Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 07:06 PM

Nice work, Ross!

Thanks!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Desred
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 01:58 PM

Ross

Many, many thanks for giving me the correct lyrics. I just wish my hearing was better when I listen to the song, then may be I can get the right words myself!

Having played the CD again recently I thought - hey that's a great song! So I would like to sing it at my local clubs. Now I can.

Des

Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL TO THE CLAN LINE
From: GUEST,Ross Campbell
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 08:32 PM

FAREWELL TO THE CLAN LINE
Ron Baxter. Tune: Ross Campbell

When I think on the years that I spent a-sailing,
Thoughts of past times they drift back to me;
The dangers, the joys, the mayhem, the boredom,
The tears and the laughter, the sky and the sea.

CHORUS: But these times are long gone and so are the vessels;
The House Flag's been lowered for the very last time.
It's "Farewell" to Hector's and Union Castle,
To King and Bowater's and to the Clan Line.

For I've seen the sun rise o'er Mauritius in glory,
The Southern Cross 'gainst a black velvet sky;
I have sailed under the Mighty Hunter,
Seen golden sunsets off Ascension's Isle.

I've drifted for days with engine breakdowns,
Was nearly washed over in a gale in Biscay;
But I've roared, sung and drunk in mansions and shanties,
And once I was rolled in a dive in Marseilles,

I've tramped with crude oil from the Black Sea to the Baltic,
Run shiploads of apples from Tasmania's strand;
Oft to the Cape with general cargo,
Or newsprint for Charleston from Newfoundland.

I've seen sperm whale sounding, the albatross soaring,
Both the Auroras and Saint Elmo's fire;
The sun and moon's halos, flying fish gliding,
And I have heard dolphins sing like a choir.

"Farewell To The Clan Line" is the final song in a programme of the same name put together by RED DUSTER (Ross Campbell and Ron Baxter). We formed "Red Duster" in 1995 to bring the songs and stories of the British Merchant and Fishing Fleets to a wider audience.

"Farewell to the Clan Line" presents images in song, story and verse of what life was like on the ships of the British Merchant Fleet in the years just before its terminal decline, drawing on Ron's own experiences at sea with the Clan Line, songs he collected then and others he composed himself. A number of songs by contemporary song-writers fill out the picture.

CD available from the Chantey Cabin
Ross Campbell 18 August 2007

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:42 AM

No more 'stations' ere the day is dawning... Clan Line was (and still is) a Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Desred
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:35 AM

Many thanks Anglo - they seem to be the ones. It's amazing how you can listen over & over again to a song and every so often no matter how hard you try you cannot work out what those odd one or two words are for love or money!

Now to learn it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Anglo
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 06:10 PM

For I've seen the sun rise o'er Mauritius in glory

Was nearly washed over in a gale in Biscay



That's what I make of it, FWIW.

Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL TO THE CLAN LINE
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 04:13 AM

HI Snuffy

No its not the one you've mentioned. I've listened (and listened!) to the track and this is what I've got so far. I think I'm right on most words but there are at least 2 (indicated by xxxxx) that I cannot make out. Any help to identify those words would be much appreciated.

FAREWELL TO THE CLAN LINE

When I think on the years that I spent a-sailing
The thoughts of past times they drift back to me
The dangers, the choice, the mayhem, the boredom
The tears and the laughter, the sky and the sea

Chorus

But these times are all gone and so are the vessels
The house flags been lowered for the very last time
And it's farewell to Hectors and Union Castles
To King and Bowaters and to the Clan Line

For I've seen the sun rise o'er Mauritius and xxxxxxx
The Southern Cross 'gainst the black velvet sky
I've sailed under the mighty Hunters
In golden sunsets off Ascension's isle

I've drifted for days with engine breakdowns
Was nearly washed over in a gale in the xxxxx
But I've rolled some and drunk in mansions and shanty
And once I was rolled in a dive in Marseilles

I've tramped with crude oil from the Black Sea to the Baltic
And shipped loads of apples from Tasmania's strand
Off to the Cape with general cargo
Or newsprint for Charlestown from Newfoundland

I've seen sperm whales sounding, the albatross soaring
Both the auroras and Saint Elmo's fire
The sun and moon's halos, flying fish gliding
And I've heard it all from sing like a choir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 07:37 PM

Not this one I presume

Packed my bag, packed my grip I'm not coming back next trip
Bye bye Clan Line
No more scrubbing decks with soap, no more rolling 'round Good Hope
Bye bye Clan Line
No more 'stations' ere the day is dawning
No more 'stand byes' on a rainy morning
Good bye Second, goodbye Chief on the quay stands my relief
Clan line bye bye.      [etc,etc,etc]

to be found with many other merchant navy songs on this thread Lyr Req: Don't Work for the Baron Line

Subject: Lyr Req: Farewell to the Clan Line
From: Desred
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 12:24 PM

Has anyone got the lyrics for the above song, please? Sung by Red Duster on 'Beware of the Press Gang' !! CD. I'm struggling to confirm some of the words occasionally.