Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Geoff
Date: 21 Apr 17 - 04:21 PM

I'm pretty sure that the Transporter replaced the old ferry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 23 Feb 17 - 08:53 AM

Songscapes is a wonderful testament to Graeme and Robins creativity. I am really proud to get a "Thank you " in the acknowledgements.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: JHW
Date: 23 Feb 17 - 06:30 AM

'Is the word 'ferry' being used to describe the bridge (poetic license)?'

Songscapes doesn't say but I'm sure the 'ferry' means the Transporter. There's a photo of the Transporter by Robin among the plates pages in Songscapes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 23 Feb 17 - 05:20 AM

Sometime around 1998, both Graeme and Robin afforded us the great honour of coming down to Cornwall to stay with my wife Angie and I. An exceptional stay I might say, with many, many fond memories. During their time with us, Graeme presented me with a cassette of him singing several, in his opinion 'less sung songs', which he thought might suit/interest me. 'Waiting for the Ferry' was one of those songs which I then went on to record in 2000 on 'In this Heart' co-produced/engineered by Tim van Eyken & Rob Harbron.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Fil Tebbutt
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 03:01 PM

I heard Robin sing this last Friday at the Robin Hood's Bay F/C at The Dolphin, and was so taken with it..and Robin's superb rendition.. that I decided I wanted to learn it. You could have heard a pin drop, until the entire room came in on the chorus. The howling northeasterly outside was hushed...Hair-raising.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 05:58 AM

This is a fantastic song.

However, I'm puzzled as to what it's about.
At first sight it's about a (boat) ferry but in verse 3 it refers to a bell ringing and the 'ferry car' drawing near - clearly a description of the bridge. Is the word 'ferry' being used to describe the bridge (poetic license)?

Perhaps someone with 'Songscapes' or more knowledge of Graeme Miles and the song can provide an answer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 04:57 PM

Taking Commander Crabb's Open D tuning and key of F I've come up with the following chords with capo on 3. Lovely slow tune. This is open to correction/improvement.

[D]Hand in hand with [G]Mary-[D]Anne [G]waiting for the [D]ferry

The flicker of the [G]iron works [D]fire turns the [G]dark night into [D]cherry

And the [G]Tees the [D]chilly [G]sloe black [D]Tees laps [G]gently [D]round the [A7]jetty

[D]Hand in hand with [G]Mary-[D]Anne [G]waiting for the [D]ferry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 11:30 AM

I for one would be very pleased to know the chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 04:24 PM

I play it in key of F using open D tuning but mostly fingerpicking. If no one comes up with chords I'll work out the main changes and post when I've got a bit more time.

CC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Mick
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 01:01 PM

anyone know the chords??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Carol
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 05:20 AM

Apparently I posted this in 06, it was asking how to get hold of the book
'His songs and Robin Dale's photographs are in a book called Songscapes, published in 2001 by Red Scarecrow, POBox 539, Billingham,TS23 3XS and if memory serves me right it cost £25 but worth every penny - it doesn't contain all of Graeme's songs just over 50 of them!! I don't think he's published any songs since 1972.
PM me if you want any more details'

I think I could contact Robin but don't want to post tel nos.
Great book of songs and pictures.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 04:04 PM

Ah! The happy memories of cold winter nights huddled cround the fire in the back snug of The Colpitts (1988-1999) warming to Robin Dale's sublime renderings of this & a host of other Graeme Miles songs, all sung to perfection.

One wonders - Jon Boden opened this thread in 2000, at which point, though living in Durham, we would have been in hiatus from The Durham City Folk Club (mainly because I was trying to quit smoking & couldn't face a pint of OB without a fag; also because Rachel's shiftwork scuppered our social routine for 5 years). Anyhoo - according to DCFC lore Jon was a regulsr at The Colpitts at this time - though I never knowingly met him myself, though Thor insisted I did. Whatever the case, he's sure to have heard Robin sing it - the source, perhaps, of this enquiry?

Does Robin ever come Mudcat way? We've still got one of his scarecrow posters on our wall - signed (to Rachel) of course!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: nutty
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 02:41 PM

Songscapes can be bought from here..........

Songscapes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 02:27 PM

There was a thread, wasn't there, about having some copies of Songscapes available at Sidmouth a year or two ago, and I've just tried and failed to find it!

Kitty

Subject: Tune Add: WAITING FOR THE FERRY (Graeme Miles)
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 12:32 PM

'Catter nutty is also a possible source of info.

Here is an abc of the tune.
Taken from Songscapes. You could probably simplify the mellisma in bar 2 if you wished.

X:1
T:Waiting for the Ferry
C:Graeme Miles
M:Common
L:1/8
K:G
B3A G3D|EG (AB/A/ GA B2)|B2A2(G2D)D|EG- G4D2|B A3G3D|[M:5/4]E2G2(D B,3)D3/2D/|
[M:Common]E2G2F2D2|EG- G4A3/2B/|c3B c d3|[M:5/4]e2d2B4B2|
[M:Common]c2B2A3G|F A3-A4|B3A G3D|E2G2(D B,3)|E2G2(G2D)D|EG- G4|]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 11:57 AM

Interesting song.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 08:44 AM

yes contact, graeme miles, he lives on teeside, in fact member JHW might have a contact, or perhaps Darklander.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 08:06 AM

There's a used copy of Songscapes available on Amazon at £80! Does anyone know a cheaper source?

Subject: Lyr Add: WAITING FOR THE FERRY (Graeme Miles)
From: Tootler
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 07:05 PM

As you say, it is in "Songscapes"

WAITING FOR THE FERRY
Words and Music: Graeme Miles.

Hand in hand with Mary-Anne waiting for the ferry
The flicker of the iron works fire turns the dark night into cherry
And the Tees the chilly sloe black Tees laps gently round the jetty
Hand in hand with Mary-Anne waiting for the ferry

Here's embracing you dear Mary-Anne it's fondly that I squeeze you
In but a year I will return with a gift I hope will please you
And the Tees the chilly sloe black Tees laps gently round the jetty
Hand in hand with Mary-Anne waiting for the ferry

Here's a kiss for you my Mary-Anne a parting kiss my dear
The bell has rung Port Clarence side and the ferry car draws near
And the Tees the chilly sloe black Tees laps gently round the jetty
Hand in hand with Mary-Anne waiting for the ferry

And so goodbye dear Mary-Anne it's now that I must leave you
The weeks will come and the weeks will pass and for sure I'll not deceive you
And the Tees the chilly sloe black Tees laps gently round the jetty
Hand in hand with Mary-Anne waiting for the ferry

The ferry in question crossed the Tees from Middlesbrough to Port Clarence and was replaced by the transporter bridge. The transporter bridge was opened in 1911 and I believe the ferry did continue for a couple of years after the opening of the transporter bridge but eventually was shut down.

The transporter bridge is still open and functioning and we went across it today.

Somehow "Waiting for the transporter bridge" would not have had the same ring to it.

I'll transcribe the tune and post it later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 06:41 PM

Well, according to this thread it's in the book of Graeme's songs. Did the book manage to make the trip across the Atlantic to Transco?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waiting for the Ferry (Graeme Miles)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 06:33 PM

well, it's been ten years sing the request, and we've increased our Graeme Miles expertise.
Anybody have these lyrics?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: hand in hand with mary anne
From: SeanM
Date: 13 Jun 00 - 02:09 AM

One last time?

Refresh

M

Subject: hand in hand with mary anne
From: GUEST,jon boden
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 09:40 AM

It's a Graham Miles song but it's not on the Wilson's album and I don't think Windham-Read has recorded it. Chorus is something like

The Tees, the (cherry snow?) black Tees Laps gentle round the jetty Hand in hand with Mary Anne, Waiting for the ferry.

Many thanks,

Jon