Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)

Subject: Lonesome boatman
From: alison
Date: 20 Apr 98 - 02:35 AM

Hi,

Has anyone got the music for this one? It could be "The lonesome boatman", or possibly "the lonely boatman".

Apparently it's on a Furey's CD. My tin whistle students want to play it, and I've never heard of it...

Thanks

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Helen
Date: 20 Apr 98 - 04:33 AM

Hi Alison

I've got this on a CD called The Fureys Finest - which was one of those fairly low priced CD's (rather than the usual full slug of almost $30). It's a truly lovely piece of music and well worth learning to play. A local Irish band in Newcastle has a band member who plays it on one of those really big, mellow whistles that he brought out here with him from Ireland, I think.

I'll probably see you this weekend so I'll bring a cassette of it for you to listen to.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Carl
Date: 20 Apr 98 - 02:48 PM

Great! So next thing you both do is putting it into ABC and post it here ...? *smile*

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: BAZ
Date: 20 Apr 98 - 05:23 PM

It's in the Furey's Song book
I'll see if I can put it into ABC but it don't look easy!
Regards Baz

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Helen
Date: 20 Apr 98 - 09:07 PM

Carl,

I can get out of this one very easily - I know nothing whatsoever about putting tunes into ABC .... I don't think I have the capability to get the track off the CD and into the computer into midi format - but I'm open to suggestions - I do have a CD-ROM drive on the computer.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: alison
Date: 21 Apr 98 - 08:33 AM

Hi,

Thanks for the offers. Alan brought round the CD today so I'll work at putting it into Musicator, should appear here as midi and ABC in a few days.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Tune Add: THE LONESOME BOATMAN
From: alison
Date: 21 Apr 98 - 07:29 PM

Hi,

Here you go.... now before you say "That's not how it sounds on the CD".... I admit it's not. But the only difference is that I've left out all the ornamentation because that is a matter of personal preference (where you stick your twiddly bits and slides!). I've also left out the intro because it was ornamentation, and simplified the ending because it was twiddly bits again.

Enjoy

MIDI file: LONEBOAT.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: The Lonesome Boatman
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: C
Tempo: 160 (375000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 76 050 1198 0 76 050 0002 1 77 050 0238 0 77 050 0002 1 76 046 0238 0 76 046 0002 1 74 045 0238 0 74 045 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 69 045 1438 0 69 045 0002 1 71 056 0240 0 71 056 0000 1 72 052 1198 0 72 052 0002 1 74 038 0118 0 74 038 0002 1 72 037 0118 0 72 037 0002 1 71 050 0238 0 71 050 0002 1 69 042 0238 0 69 042 0002 1 67 043 0238 0 67 043 0002 1 64 050 3598 0 64 050 0002 1 76 053 1198 0 76 053 0002 1 77 054 0238 0 77 054 0002 1 76 046 0238 0 76 046 0002 1 74 049 0238 0 74 049 0002 1 76 052 0238 0 76 052 0002 1 69 042 1438 0 69 042 0002 1 71 052 0238 0 71 052 0002 1 72 044 0227 1 72 044 0031 0 72 044 0718 0 72 044 0002 1 72 029 0478 0 72 029 0002 1 72 036 0238 0 72 036 0002 1 74 044 0238 0 74 044 0002 1 72 038 0238 0 72 038 0002 1 72 041 0238 0 72 041 0002 1 71 050 0958 0 71 050 0002 1 72 040 0083 1 71 038 0172 0 72 040 0138 0 71 038 0019 1 67 026 0238 0 67 026 0002 1 71 042 0238 0 71 042 0002 1 69 057 3358 0 69 057 0002 1 76 061 0478 0 76 061 0002 1 78 054 3358 0 78 054 0002 1 74 044 0478 0 74 044 0002 1 76 053 3358 0 76 053 0002 1 76 054 0478 0 76 054 0002 1 78 054 3358 0 78 054 0002 1 74 050 0478 0 74 050 0002 1 76 045 3358 0 76 045 0002 1 69 038 0238 0 69 038 0002 1 71 052 0238 0 71 052 0002 1 72 052 1438 0 72 052 0002 1 74 045 0238 0 74 045 0002 1 72 036 0238 0 72 036 0002 1 72 030 0238 0 72 030 0002 1 71 057 1198 0 71 057 0002 1 67 057 0478 0 67 057 0002 1 64 041 3840 0 64 041 0052 1 76 059 1093 0 76 059 0035 1 77 052 0260 1 76 032 0274 0 77 052 0238 0 76 032 0002 1 74 036 0238 0 74 036 0002 1 76 036 0238 0 76 036 0002 1 69 037 1438 0 69 037 0002 1 71 044 0186 0 71 044 0054 1 72 046 0718 0 72 046 0002 1 72 034 0478 0 72 034 0002 1 72 033 0238 0 72 033 0002 1 74 027 0238 0 74 027 0002 1 72 023 0236 0 72 023 0004 1 71 038 1438 0 71 038 0002 1 72 042 0118 0 72 042 0002 1 71 020 0118 0 71 020 0035 1 67 032 0207 0 67 032 0000 1 69 046 3838 0 69 046 0002 1 76 057 1198 0 76 057 0002 1 77 041 0238 0 77 041 0002 1 76 053 0238 0 76 053 0002 1 74 033 0238 0 74 033 0002 1 76 032 0238 0 76 032 0002 1 69 048 1438 0 69 048 0002 1 71 044 0238 0 71 044 0002 1 72 049 1078 0 72 049 0002 1 74 029 0118 0 74 029 0002 1 72 034 0238 0 72 034 0002 1 71 041 0238 0 71 041 0002 1 69 044 0238 0 69 044 0002 1 67 044 0238 0 67 044 0002 1 64 037 3598 0 64 037 0002 1 76 054 1198 0 76 054 0002 1 77 046 0238 0 77 046 0002 1 76 048 0238 0 76 048 0002 1 74 038 0238 0 74 038 0002 1 76 036 0238 0 76 036 0002 1 69 048 1438 0 69 048 0002 1 71 042 0238 0 71 042 0002 1 72 041 0238 0 72 041 0002 1 72 040 0478 0 72 040 0002 1 72 049 0478 0 72 049 0002 1 72 041 0238 0 72 041 0002 1 74 045 0238 0 74 045 0002 1 72 042 0238 0 72 042 0002 1 72 043 0238 0 72 043 0002 1 71 049 0958 0 71 049 0002 1 72 049 0238 0 72 049 0002 1 71 046 0203 1 67 036 0234 0 71 046 0242 0 67 036 0035 1 69 057 3838 0 69 057 0002 1 76 057 1198 0 76 057 0002 1 77 061 0238 0 77 061 0002 1 76 050 0238 0 76 050 0002 1 74 038 0238 0 74 038 0002 1 76 048 0238 0 76 048 0002 1 69 046 1438 0 69 046 0002 1 71 045 0238 0 71 045 0002 1 72 045 1198 0 72 045 0002 1 74 032 0118 0 74 032 0002 1 72 038 0118 0 72 038 0002 1 71 042 0238 0 71 042 0002 1 69 042 0238 0 69 042 0002 1 67 037 0238 0 67 037 0002 1 64 031 3598 0 64 031 0002 1 76 042 1198 0 76 042 0002 1 77 046 0238 0 77 046 0002 1 76 049 0238 0 76 049 0002 1 74 044 0238 0 74 044 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 69 043 1438 0 69 043 0002 1 71 049 0238 0 71 049 0002 1 72 050 0238 0 72 050 0002 1 72 044 0463 1 72 038 0015 0 72 044 0934 0 72 038 0026 1 72 040 0238 0 72 040 0002 1 74 042 0238 0 74 042 0002 1 72 043 0238 0 72 043 0002 1 72 046 0238 0 72 046 0002 1 71 049 0958 0 71 049 0002 1 72 044 0238 0 72 044 0002 1 71 048 0238 0 71 048 0002 1 67 040 0238 0 67 040 0002 1 69 054 3598 0 69 054 0002 1 76 057 0238 0 76 057 0002 1 78 057 3358 0 78 057 0002 1 74 029 0478 0 74 029 0002 1 76 045 3358 0 76 045 0002 1 76 065 0478 0 76 065 0002 1 78 044 3358 0 78 044 0002 1 74 042 0478 0 74 042 0002 1 76 057 3358 0 76 057 0002 1 69 041 0238 0 69 041 0002 1 71 049 0238 0 71 049 0002 1 72 061 1438 0 72 061 0002 1 74 045 0238 0 74 045 0002 1 72 032 0238 0 72 032 0002 1 72 044 0238 0 72 044 0002 1 71 043 1198 0 71 043 0002 1 67 061 0478 0 67 061 0002 1 64 057 3838 0 64 057 0002 1 76 043 1198 0 76 043 0002 1 77 050 0238 0 77 050 0002 1 76 048 0238 0 76 048 0002 1 74 049 0238 0 74 049 0002 1 76 046 0238 0 76 046 0002 1 69 052 1438 0 69 052 0002 1 71 044 0238 0 71 044 0002 1 72 042 0258 0 72 042 0002 1 72 046 0441 0 72 046 0019 1 72 041 0478 0 72 041 0002 1 72 038 0238 0 72 038 0002 1 74 037 0268 0 74 037 0018 1 72 029 0175 0 72 029 0019 1 72 050 0238 0 72 050 0002 1 71 050 1198 0 71 050 0002 1 67 040 0478 0 67 040 0002 1 69 048 1918 0 69 048 0002 1 72 054 1438 0 72 054 0002 1 67 042 0478 0 67 042 0002 1 69 053 1918 0 69 053 0002 1 72 054 1438 0 72 054 0002 1 67 033 0478 0 67 033 0002 1 69 036 1678 0 69 036 0002 1 69 036 0118 0 69 036 0002 1 71 040 0118 0 71 040 0002 1 72 035 0724 1 71 038 0755 0 72 035 0458 0 71 038 0018 1 71 031 0238 0 71 031 0002 1 67 036 0238 0 67 036 0002 1 67 026 0238 0 67 026 0002 1 69 036 1678 0 69 036 0002 1 69 029 0118 0 69 029 0002 1 71 034 0118 0 71 034 0002 1 72 029 0718 0 72 029 0002 1 71 038 0478 0 71 038 0002 1 71 032 0238 0 71 032 0002 1 67 031 0238 0 67 031 0002 1 67 037 0238 0 67 037 0002 1 69 049 1920 0 69 049
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the January 15 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:The Lonesome Boatman
M:4/4
Q:1/4=160
K:C
e5fed|eA6B|c5d/2c/2BA|GE7|-E8|e8|-e5fed|eA6B|
c2cc2cdc|cB4c3/4B/4GB|A8|-A6e2|^f8|-^f6d2|
e8|-e6e2|^f8|-^f6d2|e8|-e6AB|c6dc|cB5G2|E8|
-E8|e8|-e19/4f5/4ed|eA6B3/4c/4|-c3c2cdc|B6c/2B/2G|
A8|-A8|e8|-e5fed|eA6B|c9/2d/2cBA|GE7|-E8|
e8|-e5fed|eA6B|cc2c2cdc|cB4cBG3/4A/4|-A8|
A8|e8|-e8|e5f3|-f6ed|eA6B|c5d/2c/2BA|GE7|
-E8|e8|-e5fed|eA6B|cc2c2cdc|cB4cBG|A8|-A7e|
^f8|-^f6d2|e8|-e6e2|^f8|-^f6d2|e8|-e6AB|c6dc|
cB5G2|E8|-E8|e8|-e5fed|eA6B|cc2c2cdc|cB5G2|
A8|c6G2|A8|c6G2|A7A/2B/2|c13/4B7/4BGG|A7A/2B/2|
c3B2BGG|A8||

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Helen
Date: 21 Apr 98 - 07:38 PM

Alison,

Thanks, but i'm a bit worried now about where people stick their twiddly bits. Sounds potentially unhygienic to me, although probably a lot of fun. ;->

Helen

P.S. This means I will have to learn how to use Alan's MIDItext program.

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Harald
Date: 21 Apr 98 - 08:07 PM

Hi Alison, well done ! How did you do that so fast ? Great ! I was curious to see if I already knew that tune, the title didn´t mean much to me. Problem was, first I tried with ABC2WIN, it didn´t work, he didn´t like notes longer than 4/4, you used much of them. I have no soundcard here so midi was of little use, but in the end I downloaded a midi-player that first draws notes on the screen. I heard nothing but was able to play it off the screen (Fortunately I have my mandolin with me today..). Must have looked a little bit funny, ´cause I´m at work here. Well...:-) But at last I recognized the tune after some measures. Good job, Alison !

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: alison
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 07:39 AM

Hi Harald,

I just put on the CD and played the tune on the piano into Musicator.

Helen I'll bring you a copy to St Albans.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 09:05 AM

G'day,
Don't you just hate people who can do that?

Musicator is a good (slightly quirky) program which turns your computer into a recording studio. It's also not bad as a MIDI sequencer and notator.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Tune Add: THE LONESOME BOATMAN
From: BAZ
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 05:43 PM

Carl
This one won't play like Alison's but if you get hold of a copy of ABC and load this into it it will give you the sheet music as it is in the Furey's song book, twiddly bits as well.
Here is the intro to Finbar Furey's Lonesome Boatman
It is played with a very free timing. The time signature in the ABC file is only there because the program demands one.
Don't bother trying to play the tune as an ABC tune (I know you will) it will sound just like Morse code. The lack of bar lines and musical sense makes it impossible (undertandably) to translate it to a midifile from the ABC file.
If you print it as it stands it will come out looking like the sheet music (strange with very few bar lines). But if you take it bit by bit you should finish up playing a very acceptable version of Finbar's beautiful tune (I can't but my wife can).
One word of advice get an early as possible recording of this as Finbar subjects his own tune to the folk process and over the years (he wrote it when he was 19) has added numerous trills and slides!
As you can imagine it took some time to produce just the intro. However, if it will be of use to your student let me know and I will transcribe the rest.

The four long notes in Bar 1 should be played as one long note sliding from one to the other in pitch. Ditto the first 4 in line 5 and the last 3 notes in line 9.

X: 1
T:LONESOME BOATMAN
M:8/4
L:1/8
K:D
"Bm slow intro Free time"{e}(f8e4^e4)f8z/2|(f4g4{=e}f8)z/2|!
"quickly"
{=e/2f/2}.e({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)z|!
({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)z{e}-e {f}AB8z|!
"D"(3B/2c/2e/2) .d/2.d/2.d/2 d8z/2"A"c6{d/2(c/2}B)z2{c/B/(A/}"F#m"F8)|!
"Bm"({e}f8e2f4g4)~e8z|({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)|!
({e/2f/2}.e)z/({e/2f/2}.e)({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}.e)|!
z({e/2f/2}.e)z({e/2f/2}e2){.e}e4{f}A2B8z|!
"D"{^d}e8 (e/4f/4e/4d/4 c/4d/4c/4e/4)(3.d.d.d (3.d.d.d {e} d8{(3e/d/c/}d8|!
({e}"quickly"(f/4e/4d/4c/4 d/4e/4d/4c/4B/4)z/|"F#m"(B/.c2)(c4^B4c8)z|!
"normal tempo: faster than intro "{^E}F6 z {^A}B|"Bm"(^A}B8-|"End of Intro"B8||

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 f on 22/04/98

Regards Baz

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: alison
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 07:45 PM

Hi,

Thanks Baz.

I deliberately left out the intro. I'm one of those teachers who encourages them to play it their own way. They know how to ornament.... I give them the basic tune... then they invent......

Slainte

alison

Subject: The Lonesome Boatman
From:
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 02:42 PM

Hi I'm after the music or links to the notes or abc for a Fureys whistle tune called The Lonesome Boatman. I know this is a song database but I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help.

Thanks

Mike

Subject: RE: The Lonesome Boatman
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 07:55 PM

Mike,

The music is available in The Fureys & Davey Arthur Song Book, published by Soodlum. Copyright 1984 Walton MNF, Ltd.

Mick

Subject: RE: The Lonesome Boatman
From: alison
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 09:57 PM

Hi,

I'm sure I've put it here before. Hang on.... I'll check...

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Lonesome Boatman
From: alison
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 10:01 PM

Hi,

Here you go Lonesome Boatman Tune thread

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Lonesome Boatman
From:
Date: 23 Nov 98 - 03:20 AM

Alison, how do you do it, you came up with the information overnight. Do you live on the web? :-)

Many thanks

Mike

Subject: RE: The Lonesome Boatman
From: alison
Date: 24 Nov 98 - 03:12 AM

hi Mike,

Not quite... like to check in at least once a day though.... to keep in touch with all my friends.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: GUEST,Alex Roan
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:56 PM

any on line sheet music?

recordings I can listen to (including on line)?

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Helen
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 07:01 PM

Alex,

I just checked to see if we had this on the Mudcat Midi page but we don't.

If you look at Alison's posting with the red writing you can download a copy of alan's simple test-to-Midi program and then use the text info to convert it into a Midi. Then, if you have music notation software such as Noteworthy (available as a free demo version, which allows printing out as sheet music, available from this site http://www.ntworthy.com/ ) then you can open the midi file, hear it play and print it out.

The Fureys have recorded it on a number of albums so you may find an audio file of it at one of the CD shops online.

Don't give up though if none of this works. I'm sure we can work something out.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: alison
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 12:58 AM

I've just sent the MIDI to Mudcat MIDIs (please remeber it is the simplified version.... jsut add twiddly bits *grin*)

Alex.. if you'd like the "dots" send me an email and I'll forward you a GIF

slainte

alison

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 11:18 PM

G'day,
Thanks to alison the tune for "The Lonesome Boatman" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: GUEST,Alex Roan
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 05:24 AM

thanks everyone. I got the GIFt from Alison okay and I'm sure lots of people will be happy to abail of the midi.

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 09:42 AM

And the Furey's do have a songbook which includes the dots to this song. It is called "The Fureys & Davey Arthur Song book". It is a Soodlum's book. Another source for the tune is THE LOW WHISTLE BOOK by Steafan Hannigan & David Ledsam. This is a tutorial for the low whistles and is very good. It has the music for this song in it. You might try Elderly Instruments for either of these items. They are at www.elderly.com. They have a search engine on their site.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: The Lonesome Boatman
From: GUEST,norb
Date: 21 May 02 - 03:47 AM

Hi

I`m not sure if I'm right here (so please throw the thread out if it's wrong), but I'm looking for a MIDI-file of the irish folk song "the Lonesome Boatman". I really browsed the web for an hour or so and just found one, and that didn't have the chords (the others I found were Elvis...)

So if you have one or know an address, I'd be very thankful.

Bye Norb [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 02 - 04:18 AM

Go to JC's ABC Tune Finder

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 21 May 02 - 05:00 AM

The Lonesome Boatman is not Trad Irish - it was written by Finbar Furey.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: GUEST,norb
Date: 21 May 02 - 05:18 AM

Thanks. Will check the tune when I get home...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: Kernow John
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:28 AM

Alison posted this tune a while back. I will see if I can find it.
John

Subject: RE: Lonesome boatman
From: Kernow John
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:31 AM

Refresh
KJ

Subject: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 06:30 AM

We have just heard (for the first time!) The Fureys version of "The Lonesome Boatman".   It's a cracker and I wonder if anyone out there has the music for this tune?   I am learning the tin whistle and would love to leanr this tune.

Many thanks,

Jacqued

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 07:16 AM

It is in the Furey's song book in whistle tablature.
eric

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: MudGuard
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 07:34 AM

found at the ABC tunefinder

I also love that tune!

But far too complicated to play for a beginner like me...


MudGuard a/k/a Andy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 08:11 AM

It always seems to me to be a very incomplete version of "Bonny at Morn" and what's worse falls into the "New Age/Celtic" trap rather than sounding like a good traditional air.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:25 AM

You refer to it as "the Fureys' version" - Finbar Furey actually wrote it in the first place.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:28 PM

Whoops,Dave.   Another senior moment!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:30 AM

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST,Quokka
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:32 AM

My sister plays this tune on the tin whistle - brings the house down every time she plays it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST,molly
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 01:59 PM

it is a irish tale.   its proformed by an irish flute, or a flute, or the recorder.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 02:30 PM

Finbar performs it on an Indian flute

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 02:35 PM

Till he sat on the flute!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: terrier
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 07:01 PM

Here's a You tube clip of the Fureys and Davy Arthur playing it.

Lonesome Boatman

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 04:28 AM

That's not Finbar Furey - some kid botching the tune!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 06:18 AM

Nothing like the Furey's.

The instrument Finbar originally played this on was a flute bought from an Oxfam shop. Indian it may have been. It was bound up with sellotape as it gradually got more and more battered.

When he finally sat on it he got Bernard Overton to make a low keyed whistle.

The story is in this thread.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey)
From: GUEST,machree01
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 06:53 AM

Here is Finbar perfoming Lonesome Boatman in concert, along with the lads, recorded in Opera House, Belfast, 1990.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chb6om-bezA