Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)

Subject: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 08:55 AM

Would someone be kind enough to post the lyrics to this wonderful poignant song sung by Kimber's Men as well as author info?

Thanks,
David dlB
Gloucester, MA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: GUEST,Dead Horse
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:29 AM

Try this
Not lyrics, but a damn good song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:41 AM

Been there done that. Not only can my American ears not decipher %100 of the lyrics but the wma file cuts out before the last verse finishes. Thanks though!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:44 AM

great song, who singing?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:58 AM

Just to show that I am making an effort with this here is what I have managed to get so far:

Don't Take the Heroes
by Niel & Roz Kimber


They can't believe it in Penzance town
They've heard that the Solomon Browne has gone down
The Union Star wrecked in the swell
With all lives lost. Eight heroes as well.

   But don't take the heroes who answer the call
   Don't take the heroes return them to shore
   They're winning the battle for lives lost at sea
   But don't take the heroes
   Don't take the heroes
   They're fathers and brothers and sons just like me

He stands alone. The ??? design
We shall not take fathers ?????????? this time
??? valiant words still ring in his ears
The salty spray meets his salt tears

There on the shelf his photograph stands
She's holding a medal instead of his hands
But medals can't grasp or wipe away tears
Or care for a mother in her golden years

The small boy he said, "What did Daddy do?
And why do I live here all alone with you?"
She showed him the medal. Said, "Stand proud and tall.
When you're a man you'll answer the call".

The ???? families all torn apart
(here is where the wma file cuts out)

The song recounts the tragic loss of the RNLI crew

Solomon Browne in 1981.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:00 AM

Damn! Wrong link...sorry! It should be Solomon Browne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: oldhippie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:26 AM

The line in the second verse sounds like
"We shall not take fathers and vessels this time"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 08:51 AM

[bump]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 08:56 PM

Here's what I hear:

CHORUS: But don't take the heroes who answer the call.
Don't take the heroes. Return them to shore.
You're winning the battle for lives lost at sea,
But don't take the heroes.
Don't take the heroes.
They're fathers and brothers and sons just like me.

VERSE 2: He stands alone 'cause it's God's design.
He shall not take fathers and vessels this time.
Trevelyan's words still ring in his ears.
The salty spray meets his salt tears.

VERSE 3: There on the shelf his photograph stands.
She's holding a medal instead of his hand.
But medals can't caress, can't wipe away tears,
Can't care for a mother in her golden years.

* * *
I can't explain what these words are supposed to mean, though. Who is the chorus addressed to? God? Then who is the "he" in verse 2? One of the survivors, apparently. But then, with no warning, the scene shifts, and in verse 3 "his" seems to refer to one of the deceased.

Also, verse 1 seems to set the scene after the disaster has already happened. So whence the future tense "shall not take"? Are these the words that "still ring in his ears" but were spoken before the disaster?

It's too confusing. What a mess!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: oldhippie
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 07:39 AM

Who's "Trevelyan"? First time I listened I thought it was "Price Valiant", but I agree it's hard to make out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 10:12 AM

Trevelyan Richards was the coxswain of the lifeboat, as it explains in the article that Feadan provided link to above, which, by the way, was copied from Wikipedia: Penlee lifeboat disaster.

(If you like Wikipedia with advertising, try About.com!)

I guess you're supposed to know the story before you hear the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 01:07 PM

Why not email Joe Stead of Kimber's Men, I'm sure he'll be happy to supply the missing words and explanation/s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Feadan
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 09:05 AM

I already did (as an afterthought to posting here) and he did.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 09:36 AM

Feadan: Now that you have the complete correct lyrics, please post them here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes
From: GUEST,squeezeboxhp
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:39 PM

look up joe stead on the web and listen to all the traks on the cd of the same name= 25 great songs or buy the cd from joe

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T TAKE THE HEROES (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: Feadan
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 01:05 PM

Now that I have the the blessing of Kimber's Men to do this here the "real" lyrics to this fine song written by Neil(music) & Roz(lyrics) Kimber.



Don't Take the Heroes
Neil & Roz Kimber

They can't believe it in Penzance town
They've heard that the Soloman Browne has gone down
The Union Star wrecked in the swell
With all lives lost, eight heroes as well

   But don't take the heroes who answer the call
   Don't take the heroes return them to shore
   You're winning the battle for lives lost at sea
   But don't take the heroes, don't take the heroes
   They're fathers and brothers and sons just like me.

He stands alone, was it God's design?
We shall not take fathers and their sons this time
Trevelyan's words still ring in his ears
The salty spray meets his salt tears

There on the shelf his photograph stands
She's holding a medal instead of his hands
But medals can't caress can't wipe away tears
Can't care for a mother in her golden years

Small boy he said, "What did Daddy do?"
And why do I live here all alone with you
She showed him the medal, said "Stand proud and tall
And when you're a man you'll answer the call."

But gifts can't mend families all torn apart,
And ease the pain in each grieving heart
But although you've taken Trevelyan's men
We won't be beaten we'll fight you again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: GUEST,Roz Kimber
Date: 14 May 10 - 03:38 PM

Now that Feadan has finally got the full lyrics from Joe Stead I thought I out to explain the meanings. The chorus is aimed at a God who allows for so many lives to be lost including heroes. The first verse is the son of one of those lost. He too was serving the RNLI on the Solomon Browne but the coxwain would only take one from each family that night. Verse 2 is Trevelyan Richards (the coxwain) mother with whom he lived and Verse 3 is about a small boy whose father was lost. As the disaster was near Xmas collections were made throughout the country for the bereaved families hence the last verse. Also many relatives are still members of the RNLI willing to do such acts again. Hope it now has more meaning.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 10:21 AM

Thanks for the complete lyrics. This was sung, most beautifully, by a trio (two women and a man whose names i did not catch) at the after-concert sing at Mystic Saturday 12 June 2010.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 10:37 AM

Probably Joann Sousa and Rose with Colin or Peter. They do a beautiful version of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kim
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 05:45 PM

Definitely Joanne Souza and Rose with Colin, and as many others who could join in. They do lovely harmonies and it is a very powerful song.

Charley Noble, back from Mystic

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: GUEST,HMS WELLAND
Date: 25 Jul 22 - 05:26 PM

Thankyou for this explanation, the story is one of an awful tradegy & to create this poignant & heartwrenching song after such a bereavement is incredible.
It will ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten and the rest of us will remember how brave our RNLI volunteers are & support them accordingly with highly justified gratitude.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Take the Heroes (Neil & Roz Kimber)
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 27 Jul 22 - 02:56 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gUfzAvGsms Robert Whitworth

There is also their heroic story of the lifeboat Robert Whitworth.

The brig Visitor foundered in the bay of Robin Hood's Bay in November 1881, and after the hold was flooded with 5 feet of water, the crew abandoned ship into their lifeboat.

A telegraph was sent to launch the Whitby Lifeboat. The seas were too rough to launch from Whitby and row around the coastline, so a decision was made to haul Robert Whitworth the 6 miles overland to Robin Hood's Bay through blizzards and snow drifts, some as deep as 7 feet.

This took two hours to achieve using the combined strength of 18 horses and 200 men. When the lifeboat and crew arrived, they launched the boat and spent 90 minutes in effecting a rescue of the people still stranded at sea. All survived and a commemorative plaque now memorialises the rescue in the village of Robin Hood's Bay