Help: Who wrote these?

Subject: Who wrote these?
From: GUEST,LynnC
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:27 PM

Hello Mudcat world. Hiya Mario, CarolC.

I have a question (well, actually several) for all you amazingly knowledgeable people.

I have found a couple of songs in my wanderings (one here in recent past, actually), and am now attempting to find out who authored them.

First, "Heave Ya Ho". I have been given the name of the person who wrote it, but can find no reference on him other than this. Was the author part of the Battlefield Band, or not related to them, and they borrowed it for recording? Who was he (I believe he has since died?).

Also, I found a sort of "filked" song called "Drink, drink, wherever you may be" (sung to the tune of "Lord of the Dance"), and have only been able to place it as kind of a pep song for a soccer team which alternately call themselves "The Mules" and "The Boys". Anyone know the history of this particular piece, if it is an anonymous rugby sort of song, or if it has an author?

TIA for any help!

L

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:35 PM

The song "Smith of Bristol" with "heave ya ho" in the chorus was posted here, along with a bit of information. It seems it was previously recorded by the Dubliners. Sorry, I don't know any more than that.

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:37 PM

Lynn, 'Heave Ya Ho' sounds like it refers to the Mingulay Boat Song, which starts 'Heel ya ho, boys, let her go boys'. I have it down as 'Trad / Hugh S. Roberton'. I think Roberton, conductor of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir, translated it from the Gaelic.
The member of the Battlefield Band you're thinking of must be Davy Steele who died recently. He wrote quite a few good songs, but definitely not the above. But maybe I'm thinking of the wrong song, and he did write one called 'Heave Ya Ho'.
Can't help you with the second song, but I'm sure someone else will!

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:46 PM

No - Lynn KNOWS Mingulay - so her "Heave Ya Ho" is definately another. The only reference I find in the forum is to the one Jeri linked - but I seem to remember another discussion somewhere...

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:57 PM

Here are some notes regarding "Heave Ya Ho"

Battlefield Band
Rain, Hail or Shine
Heave Ya Ho
The basis of this song was sung to Davy of The Battlefield Band by an old oyster fisherman from Prestonpans, a small town on the Firth of Forth. The oystermen fished in two rowing boats, heading parallel to each other and the shore with a weighted net dragging (or dreggin) between them. Songs like "Heave Ya Ho" would help them keep rowers and therefore the boats in time with each other.

url=http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/kmsufm/wbpl/playList/WB98-06.html

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 09:01 PM

and from here:http://www.folktrax.com/H_TMP002.htm

2. HEAVE YA HO [Davy Steele]
The basis of this song was sung to Davy by Bobby Copeland, an old oyster fisherman from Prestonpans, a small town on the Firth of Forth. Davy made the tune and incorporated as many of Bobby's words as he could remember. The oystermen fished in two rowing boats, heading parallell to each other, and the shoreline, dragging (or dreggin) a weighted net between them. The songs would keep the rowers, and therefore the boats, in time with each other. The songs were generally impromptu affairs, and could be fairly gossipy. 'The Whale', by the way, was a fisherman's pub in 'the Pans'.

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 09:01 PM

MMario, I remember a more recent thread, too. It may have had one of those "Looking For Lyrics" titles, and there's no hope of easily finding it.

It looks like you got it, though.

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:12 PM

as far as the "drink, drink" - also known as "Drunk and Disorderly" or "Apprentice's Drinking song" - I suspect it is "anonymous" - the tune - of course would be "Simple Gifts"

it probably does not predate "Lord of the Dance" - which was was, mid sixties? - as nowhere that I could find does the tune direction read "Simple Gifts" - but always "Lord of the Dance"

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 11:52 PM

I remember the thread, too, Jeri, but can't find it.

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: GUEST,Dita (at work)
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 04:35 AM

The thread which had Davy's "Heave Ya Ho" was called

"New member saying hi"

I only found it because I had contributed to it and searched contributions.
love, john.

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 08:37 AM

new member saying hi

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 10:08 AM

thanks Dita/John and MMario!

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:41 AM

anyone else with any info? 'cuz I want to hear Lynn sing these...*grin*

who says greedy self-interest doesn't do anyone else any good?

Subject: RE: Help: Who wrote these?
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 09:07 AM

Hi Lynn. I missed this thread. I thought is was going to have been started by Sergio Algium who likes to challenge Mudcatters from time to time. I'll go back and read it now.

Carol