Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song

Subject: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 27 Jun 09 - 07:56 PM

Hi folks- looking for a song that has all of these ingredients:
Sailor goes off to sea and is drowned
(Actually, he becomes deliriously sick and throws himself overboard)
Girlfriend dreams he comes home, but halfway up the dock he says "prepare to follow me" and leaves
She pines away

I have found several with some of the story (Mary's Dream, Lowlands), but I'm thinking I heard the whole thing somewhere.

In any case, I just found a story in local history that exactly follows this scenario and would like to present with a trad song.

Thanks all
Julia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 27 Jun 09 - 10:44 PM

You might try "Hoy's Dark and Lofty Isle"

Hoy's Dark and Lofty Isle

Traditional

At eve when glowed the setting sun
Above the Western wave
A lofty barque, her full sail on
Full, beautiful and brave
Robed in a gleam of golden smiles
She steers upon the Northern isles
She steers upon the Northern isles

'Twas from the polar icy seas
Dominion of the whale
She gently glides before the breeze
Which plays along her sails
Midst mighty oceans gentle play
She wings along her watery way
She wings along her watery way

But lo as they were sailing on
The islands still ahead
A sailor's dying hour had come
While mournful round his bed
Stood Britons sons who smile at fear
And scorned to blush yet shed a tear
And scorned to blush yet shed a tear

Land land a whisper, land was nigh
Hoy's dark and lofty isle
A smile lit up the sailor's face
A heartfelt homely smile
On deck they dying man they bore
To gaze upon his native shore
To gaze upon his native shore

Silent he lay, while o'er his cheek
Tears slowly stole
In vain it was for man to speak
The feelings of his soul
Then from his inmost heart there came
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name

Then from his inmost heart there came
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name
Mary, his sweetheart's lovely name

The melody on this website is from a version sung by Sydney Scott from North Ronaldsay.

http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ORKNEYSINGERS/documents/Songs/Hoy's%20Dark%20and%20Lofty%20Isle.pdf

The song is 'traditional' because, as yet, there is no record of who wrote it.
The lines in bold are those sung in harmony.

CC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Jun 09 - 11:21 PM

Sounds like Mary's Dream (in DT)but there are probably several songs on that theme.

Mary's Dream

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Jun 09 - 11:24 PM

Sorry, I didn't read your post closely enough. I see you already have Mary's Dream. It's late and I'm half asleep. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :-}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ghost sailor/lover dream song
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 27 Jun 09 - 11:28 PM

Thanks folks... Hoy's Dark Isle looks lovely
I'm still looking for the prophetic motif of the sailor appearing and warning her of her doom (creepy)
It's out there somewhere..
If I don't find it in time, I may just indulge in a bit of folk license and amalgamate something from one of the Unquiet Grave songs

cheers- Julia