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Subject: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Feb 02 - 01:25 PM Here's a new song freshly milled from my shanty shop in the tradition of "Crusin' Round Yarmouth" and "A-Roving." This one is refitted to Widgery Wharf, an anarchronistic fishermen's wharf on Portland's waterfront. Always loved the name "Widgery Wharf" which should conjure up a delipidated wharf with "bait shacks", piles of fishing gear, loose decking, and lovely smells, all overlooked by a neighboring wharf laden down with expensive condominiums. A "Friendship Sloop" is one of the traditional 19th century gaff-rigged fishing sloops which now only frequent Maine waters as renovated yachts, and is otherwise accurately described below (copy and repaste in Word/Times/12): WIDGERY WHARF (Words by Charlie Ipcar © 2002 Tune: traditional Cruisin' Round Yarmouth) G------------C----G-----------Em While cruisin' 'round Portland one day for a spree, -G---------------------------------D I spied a fair damsel the wind blowin' free; -G-------------------Em I buttoned me jacket and hove way me chew, ---C-------------------G And drew along side, her bunting to view. Chorus: G--------------------------Em Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day, ----G------------C---G---D--------G Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day! "Ahoy, there," I hailed, "Pray, where are you bound?" She replied with a wink "The Old Port of Town; To Widgery Wharf where me Friendship Sloop lies, If you'd like to see her, I'll take you on by." (CHO) She tossed out a line and took me in tow, To Widgery Wharf like a shot we did go; We clewed up our tops'ls and rounded up neat, And moored fore and aft near old Union Street. (CHO) Now that sloop sure looked sharp, her fiddlehead neat, And I admired her lines as I trimmed up her sheets; She was broad in the counter and wide at the beam, A more weatherly craft I seldom had seen. (CHO) I peered into her cuddy and saw lots of room, And then deep inside I stowed me jib-boom; We rode out the weather, the waves breaking free, Hove to in her harbor, as snug as could be. (CHO) Now, Widgery Wharf is a place I know well, Since I've swallowed the anchor and in a bait shack do dwell; Where I spend all me days a-mending fish gear, But all of me nights in the arms of me dear. (CHO) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: ChanteyMatt Date: 05 Feb 02 - 02:44 PM Nicely done Charley lad. I've already added it to my list of songs to learn. Keep 'em coming. Chanteymatt |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Feb 02 - 10:58 PM Thanks, ChanteyMatt, we're still tinkering with this one. It really is fresh from the shop. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: kendall Date: 06 Feb 02 - 09:21 AM Tell me Charlie; what does the Mrs. think of this one? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Dahlin Date: 06 Feb 02 - 03:47 PM Kendall She probably hasn't heard it yet. Which is why Charlie's stil tinkering! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:59 PM Well, Kendall, Judy thinks it's fun and so does my mother who used to sing me the original verses of "Cruisin' Round Yarmouth" and "A-Roving." And, Dahlin, you should write up a few extra verses yourself; I promise not to disclose your authorship! The 4th verse has been reworked and now runs: Now that sloop sure looked sharp, her fiddlehead neat, And I admired her lines as I trimmed all her sheets; She was broad in the counter and wide at the beam, A more weatherly craft I seldom had seen. (CHO) The "fiddlehead" reference is a standard bow decoration for a Friendship Sloop. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 07 Feb 02 - 03:31 PM I can't seem to keep my hands off this song. The 2nd verse now runs: I said, "Pretty fair maid, where are you bound?" She replied with a wink "The Old Port of Town; To Widgery Wharf where me Friendship Sloop bides, If you'd like to board her, I'll lay us 'longside." (CHO) Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: ChanteyMatt Date: 07 Feb 02 - 04:01 PM More! More! Give Me More!!! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 08 Feb 02 - 01:10 PM OK, time to wind this thread up. Here's the whole song again as revised to date (copy and repaste in Word/Times/12): WIDGERY WHARF (Words by Charlie Ipcar © 2002 Tune: traditional - Cruisin' Round Yarmouth) G------------C----G-----------Em While cruisin' 'round Portland one day for a spree, -G---------------------------------D I spied a fair damsel the wind blowin' free; -G-------------------Em I buttoned me jacket and hove way me chew, ---C-------------------G And drew along side, her bunting to view. Chorus: G--------------------------Em Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day, ----G------------C---G---D--------G Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day! I said, "Pretty fair maid, where are you bound?" She replied with a wink "The Old Port of Town; To Widgery Wharf where me Friendship Sloop bides, If you'd like to board her, I'll lay us 'longside." (CHO) She tossed out a line and took me in tow, To Widgery Wharf like a shot we did go; We clewed up our tops'ls and rounded up neat, And moored fore and aft below Union Street. (CHO) Now that sloop sure looked sharp, her fiddlehead neat, And I admired her lines as I trimmed all her sheets; She was broad in the counter and wide at the beam, A more weatherly craft I seldom had seen. (CHO) I peered into her cuddy and saw lots of room, And there deep inside I stowed me jib-boom; We rode out the weather, the waves breaking free, Hove to in her harbor, as snug as could be. (CHO) Now, Widgery Wharf is a place I know well, Since I've swallowed the anchor, in a bait shack to dwell; Where I spend all me days a-mending fish gear, But all of me nights in the arms of me dear. (CHO) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 09 Feb 02 - 12:40 PM Still tinkering! I checked out her cuddy and found lots of room, And there deep inside I stowed me jib-boom; We rode out the weather, the waves breaking free, Hove to in her harbor, as snug as could be. (CHO) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: MMario Date: 23 May 02 - 11:55 AM okay - I've searched but haven't found any tune for Cruisin' Round Yarmouth. Could anyone post? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 23 May 02 - 02:31 PM From previous discussions of Cruising Round Yarmouth, it appears that most people learnt it at some remove from records made by Ewan MacColl or Bert Lloyd; Lloyd learned it from Harry Cox of Catfield in Norfolk, and I suspect that MacColl did, too, though textual variations have crept in with time. I don't have the Cox version, but MacColl printed a set from Sam Larner of Winterton, Norfolk, in The Singing Island (1960), which will have to do for now. Until it makes the Mudcat Midi Pages, a midi can be heard via the South Riding Folk Network site: |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 23 May 02 - 08:01 PM MMario- the midi link doesn't sound like the tune I know which was from "Ewan MacColl or Bert Lloyd; Lloyd learned it from Harry Cox of Catfield in Norfolk" as recorded on BLOW, BOYS, BLOW (now available in CD). Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: MMario Date: 23 May 02 - 08:57 PM mumble,mumble,folkmusicgrumble,mumble |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 23 May 02 - 08:58 PM As I suspected. Anyone got Harry's tune? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 24 May 02 - 10:51 AM Yah, Malcolm, I'm humming it right now.;~) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: radriano Date: 24 May 02 - 11:44 AM Nice song, Charlie. Looks like I won't make it to Mystic this year but I look forward to meeting you in the fall. By the way, I will be finished with mixing/mastering of my new shanty CD this weekend. I met with my graphic artist yesterday and saw a mock-up of the album cover which will include a photo of "Balclutha" (one of the ships at Hyde Street Pier) at sea with all sails up that I unearthed at the Maritime Library in SF, circa 1910. Cheers, Richard |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: GUEST,CN at the Cottage Date: 26 May 02 - 07:46 PM Richard, glad you like "Widgery Wharf"; we had a great time singing it last weekend at the China Sea Trading Co., about a block away from that wharf. I'ved also been enjoying your "live CD".. . Cheerily,. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: MMario Date: 14 Jan 03 - 03:37 PM hmmm- just thinkin' - this could be sung to 'Quare Bungo Rye' |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cruisin' Round Widgery Wharf From: Charley Noble Date: 14 Jan 03 - 07:21 PM Please don't, as I've based this song on the tune of the fine traditional forebitter "Cruisin' Round Yarmouth" as performed by Ewan McColl et all on BLUE, BOYS, BLOW, readily available as a re-issued CD. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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