The following information and lyrics were generously shared with me by Ian Dye, the writer of the song:

The "Favell" was the last Bristol-built steel Barque, launched in 1895 from the Albion Dockyard in Bristol. The yard still exists with it's dry-dock, but the rest has become a Marina. It is situated eight miles from the mouth of the River Avon, which enters into the Bristol Channel.

The dockyard was owned by Charles Hill and Co, as was the "Favell" which was named after one of his daughters. Charles Hill operated shipping from Bristol under the Bristol City Line up until the 1970s, providing services to New York,Halifax and Canada etc.

The Favell came close to disaster off the Cornish coast, narrowly missing the Runnelstone Rock in Mounts Bay on her voyage to the breakers.

This song was recorded by The Harry Browns of Bristol, Ian's former band, on Rolling Home to Bristol (CD) and was written by him.


THE BARQUE FAVELL OF BRISTOL
(Ian Dye)

Named after Favell, a lady so fine
Of steel and rivets, a ship of the line
Across the ocean with grain in her hold
Australia to Denmark, so we were all told

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell

Through wind and rain it's onward we speed
Homeward bound from the Antipodes
In eighty days a new record to hold
Say's Captain Sten Lille, her master so bold

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell

Down the Bristol Channel she sailed away
With Captain Sten Lille around Mounts Bay
For the Runnelstone Buoy, keep a sharp lookout
We're close to the shore so we'll turn her about

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell

From the Albion Dockyard in old Bristol Town
She sailed the oceans the world around
She is remembered by the toll of her bell
As many a Bristol ship-lover will tell

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell

From Bristol to Helsingfors she was sold
And there she stayed until she was old
Outward bound for the breakers yard
Captain Sten Lille had to sail her so hard

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell

Sail on, sail on, with a song in her shrouds
Full and by, full and by, with her bow dipping down
We're homeward bound from old Melbourne town
Farewell, Favell, Farewell