Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning

Subject: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:05 PM

Hi all - -urgent request -- i need the verses -- Betty and Norman McDonald sing it often (as do others)

the chorus is It's 5 O'clock in the morning time to get ready we're sailing away It;s 5 o'clock in the morning time to get ready to sail

does anyone have the verses? I have checked Digitrad and the forum and I need to memorize them over the next few days,

Help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 05:20 PM

It's on 'High Ground' by The McCalmans. I'll type it out this weekend, if you can bear to wait!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 05:29 PM

Suzanne, I see you have it listed on your site burt I couldn't access the lyrics.

Background info on song: although it is claimed to have been written by a "local" in Stornoway, Martin Harbourne, the author is what is unkindly referred to in the Highlands and Islands as a "white settler", ie an immigrant Englishman. This unfamiliarity with the local culture may account for the fact that he writes about "sailing away" at five o'clock in the morning, whereas any trawlerman will tell you that they sail out in the evening, fish at night and return home to port at five in the morning (or earlier)in order to have their catch ready for the auction. Still, it is a catchy song, one of these guaranteed to have the audience swaying from side to side.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 06:02 PM

Yes, Murray, I'm afraid My Songbook is woefully inadequate as yet. I concentrated on the lyrics I had ready to get started at all. Today I finished the first batch of W and sent them to Henry, my fellow suspect, thus covering all the letters of the alphabet after two years or so. Of c. 4,500 titles in my database, less than 2,000 have now been sent to My Songbook - just to give you an idea! All the rest will have to be checked or even typed out. If a song is listed but cannot be accessed, an eMail to me or Henry will usually help, as quite often I can send an unchecked version. As I promised, I'll do this over the weekend. And thanks for the background info, which will be faithfully incorporated. I'll ask Nick Keir about it the next time I see him!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 06:23 PM

Your Songbook is far from woefully inadequate Susanne, it is a marvel. And say hi to Nick from me when you see him next.

As to faithfully incorporating the background information, I don't have to tell you to omit the "white settler" bit ! It would be a tad controversial!

One song that I would like to see you post the lyrics for is "They Sent a Wumman". This is a great song by a great writer, and the Macs do a fine job on it. Only wish I could say the same for their version of "Cholesterol" ..............

Usual apologies for thread creep.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 06:32 PM

Listen to Mudcat Radio, Episode 40. A great rendition of it was done then/there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 06:57 PM

Murray, would you like to send me a sanitised version of the above? Otherwise I usually just link to any relevant Mudcat thread.
As to 'They Sent A Wumman' - watch the threadlist over the weekend! I'll type it out with this one and post it.
As to Cholesterol - I quite like their version, although it's no match on Adam's, naturally. (I happened to be in the Star Club when he premiered it, doing a floor spot - at least I think it was Cholesterol. Unfortunately he got higher with every verse like you sometimes do with an unfamiliar song. He got through, though!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 12:42 PM

thanks Allan, suzanne and Murray for your input. it's good to have the information.

I don;t mean to be short, but the big issue for me right now is i have two days before I have to sing it and I still don;t have the verses, So any help you can give would be most appreciated.

many thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 03:51 PM

Joy, I don't have the verses either, but I listened to Mudcat Radio #40 as Allan suggested, and there they were. If you recorded it you could transcribe the lyrics. Bit long-winded, I know,(and there is also the shock factor of hearing Spaw suddenly appear from nowhere, which could be dangerous to those of a nervous disposition)

Murray

Subject: Lyr Add: FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING (Harbourne)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 04:56 PM

Sorry, Joy, I didn't realise (or overlooked?) that it was somewhat urgent. Still, I've been doing my homework, so here you are:

FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
(Martin Harbourne)

Chorus:
It's five o'clock in the morning
Time to get ready, we're sailing away
It's five o'clock in the morning
Time to get ready to sail

We rise in the morning, sail out on the tide
Silent we slip from the quay
With the gulls overhead and the seals alongside
Proudly we head out to sea

We'll fish in the Minches fair weather or foul
Living our lives on the sea
It's hard and it's tough and the pay's not enough
But what other life can there be

A trawlerman's plight is to work day and night
And grab an hour's sleep in between
Casting the nets out and hauling them in
Sometimes not a fish to be seen

We'll be cold, tired and hungry and drenched to the skin
As we head back to Stornoway town
With our catch safely landed we'll have a good dram
In The Clachan, The Lewis or The Crown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 04 Jun 01 - 06:38 PM

o thank you o thank you this maiden replied. That;s just what I've been waiting for o.

Thanks Murray and Suzanne!! With a little luck and lots of ginko biloba I may have a chance!!

and, since I am really green at other mudcat offerings I will now have to learn how to do things like listen to mudcat radio #40.

thanks ever so much!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 08:54 AM

Let us know how it went, Joy . Are you singing for a trawlermens's convention? :-)

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: GUEST,Dave Rowland
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:46 AM

Does anyone have the guitar chords for Martin Harbourne's 'Five O'Clocl In The Morning'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Five O'Clock in the Morning
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 06:23 PM

From Suzanne(SKW) words and the Gaberlunzie version on CD "For Auld lang Syne"

Chorus:
It's [D] five o'clock in the [G] mor- [D] -ning
Time to get ready, we're [G] sailing a- [A] -way
It's [D] five o'clock in the [G] mor- [D] -ning
Time to get [A] ready to [G] sail [D]

[D] We rise in the morning,
[A] sail out on the tide
Silent we slip from the [D] quay
With the gulls overhead
[A] and the seals alongside
Proudly we head out to [D] sea