Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)

Subject: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 May 21 - 03:58 PM

A song that warrants exploration. Hector Gilchrist sings it wonderfully.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/balticstreet.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 21 - 12:13 PM

Following unblickied links is really hard for me so I looked it up in a book.

There is so much specific local geography in it that it would be worth finding period photos and maps. Anybody want to try?

---

Sorry for the unclickified link, Jack. When I post things from the Singaround, I'm in a big hurry and don't have time for finesse. Then I clean up the next day. Most times, I "clickify" every URL I see in the Forum if it's at all worthwhile, bypassing or deleting the ones that are troublesome.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: cnd
Date: 18 May 21 - 12:23 PM

Here's a tip, Jack: if you triple click on it (left click three times) without moving your mouse, it highlights the entire thing. Then, right click and hit "Go to: https...." and it'll open it in a new tab. If you're on a phone, simply press and hold your finger against the link and the whole thing should highlight; then follow the same process.

Assuming it's in Montrose, does this work: link - I've zoomed in on Baltic Street there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 21 - 12:26 PM

That should read left click, not right

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 21 - 12:53 PM

I'm using an old iPhone. Selecting text within a post in Safari is nearly impossible. The easiest way is to copy the entire message into the Notes app, and remove everything but the link. At which point I've done most of the work towards creating a new blickified post (I do that by typing the tags in manually).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Reinhard
Date: 18 May 21 - 01:10 PM

Here's the link, Jack: https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/balticstreet.html

BALTIC STREET (Violet Jacob)

My dainty lass, lay you the blame
    Upon the richtfu’ heid;
‘Twas daft ill-luck that bigg’d yer hame
    The wrang side o’ the Tweed.
Ye hae yer tocher a’ complete,
    Ye’re bonny as the rose,
But I was born in Baltic Street,
    In Baltic Street, Montrose!

Lang syne on mony a waefu’ nicht,
    Hie owre the sea’s distress,
I’ve seen the great airms o’ the licht
    Swing oot frae Scurdyness;
An’ prood, in sunny simmer blinks,
    When land-winds rase an’ fell,
I’d flee my draigon on the links
    Wi’ callants like mysel’.

Oh, Baltic Street is cauld an’ bare
    An’ mebbe no sae grand,
But ye’ll feel the smell i’ the caller air
    O’ kippers on the land.
‘Twixt kirk an’ street the deid fowk bide,
    Their feet towards the sea,
Ill nee'bours for a new-made bride,
    Gin ye come hame wi’ me.

The steeple shades the kirkyaird grass,
    The seamen’s hidden banes,
A dour-like kirk to an English lass
    Wha kens but English lanes;
And when the haar, the winter through,
    Creeps blind on close and wa’
My hame micht get a curse frae you,
    Mysel’ get, mebbe, twa.

I’ll up an’ aff the morn’s morn
    To seek some reid-haired queyn,
Bauld-he’rted, strang-nieved, bred an’ born
    In this auld toon o’ mine.
And oh! for mair I winna greet,
    Gin we hae meal an’ brose,
And a but an’ ben in Baltic Street,
    In Baltic Street, Montrose!

Scurdyness: Scurdie Ness Lighthouse, on the South side of the River South Esk estuary, Montrose

‘Twixt kirk an’ street the deid fowk bide: Kirky Steps cemetery lies between Old & St Andrews Church and Baltic Street; according to Google Maps, that is - I've never been there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 May 21 - 02:02 PM

I couldn't find an online recording of Hector Gilchrist's performance of "Baltic Street" that I can link to, but it's on Spotify. He has an album of old chestnuts called With Love that's available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m60FXeFS9_QbJqXvgDMQ2VY7UZieZ0Ejk

Hector has a lovely voice, and it's a pleasure to have him sing with us at the Mudcat Singaround on Mondays.

Hector is/was a member of a group called "Soiree." Here's their YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Soireemusic/featured

Here's a recording of "Baltic Street" by Iona Fyfe, who uses the same melody that Hector uses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt_xU_VB6OM

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 21 - 02:15 PM

The point about the pictures and maps is that Montrose has a unique town plan. She's implying exactly where everything is, but you'd need help to get an accurate mental picture.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 19 May 21 - 09:29 AM

Here's Gilchrist singing the song, "Baltic Street"

https://soundcloud.com/selkie2/baltic-street

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Baltic Street (Violet Jacob)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 May 21 - 01:26 PM

The melody is by Carole Prior, (first name and surname both mis-spelled in an earlier thread on this!)and she sings it with her husband, Alan: 2 very fine singers, who live less than half a mile from us.
Also good versions by Sylvia Barnes, and Duncan McCrone.
Here is Sylvia's: Baltic Street/Sylvia Barnes

Montrose is very close to "The House of Dun" - now managed by the National Trust for Scotland - where Violet Jacob lived.

There are "Baltic Streets" in a number of Scottish and other ports, reflecting the trade that went on with the Baltic states - the Hanseatic League.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_trade_in_the_Middle_Ages