Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAUR WILL WE GANG? (from Lesley Hale)
From: GUEST,Mick T
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 09:02 AM

Here's what I can make out of the words of a song sung by Lesley Hale about the decline of the Scottish fishing industry. Does anyone know the title, and, even better, can help me out with the missing words (or make corrections).

I mind the day when we worked at the drift nets,
And the Clyde men all went ...
But all the tried methods they've been overtaken,
For the sake of fortune and keeping with time.

And what will we do when the Minches are finished?
What will we do when the herring's all done?
Where will we gang with 'pursers' and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

Well there's still some fine ... of mackerel off Cornwall,
So ... head down south and scrape off what's left there,
We'll fill the fish hold and we'll no fear the future,
But soon there'll be mackerel off Cornwall nae more.

And what will we do when the mackerel's all finished?
What will we do when the herring's all done?
Where will we gang with 'pursers' and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

Blue whiting's in season ... there off St Kilda,
So we'll rig a deep trawler and we'll all head out west,
With ... after ... that's been landed for fishing,
Blue whiting will go just the same as the rest.

And what will we do when blue whiting's all finished?
What will we do when blue whiting's all done?
Where will we gang with 'pursers' and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

'Cos I mind the day when we worked at the drift nets,
And the Clyde men all went to ...
But all the tried methods they've been overtaken,
For the sake of fortune and keeping with time.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 12-Sep-02.

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 12:28 PM

Title: Whaur Will We Gang

Writer: A. Mitchell
Also recorded by Cilla Fisher on "Songs of the Fishing" (Kettle Records)

And the Clydesmen a' went wi' the ringnet so fine...

There's still some good shotties a' mackerel off Cornwall...

Blue whitings in season oot there at St Kilda
So we'll rig up deep trawl and we'll all head oot west
Wi' tow after tow thats all landed for fishmeal
But the whiting will go, the same as the rest...

SIf you like this song, you should look up this album--it's a gem!

Willie-O
Just a sucker for Scottish fishing songs, aye

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: Bearheart
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 01:43 PM

Thanks for this thread, have this tape by Cilla, it's lovely, and now I have all the lyrics to this song!

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: GUEST,Mick T
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 04:02 AM

Cheers, Willie!

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAUR WILL WE GANG (Andrew Mitchell)
From: LDH
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 12:03 PM

Hello Mick,

I've just joined the Mudcat website because a friend of mine saw that you were asking for info. on a song that I sing and that you were looking to get missing words. The song is called, "WHAUR WILL WE GANG", written by a fine singer/songwriter called, Andrew Mitchell who hails from Ullapool. Here is the full version of the song; hope you can manage the Scots accent ok!...

I mind the day when we worked at the drift nets
And the Clyde men a' went tae the ring nets sae fine
But a' they tried methods hae been overtaken
For the sake o' fortune and keeping wi' time

And what will we dae when the Minches are finished
What will we dae when the herrin's a' done
Whaur will we gang wi' oor pursers and trawlers
How will we ever pay off the bank loan

Well, there's still some fine shotties o' mackerel off Cornwall
So we'll a' head doon south and scrape up what's left there
We'll fill the fish hold and we'll no fear the future
But soon there'll be mackerel off Cornwall nae mair

And what will we dae when the mackerel's a' finished
What will we dae when the mackerel's a' done
Whaur will we gang etc.....

Blue whitin's in season oot there off St. Kilda
So we'll rig a deep trawl and we'll a' head oot west
Wi' tow after tow that's been landed for fish meal
Blue whitin' will go just the same as the rest

And what will we dae when blue whitin's a' finished
What will we dae when blue whitin's a' done
Whaur will we gang etc...

(Repeat lst verse)

In the verse on blue whiting,the words 'tow after tow', (if you want to impress your friends with your wealth of Scots linguistics!) is pronounced, 'tau' with the accent on the au.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Lesley Hale

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: mg
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:09 AM

that is a great song..Ullapool...I had a friend from there..John Tuac?? His mother ran a bed and breakfast. He is a geologist..probably around 50 by now. Lived in Newfoundland and married to a doctor. Would you know him?
mg

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 04:44 AM

Welcome to Mudcat, Lesley.

For those unfamiliar with Lesley, as well as being a very fine traditional singer in her own right, she used to be in the Scottish folk group Bitter Withy along with living legend Tich Frier.

You won't remember me Lesley, unless you can recall Paddie Bell's "comeback " at the Black Bitch, Linlithgow. I played backing guitar for her.

Murray

Subject: RE: Scottish fishing song
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 05:21 AM

Saddly this song wasn't written by a fisherman. Unlike many songs written in the past by people who actually worked the land or sea and were talking about their experience. Hence "folk song" they were folk singing about their lives. However it's a lovely song. I live along the Forth and know whats waiting the fishing fleets.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish fishing song
From: LDH
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 04:03 PM

Hello Murray!

Great to hear from you and to know you're a Mudcat member. I do indeed remember Paddie's comback; that was a very fine night at and I think Paddie herself really enjoyed it. As far as I know she has stopped doing the Festival gigs - any idea what she's doing now?

Linlithgow recently held a weekend Fest. which I sadly couldn't get to but I understand it was a roaring success. I sing regularly at Nitten (Newtongrange) Folk Club on Thursdays at the Dean Tavern - all welcome! - its very informal and we have a guest night on the first Thurs. of each month. Be great if you could manage sometime.

Sorry Mary, I don't know John Tuac.

A word to the"guest" who says the song was not written by a fisherman; Andy Mitchell was a crofter/fisherman and he most certainly does know what he's talking about.

Lesley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)
From: GUEST,menderman
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 10:27 AM

your request has answered my search for this superb song. hope you enjoy singing it as well. from all the feed back i think you have all the lyrics as i recall them, now i've seen them in print

Subject: ADD: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)
From: maeve
Date: 07 Dec 15 - 09:32 AM

Just for future reference, Cilla Fisher's version is here:
Whaur Will We Gang (Andy Mitchell)

WHAUR WILL WE GANG
(Andy Mitchell)

    I mind the days when they worked at the driftnet
    And the Clydesmen a' went wi' the ringnet sae fine
    But a' thae tried methods have noo been o'ertaken
    For the sake o' fortune and keeping wi' time

    And what will we dae when the Minch is a' finished
    And what will we dae when the herrin's a' done
    And whaur will we gang wi' oor pursers and trawlers
    And how will we ever pay off the bank loan

    There's still some good shotties o' mackerel aff Cornwall
    So we'll a' head doon sooth and scrape up what's left there
    We'll fill up the fishhold and we'll nae fear the future
    But soon there'll be mackerel aff Cornwall nae mair

    Blue whiting's in season oot there aff St. Kilda
    So we'll rig-up deep trawl and we'll a' head oot west
    Wi' tow after tow that's a' landed for fishmeal
    But the whiting will go the same as the rest

    And what will we dae when the mackerel is finished
    And what will we dae when the whiting's a' done
    And whaur will we gang wi' oor pursers and trawlers
    And how will we ever pay off the bank loan

    (as sung by Cilla Fisher)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=savi7XnsH4M

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 May 21 - 09:12 AM

I'm a good friend of Andy Mitchell, and I learned the song from him. And while he's not a fisherman himself, he had a long career installing, repairing and maintainiing the electronic equipment used on the fishing fleet, based mostly on the northwest coast of Scotland. So this song is authentic, as he spent his working day with these fishermen, and was familiar with their perspectives and worries.

I am pretty sure the song is "Far Will We Gang," not "Whaur will we gang." "Far is Doric for 'where,' just as 'fit' is Doric for 'what.'

I mind the day when we worked at the drift nets
And the Clyde men all went tae the ring nets sae fine
But noo these tried methods have a' been o'ertaken
For the sake of fortune, and keepin' wi' time

And fit will we dae, noo the Minch is a' finished?
Fit will we dae, noo the herrin's a' done?
Far will we gang wi' oor pursers and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

But there's still some good shotties of mackerel off Cornwall
So we'll all head doon south, and scrape up what's left there
We'll fill the fish hold, and we'll nae fear the future
And soon there'll be mackerel o' Cornwall nae mair

And fit will we dae when the mackerel's a' finished?
Fit will we dae, when the mackerel's a' done?
Far will we gang wi oor pursers and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

Blue whiting's in season this year, off St Kilda
So we'll rig a deep trawl and we'll all head oot west
With ton after ton, all landed for fish meal
Blue whiting'll go, same as the rest

And fit will we dae when blue whiting's a'finished?
Fit will we dae when blue whiting's a' done?
Far will we gang wi our pursers and trawlers?
How will we ever pay off the bank loan?

I still mind the day when we worked at the drift nets
And the Clyde men all went tae the ring nets sae fine
Noo all these tried methods have a' been o'ertaken
For the sake of fortune
And keeping with time

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 May 21 - 05:56 AM

I'm sure Andy posts on here, under the handle "Strupag" He now resides, and has done so for a long time, in bonnie Portree, on the Isle of Skye.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 May 21 - 07:54 PM

Sorry that neither Lesley Hale nor Murray Macleod are still with us.