That's a great song. The idea that when sailors or fishermen are drowned they turn into seagulls is a long-held belief on the east coast of Yorkshire, especially around Flamborough. To some extent it still exists. Several years ago my father went to a funeral of an old friend who had always maintained that, when he died, he wanted to turn into a seagull. As the coffin was being lowered into the grave, a huge flock of seagulls gathered overhead, flew around for several minutes and then disappeared.

It was this belief that led me to write the following, based on the aftermath of the 'Great Storm' of 1873.

Two Seagulls

The wind blows wild across the bay
Young woman stands alone
Upon the cliffs of Flamborough Head
Looking out to sea folorn.
And in the offing she can see
No boat to ease her pain
No sight of her young William Dunn
Come safely home again.

Two days it's been since he set sail
Two days now since the storm
That claimed so many boats and men
That February morn.
And as she raises up her eyes
A seagull overhead
Seems to cry, "My Annie dear
Your William Dunn is dead".

Then to the cliff edge she does run
And over she does go
Her body falling like a gull
Into the sea below.
But as the waves close o'er her head
Her soul now free does fly
And over Flamborough Head there glide
Two seagulls in the sky.