songs about swansea

Subject: songs about swansea
From: GUEST,hugo
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 06:00 AM

Does anyone know any old sea songs about Swansea in english?
Thanks
Hugo

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:16 AM

Ask Andrew McKay - Mudcat's Crane Driver. He writes good songs about the history of the Swansea area in English.

Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton's website

Tootle pip,

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Tradsinger
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:41 AM

There is a song collected in Hampshire called Swansea Town, related to the Irish Holy Ground song. We have recorded it with Pitchpole Jack. There's a version in Hugill as well.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Dead Horse
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:03 AM

Old Swansea Town Once More - sea shanty, better than the Dubliners with their "Holy Ground" in my opinion.
It must be in DT, but I aint looked.
No, it aint, just did look.
Job needs doing.
I might have a go......

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:06 AM

Old Swansea Town Once More

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:09 AM

Mike Waterson used to, and may be still does, sing Sweet Swansea, which I'm guessing came from Phil Tanner.

Haven't unpacked th cds to check, but someone more knowledgable than I will be along in a minute...

Baz`

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: GUEST,baz parkes again
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:21 AM

No he didn't...that was the Lass of Swansea Town

I think all of them used to do Sweet Swansea....

Baz (again)

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: pavane
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:24 AM

I have heard that there is a version of (the London song!) Black Velvet band from Swansea, but I have never tracked it down.

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Newport Boy
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 09:33 AM

Phil Tanner also recorded 'Swansea Barracks' - I'm listening at the moment.

Phil

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Newport Boy
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 09:45 AM

Just realised that 'Swansea Barracks' is a version of 'The Lass of Swansea Town'.

I'll post Phil's version later

Phil

Subject: LYR ADD: Swansea Barracks
From: Newport Boy
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:23 AM

SWANSEA BARRACKS (THE LASS OF SWANSEA TOWN)

'Twas down by Swansea barracks I alone one morning strayed
A-viewing of the soldier's, Oh I saw a pretty maid,
Her hair it was as black as jet, in ringlets hanging down,
She was a blooming rose of South Wales and a lass of Swansea town.

(Chorus)
Her hair it was as black as jet, in ringlets hanging down.
Search the universe all over and her equal can't be found.
She was a blooming rose of South Wales and a lass of Swansea town.

I said, "My pretty fair maid, what makes you wander here?"
She said "Kind sir I am watching for my bonny soldier dear.
Eight years ago he left me, when to Bermuda he was bound,
And he vowed he would prove faithful to the lass of Swansea town."
(Chorus)

I said "My pretty fair maid, sad news I have to tell.
Your lover was my comrade and in the battle fell.
A cannon ball made him to fall and gave him his death wound,
And he begged me to protect the blooming lass of Swansea Town."
(Chorus)

Then on the ground in agony this pretty maid did fall,
Saying "I never shall rest 'til in my breast there strikes a cannon ball.
Eight years ago he left me, when to Bermuda he was bound,
And he vowed he would prove faithful to the lass of Swansea town."
(Chorus)

From the BBC Recording of Phil Tanner, aged 87, at Penmaen 20 May 1949.
Issued on Veteran VT145CD

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: sian, west wales
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:30 AM

Max Boyce did a nice one: "I'm going home to Swansea Town". Not sure what the actual title is - probably, "Swansea Town".

sian

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: GUEST,Skipper Jack
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:44 AM

Baggyrinkle (Swansea Shantymen) feature sea songs relating to Swansea's Maritime Heritage.

They sing a version of Old Swansea Town as collected by Richard Sullivan the last Swansea shantymen.

Dave Robinson of the aforementioned group composed a song relating to one of the tales by Richard Sullivan concerning his life on the Swansea copper ore barques.
Dave also wrote a shanty "Haul On Yer Halyards" Both songs featured by Baggyrinkle.

As mentioned Andrew Mackay has written several maritime songs worth noting.

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Dead Horse
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 12:51 PM

That one ("Haul On Yer Halyards") by Dave is the best modern shanty I ever heard.

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Tradsinger
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 12:58 PM

Swansea Town sung by Pitchpole Jack

Enjoy

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: Splott Man
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:28 AM

The Calennig album "A Gower Garland" has numerous songs and tunes from Swansea and the Gower.

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: CupOfTea
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 10:10 AM

Years ago I fell in love with a song "All of the Swans of Swansea" that I heard on WCLV's great Saturday Night Radio show. I believe it was Pricilla Heardman who sang it, but I don't know that she wrote it. I taped it off the radio, learned it, sang it, thought it was a lovely encouraging song.

Then, one of my musically astute friends said "You know, that melody sounds suspiciously like Tom Leherer's "Rickety Tickety Tin" (Irish Ballad) . That was the swan song for that Swansea Swan song -I stopped singing it.

If you are NOT familiar with Leherer's Irish Ballad song, this might be worth tracking down.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: songs about swansea
From: cetmst
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:19 PM

Several years ago I got only a fragment of "All of the Swans of Swansea" from Mary Cliff's Traditions program in DC and have been looking for the full lyrics since. I have most of what Priscilla Herdman has recorded and don't find it there. So many tunes have been used for so many different songs that Tom Lehrer's Irish Ballad has not put me off this charming song. If you could post the lyrics I would be deeply grateful. - Charles