Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: BB
Date: 28 May 15 - 05:10 AM

I've just had this query from a friend. Can't think of anything, but can anyone else help, please? "Can anyone recommend any modern or traditional folk songs which have Sea Witches or similar as a theme please? A friend is writing a short story called The Sea Witch Rises and wants to juxtapose the prose with suitable lyrics."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 15 - 05:42 AM

Hmmm. Not much difference between a sea-witch and a Mermaid, is there? In this thread, Alan Day says he wrote a song about a sea witch of Orkney, but he didn't post the lyrics.
I'm off to Orkney in a couple weeks. Think I'll see any sea witches?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: BB
Date: 28 May 15 - 09:17 AM

Ever helpful, Joe! Yes, I'd already sussed The Mermaid, but that was all I could suggest too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 28 May 15 - 10:12 AM

Some versions of the ballad George Collins have a mermaid featured prominently.

Subject: ADD Version: Maid on the Shore
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 28 May 15 - 10:26 AM

Not officially witch - but certainly capable of singing sailors to sleep
Nice version can be heard here, sung by John Lyons
Clare Library
Jim Carroll

MAID ON THE SHORE

It's of a sea captain who sailed the salt sea,
And the moon it shone gentle and clear, O.
I'll die, I'll die", the captain did cry,
"If I can't have that maid who walks on the shore,
If I can't have that girl on the shore."

Oh the sailors they got him a very long boat
And off for the shore they did steer, O,
Saying "Ma'am if you please, would you enter on board
To view a fine cargo of costly wares,
To view a fine cargo of wares."

Well with much persuading they got her on board
The moon it shone gentle and clear, O.
She sat herself down in the stern of the boat
And off for the ship the young sailors did steer,
And off for the ship they did steer.

And when they arrived along side of the ship,
The captain he spat out his chew, O,
Saying "First you shall lie in my arms all this night,
And then I'll hand you to me jolly young crew,
And then I'll hand you to me crew".

"Oh, thank you, Oh thank you," this young girl she cried,
"That what I have been a-waiting for,
For I've been so weary of my maidenhead
As I walked all alone on the rocky old shore,
As I walked all alone on the shore".

And she sat herself down in the stern of the ship,
And the moon it shone gentle and clear, O.
She sang so neat, so sweet and complete,
She sang sailors and captain right fast asleep,
She sang sailors and captain to sleep.

And the robbed them of silver, she robbed them of gold,
And she plundered that costly ware, O;
And the captain's bright sword she took for an oar,
And she paddled right back to that rocky old shore,
She paddled right back to the shore.

And when he awoke and found she was gone,
He was like a man in despair, O;
But she waved a salute at both captain and crew,
"I'm a maiden once more on the rocky old shore,
I'm a maiden once more on the shore".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 May 15 - 04:18 PM

all sorts of monsters and sea spirits in rhyme of the ancient mariner, which can be shortened and sung to the star of the county down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 May 15 - 09:16 PM

How about Mother Cary? Some considered her the Mother of Sea Witches. She and her flash man Davy Jones preferred to dine on poor drowned sailormen. The song is adapted from a vintage poem by Cicely Fox Smith: Click here for a good time!

Click on the MP3 link to hear a sample of how it's sung.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 29 May 15 - 04:17 AM

Child#13, Roud-200:

"Shall we go to the school grounds?
Or will we remain at the hall?
But, better we go to the greenwood
To sea witch ..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 29 May 15 - 05:10 AM

Would sirens count? I know of a few songs with sirens in.

R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: LadyJean
Date: 29 May 15 - 10:36 PM

There's a song called "The Witch of November".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 30 May 15 - 03:14 PM

BB
It might be worth your friend having a look at this duo - Sandwitch.
They may have something suitable.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 May 15 - 03:25 PM

Staying on shore but raising a storm at sea by black magic: the witches of North Berwick, who tried to sink James VI in the Forth in 1592. We have the words for one of their incantations.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: BB
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 08:22 AM

Thanks all. Sir Roger, I may come back to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 08:57 AM

Do Selkies count? There is the traditional "Great Silkie/Selkie of Sule Skerry" (Child 113), and a modern song "Selkie" by John Doyle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Sea Witches
From: Alan Day
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 06:20 PM

The Sea Witch of Orkney was taken from am account in the Inverness Castle Museum where it refers to the story of Janet Forsyth who tried to save her lover by rowing out to him in a small boat, during a tempest.She saved the boat and the crew ,but was branded a witch (The Sea Witch of Orkney).On the evening before she was due to burn her lover and the members of the crew broke her out of prison.She was later reported to be seen working in a clothes shop in Manchester The main details of the story are in the song.
This is one of two versions ,another report said that she predicted that the ship and crew would be killed in a tempest.All the historical details are detailed in the Orkney History site under Sea Witch of Orkney.
I can send the PDF File of the music and words if you PM me your Email address.I am sorry I cannot work out how to attach the PDF file here.
Al