Lyr/Chords: Sweet Thames, Flow Softly (MacColl)

Subject: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 07:26 PM

ewan mcColls chords please!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:34 PM

pRETTY PLEASE?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: curmudgeon
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:50 PM

Tuggy -- you need to be more precise with your requests. Also remember, or learn, that Ewan MacColl composed tunes and wrote songs; he did not arrange them. Most, if not all of the arrangements, ie. chords, were supplied by Peggy Seeger.

In the case of this particular song you need only three chords. If you will provide a verse and refrain, it will be much easier for someone to give you the chords.

Nevertheless, keep asking -- Tom

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:01 AM

C               G                C      F         G
I met my girl at Woolwich Pier Beneath a big crane standing

    C             G                C         G       C
And Oh the love I felt for her it passed all understanding

                F             C          G
Took her sailing on the river Flow sweet river flow

C             F                G                C
London Town was mine to give her Sweet Thames Flow Softly

G                              F    C    G
Made the Thames into a crown   Flow sweet river flow

C               F       G    F    C         G    C
Made a brooch of Silver Town Sweet Thames Flow Softly


Thats more or less the chords I use- Song collected from the Critics Group Argo 12 inch album circa 1965.Actually sung by John Faulkner

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: tuggy mac
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:06 AM

Sorry! Im a ameture player and its all greek to me.
Thanks for your help and advice. and for the chords.
Tuggy

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:16 AM

Terry Yarnell, also formerly of the Critics, used to do a really good version of this too and he has, in fact, recently released a CD 'A Bonny Bunch' on Tradition Bearers which includes it.

My old Argo recording has long since disintegrated along with the tape I dubbed it onto but I do recall that Sandra Kerr was also involved in the chorus of the John Faulkner original recording of Sweet Thames Flow Softly

Subject: RE: Chord Req: sweet thames ,flow softley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 12:17 PM

I have both albums of the Critics Group in playable condition.If any one wants a copy (tape only - No CD writer)then P M me

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sweet Thames, Flow Softly
From: Reiver 2
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 08:35 PM

Can't remember what singer or group I learned it from... I've got it somewhere, but no time to look it up. The Reivers used these chords.
   D             A7
I met my love by Willy's pier
    D       G          A7
Beneath the big crane standing,
    D               A7
And, oh, the love I felt for her,
    D          G    A7   D
It passed all understanding.
                   A
I took her sailing on the river
G          A
(Flow sweet river, flow)
D               A
London town was mine to give her.
G    D            A D
(Sweet Thames, flow softly.)
                  A      D
Made the Thames into a crown;
G             A
(Flow, sweet river, flow)
D                A      D
Made a brooch of silver town.
G      D          A D
(Sweet Thames, flow softly)

Reiver 2

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET THAMES FLOW SOFTLY (Ewan MacColl)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 01:44 PM

On checking the DT for Sweet Thames I noticed a discrepancy in the lyrics. As I have the lyric sheet from the album, I thought I would put the correct words up.

I met my girl at Woolwich Pier, beneath a big crane standing;
And O the love I felt for her, it passed all understanding.
Took her sailing on the river. - Flow, sweet river, flow.
London Town was mine to give her. - Sweet Thames, Flow Softly.
Made the Thames into a crown. - Flow, sweet river, flow.
Made a brooch of Silver Town. - Sweet Thames, Flow Softly.

At London Yard, I held her hand. At Blackwall Point I faced her.
At the Isle of Dogs I kissed her mouth and tenderly embraced her.
Heard the bells of Greenwich ringing. - Flow etc.
All the time my heart was singing. - Sweet etc.
Limehouse Reach I gave her there - Flow etc.
As a ribbon for her hair. - Sweet etc.

From Shadwell Dock to Nine Elms Reach, we cheek to cheek were dancing.
Her necklace made of London Bridge, Her beauty was enhancing.
Kissed her once again at Wapping. - Flow etc.
After that, there was no stopping. - Sweet etc.
Richmond Park it was her ring. - Flow etc.
I'd have given her anything. - Sweet etc.

From Rotherhythe to Putney Bridge, my love I was declaring,
And she from Kew to Isleworth, her love for me was swearing.
Love it set my heart a-burning. - Flow etc.
Never saw the tide was turning. - Sweet etc.
Gave her Hampton Court to twist - Flow etc.
Into a bracelet for her wrist. - Sweet etc.

But now, alas, the tide has changed. My love she has gone from me.
And winter's frost has touched my heart, and put a blight upon me.
Creeping fog is on the river. - Flow etc.
Sun and moon and stars gone with her. - Sweet etc.
Swift the Thames runs to the sea, - Flow etc.
Bearing ships and part of me. - Sweet etc.

Written by Ewan MacColl 1966 for the Critics Group Schools broadcast.

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Sweet Thames, Flow Softly (MacColl)
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 07:27 PM

Liam Clancy has a lovely recorded version. I can't remember which album but possibly the first of the Clancy/Makem collection.

Didn't Planxty do a version too..?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Sweet Thames, Flow Softly (MacColl)
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 01:41 PM

Mick Groves - ex Spinners - does a beautiful version on his album of MacColl covers, 'Fellow Journeyman'
Worth checking out the album if you haven't heard it, it's his first solo CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Sweet Thames, Flow Softly (MacColl)
From: GUEST,further chord info
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 02:32 PM

further to my last post, the way I hear it Mick Groves sings the song with either the D/G/A combination on 2, or the C/G/F combination on 4

Subject: Chords Add: SWEET THAMES, FLOW SOFTLY (MacColl)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 03:59 PM

Just looked at the lyrics in "The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook," compiled by Peggy Seeger, 2001, pp. 30-31 (copyright 1968, Ewan MacColl Ltd.). The same as those posted by Leadfingers.
The title comes from Edmund Spencer, "Prothalamion":
Against their bridal day which is not long,
Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song.

Chords in the MacColl Songbook in part a little different from those given by Reiver 2. They were added to the MacColl songs by Peggy Seeger.

"Smoothly, not too fast"
I (D)met my girl at (A7)Wool-wich Pier,
Be-(D)neath a (G)big crane (A7)stand-ing,
And (D)O, the love I (A7)felt for her
It (D)passed all (A7)un-der-(D)stand-ing.
Took her sail-ing (Em)on the riv-er,
(G)Flow, sweet (A7)riv-er, flow,
(D)Lon-don town was (EM)mine to give her,
(G)Sweet (A7)Thames, flow (D)soft-ly.
(A7)Make the Thames in-to a crown,
(G)Flow, (D)sweet (A7)riv-er, flow,
(D)Made a brooch of (Em)Sil-ver-(A7)town,
(G)Sweet (D)Thames, flow (A7) soft- (D)ly.