The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126659   Message #2850657
Posted By: doc.tom
26-Feb-10 - 07:23 AM
Thread Name: 'New' Sea Songs & Shanties & Nautical Songs
Subject: RE: 'New' Sea Songs & Shanties & Nautical Songs
"The Farewell Shanty; words by Mervyn Vincent (performed by The Boarding Party and Shanty Jack)"

Mervyn didn't write the Farewell Shanty. The words were found by Alan Molyneux in a book in Plymouth Library - he set it to music. He gave it to Mervyn in 1964/5. Mervyn introduced it into the local extant singing tradition in North Cornwall (he was particularly enthused by the possibilities for bass parts). From thence it went into the folk revival - largely via Collins & Mageean.

TomB