The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?

Subject: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: Hamish
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 05:45 AM

Just fallen in love with this song - and "Helen" who wrote it and sings it in the recording I have got. Chris Lawley, who runs a singaround at the Greenbelt festival, had recorded it and knows it was written and performed by Helen... but has no idea what her surname is. She has a beautiful voice and this song is, as I say, top-drawer. I will most definitely be adopting it, but would prefer to know who I should be crediting it to.

Do you know a Helen who writes, sings, plays guitar and goes to Greenbelt? Do you recognise these lyrics:

  I stowed away when I was ten.
    O, the rollin', heavin' sea.
  A fine young crew of fifty men.
    O, the rollin' seas-o.

  O, the rollin', heavin' sea,
  In a brisk and chasing wind,
  Drives a strong man to his knees…
  Haul-o, Heave-o,
  O, the rollin' seas-o.

...?

Cheers and thanks in hope

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 06:22 AM

Refresh...

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 03:39 PM

Nobody...?

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: maeve
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 04:42 PM

Longshot here...Helen Arney- Has appeared at Greenbelt, but she seems to specialize in writing intelligently humourous songs and playing ukelele.

Any road; just so your know you aren't hollering in the dark.

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 04:51 PM

Ah. Thanks for that, Maeve. Nope, not her. Different voice altogether...

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: maeve
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 04:59 PM

I figured. I searched for the title, the lyrics, portions of the lyrics, Helen+Greenbelt...

Have you identified others singing in the same recording? Perhaps some of the other performers in the sing around will know.

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: Hamish
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 05:30 AM

By the way... it's Helen North from Kent. https://www.facebook.com/helen.north Eventually met her at Towersey. Lovely lady as well as a lovely singer and writer of fab songs.

Subject: RE: The Midshipman's Boast - who wrote it?
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 20 Jan 21 - 09:32 AM

This was written by Helen North.