Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Gordon Bok)

Subject: Lyr Req: Sabin the woodfitter
From: Kelticgrasshopper
Date: 25 Oct 06 - 06:53 PM

Hi all haven't been here in an age. I am looking for the lyrics, (poem) Sabin the Woodfitter. It is recited to the music Glenco March and my hubby and I want to add it to our "song list" Can't find the lyrics anywhere. I have tried Gordon Bok's site..

Thanks all
Meg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sabin the woodfitter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Oct 06 - 03:01 AM

Hi - I don't have time to transcribe it now. It's called "Saben, the Woodfitter" (note spelling), and it's on the North Wind's Clearing CD.
-Joe-

Subject: ADD: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 12:51 AM

Saben, the Woodfitter
(Gordon Bok)

When Saben the Woodfitter came for the last time
west on the western ocean,
he came alone.
And he was an old man then,
and the boat was old.

And so for the last time the black boat ran,
swung to the westward night on day,
needing neither helm nor sail-trimming,
the wind behind her.

And then one day the old man looked,
and he saw the water coming into her.
So then by the day he'd bail
and by the night he'd sleep with his hand on her keelson,
to see when the water came.

And, sleeping, he heard the bell sounding the watch,
and he dreamed about the boat.
He dreamed he saw her building,
and he dreamed he saw her fishing,
and he dreamed he saw her dying in the sea.

And he rose and he went out on deck, and he said
to the old black boat:
"Now, old boat, I don't care for myself if ever we reach the shore or not,
but you have served me well and kindly all these many years,
and I don't want you dying in the sea.

"So I make a bargain with you:
If you will hold yourself together just a few days more,
until we reach the land,
I promise you that I'll take you apart
as well as I ever put you together,
plank off plank and timber from timber,
and you'll never serve a man again."

And the black boat said:
"Now, old man,
gladly have we served each other all these many years,
and gladly would I serve thee for a few days more."

And they say she took him home then, put him on the shore.
She gave him her timbers to build his house,
her plank for his wall and her keel for his rooftree,
and she wrapped him up in her old brown sail
and laid him down,
sang him to sleep
while the winter wind came off the western ocean:

East wind's rain and north wind's clearing,
Cold old southwest wind's a fair wind horns.

One bell, two bells, don't go grieving,
All our bad times past and blown alee.

Stars thy compass, cloud thy canvas,
Rock thy keelson, wind thy course to steer.

One bell, two bells, don't go grieving,
All our bad times past and blown alee.

From the songbook Time and the Flying Snow: Songs of Gordon Bok, Folk-Legacy Records, 1977

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: Kelticgrasshopper
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 08:29 AM

THANK YOU!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: karen k
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 10:32 AM

Good job, Joe! You beat me to it.

k

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: GUEST,Bryan
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 07:38 PM

Hi - thanks for the lyrics - now does anyone know how Gordon Bok tuned his guitar for this one?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 10:08 AM

Sounds like a dropped D...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saben, the Woodfitter (Bok)
From: kendall
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 10:35 AM

He often drops his e down to d on his regular 6 string, and he always tunes his 12 down to C. That requires very heavy strings that are custom made. In Kagan and the wind, when he hits that lowest note it sounds like the crack of doom.