Origins: Threescore and Ten

Subject: RE: Origins: Threescore and Ten
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 05:21 AM

I definitely heard it as "down" not "town" and puzzled over it initially, as Scarborough is north of Yarmouth, but apart from any consideration of prevailing winds, it was explained to me that going back to your home port, in this case, was "going down home". The UK's prevailing wind directions vary a lot by the way: can turn right round in a deep depression, as happens in big storms!
Although William Delph (Delf) was from Grimsby, Scarborough would have been roughly in the same direction if you were heading from Yarmouth. This interpretation may of course be pure speculation. ;-)
And I looked up the thread in anticipation of my own "three score and ten" coming up shortly! :-)

Subject: RE: Origins: Threescore and Ten
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 02:44 PM

I believe it was Brian Dawson who asserted that Delf's offspring, having moved to Lowestoft, altered the song to something like its current form, BUT Ruairidh Greig from Grimsby has done a lot of research on Delf and in fact he died childless. The relatives referred to above might of course be from nephews. The collectors, by the way, were Nigel and Mary Hudleston, now deceased, but their collection was published and is deposited in Special Collections at Sheffield University.

Subject: RE: Origins: Threescore and Ten
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:36 AM

Thanks Steve.

Subject: RE: Origins: Threescore and Ten
From: mg
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 03:01 PM

We just heard the most beautiful version of this yet I might think at Fisher poets this weekend...Paul of originally England sang it, in almost a wistful way I think...it is such a great song that it is usually sung with great vigor at least here...

Subject: RE: Origins: Threescore and Ten
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 03:52 PM

In Hull where many of the seamen involved were from and where there is a monument to the lost fishermen, we usually sing it quite vigorously but with lots of feeling and reverence. It has the impact of something like 'Eternal Father' but without the histrionics. We often finish our maritime concerts with it, accompanied on anglo with all of the concert performers joining us. There is a photo of the monument in a sadly neglected graveyard, on our website www.yorkshirefolksong.net