The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14846   Message #241486
Posted By: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
12-Jun-00 - 12:03 PM
Thread Name: Northumbrian Fishing Songs
Subject: Lyr Add: The Auld Fisher's Last Wish^^
I wonder if this is the Fisherman's Farewell but with different name? at least is sounds the same topic...

The Auld Fisher's Last Wish
tune- My Love is Newly Listed

The morn is grey, and green the brae, the wind is freae the wast;
Before the gale the snow-white clouds are drivin', light and fast;
The airly sun is glintin' forth, owre hill, an' dell, an' plain,
And Coquet's streams are glitt'rn as they rin frae muir to main.

My Sun is set; my eyne are wet; cauld poortith now is mine,
Nae mair I'll range by Coqauetside, and thraw the gleesome line;
Nae mair I'll see her bonnie streams in spring-bright raiment drest,
Save in the dream that stirs the heart, when the weary e'e's at rest.

Oh! were my limbs as ance they were, to jink across the green;
And! were my heart as light again as sometimes it has been;
And could my fortunes blink again, as erst when youth was sweet,
Then Coquet-hap what might beside--we'd no be lang to meet.

Or had I but the Cushat's wing, where'er I list to flee,
And wi' a wish might wend my way owre hill, an' dale, an' lea;
'Tis there I'd fauld that weary wing; there gaze my latest gaze;
Content to see thee once again--then sleep beside thy Braes!

-Thomas Doubleday, From Fisher's Garland, 1841,In: Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings....,
Thomas and George Allan, NewcastleUpon Tyne, 1891.