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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Lesben@MT.net Lyr/Tune Req: Ellan Vannen (38) RE: Ellen Vannen 11 Feb 97


Here's the words as I heard them sung by an English girl about 20 years ago. I don't know how to transmit the tune. It's about the Isle of Man between England and Ireland. The opening line refers to mountains which the company's ships are named after. I believe the island is also referred to as "Mona's Isle" in myth and legend. The date in the end verse may have gone through the folk process and be incorrect.

Snaefell, Tinwald, Ben McCree,
14 ships have sailed the sea
Proudly bearing a Manx name,
Now there's one will never again
Now there's one will never again

Chorus: (sung after each verse)
Oh Ellen Vannen of the Isle of Mann company
Oh Ellen Vannen, Lost in the Irish sea

At one AM in Ramsay Bay,
Captain Tare was heard to say,
"Our contract is to deliver the mail,
In this rough weather we must not fail"

With her crew of 21 Manx men
Her passengers Liverpool business men
Farewell to Mona's Isle, farewell
This little ship is bound for hell

Ocean liners sheltered from the storm
While Ellen Vannen on the sea was borne
Her hold was full and battened down
As she sailed toward far Liverpool town

Just a mile from the Bar light ship (a signal buoy ?)
Ellen Vannen by a wave was hit
She sank in the waters of Liverpool bay
And there she lies until this day

Few Manx men now remember
The third day of the month November
The terrible storm of 1909
When Ellen Vannen sailed for the very last time


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