Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch (Cicely Fox Smith)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ANCHOR WATCH (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 14 Oct 19 - 08:15 AM

THE ANCHOR WATCH
by Cicely Fox Smith (1919)

O shipmates all, as you lay sleeping
(Blow, boys, blow!)
Across the world the day came creeping
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)
With a cold wet wind the shrouds were shaking,
And in all the port was no one waking,
In the morning watch and the grey dawn breaking
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)

I saw a ship come down the river
(Blow, boys, blow!)
In the morning light her sails did shiver
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)
I saw the sun on her royals gleaming
And her gilded trucks in the dawn a-gleaming,
And the bubbled foam of her bow-wave streaming —
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)

I heard the gulls all round her calling
(Blow, boys, blow!)
I heard the watch on the braces hauling
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)
I heard their voices over the water —
'O Shenandoah, I love your daughter' —
And the dash o' the tide on her weather quarter
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)

Then like a cloud she broke and lifted
(Blow, boys, blow!)
Her spars did melt, her sails they drifted
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)
And all that I saw was a white mist flying,
All that I heard, the grey gulls crying,
And the tide's sob and the wind's sighing. . . .
And one far call out of dreams replying
(Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!)

Not sure if this has been set to music by others already, but here is my offering.

Cheers,

Daniel Kelly

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch by Cicely Fox Smith
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 14 Oct 19 - 09:50 AM

Daniel,
       The tune is very similar to "They call me hanging Johnny. Away boys away.......", but you work it well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch by Cicely Fox Smith
From: leeneia
Date: 14 Oct 19 - 11:10 AM

Thank you for sharing, Daniel. It's a fine poem embellished with beautiful singing. A good tune, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch by Cicely Fox Smith
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 15 Oct 19 - 08:24 AM

I can only echo leeneia's remarks. There are a few moments where the harmonies sent a little shiver down my spine. Very nice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: GUEST,Lucy
Date: 22 Jan 21 - 10:26 AM

David, this is so beautiful! I'd actually like to do a cover myself. I'm a real novice with traditional songs through and wondering whether this song is in the public domain. Presumably yes because it's been covered here? Would anyone be able to help confirm? Any help appreciated!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: GUEST,Bradfordian
Date: 22 Jan 21 - 06:07 PM

Yes Lucy, the lyrics (poem) can be considered to be in the public domain. The author Cicely Fox Smith died in 1954 and as far as we know, no one from her estate has ever challenged any publication of her works. The tune Daniel uses is indeed his arrangement of a traditional tune. You may find that some other existing traditional tune could fit the bill. This technique is used quite often in folk music. If you do cover it, we here at Mudcat would be interested in hearing the results! Good luck.


Bradfordian

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: GUEST,Lucy
Date: 23 Jan 21 - 02:37 PM

Hi Bradfordian, that's extremely helpful, thank you so much! I'll certainly share the results when they exist!

And also just want to take this chance to apologise for writing David instead of Daniel above, not sure how I managed that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Anchor Watch (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 05:25 AM

Not a problem Lucy, I also answer to Damien & Darren.

You are welcome to record a cover using my setting, please just make an acknowledgement if you publish it. As mentioned above, Cicely's poems are in the public domain but some of the musical settings by other people are not (and they will ask you to pay).

Cheers,

Daniel Kelly