Origins: Row On [original versions]

Subject: RE: Lry Reg: Row on, row on..
From: Songster Bob
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 03:19 PM

I have in my memory slightly different words to verse two, as:

Where ere thou goest, the words of love
Say all that words can say
Changeless affections strength to prove,
But speed thee on thy way.


However, I still can't quite fathom the meaning, or at least I can't fathom (note the nautical term used here) how the first three lines connect to the "but" in line four. As a sometimes wordy lyricist myself, it bothers me to have that disconnect. I remember someone singing it in yet another version (mine comes from the singing of Dick Swain) where that last line connected better, but damned if it could stick in my mind enough to evict the version I first learned, so there you go.

'Course, I could just look it up in Huntingon, but I don't have the book here at work.

Bob Clayton

Subject: Lyr Add: ROW ON ^^
From: radriano
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 12:16 PM

Here are the words to Row On:

ROW ON
Words from ship's log, Three Brothers 1846
Set to music by Tim Laycock, England

Clouds are upon the summer sky
There's thunder in the wind
Pull on, pull on and homeward hie
Nor give one look behind

Bear where thou goest the words of love,
Say all that words can say;
Change lest affections strength to prove
But speed upon the way.

CHORUS
Row on, row on, another day
May shine with brighter light
Ply, ply the oars and pull away
There's dawn beyond the night

Oh, like yon river would I glide
To where my heart would be.
My barque should soon outsail the tide
That hurries to the sea.

But yet a star shines constant still
Through yonder cloudy sky;
And hope as bright my bosom stills
From faith that cannot die.

Row on, row on, God speed the way,
Thou must not linger here;
Storms hang about the closing day,
Tomorrow may be clear.

^^
Regards,
Radriano

Subject: RE: Lry Reg: Row on, row on..
From: Calhoon
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 11:55 AM

The text to the song comes from a book called "Songs the Whalemen Sang" by Gale Huntington. and was acquired from the log book of a boat called the "three brothers" which was a whaling ship from Nantucket in 1846. No tune was recorded, so the tune now linked with it was written by Tim Laycock and is available on his new CD with The New Scorpion Band - "Folk Songs and Tunes from the British Isles"

Websitewww.new-scorpion-band.com [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lry Reg: Row on, row on..
From: Barry Finn
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 08:04 AM

I know there was another thread on this some time ago but just now I couldn't find it. If nobody post the words or you can't find the old thread I'll post them when I get home from work. Barry

Subject: Lry Reg: Row on, row on..
From: Gervase
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 07:17 AM

Anyone have the lyrics for the song "Row on, row on, another day....ply,ply the oars..."?

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