Lyr Req: William Whaley's Lament

Subject: Lyr Req: ? William Whalley's Lament
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 06:47 AM

I'm looking for the missing / incorrect words to fill in the lyrics to a song I think is called William Whalley's Lament. It's on a CD that was hand-compiled and given to me and I have no idea of artist / recording / origins.

From listening, these are the words I can pick up:

Oh when the night is still and silent
Long before the call of dawn
I hear the cries of Boston harbour
On the night that there my thoughts are borne

Chorus:
Oh the night I sleep with Hannah
Is a treat(?) to stand(?) by day
Though I'm forced across the ocean
My dreams are free to wander as they may

I stole a loaf to ease her hunger
For her body held our child
They sentenced me to transportation
To the new land o'er the sea so wild

I feared the journey would defeat me
As sick as I could not describe
Bloodied limbs beneath the shackles
Seldom we were fed the ????

Now seven seas they lay between us
One for each year trans??
The child he will be born and growing
From Van Dieman's land I long to part

Oh when the night is still and silent
Long before the call of dawn
I hear the cries of a foreign harbour
On the night that there my thoughts are borne

Any help gratefully received. Thanks very much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ? William Whalley's Lament
From: GUEST,singer2
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 07:22 AM

The song's on Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher's 2000 CD, "Old Men and Love Songs". I don't have my copy to hand to take down the lyrics at present, sorry.

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIAM WHALEY'S LAMENT
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 08:20 AM

Oh when the night is still and silent
Long before the call of dawn
I hear the cries of Boston harbour
On the night that there my thoughts are borne

Chorus:
Oh the night I sleep with Hannah
Is a treat to stand by day
Though I'm forced across the ocean
My dreams are free to wander as they may

I stole a loaf to ease her hunger
For her body held our child
They sentenced me to transportation
To the new land o'er the sea so wild

I feared the journey would defeat me
As sick as I could not describe
Bloodied limbs beneath the shackles
Seldom we were fed the last one (?}
Now seven seas they lay between us
One for each year cast apart
The child he will be born and growing
From Van Dieman's land I long to part

Oh when the night is still and silent
Long before the call of dawn
I hear the cries of a foreign harbour
On the night that there my thoughts are borne

Gerry

BTW you could join Mudcat and PM Goldengob He's the singer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ? William Whalley's Lament
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 08:21 AM

Thanks very much singer2. I've tracked it down to their website, so can hopefully buy a copy. If the lyrics aren't with the notes, I'll try to persuade them to clarify the ones I can't get.

I appreciate the help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ? William Whalley's Lament
From: Sarah64
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 08:32 AM

Thanks very much Barry.

I'm now a member and have PM'd Goldengob.

Warm regards

Sarah