Lyr Add: The Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE MARTIN GREIGH
From: kendall
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 07:33 AM

I learned this from Taylor himself many years ago. It is not uncommon for a singer/songwriter to change words later from the original. In any case, the song itself is not different. It may well be "pay the toll" but, as a seagoing type, it makes more sense to me to sing it,"pay the tow".

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MARTIN GREIGH (Taylor Whiteside)
From: raredance
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 06:19 PM

I just listened to Taylor Whiteside singing the song on the CD "The Brandywine Singers, World-Class Folk" I came up with a couple significant differences from Kendall's above and a few minor articles and verb tense differences also. The version from that CD follows.

THE MARTIN GREIGH by Taylor Whiteside

My father is a fisherman,
Likewise my brothers too,
They follow in his footsteps
With a wooden point of view
While I the black sheep of the lot
Work safely on the shore
I keep account of what we've got,
Find ways to make it more.

Our mother left for Boston town
Some seven years ago
We sons receive a letter
Each Christmas time or so
And Father takes the dory then;
And round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in,
That's when the sorrow shows.

Refrain :
Four boats in the harbor
Where's the Martin Greigh?
She was due to fetch the Cutty Light
By 3 o'clock today
No sail on the horizon,
No vessel by the quay.
Four boats in the harbor
Where's the Martin Greigh?

"Now a man's the master of his heart"
As boys we all were told
He strains to play the hero's part
A captain brave and bold,
But, in the end must pay the toll
To feelings never shown
Trapped within this age old roll
He finds himself alone.

Rep. ref.

Now Father says that one fine day,
He'll take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay
That the coast and trades don't know.
And there he'll run the mains'l down
And anchor by the shore,
And leave behind old fishing grounds
And think of her once more.

rep. ref.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE MARTIN GREIGH
From: Charcloth
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 04:14 PM

Thanks Kendall I appreciate it
Charloth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE MARTIN GREIGH
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 09:36 AM

Ken,

I believe its the "once more" line. WE sing it in The Flyin' Column but because I don't sing lead "I know it and I don't".

Also this song can be a nightmare for the rhytmically challenged. But with two or more voices on that great chorus it is well worth the effort to learn.

Don

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MARTIN GREIGH (Taylor Whiteside)
From: kendall
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 05:20 AM

THE MARTIN GREIGH by Taylor Whiteside

My father was a fisherman, likewise my brothers too,
They follow in his footsteps with a wooden point of view
And, I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore
I keep account of what we've got, find ways to make it more.

Refrain

Four boats in the harbor
Where's the Martin Greih?
She was due to fetch the Cutty Light
At 3 o'clock today
No sail on the horizon,
No vessel by the quay (pronounced KAY)
Four boats in the harbor
Where's the Martin Greigh? Mother went to Boston, seven years ago
We sons receive a letter each Christmas time or so
Then, father takes the dory then
Round the harbor rows
'Til the weather drives him in
That's when the sorrw shows.

repeat refrain

"A man's the master of his heart
His boys we all were told
He strains to play the hero's part
A captain brave and bold,
But, in the end must pa
"pay the tow" to feelings never shown
Trapped within this "angel's role"
He finds himself alone.

Rep. ref.

Father said that one fine day,
He'd take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay
The fishermen don't know.
There he'll run the mains'l down
Anchor by the shore,
Leave behind old fishing grounds
And think of her no more.

rep. ref.

k.m.

I'm trying to recall if Taylor sings it.."think of her ONCE more."