:29 AM

How do these go, as women and the sea?

I was a little bit surprised not to find "The Fisherman's Wife in the DT. Is it under another name?

THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE
Words: Ewan MacColl; Music: Traditional Scots
Copyright 1963 Stormking Music Inc; S51
Written in 1960 for the Radio Ballad "Singing the Fishing"

A' the week your man's awa',
And a' the week you bide your lane.
A' the time you're waiting for
The minute that he's coming hame.
Ye ken whit way he has tae work,
Ye ken the hours he has tae keep,
And yet it mak's ye angry when
Ye see him just come hame tae sleep.

Through the months and through the years,
While you're bringing up the bairns,
Your man's awa' tae here and there
Following the shoals o' herrin'.
And when he's back there's nets tae mend,
You've maybe got a score or twa,
And when they're done, he'll rise and say,
"Wife, it's time I was awa'."

Work and wait and dree your weird,
Pin your faith in herrin' sales,
And oftimes lie awake at night
In fear and dread o' winter gales.
But men maun wark tae earn their breid,
And men maun sweat tae gain their fee,
And fisherman will aye gang oot
As lang as fish swim in the sea.

WHALING WIFE
Words & Music: Harry Robertson

Oh, I'm waiting here at hame, and I always feel the same
Whenever my good man goes to the whaling
Seven months he'll be awa' down among the ice and snow
And there's times my lonely heart is nearly breaking.

Now it's time the kids were fed, and I'll put them into bed
And to them a story then I might be telling
That their daddy's gone to sea to buy food for them and me
And it's many whales we hope he will be catching.

If the whaling catch is fine, we will have an easy time,
New clothes and food we ought to have in plenty;
Oh, but if the blubber's thin on the blue whale and the fin
Then for us, between the seasons could be scanty.

So it's waiting that I am, and I'm thinking of my man
And the pleasure when I know that he's returning
But in case you should forget, he has not come home yet,
And with tears my eyes at times are fairly brimming.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 10-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Teribus
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 03:55 AM

For CapriUni and Melani above:

Grace Darling (1815 - 1843) Born at Bamburgh, Grace Darling's fame is due to one act of courage when with her father, lighthouse keeper William Darling, she rescued the survivors of the shipwrecked SS Forfarshire on 7 September 1838. The Darlings lived at the Longstone lighthouse on Brownsman Island in the Farne Islands. After difficulties with its engine boilers, the Forfarshire (on a journey from Hull to Dundee) with about 60 people on board struck the rocks of a neighbouring island on a stormy night. Nine of the crew and one passenger escaped on the only lifeboat on board but many of the passengers (who had been in their cabins below deck) were drowned. As the morning dawned, 9 remaining survivors (5 crew and 4 passengers) were seen clinging to the rocks and Grace and her father rowed to their rescue and then looked after them in the lighthouse for 3 days. To her distress, she became a great Victorian celebrity with countless books, magazine articles, poems (including one by Swinburne) and paintings being created in her honour. But there is no evidence that the story that she had to persuade her reluctant father to attempt the rescue has any truth in it although this is the basis of many of the poems and articles. She died of consumption (tuberculosis) at the age of only 26 and is buried at Bamburgh church. A monument in the churchyard was designed to be seen by any passing ship. The Grace Darling Museum in the village contains many mementoes, including the original little boat which she and her father rowed to the rescue. A memorial in St Cuthbert's chapel on the Farne Islands includes the inscription: "Pious and pure, modest and yet so brave, though young so wise, though meek so resolute".

Cheers,

Bill.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 04:20 AM

Of course there's always The Scolding Wife - she ends up getting sent to sea !

Incidently, it was quite usual for "Ladies" to be aboard a ship in harbour. The cry "Show a leg" was a way of distinguishing which hammocks contained women when the watch was roused.

It was probably quite common for captain's wives to accompany their husbands to sea in merchant ships. Kipling's "The Mary Gloster" mentions an instance.

Subject: Lyr Add: GRACE DARLING
From: Willa
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 04:04 PM

CapriUni and Melani:

'Twas on the Longstone lighthouse there dwelt an English maid
Pure as the air around her, of danger ne'er afraid.
One morning just at daybreak, a storm-tossed wreck she spied,
And up spake brave Grace Darling: "I'll save the crew," she cried.

CHORUS: So she pulled away on the rolling sea, over the waters blue.
"Help, help!" she could hear the cry of the shipwrecked crew.
But Grace had an English heart, and the raging storm she braved.
She pulled away o'er the rolling sea, and the crew she saved.

They to the rock were clinging, a crew of nine all told.
Between them and the lighthouse the seas like mountains rose.
Said Grace, "Come help me, father. We'll launch the boat," said she.
Her father cried, "'Tis madness to face that raging sea."
CHORUS: But she...

One murmured prayer, "heaven guard us," and then they were afloat,
Between them and destruction, the planks of that frail boat.
Then spoke the maiden's father: "Return or doomed are we."
But up spoke brave Grace Darling, "Alone I'll brave the sea."
CHORUS: So she...

They bravely rode the billows and reached the rock at length.
They saved the storm-tossed sailors, in heaven alone their strength.
Oh, tell the wide world over what English pluck can do,
And sing of brave Grace Darling who nobly saved the crew.
CHORUS: When she...

Subject: Lyr Add: IDA LEWIS (Barry Finn)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 04:08 PM

Another of the famed women lighthouse keepers (America's most famous) was Ida Lewis. She kept the Lime Rock Light after her father took (4 months after arriving at age 15) to a wheelchair. No American lighthouse has ever had it's name changed by the Lighthouse Service (part of the Coast Guard), except for the Lime Rock Light. It was renamed the Ida Lewis Light. After the Light was retired it was bought by the Newport Yacht Club, who remend the club the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, & has been maintained by them. Her first rescue, at age 16, was 4 young men. Her last was a close friend at age 63. Here's part of her story in song:

IDA LEWIS

Ida Lewis left Newport at the age of 15,
Moved onto Lime Light Rock in the 1850's
Her father was a captain, now keeper of the light
Soon the duties feel on Ida to keep the lamps burning bright.

Her sisters & brother she'd row to school every day
In a small open lifeboat across the rough bay
From his wheelchair her father would watch through the storms
In horror as Ida would row the children back home.

Renowned for her skills no matter the weather
At swimming or rowing no man was her better
At the age of 16 she had saved 4 mens' lives
By the time she retired she had saved 25

There are saints on the water & demons in the sea
One & all they praised Ida for her great bravery
On the very night this women died, who had lived on the shoals
Every bell on evry boat in Newport did toll

Now they've renamed that rock the Ida Lewis Rock Light
And in her honor today the lights are still burning bright
But sometimes at night when it's rough & it's cold
Some claim to see Ida pulling boys from the foam.

copyright 1998 Barry Finn

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From:
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 05:31 PM

That's a beautiful story and song. Congratulations, Barry

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 06:08 PM

Indeed, Barry. Thanks for sharing!

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Gareth
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 06:32 PM

Oh Dear - Capri U - and there I was thinking that every one new the true story of Grace Darling and the wreck of the "Forfarshire" that I did not need to say it was a true story. - Truly we are a common people seperated by a common culture.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 11:29 PM

Heh, we each have our "hometown" heros...

It's wonderful though, that we can each have stories as stable in our mind's landscape as a mountain range. And it's even more wonderful when we can share them.

:-)

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: AR282
Date: 24 Feb 02 - 09:58 AM

Some books that might have women-at-sea lyrics are those of Joan Druett who has written several including "She Captains", "Hen Frigates", "Captain's Daughter, Coasterman's Wife", She Was a Sister Sailor", and "Petticoat Whalers".

I believe they are all put out by Simon & Schuster.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: harpgirl
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 07:22 AM

re

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: Abuwood
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 03:09 AM

What about the song of Ron Baxter - see album We are the Women left on the shore , Scolds Bridle http://website.lineone.net/~chantey_cabin/

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE (Finley Mullally)
From:
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 01:42 PM

There's a beautiful and haunting song about a woman who has seen her husband and children die over the years, given over to the sea. Finley Mullaly's song, Fisherman's Wife....

THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE
(Finley Mullally)
From Gowan Brae's 1993 recording

I am an old woman now I remember Queen Victoria At her word the nations took to war and put their boats to sea   And she was one of few and my stories such a simple one I fear it's much too modest for these 1970's   I was a fisherman's child and when I still was very young I wed a man whose fishing boats oars went shining in the sun   And I've cursed the Sea and I've raged against the angry tide to bring that boat home safe again with himself still inside   Chorus And I've seen Jesus -- on the water He was calling out my name And I've seen Jesus -- on the water He was calling out my name and I was frightened and I faltered, but when he called, I came   I birthed a brood of kids and raised them on my blood and will I taught them to run screaming I taught them to stand still   and my girls moved on and my boys went to the sea and yet I wove their lives around me with these hands that weave the net   Chorus   One day my man washed up and me pray'n for him all the time They brought him to me full of scales his hair was full of brine   And my two young boys soon after pulling at the oars were lost upon the ocean and me raging at the shore   And I've been fishing, on the ocean till my life's one fishing net and I've been out there, on the black sea   and some nights...I'm still there yet

As remembered in the singing memory of Margo Carruthers

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 10:04 AM

Refresh - an add to my list of threads...... inspired by Lancaster Festival ;-) F

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WOMAN WARRIOR
From: beetle cat
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:54 PM

Hello all

Can anybody tell me the Child# of this? I am also looking for a native American ballad of the same sort, for a folklore paper I'm working on, to do a comparison of the two. Barry Finn's Ida Lewis might work. I would appreciate other suggestions.   
Cheers
Mary

THE WOMAN WARRIOR p257, vol VII, English and Scottish Ballads

Let the females attend
To the lines which are penn'd
For here I shall give a relation
Of a young marry'd wife,
Who did venture her life
For a soldier, a soldier she went from the nation.

She her husband did leave,
And did likewise receive
Her arms, and on board she did enter,
And right valiantly went,
With a resolution bent
To the ocean, the ocean, her life there to venture.

Yet of all the ship's crew,
Not a seaman that knew
They then had a woman so near 'em;
On the ocean so deep
She her council did keep,
Ay, and therefore, and therefore she never did fear 'em.

She was valiant and bold,
And would not be controul'd
By any that dare to offend her;
Id a quarrel arose,
She would give him dry blows,
And the captain, the captain did highly commend her.

For he took her to be
Then of no mean degree,
A gentleman's son, or a squire;
With a hand white and fair,
There was none could compare,
Which the captain, the captain did often admire.

On the Irish shore,
Where the cannons did roar,
With many stout lads she was landed;
There her life to expose,
She lost tow of her toes,
And in battle, in battle was daily commended.

Under Grafton she fought
Like a brave hero stout,
And made the proud Tories retire;
She in field did appear
With a heart void of fear,
And she bravely, she bravely did charge and give fire.

While the battering balls
Did assault the strong walls
Of Cork, and sweet trumpets sounded,
She did bravely advance
Where by unhappy chance
This young female, young female, alas! she was wounded.

At the end of of the fray
Still she languishing lay,
Then over the ocean they brought her,
To her own native shore;
Now they ne'er knew before
That a woman, a woman had been in that slaughter.

What she long had conceal'd
Now at length she reveal'd,
That she was a woman that ventur'd;
Then to London with care
She did straitways repair,
But she dy'd, oh she dy'd, e'er tho tho city she enter'd

When her parents beheld,
They with sorrow was fill'd,
For why, they did dearly adore her;
In her grave she now lies,
Tis not watery eyes,
No, not sighing, nor sighing that e'er can restore her.

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea (songs about)
From: beetle cat
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 11:08 PM

I am getting somewhat frustrated and disturbed by the lack of female sea heroes in American balladry. I am telling myself that it is because songs of the sea often did not have a real nationality, but so many of the above ballads mention British women, that this argument doesn't work. Will somebody please prove me wrong?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAIN ROYAL YARD
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 12:13 AM

Here Bettle Cat

This is from my singing partner.

THE MAIN ROYAL YARD

As I walked out one morning down by the Boston Docks
I met a pretty young Judy there & after a line of talk
She throws her arms around me waist & says me jolly tar
How I'd like to see your lofty ship & her main royal yard

Refrain: The main royal yard & her main royal
             (repeat the last line of each verse as the refrain)
             How I'd like to see your lofty ship & her main royal yard

Says I to me self such a strange request has never been put to me
What interest would this Judy have in a ship that sails the sea
Excepting for me six months pay for which I've worked so hard
And what's this silly fascination with the main royal

So as we walked aboard the ship watch he winks at we
Are you sick of the shore so soon me lad are you looking to go to sea
To sea your ass says I with a grin but don't be laughing to hard
For this lassie is wanting to climb aloft to the main royal yard

So it's off with her petty coats one by one & her velvet slippers too
Then up aloft as sure as hell exposing a lovely view
And soon she's up to royal shrouds as soon as any tar
And a prettier sailor I never did see on the main royal yard

Says I to myself I must be daft to allow such a thing to be
When all of a sudden this lassie aloft starts spitting down at me
She give to me a saucy wink likewise a saucy nod
And she hollers now Jack come frolic with me on the main royal yard

Now the moon was so romantic a shinning on the bay
And the wind was blowing east nor' east as she let me have me way
Soon we'll have a little baby & he'll be a jolly tar
For you know he was conceived up on the main royal yard

copyright 1998 (words & tune) Neil Downey


BTW, is your name Bettle Cat after the Cape Cod cat boats?

Good luck
Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: THE STORM WITCH (Alan Day)
From: Alan Day
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 04:17 AM

About twenty years ago I wrote this song and have just written a tune to go with it.It is based on a true story

THE STORM WITCH

Through summer months and Winter storm
A young girl weeps with love forlorn
Her lover shanghaid one misty night
waiting through days of dark and light
listening to the barking of the caves
the changing beating of the waves
remembering nights on Aukney sand
walking lovingly hand in hand

Through seas whipped up by an Autumn gale
A ship is seen with a broken sail
The Villagers leap and dance about
"With salvage we'll be rich" they shout
The ship begins to search in vain
for safety through that rocky main
"I see a Mermaid" someone cries
as a girl is seen through tear stained eyes

The Sailors all cringe back in fear
as that lovely girl draws near
In vain she searches that dreadful place all for to see her lovers face
Through the storm that savage day
she guids the ship to Odins Bay
and men with faces wracked with pain
now begin to laugh again

The Villagers seeing their safe return
cry out"This Storm Witch She must burn
only a Witch in a magic boat
in that storm could have stayed afloat".
In Strongsay Prison behind locked door
with mice and rats upon the floor,
that poor young girl lies full awake
to wait her fate upon the stake

Suddenly through prison bars
a face is seen amongst the stars
Her lovers face she sees again
and shuts her eyes to ease the pain
A wall falls down,she hears a shout
A hand comes in to pull her out
The Men she saved from that stormy sea
and her lover back to set her free.

Alan Day

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea (songs about)
From: beetle cat
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 03:25 PM

Hello again. Thank you for the contributions. I actually chose to change my topic, but this is nevertheless very interesting. And yea, it is after the sailboat.
Mary

Subject: Lyr Add: SHIPMATES + NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER (Watson)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 08:32 PM

Here's a couple of songs that should be in this thread (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords).

The first is one by the nautical poet Cicely Fox Smith:

Poem by Cicely Fox Smith, 1914, from SONGS & CHANTIES: 1914-1916,
edited by Cicely Fox Smith, published by Elkin Mathews, London, © 1919, pp. 25-26
As adapted by Charles Ipcar 1/18/06
Tune: after traditional "I Know Where I'm Going"

Shipmates (1914)


C---------------G------C------------------------F------C------G
Good-bye and fare ye well, for we'll sail no more to-geth-er,
C--------------------------------G-C-----F-----------G
Up and down the deep seas, in fair or foul weath-er:
-------C------------------------G-C-----------F-C--G
We'll sail no more together, in foul weath-er or fine,
-----C----G--C----F----------C--G--F
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine,
-----C----G--C---F-----------C--G--C
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine.

Oh the world is very wide, and there's never any knowing –
The countries we'll be seeing, or the ports where we'll be going;
Up and down the deep seas, back across the Line,
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine,
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine.

Good-bye and fare ye well – but maybe we'll be meeting,
In some foreign city, where we'll shout each other greeting;
Back from deep sea roving, back from wind and weather –
You and me from cross the seas, two shipmates together,
You and me from cross the seas, two shipmates together!

You'll blow up from Eastward, and I'll blow in from the West,
And of all the times we ever had, it's then we'll have the best;
We'll raise a glass and sing our songs, and all things will be fine –
Then you'll go your way, and I'll go mine,
Then you'll go your way, and I'll go mine.

So good-bye and fare ye well: may naught but good attend ye,
All around the wide world, where sailor's luck may send ye;
Up and down the deep seas, back across the Line –
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine,
And you'll go your way, and I'll go mine!

The other is by nautical songwriter Bob Watson:

Words and Music by Bob Watson, © 2003 ROM Watson

Neptune's Daughter


D---------G------------------------Em-----------G--------------C---------D
There's a voice that I just heard call-ing, I've heard man-y times be-fore,
----------G---------------------Em--------------C----------------G
And it's call-ing Nep-tune's daugh-ter back to the sea once more,
------C-----------------G-----------D-----------------G
Back to the sea once more, back to the sea once more,
----------G---------------------Em--------------C----------------G
And it's call-ing Nep-tune's daugh-ter back to the sea once more.

It's borne on the winds and breezes, and sung on the sea birds' cry,
And when Neptune calls his daughter, then no daughter can deny;
No daughter can deny, no daughter can deny,
When old Neptune calls his daughter, then no daughter can deny.

Ever since that I was a young girl, before I was full-grown
I'd have traded dolls and dresses, for a boat to call my own;
For a boat to call my own, for a boat to call my own;
I'd have traded dolls and dresses, for a boat to call my own.

Now I have my own boat waiting, to sail when the tide's inclined,
And it's Neptune's daughter who must go, and you must stay behind;
And you must stay behind, and you must stay behind,
And it's Neptune's daughter who must go, and you must stay behind.

Think me more of a friend than sweetheart, then it's less of a price you'll pay,
If you yearn for Neptune's daughter, you'll just pine your heart away;
You'll just pine your heart away, you'll just pine your heart away,
If you yearn for Neptune's daughter, you'll just pine your heart away.

For it's well that you should remember, it's well that you should decide,
I was always Neptune's daughter, long before I was your bride;
Long before I was your bride, before I was your bride,
I was always Neptune's daughter, before I was your bride.

Sometimes when the twilight's falling, in tune with the night wind's play,
Will you think of Neptune's daughter, on the ocean far away?
On the ocean far away, on the ocean far away,
Will you think of Neptune's daughter, on the ocean far away?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Women & the Sea (songs about)
From: diplocase
Date: 24 Feb 16 - 04:43 PM

The link to PBS' Between the Lions page no longer goes to "It's Great To Be A Pirate." It may not be trad but it's Gilbert & Sullivan-esque and pretty darn funny, so here are new links! best, diplocase

the lyrics

the song

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 08:44 AM

Here’s a longer version than the one attributed to Ian Robb and posted by Moira Cameron above. These lyrics were found in Jenny Lind Songster (Newcastle: John Gilbert, no date, circa 1850), page 16. The Bodleian Library has about 11 editions.


FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR.

Come all you people far and near,
And listen to my ditty.
At Gravesend lived a maiden fair,
Who was both young and pretty.
Her love he was pressed away,
And drowned in a foreign sea,
Which caus’d this maid for to say,
I'll be a female sailor.

This maiden she was resolved to go
Across the foaming ocean.
She was resolved to let them know
How she can gain promotion.
With jacket blue and trousers white
Just like a sailor neat and tight,
The sea it was the heart‘s delight
Of the rambling female sailor.

Like a sailor true she went on board,
All for to do her duty.
She was always ready with a call,
This maid the queen of beauty.
When in a calm, this damsel young
Would charm the sailors with her tongue,
As she walked the deck and sweetly sung,
The female rambling sailor.

When in the storm upon the sea,
She was ready at her station.
Her mind as calm as calm could be,
She loved her occupation.
From stem to stern she‘d boldly go.
She braved all dangers, feared no foe,
But soon you'll hear the overthrow
Of the rambling female sailor.

This maiden gay did a wager lay
She would go aloft with any,
And up aloft she straight did go,
Where times she had been many.
This maiden bold, oh! sad to tell,
She missed her hold, and down she fell,
And calmly bid this world farewell,
Did the female sailor bold.

This maiden gay did fade away,
Just like a drooping willow,
Which made the sailors sigh and say,
Farewell, young faithful Willy.
When her snow-white breasts in sight came,
She proved to be a female frame,
And Rebecca Young it was the name,
Of the rambling female sailor.

May willows wave around her grave,
And round it laurels planted;
May roses sweet grow at the feet
Of one who was undaunted.
May a marble stone be inscribed upon,
Near here lies one so lately gone,
A maiden fair as the sun shone on—
The rambling female sailor.

So all young men and maidens around,
Come listen to my story.
Her body is anchored to the ground;
Let's hope her soul‘s in glory.
On the' river Thames she was known well—
Few sailors could with her excell—
The tear let fall as the fate you tell
Of the rambling female sailor.

Subject: RE: Songs about women & the sea
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:47 PM

Here's a version I transcribed from the Flanders collection

THE RAMBLING FEMALE SAILOR
Jack McNally, Stacyville, Maine 8/28/1942
Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, Middlebury VT
Note: Recording is compromised
Singer's phrasing became uneven and breathless after the first verse

Come all you boys from far and near
And listen to my ditty
Whilst I do tell of a come-lie maid
And she was both young and pretty
This maid's true love was pressed away
And drownded in some foreign sea
Which caused this fair maid for to say
"I will be a rambling sailor"

With the jacket blue and trousers white
Just like some sailor neat and tight
And the raging seas was the heart's delight
Of the rambling female sailor
From stem to stern she would free-lie go
She braved all dangers and feared no foe
But soon you'll hear of the overthrow
Of the rambling female sailor

This maiden gay did a wager lay
She would go aloft with any
Aloft she went as they do tell
Where she'd been ofttimes many
In going aloft as they do tell
She missed her hold and down she fell
And she careless-lie bid this world farewell
Did the rambling female sailor

And when her snow white breast was seen
They took her to be some foreign queen
Miss Rebecca Young it was the name
Of the rambling female sailor
On the river Sames she was known right well
And few of the pretty girls could her excel
But one fatal call was the sad downfall
Of the rambling female sailor

Subject: RE: Songs about women & the sea
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 05:59 PM

Nancy Nicolson's 'The Mistress' is a fabulous song -- not traditional but truly haunting. (not sure if anyone else has mentioned it earlier?)

Subject: RE: Songs about women & the sea
From: Lighter
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 06:59 PM

Wot, no "Cruising Round Yarmouth"/ "Ratcliffe Highway"?

Subject: RE: Songs about women & the sea
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 06:34 AM

Shirley Collins sings Polly on the Shore;

Come all you wild young men
And a warning take by me,
Never to lead your single life astray
And into no bad company.

Coope Boyes and Simpson sing Lester Simpson's Polly on the Shore; I can still hear those stunning harmonies!

She headed down to Sailor Town, began her education,
But Polly knew the only way to win was fighting back,
She learned the ropes and fleeced the dopes, and dreamed above her station,
She kept half of everything she ever stole from Jack.

So you can think that she's your Polly on the shore,
She'll be your mother or your sister or your whore,
She'll be waving ‘till you're safely out of view,
Then she's looking for another sailor, gullible as you.