ADD: Was it You? (Ewen Carruthers)

Subject: Lyr Req: as it You, John Wright Band
From: cujimmy
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 07:00 PM

Can anyone give me the words to - Was it You, as sung by The John Wright Band.

Subject: ADD: Was It You (Ewen Carruthers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 07:14 PM

I can't understand it well enough to transcribe it, but here's a YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0G5lzQUBk8

WAS IT YOU
(Ewen Carruthers)

“The signs were bad the sailors said, before we reached the land
But I dismissed their omens with a wave of my hand
And as I write this letter and consider where we stand
The times that fortune smiled on us were few
And in adversity no man could ask for more than to face it with a loyal crew
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?

And when at last we reached the Pole and found that simple note
I cried “Three cheers for Amundson” but the words stuck in my throat
And turning back as in a dream, unspoken we all knew
With the burden of our broken hearts we’d never make it through
And if we’d lived I’d surely have a tale to tell of companions loyal, brave, and true.
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?

My comrades have departed on a journey with no end
I wait alone; a captain with no crew
But the ship of hope has run aground and never will set sail
There is no more I can do.
Snuff out the candle flame for I can write no more – and sleep is beckoning anew
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?

Source: https://worldmusicandculture.com/harbottle-and-jonas-at-efex-sing-of-scott-of-the-antarctic/

Ewen Carruthers recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syoThj5SGeA

Subject: ADD: Was It You? (Ewen Carruthers)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 07:56 PM

Joe, the transcription is close to the live version in the video you link. The differences (some minor) are:

WAS IT YOU
(Ewen Carruthers)

Verse 1:
l3: Yet as I turn these pages, consider where we stand
l5: But in adversity no man could ask for more than to face it with a loyal crew
l6: But in the night I swear somebody softly called my name; (was it you, was it you, was it you?)x2

Verse 2:
l4: By the burden of our broken hearts we’d never make it through
l5: But if we’d lived I’d surely have a tale to tell of companions loyal, brave, and true.
l6: But in the night I swear somebody softly called my name; (was it you, was it you, was it you?)x2

Verse 3:
l2: But I waited on my captain with no crew
l3: Their ship of hope has run aground and never will set sail
l4: There's no more I can do.
l6: But in the night I swear somebody softly called my name; (was it you, was it you, was it you?)x3

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Was it You, John Wright Band
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 08:00 PM

Thanks, Mick. You're a star.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Was it You, John Wright Band
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 08:03 PM

If only!

Mick

Subject: RE: ADD: Was it You, John Wright Band(Ewen Carruthers)
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 23 Jan 26 - 10:09 PM

Whoa, I'm not going to like this thread. It's cold outside. Very cold. The US is currently having a very cold winter storm. A song about the Antarctic! Yow

Subject: RE: ADD: Was it You? (Ewen Carruthers)
From: cujimmy
Date: 24 Jan 26 - 06:32 AM

Thankyou very much, reliable as allways. Its a lovely song Pappy, hope you enjoy it too and I hope the weather over there gets better. But where I come from (Scotland) we allways say - The Weather is allways the same in the pub - God Bless

Subject: RE: ADD: Was it You? (Ewen Carruthers)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Jan 26 - 03:37 AM

The changes I listed were for John Wright's version (Joe's first link). Ewen Carruther's own version (Joe's last link) is substantially the same as John Wright's:

Verse 1:
l1: a sailor said not the sailors said
l5: should instead of could

Verse 3:
l2: I wait alone, a captain with no crew

(This last makes better sense!)

Otherwise the starting word for some lines changes: but/and/then/<nothing>