Origins: Songs from Devonport UK

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: Sunnyjohn
Date: 21 Oct 18 - 07:43 AM

Thanks for this, Vic.

I wish them well in Devonport for attempting to trace songs from there. Finding the origin of a song brings to mind needles and haystacks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: Vic Smith
Date: 20 Oct 18 - 07:58 AM

It is also worth remembering that in the Royal Navy (and its songs) that the sailors had their own slang names for all their ports. The three main naval ports in the South were:-

PORTSMOUTH >>> Pompey
CHATHAM >>> Chats
and for some reason
DEVONPORT >>> Guz

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: Vic Smith
Date: 20 Oct 18 - 07:50 AM

The song, Rounding the Horn that starts:-

The gallant frigate, Amphitrite, she lay in Plymouth Sound,
Blue Peter at the foremast head for she was outward bound;

is in The Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs (1959) and that version is on-line at:-
https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/roundingthehorn.html

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 18 - 07:38 AM

Many thanks Steve and Mick for these excellent links. I have forwarded them and they should keep my friend busy for some time!

John W

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Oct 18 - 07:35 PM

Also see this search at VWML Devonport in VWML index - it shows some BBC recordings of Tim 'Paddy' Walsh as well as some Tawney, some Keys prints and some Baring-Gould.

(You can use the Advanced Search to check the other locations too.)

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 19 Oct 18 - 02:10 PM

Lots of songs were printed by Keys of Devonport in the early 19th century. Go to Bodleian Broadside Ballads website. On the search menu click on printers, then type in Keys, Devonport. You should get lots of hits.

Subject: Origins: Songs from Devonport UK
From: GUEST,John Wallace
Date: 19 Oct 18 - 01:58 PM

A good friend who lives in Devonport has been asked to help research folk songs from Devonport, UK. Cyril Tawney was writ large and these have been explored, and I believe the Lakeman family have also been consulted. If anybody out there knows of others from Devonport, Stoke or Plymouth UK, please could you reply to this thread.

Cheers - John W