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Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)

07 May 97 - 05:12 PM (#4957)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BLUENOSE (Michael Stanbury)
From: Bob Landry

Here is a contribution as thanks for all the wonderful songs I'm finding in DT. The Bluenose was the fastest working fishing schooner of her day. She met an ignominious end when was stripped of her masts and converted to motorized freighter before being shipwrecked off the coast of Haiti in the 1930's. During the 1960's, the Oland Brewing Company of Halifax, brewers of Oland Schooner Lager Beer, commissioned a full-scale replica, Bluenose II, to be built in the original shipyard (Smith and Rhuland of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia) and used this tune in their beer commercials (I hope that does not disqualify it as a folksong). The Bluenose II will never race in deference to the Bluenose. Stan Rogers referred to the Bluenose II in Fisherman's Wharf "The last lies done in the harbour sun with her picture on a dime". You can go to Halifax today, tour the bluenose II and even sail on her on daily harbour tours.

The only recording of this song that I know about is a compilation tape ("Sounds of Nova Scotia" I think) that was available at the Halifax airport at one time.

THE BLUENOSE
(Michael Stanbury)

Now, I've got a story to tell
Of a ship that served her people well.
Well The Bluenose was her name
And she never lost a race.
She won herself a place
In the history of Canada.
Blow, winds, blow, for The Bluenose is sailing once again.

CHORUS: Beat to the windward once more,
And up, sheath the fors'l as before,
For your country will be proud once again
Of the ship and the men,
Who sail her smartly into victory,
Blow, winds, blow,
For the Bluenose is sailing once again.

Built in a Nova Scotia town
Where the shipwrights had earned the world's renown.
Down in Lunenburg they built
A living legend out of skill sweat and pride.
And the sailed her masterfully
'Til she died.
Blow, winds, blow, for The Bluenose is sailing once again.

Chorus (2x), (second time: last line 3x)


07 May 97 - 08:00 PM (#4962)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Schwarer

I have a song that suggests that American ship (boat) Columbia beat the Bluenose. See "Steady as She Goes" Bob S.


08 May 97 - 11:53 AM (#4994)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Landry

Bob S. - You're right, sort of.

Oct/21 Bluenose defeats Elsie 2-0 Oct/22 Bluenose defeats Henry Ford 2-1 Oct-Nov/23 Bluenose defeats Columbia 1-0 then withdraws from the series amid controversy. 1930 Bluenose loses 0-2 to Gertrude L. Thebaud (Captain Walters declares the second loss was due to his own error and did not reflect Bluenose's ability) Oct/31 Bluenose defeats Gertrude L. Thebaud 2-1 Oct/38 Bluenose defeats Gertrude L. Thebaud 3-2 1939 Bluenose defends the fisherman's trophy for the last time

Bob


08 May 97 - 12:09 PM (#4995)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Landry

I should add that folks in Lunenburg and in Nova Scotia base their claims on the theory that Bluenose participated in only six serious competitions. The 1930 series is not recognized - hence the claim to never having lost.

Bob L.


08 May 97 - 07:03 PM (#5005)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: ron k

Good post, Bob. As a fellow "bluenoser" though, I feel we should also find the other Bluenose songs. I know of at least two of them - Stan Rogers' and then there is one I used to sing as a kid, however I can not remember it now. It seems to me it was on TV locally to fill a break in programming. Any hints?

Also, while on the subject, there is a Bluenose III being built in the near future, if not started already, also being built to the same specifications as the original.


09 May 97 - 02:51 PM (#5029)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Landry

Ron - If you were a kid in the 1960's look at the first posting. Those are the words to the Oland's Schooner TV commercial. If there was another, I'm not aware of it. BTW I left NS in '68, returned in '73 and have been away again since '80 so I could have missed the one you're talking about.

Bob S - I've looked in DT and done searches through WebCrawler and Excite for "Steady As She Goes" without success. Where might we find those lyrics?

Thanks, Bob L


10 May 97 - 04:10 PM (#5054)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Schwarer phidea@cris.com

Mea culpa. I really messed up. The song I was referring to is "Columbia" From The Starboard List recording "Songs of the Tall Ships".

the song is credited to Fred Starner. Record is from Adelphi Records Inc.;P.O. Box 288; Silver Spring, MD. I do not know if they are still in existance.

Liner notes: The Columbia, one of Gloucester's most famous fishing schooners, was a contender in the international fisherman's races and was also the last vessel to sail salt fishing from Glouscester. On August 24th, 1927, she was lost off Sable Island in a gale, taking with her her captain Lew Wharton and 21 brave fishermen. At 2 AM on News Years day, 1928, the Canadian trawler 'Venosta" tangled her gear in the wreckage of the "Columbia" and pulled the Columbia, ghost like, to the surface-when the cables parted, she sank slowly back to her watery grave.-------......

The reference to Bluenose is in the song lyric. If you can't find a copy of the record I guess it would be legal for me to copy my extra record,and then scrap it. Still only two copies.

Bob Schwarer


13 May 97 - 07:17 PM (#5179)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: thedocker@Bigfoot .com

Stan Rogers wrote a fab song about the Bluenose you can get the lyrics fron the Stanrogers web page all the best Phil


13 May 97 - 07:23 PM (#5180)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From:

I think McGinty does Michael Stanbury's song on their CD and I have Stan Rogers songbook but there is a line of a chorus running through my brain that doesn't seem to fit either.

Blue.. nose.. the ocean knows her name. (I put in the dots to indicate the first 2 syllables are drawn out.)

I don't seem to see it in any books I have and am looking at some Oscar Brand stuff on the web but as yet have found nothing. I will post again if I get something.

Frank Phillips


15 May 97 - 03:10 PM (#5263)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: LaMarca

Was Starboard List the group with David Jones, Peter Marsden and a third person, with John Townley joining sometime later? If so, David had a CD re-release of their first 2 albums at a festival I was at recently. You might try Camsco Music to get it.


15 May 97 - 03:36 PM (#5267)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bert Hansell

Frank,
I've got some Oscar Brand vinyl at home. As soon as I get my turntable working again I'll transcribe some for you.

Bert.


15 May 97 - 07:46 PM (#5278)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Barry Finn

LaMarca, David Jones was in the Starboard List, the third person was Charles O'Hegarty, of whom I don't have much info on. Peter, at least about 10 yrs. ago was in Boston aboard his boat the 'Mimi'. John has been performing recently (a couple of yrs. ago) with Marek Jurakski a shipmate aboard the Polish 140'? wishbone schooner 'Zawisza Czarny'. David is performing with the very talented Heather Wood (of Young Tradition fame) and Tom Gibney (of The Angel Band) as Poor Old Horse. David rercorded around the late (?) 70's with Starboard List on Adelphi Records, as did John Townley and his wife Christine.


16 May 97 - 12:32 PM (#5296)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: LaMarca

David Jones now has the Starboard List albums together on CD. Jerry Epstein, who worked with David as part of the Bermuda Quadrangle and does Revels stuff with him, tried to introduce Poor Old Horse as "The Middle-aged Tradition" at NEFFA, but was threatened with grievious bodily harm by Heather...

I have one of the Adelphi LPs, but I regret not picking up the CD from David last week...I don't know what label the CD is on.


16 May 97 - 10:20 PM (#5316)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bo Vandenberg

The CD is called _The Starboard List_ it includes both "Songs of the Tall Ships" and "Cruising Round Yarmouth". Its a killer CD that I recommend to everyone. Its published by a group called GENES COMPACT DISC COMPANY P.O. Box 7778 Silver Spring, MD. 20907. Its licensed from Adelphi Records.

Truly one of my favourite CD's.

bo


16 May 97 - 10:28 PM (#5317)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bo

Btw. If someone sees David Jones, Peter Marston, or Charles O'Hegarty could they please pass on a thank you from way up here in Kitchener Ontario.

Tell em there is a burly guy in Ontario singing the songs they taught him on "THE STARBOARD LIST" and having a great old time.

bo


28 May 97 - 10:23 PM (#5882)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: ron k

Thanks Frank. I'm sure that is the one I was thinking of. Sure would like to find the full lyric. ( For a while I was thinking I was hallucinating, and even asked some knowlegable people about it with no luck.)


20 Jan 00 - 12:01 AM (#165612)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: GUEST,David MacMillan, thedaver@bconnex.net

The song "The Bluenose" with lyric Blue..Nose.. the ocean knows her name Sailors know how proud a ship waS she Bluenose leaning in the wind Racing every wave on the sea

The song was originally recorded by the Fernwood Trio on Sparton Records album #221 about 1962. It was written by D Martins(Dave I think), although the melody may have been written someone else. The arrangement was done by the Trio and was a much improved version on the origial chord structure. Later the Irish Rovers recorded essentially the same arrangement as the Fernwood Trio created.

The members of the Trio were David MacMillan,Ted Parrott and Bob Cunningham all of Oshawa Ontario. Album #221 was entitled "The Bluenose and Other Folk Songs". The Trio also recorded an album previous to the above, named "Hootin' Holiday" Sparton #217


20 Jan 00 - 05:43 AM (#165658)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Skipjack K8

Cor, that brought back some memories for this Limey.

When I was a deckie learner, I got caught up in the septic Bi-Centenary Tall Ships Race in '76, and shipped aboard the Sir Winston Churchill in Boston Mass. We poked all round Cape Cod, Woods Hole and Buzzards Bay, whilst all the other Tall Ships headed across the pond. We put into Halifax, and I saw my first Grand Banks Schooner, Bluenose II.

Later, my father told me of the fame of the original Bluenose, and her turn of speed being put down to an unintentional underwater bulge build into one side of her bow.

We berthed near her, and I clambered aboard and started jawing with some of her crew. I was told her mains'l (on the aft mast, schooner fashion) is the biggest single sail in the world, but I still haven't resolved that one.

She accompanied us on our departure, and my recollection was that we raced, which we surprisingly won, but we did have another 30' on deck. I suspect she had her sheets eased to give the Limejuice Ship a chance.

To get to the point, I read in the excellent UK mag 'Classic Boat' that a new schooner has been launched in BC, called the Pacific Grace, on the same lines as Bluenose. She is to be used for sail training.

Finally, the best archive film footage of these beautiful vessels is contained in the epic Spencer Tracey tearjerker 'Captains Courageous' which was made during WW2 (I think!) And just to keep it musical, Spencer plays a hurdy-gurdy!

Best regards

Skipjack


20 Jan 00 - 09:23 AM (#165687)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: kendall

Probably the most impressive movie I have ever seen was at Epcot. The Canadian exhibition..I was standing on the deck of the Bluenose, Stan Rogers was singing, I was facing the bow, men were working the schooner. I turned around, and there was the helmsman. I'd never seen a 360 degree motion picture before, and, it was quite a treat.


20 Jan 00 - 03:18 PM (#165810)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Bob Landry

To use an old Nova Scotian expression, Kendall, that must have been "some nice". I got to stand on the deck of the Bluenose II a few times at Privateer's Wharf in Halifax. Alas, I never set sail on 'er and Stan was nowhere to be seen.

Bob


20 Jan 00 - 04:54 PM (#165834)
Subject: RE: The Bluenose
From: Jon W.

By the way if anyone is still looking for "Steady as She Goes" I got a copy for Christmas and I know for a fact my wife bought it for me at the Smithsonian (Museum of American History gift shop) last summer. It's a great CD too. I suspect it would be available on line. Catalog # is Collector Records 1928CD. Collector Records, 1604 Arbor View Rd., Silver Spring, MD 29092


07 Feb 10 - 04:56 PM (#2832455)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: GUEST

Charles O'Hegarty died last Friday!


08 Feb 10 - 03:30 PM (#2833217)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: GUEST,ollaimh

the song was written as a olands commercial at first. michael stanbury is an olands grandson through his mother amadita oland- stanbury. however the commercial was so popular he wrote a whole song to the tune.i believe he recoreded it with his halifax group called the townsmen. the townsmen used to get together every few years in halifax and do a gig so you might still find their recordings in nova scotia.they were a fine band.

i think the tune is exceptional. it is fresh and origional and avoids the usual folk cliches.


11 Feb 10 - 12:19 AM (#2835756)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: Anglo

Unnamed GUEST of a couple of posts ago, if you read this, do you have any more information about Charlie O'Hegarty's death? A number of his old friends in the US would like to know what happened, and so far have been unable to find any information at all.

I started a thread on Charlie HERE, and if you, or anyone else, knows anything about Charlie's passing would you please be so kind as to post some details there.

Thank you


23 Mar 11 - 05:07 AM (#3119578)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: GUEST,Andrew

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to track down a song about The Bluenose too, but I can't recall the name of the song or many of the lyric...but this is one of the lines if memory serves: "...as she moves up the harbour, sailing through the mist and spray toward the sea...".

Any help would be great.

Feel free to email me directly at: aqlemon@telus.net

Thanks,

Andrew


23 Mar 11 - 10:39 AM (#3119775)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: GUEST,Sara O'Keeffe

I'd forgotten about the version of 'Bluenose' that Dave mentions. I learned it at guitar lessons in about 1972 in South-West London. I'd love to add this song to my repetoire again, especially as I now teach & perform a little myself. The lyrics I remember are:

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she.
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.

In the town of Lunenberg down Nova Scotia way
In 1921 on a windy day
A sailing ship was born, Bluenose was her name,
Will we ever see her kind again?

Her sails were snowy white,
They strained against her mast,
. . . . . . as she went flying past,
And from the very first, Bluenose loved to run,
She loved the smell of sea and the sun.

.....................
.....................
But in the Caribbean one dark and stormy night,
She ran into a reef and died.

It would be great if anyone/Dave could please fill in the blanks/add missing verses for me.
It's amazing I've remembered this much since the age of 12 - the power of Folk I guess!


26 Sep 12 - 09:31 AM (#3410412)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: Sandy Mc Lean

This weekend the Bluenose II will be re-launched in Lunenburg after an almost total re-build. Michael Stanbury and his old group The Townsmen have re-united after many years, to perform their song at the launching.

Halifax Herald Story


23 Sep 19 - 12:15 AM (#4009983)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: GUEST,Satyajay Mandal

You all can view its notation here at https://www.irish-folk-songs.com/blog/why-i-left-facebook#comments if you wish


09 May 22 - 05:42 PM (#4141340)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: Joe Offer

The version posted by Sara O'Keeffe was written by DOUG SKILLING & DAVIT MARTIN.

Can somebody post complete lyrics?

Ah, here it is: http://gestsongs.com/24/bluenose.htm

BLUENOSE
(Doug Skilling and David Martins)

In the town of Lunenburg down Nova Scotia way,
In nineteen twenty-one on a windy day,
A sailing ship was born, Bluenose was her name,
Will we ever see her kind again?

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she;
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.

Her sails were snowy white,
they strained against the mast,
The spray blew high as she went rolling past;
And from the very first old Bluenose liked to run,
She liked the smell of sea and the sun.

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she;
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.

For twenty-five long years
she ruled the Northern sea,
Racing like a queen on the tide;
And on the Caribbean one dark and stormy day,
She ran into a reef and died.

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she;
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.

Now just the other day, down Nova Scotia way,
In Lunenburg they christened a ship;
Just like the old Bluenose, to the very name,
The Bluenose lives and sails again.

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she;
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.

Bluenose, the ocean knows her name,
Sailors know how proud a ship was she;
Bluenose, leaning in the wind,
Racing every wave of the sea.
Racing every wave of the sea.


09 May 22 - 08:25 PM (#4141357)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Bluenose (Michael Stanbury)
From: meself

Here's Ryan's Fancy's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OI6l2SgeqM