Lyr Req: The Witch of Whitby (Sue Haithwaite)

Subject: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: SallyM
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 10:18 AM

Hi, I am trying to find the lyrics for a song I think is called the Witch of Whitby. Can anyone help ? Trying to search under Whitby comes up with pages and pages of 'hits' for the Whitby festival - but no sign of witches.
I think the chorus goes something like:
"and the wind did blow, and the sea did grow,
and the fishermen and sailors never saw their homes,
on the day she died".

Sally

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 10:27 AM

a brief mention of her here

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WITCH OF WHITBY (Sue Haithwaite)
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 11:45 AM

Hi
yep I can let you have the lyrics since I wrote the song! If you need the tune let me know and I can send you it - I can also send you the background info to the song if you want it hope you enjoy singing it
Sue

THE WITCH OF WHITBY
(Sue Haithwaite)

Old Mad Maggie the witch of Whitby
lives under the steps of the church by the sea
And the people were afraid
every woman every man
And when people children saw her away they ran

chorus
and the wind did blow
and the sea did grow
and the fishermen and sailors
Ne'er more saw their homes
On the day she died

April 21st is the vigil of St Mark
And Old Mad Maggie sat through the dark
In the porch of a church
Next year's dead for to meet
And to torment the living
She met in the street

Fishermen and sailors went to see Maggie
To purchase knotted string
For to take out to sea
Just untie a knot you'll have winds in a trice
Well that's what will happen
If you pay the right price

Well Maggie knew the signs
Spiders' webs on lobster pots
And then she sold the farmers
Weather fine and hot
And if you don't believe
And you think that she's a fraud
Better get you a witch stone to hang by your door

Maggie made a curse for those who don't believe
On the die that I die
You will lose those at sea
For a the wind it will blow
and a storm it will grow
And fishermen and sailors no more will see their homes

One spring morn, Lobster pots covered with webs
Some children found old Maggie
Lying cold and dead
And all went still and flat was the sea
But by tea time the worst storm ever hit Whitby

© Sue Haithwaite 2000

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 11:59 AM

R&W - if you don't mind having it posted you can e-mail me the tune for posting - either as midi on the midi page linked back to this thread - or as abc in the thread.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 02:25 PM

I only have the song as an MP3 with me singing it unaccompanied - I have a virtual keyboard somewhere in this computer so I will try to do it as a midi (this will be a new thing for me)and e-mail you it

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: SallyM
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 03:55 PM

Oh thank you everso much Sue, it's good of you to post the words, and yes I would be very interested to know the background to your song (you're not a witch are you!?!). I think I heard it at one of the Whittlebury 'Song n Ale' weekends, so would it have been you who sang it there ??
Sally

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 02:57 AM

You're welcome Sally

Yes I sang it at Whittlebury a couple of years ago.

Do you need the tune?

Background is that the 'witch' used to live under the 199 Church Steps. People were afraid of her because she would sit in vigil in the porch of St Mary's church every April 24th and would meet the souls of the people who would die the following year. She was also a very clever lady who sold spells to farmers and sailors etc. but never told them a price to pay - that way if the spell didnt work it was their own fault for not paying enough! Legend has it she cursed the town and said the day she died a storm would destroy the town and kill fisherman and sailors out at sea. Many people thought she was a fraud but just in case hung witch stones at their doors (stone with a hole right through them) to keep her away. Legend also has it that the day she died was a beautiful calm day but by tea time the worse storm the town had ever seen hit and destroyed property and killed many fishermen out at sea.

There is a book with the full legend in it but thats the rough story

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: SallyM
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 11:58 AM

Yes I would like the tune, as I can only remember the chorus line. Are you able to post it to this thread ?
Sally

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 02:37 AM

having trouble with midis and MP3's for posting at the moment - dont know why - however if you want it I have a demo CD that I can post to you if you PM me your address - its got about 11 of my songs on

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Darlodave
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 01:48 AM

This is an old thread, don't know if it will reach you, Red & White Rabbit but I'd like a copy also please. Had great trouble getting the lyrics to your song, 8th Wreck, which you did write down for me and I rec'd via Jim McD recently at Whitby this year. Tried to get a copy of the CD also, Behind Close Doors but without luck. Love to hear from you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 11:50 AM

Hi Dave

if you want to pm me you address can send you a copy of CD I did in kitchen - quality terrible but it will give you an idea of tunes I will also print out lyrics - I think there are about 12 songs on it.

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mad Maggie the Witch ??
From: Darlodave
Date: 16 Sep 09 - 01:29 AM

Hello Sue
Have sent a pm to you with my address.
Many Thanks
Dave