Lyr Req: Boat Song: Now our steady boat is ready

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 05:31 AM

A big thank you, Susanne, even before listening again I know that you have made a big improvement. Soay sounds like a great idea for those phonemes there.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 06:31 PM

Sorry, I forgot: The first four lines are the chorus.

Subject: Lyr Add: BOAT SONG (Traditional Scottish)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 06:25 PM

An improved but by no means perfect version. Any corrections welcome!

BOAT SONG
(Trad)

Now our steady boat is ready, get her into motion
Let him steer who knows no fear upon the trackless ocean
Fetch the cup and fill it up and to this toast responding
The health of all, both great and small, now hopelessly desponding

We'll merry be, when out at sea we'll have a song from Rory
Bein' a hand, my gallant man, there is our candles(?) for 'ee
Banish fear, our course is clear, we proudly keep our bearing
And safely land on yonder strand although the feats be daring

The winds may blow, the tempest roar, the crashing waves blow over
For 's then my boy when passing Soay we bless the tidy rover
With crew so brave upon the wave to fear I am a stranger
I love the hand that can command a boat amid such danger

To Mull we'll go, to Mull we'll go, that island worth adoring
To Mull we'll go, the billows blow and seas around us pouring
'Mid flying foam I feel at home, at sea I'm in my glory
Our crew and boat, the best afloat, her name shall live in story

Soay is, I found, a small island in the Cuillin Sound between Skye and Rhum, and seemed a likely candidate for what is sung here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 07:23 AM

What comes now is not yet a lyrics addition, it is a very tentative and in many parts plainly wrong transcription from my old tape of the McCalmans singing the song. All parts in parentheses are mainly transliterations without any claim to being correct or to make any sense. Even in other parts I put in 'best guesses'. It's nothing but a start for someone with better English and a better recording. Maybe I come back with a better version next week.

Wolfgang

Boat song

Now our steady boat is ready, get her into motion
Let him steer who knows no fear upon the trackless ocean
Fetch the cup and fill it up and to this toast responding
The health of all, both great and small, now hopelessly desponding.

We'll merry be when out at sea we'll have a song from Rory
(been a hand) my gallant men there is a ..........story
banish fear, our course is clear, we proudly keep on bearing
and softly land on yonder strand although the feats be daring.

The wind may blow, the tempest roar, the crushing waves blow over,
(force then my boy when pass his eye) we bless the tidy rover
with gruel so grave upon the wave to fear I am a stranger
I love the lad that can command a boat amidst such danger.

To Mull (sounds like 'mow') we go, to Mull we go that island worth a dory
To Mull we go, the billows blow and seize around (a spory),
mid flying foam I feel at home, at sea I'm in my glory,
a crew and boat, the best afloat, the name shall live in story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Wolfgang
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 05:02 AM

I think I'll give it another try with this new start. Thanks, Susanne. I only have in taped in medium quality.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 08:57 PM

A little bit more:
Now our steady boat is ready, get her into motion
Let him steer who knows no fear upon the trackless ocean
Fetch the cup and fill it up and to this toast responding
The health of all, both great and small,

That's where I gave up years ago, though I seem to remember the song wasn't too difficult. It's on The McCalmans' live album 'House Full', which my record player refused to play. I've since got a copy on CD, so I may have another go soon, but don't hold your breath, anyone!

Subject: Now my steady boat is ready
From: Wolfgang
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 05:41 AM

One more songs in which the McCalmans' singing beats me. The title is 'Boat song' but there are so many boat songs that I choose the first line as thread title.

Now my steady boat is ready
get her into motion
.......ocean.

Does anyone have more of the lyrics? Thanks in advance.

Wolfgang