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01 Mar 03 - 11:31 AM (#901100) Subject: DTADD: An Owen Hand song From: belfast I have just read on another thread.(Click Here) of the sad death of Owen Hand. Many years ago I had for a short time an LP of stuff recorded at the Edinburgh Folk Festival. One track that I recall was a song which I hope and believe was by Owen Hand, "When You're Going Out For The First Time". Below are the words and tune as well as I can remember them. I'd be grateful about any additions or corrections. When You're Going Out For The First Time (Owen Hand) When you're going out for the first time They'll tell you of trips that they've made Of the sweat and the work and the loneliness And you'll feel just a little afraid. They'll tell you of whales that they've harpooned Of pay-offs they've had in the past Of the men who have died from the boredom And the trips that were to be their last. When you ask them why they go whaling And why from their families they part They smile and they say "It's the money, son," Or "Man is a hunter at heart." It won't be the first time you've worked hard You've mined and you've dug ditches too And how can there be such loneliness With five hundred men in the crew As you lie awake on the first night You hope that it won't be too tough The roll of the ship puts you off to sleep You'll find out for your self soon enough. X:1 T: When You're Going Out For The First Time M:3/4 Q:140 K:C G|"C"ccc|cdc|"G"BG2|z2G|"F"AFF|FGA|"C"G3|z2E|"Dm"FDD|DGF|"Am"E2C|A,2B,|"C"Ccc|"Em"BGE|"Dm"D3|"G"z2 |
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01 Mar 03 - 12:47 PM (#901145) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: Malcolm Douglas I've been trying to find that song for years. Handicapped, rather, by the fact that the person I half-learnt it from is dead, used a different title (The First Time) and first line (Going out with the Fleet for the first time, I think it was), and never told me who wrote it! Many thanks for this. I seem to recall another verse, perhaps, ending Or remember your own mother's face. Does that ring any bells? |
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01 Mar 03 - 01:55 PM (#901190) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: belfast Yes, it does ring a loud bell. There is another verse and that line is part of it but it has disappeared from my memory. I came across the song at age when, if I liked a song, I could hear it a couple of times and it would lodge in my brain. I thought they would stay there forever so I seldom wrote anything down. So I wouldn't guarantee the accuracy of the words I have given, or even of the melody. My mind may have done its own internal folk process. And I'd be interested if anyone else can remember the LP that I mentioned. I can't recall another track. |
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01 Mar 03 - 03:51 PM (#901242) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: GUEST,MCP Jim Mageean used to sing it (and I remembered it as "When you're going to sea for the first time"). If you think there's some missing I could ask him. Mick |
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01 Mar 03 - 03:57 PM (#901243) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: GUEST,MCP And when I think about it maybe Ian Woods too. (Also I seem to recall When you lie in your bunk on the first night). Mick |
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10 Mar 03 - 12:15 PM (#906618) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: belfast Refreshing this in the hope that someone will come up with the missing verse. |
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26 Jun 03 - 11:20 PM (#973083) Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIRST TIME (Archie Fisher) From: delphinium As mentioned on another thread, this song is Archie Fisher's "The First Time," and Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise recorded it on "For Foul Day and Fair" (Folk Legacy Records FSS-69, 1978). Here are the lyrics and other comments copied from the notes with that album: THE FIRST TIME This song was written by Archie Fisher about the feelings of his friend Owen Hand on his first trip on board a whaling ship out of Leith. Another verse which only came to us after the recording goes as follows: It won't be the first time you've worked hard, For you've mined and you've dug ditches too, And how can there be any loneliness, With three hundred men in the crew? * * * * * When you're sailin' out for the first time, Men will tell you of trips that they've made, Of the work and the sweat and the loneliness, And you feel just a little afraid. They'll tell you of whales that they've harpooned, And of payoffs they've had in the past, Of the men who have died, and the boredom, And of trips that were to be their last. They say when you've been out at six months In that cold and desolate place, That you won't be able to sleep at night Or remember your own mother's face. So when you ask them why they go whaling, And why from their families they part, Oh, they may shrug and say, "It's the money," Or that "man is a hunter at heart." When you lie in your bunk on the first night, And you hope that it won't be too tough, And the roll of the ship puts you off to sleep, You'll find out for yourself soon enough. (repeat first verse) |
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27 Jun 03 - 08:08 AM (#973234) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: Bat Goddess Kendall sings the song beautifully -- as can be heard on the radio piece that Raquel Maria Dillon recently did on the April Portsmouth Shanty Session. It was recently rebroadcast on "Here and Now" on public radio and can be heard at http://www.here-now.org/shows/2003/06/20030624.asp (Scroll down to "Sea Shantys" or at http://www.nhpr.org/view_content/4744/ for the original airing on NH Public Radio. Linn |
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29 Jun 03 - 03:06 PM (#974289) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: delphinium Does anyone know of other recordings of this song? Or the Edinburgh Folk Festival LP belfast mentions? |
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30 Jun 03 - 05:05 AM (#974506) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Owen Hand song From: belfast Good to get the correct words and provenance of this song. |