ADD: Silver Darlings (various)

Subject: Silver Darlings
From: Dimple
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:05 AM

Words please for Silver Darlings? Starts "Oh Herring the harvest that fishermen glean, "Scottish song refering to Aberdeen

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: nutty
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:20 AM

Hi dimplydoo ...... welcome to mudcat
Are you new ?? If you are please be aware that in Mudcat land requests get answered much quicker if a "PLEASE" is attached to the thread ...you are dealing with real people here

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Dimple
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:03 AM

PLEASE!PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE" FOR THE BENEFIT OF NUTTY WHO HAS NOT STOOD AND WATCHED ALL HIS/HER PET LAMBS 17, SHEEP 731 AND CATTLE 52 KILLED AT THE COMMAND OF DEFRA AND THIS GOVERNMENT AND ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO REALITY..WE AREN'T CLASSED AS REAL PEOPLE UP HERE IN CUMBRIA ANYMORE, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO FORGIVE MY LAPSE ON THIS OCCASION, AS WE ARE ALL BRAIN -DEAD NOW .KNOWING THIS, PERHAPS YOU COULD BE A LITTLE MORE CHARITABLE IN YOUR ATTITUDE AND NO !,I AM NOT A NEW MEMBER TO MUDCAT AND HAVE ASKED CORRECTLY AND RECEIVED INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:07 AM

...that went well, didn't it?

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Dimple
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:08 AM

NUTTY MY WORDS WERE ""WORDS PLEASE FOR SILVER DARLINGS" CAN'T YOU READ.ALTHOUGH NOT NEW TO MUDCAT I AM NEW TO USING THE SYSTEM

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:14 AM

Perhaps we can all take a deep breath and start again?

I've certainly heard this one, but at present I can't remember where; it does seem to have been recorded reasonably often, but the only references I've found so far are to performers whose work I don't know.  I did find what appears to be an extract from it, and would guess it to be not traditional, but a relatively recent composition:

With ice in the rigging
And death down below,
With the wind howling wild
And the glass reading low,
The wives and the sweethearts
Are women who know
The true cost of the silver darlings.

Perhaps this will help to jog some memories.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:18 AM

I thought I had a bite, if you'll excuse the pun, but I was of course thinking of Shoals of Herring, by Mister MacColl. I thought I'd keep my trap shut about that in case I got my head bitten off, tho'

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:20 AM

Me too Dai- d'you think that's where Mr McColl got the phrase from?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:23 AM

Could be, couldn't it? I'd always wondered about that song, beautiful lyric, lovely tune, it's so very visual... you'd almost be convinced that he knew the first thing about life at sea, wouldn't you? <g>

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:27 AM

Silver Darlings is quite an old term for herring (they used to bring in good money) and was widely used.  At the moment I'm thinking that the song here is likely roughly contemporary with McColl's song, but I could easily be wrong.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER^^
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 10:18 AM

I've had a trawl round, and came up with this, but it only seems to mention Silver Darlings once.

WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER

From Port Hardy one morning I cast off my line
The sea was all smooth, the weather just fine
All forecasts for luck, I was headed away
To where the Coho flash silver all over the bay
Where the Coho flash silver all over the bay

It was just before dawn when I reached the fish ground
So I lowered my poles and I let my lines down
I lit up my pipe and I waited and pray
To see the Coho flash silver all over the bay
See the Coho flash silver all over the bay

Well the sun came up shining and so did the fish
Them girlies were humming, what more could I wish
Them bells were all ringing, I was making it pay
Where the Coho flash silver all over the bay (x2)

Well they nipped all that morning 'til just after noon
They were so hungry they'd strike at an old leather shoe
"This must be heaven," to myself I did say
Where the Coho flash silver all over the bay (x2)

When I got home that evening, they asked, "How did you do?"
And I showed them silver darlings two-hundred and two
"Well ain't you the high liner, you're the best here today."
Where the Coho flash silver all over the bay (x2)

Well there's your doctors and lawyers and bankers and more
Your wheelers and dealers with the big deals galore
But let me be a trawler and king for a day
Where the Coho flash silver all over the bay (x2)^^

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Feb-03.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 11:55 AM

A brave effort, but that one's from British Columbia, and is already in the DT:  WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: nutty
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 01:22 PM

Dimplydoo ...please accept my sincere regrets at the slaughter of your animals ....... as one who also lives in the North of England I can sympathise .....but I was taught that there was never any excuse for bad manners

Of course, Mudcatters will do all they can to fulfill your request (I have even done some searching myself).

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 01:25 PM

Indeed, but the bad manners weren't Dimplydoo's.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 02:04 PM

ANother possbidillidy:

Steelmen , miners , shipwrights and sailors
                    Steelmen , miners , shipwrights and sailors
                    We'll never see their likes again
                    No more workers
                    Its gone the way of all good things

                    They used to forge the steel there
                    They'd sweat through every pore
                    Now there are no steelworks anymore They used to land
                    their catch here
                    The silver darlings run
                    Ah but now the fishing is all gone

                    Chorus...

                    Tall masts would sail from shipyards "Pride of the Clyde
                    " they'd say
                    Now all the ships have gone away

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Marymac90
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 02:05 PM

My sincere sympathy at the loss of your animals, too, Dimplydoo. I hope you stay around Mudcat, and find out were not all overzealous enforcers of what we may perceive to be errors in protocal.

Marymac

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 03:00 PM

It wouldn't be Ivan Drever's Tall Ships, Amos; that doesn't contain the line Dimplydoo quoted, and it doesn't mention Aberdeen.  As I said, the term was a common one and can be relied on to turn up in a good many songs about herring; what we need is the song with that title...

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 03:29 PM

Right, mate -- grasping at straw ships here...

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Willa
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 03:31 PM

Hi, dimplydoo. Don't know the song you're looking for, but a quick look using 'silver darlings' on google brought up several references to the term. It just might lead you to what you're seeking.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Dimple
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 04:17 PM

Hi Willa thanks for info, it'll take some time to wade through the various sites.Since sending in my request I have remembered that a man called (I think) Ian Rodgers from Oban sang this on a tape called" Farewell The Land" Don't have an address for this guy Dimplydoo ,

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: nutty
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 06:04 PM

Even with the extra information, I can't find anything on GOOGLE.

Subject: Lyr Add: SILVER DARLINGS (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: captain wheels
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 06:27 PM

SILVER DARLINGS


O herrings are harvests that fishermen glean
Where flashes the silver through deep ocean green,
But when herring harvests reach old Aberdeen
They're known as the silver darlings.

CHORUS: Silver darlings on Aberdeen quay,
Brought by the fisherman home from the sea
To the city that stands 'twixt the Don and the Dee,
The home of the silver darlings.

The boats leave the harbour, their wake spreading wide
And empty they roll with the swell of the tide.
O soon may their hatches be thrown open wide
For a catch of the silver darlings.

With ice in the rigging and death down below,
The gales screaming wild and the glass hanging low,
The wives and the sweethearts are women who know
The price of the silver darlings.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From:
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:01 PM

Noreen, the phrase "silver darlin's" is / was a common term and was used by the people recorded by Parker and MacColl for 'Singing the fishing'. As I'm at work i can't check the persons name, but I remember the phrase occuring in a passage which goes along the lines of "..they talk to the fish, absolutely cajole them into the nets, spin up, spin up my silver darlin's.."

Can't help with the original request though.

Pete M

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 11:16 PM

Looks like Captain Wheels has it!  Now, does anybody know anything about tune or writer?

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 11:52 PM

G'day Noreen, petem et al,

Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger interviewed a lot of fishermen for the BBC Radio ballad Singing the Fishing - particularly old Sam Larner, of Winterton. The song Shoals of Herring came very directly from Sam's own words and lifetime fishing.

I remember Ewan & Peggy saying that, when they took the song back and sang it to Sam, he declared; "Why, I've known that song all my life!" I would hope that means that they really caught the sound and fact of Sam's experience.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 12:50 AM

Malcolm's right---Captain Wheels has it. Now, if I were to get hold of all Stephen Quigg's [now with Macalmans]recordings, I'd bet on hearing "The Siver Darlings"; I've heard Stephen sing it many times.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: GUEST,captain wheels
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 02:27 PM

The recording I haveof it is on an antique Alistair MacDonald tape called Scotland in song but there is no info on who wrote it,sorry

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 04:57 PM

now - for the obnoxious question - Anyone know this well enough to write out the music and make it possible for us to post the tune?

BTW - welcome to the Mudcat - Captain Wheels. May you keep on turning and re-turning.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 05:25 PM

Thanks folks, very interesting.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: R!
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 09:15 PM

Captain Wheels has the right lyrics. It was recorded by Alastair McDonald on "The Songs of Scotland". My CD version lists Halfin/Hulskramer/McLean (Cinephonic) as authors.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: captain wheels
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 01:14 PM

I have got the tune but i'm not sure how to write it but here goes

G[LOW]CCCCEEEGGAAC[HI]AG/
G[LOW]CCCCDCCAFED/
G[LOW]CCCCEEGAC[HI]AG/
GCDEEEGEECDC/
CHORUS
GGC[HI]D[HI]E[HI]D[HI]C[HI]AG
C[HI]GECDEDCA[LOW]A[LOW]
G[LOW]G[LOW]CCCCEGAC[HI]AG
GCDEEGECDC


HOPE YOU CAN MAKE SOME SENSE OF IT

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 01:35 PM

gives me a start - (a very good one) :)

I am assuming the "/" marks are the end of a lyrical line. and the "hi" and "low" are self explanatory.

now - if you could do the same thing for the time values of the notes - say with 1=whole note, 2=half, 3=dotted half 4=quarter note, 5=dotted quarter, 6=eighth note, 7=dotted eighth, 8=sixteenth note; 9=dotted sixteenth I can put the two together

Any rests? there is one space in your last line of the chorus and I'm not sure whether or not that is intentional.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: captain wheels
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 04:57 PM

Here we go again,Looking at it I've made a few typing errors in the first attempt.Give me an ivory key board any day! G[LOW]1C1C1C1C1E1G1A1C[HI]1GMINIM/G[LOW]C2C2C1C1D1C1A1F1E1DMINIM/G[LOW]1C1D2C2C1E1G1A1C[HI]1A1G1/ G1C1D2E2G2E2C1D1/ CH G1G1C[HI]1D[HI]1E[HI]1D[HI]2C[HI]2A1G1/ C[HI]1G1E1C2D2E2[TRIPLETACTUALLY]D1C1A[LO]1A[LO]1///G[LO]2G[LO]2C2C2C1C1E1G1A1C[HI]1A1G1/ G1C1D2E2G2E2C1D1C1.
I've put the timing behind the note,the beats dont add up but whocares

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 06:12 PM

many many many thanks! I'll get this converted over asap.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 06:19 PM

BTW - Captain - if you are on a PC - may I reccomend Noteworty Composer - an excellent program at a low cost and a very easy learning curve - or Anvil Studio - which you can use a graphic keyboard to input from. If you are on a mac - I'm not sure what is a good program - but I know there are many.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: GUEST,Daystar's Husband
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 06:58 PM

I have a version of this excellent song on an old cassette by a group called Wickford Express: the tape is called Fair Winds and was published (in 1986) by Fair Winds Music, PO Box 196, Wickford, Rhode Island 02852, USA.

I notice that the entry for Silver Darlings is flagged "Courtesy Jon Campbell", so I presume he has some control over the copyright: not a name that I recognise, though.

The principal members of Wickford Express seem to be Dave and Cindy Peloquin, and Dan Cohen apparently plays fiddle on Silver Darlings.

Hope that gives you a few more leads.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 09:24 PM

G'day Cap'n

... Errr.... Isn't what you just did a re-invention of existing ABC notation - which has all sorts of support ... even a side product of Mudcat's own (via Alan of Oz) MIDItxt app? (Which lets you trade fairly freely between MIDI [to hear it on your computer], notation [the real way to read music ... unless you are learning at your grandparent's knee] and spits out ABC for its fans.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 08:27 AM

Bob - hey - I didn't want to scare the good Captain off! (Tho' now I will say there are links to ABC notation in the Newcomers FAQ - first thread on the main page.)

Subject: Tune Add: SILVER DARLINGS
From: MMario
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 10:52 AM

and this is what I ended up with - hopefully it is pretty close.

MIDI file: silvdarl.mid

Timebase: 192

Name: SILVER DARLINGS
Text: Generated by NoteWorthy Composer
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Start
0000 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 81 110 0160 0 81 000 0032 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 79 110 0336 0 79 000 0048 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0336 0 62 000 0048 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 81 110 0160 0 81 000 0032 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 81 110 0160 0 81 000 0032 1 79 110 0336 0 79 000 0048 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0096 0 74 000 0000 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0144 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 86 110 0160 0 86 000 0032 1 88 110 0160 0 88 000 0032 1 86 110 0094 0 86 000 0002 1 84 110 0094 0 84 000 0002 1 81 110 0192 0 81 000 0000 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 77 110 0160 0 77 000 0032 1 72 110 0126 0 72 000 0002 1 74 110 0126 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0126 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 69 110 0336 0 69 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 84 110 0160 0 84 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 79 110 0352 0 79 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 77 110 0096 0 77 000 0000 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the latest version of MIDItext and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Silver Darlings
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
G2c2c2c2|e2e2e2g2|a2c'2g4|G2c2c2c2|c2d2c2A2|
F2E2D4|G2c2dcc2|e2g2a2c'2|a2g4g2|c2degecc|
-cd5c'2|g2g2c'2d'2|e'2d'c'a2g2|c'2g2f2c5/4d3/4|
-d3/4e5/4d2c2A2|A4GGcc|c2c2e2G2|A2c'2g2g2|
-g2G2c2de|fed2c2c2|-c3/2||

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: captain wheels
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 02:54 PM

The captain is well and truely scared off,but she will think about the noteworthy composer although her computer skills are zilch.

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: MMario
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 02:58 PM

Don't be scared off, Captain Ma'am! I can't read music - nor tell you what note I am singing; and I can handle Noteworthy!

Subject: RE: Silver Darlings
From: Dimple
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 06:28 PM

Hi everyone, just got back to all the great information you have all given me!.I can't read music or play a musical instument.but I do however sing , on a very amateur basis, and I do know the tune if anyone is interested(tape)I just didn't have the words.DIMPLYDOO

Subject: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 06:40 AM

Just wondering if anyone has the lyrics to the song which has the (approximate) chorus:

Silver darlings on Aberdeen's quay
Brought by the fishermen home from the sea
To the city that stands 'tween the Don and the Dee
'tis the home of the Silver Darlings

I'd be most grateful if you could add them
Thanks very much, Izzy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: Wuzzle
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 02:23 PM

Oh herring, our harvest that fishermen glean
Where flashes the silver through deep ocean green,
And when herring harvest reach old Aberdeen,
They're known as the silver darlin's. CHORUS

The boats leave the harbour, their wakes spreadin' wide
And empty they roll with the swell of the tide.
Oh, soon may their hatches be thrown open wide
With a catch of the silver darlin's. CHORUS

There's ice on the riggin' and death down below,
With the gales screaming wild and the lamps hangin' low.
The wives and the sweethearts are women who know
The price of the silver darlin's. CHORUS

These words are from the CD "Lines Upon The Water," Gaye Anthony & Trish Norman. I don't know who wrote it, or if there are other words. The CD has some lovely songs on, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 05:10 AM

Thanks very much, and a very Merry Christmas!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 05:48 AM

I wrote the song along with Bob Halfin and Hulskrammer and it's called Silver Darlings. A couple of corrections to the lyrics kindly supplied by Wuzzle:

Oh herrings are harvests that fishermen glean,
..
..
They're known as the silver darlings.

Chorus:
Silver darlings on Aberdeen quay,
Brought by the fishermen home from the sea
To the city that stands 'twixt the Don and the Dee,
The home of the Silver Darlings.

It first appeared on an LP I produced with Alastair McDonald singing, Scotland In Song, Nevis 002, 1972.

Merry Christmas,
Jim McLean


Merry Christmas,
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 07:52 AM

Fine song Jim.
Why in the gales are the lamps hanging low?
I've heard it sung as the glass falling low.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 08:00 AM

Hi Keith, you're quite right, it should be 'the glass hanging low'.
I wrote the music to this poem by Bob Halfin and Hulskramer in 1970 and I didn't check Wuzzle's version enough.
Cheers,
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: ChanteyMatt
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:40 PM

Thank you one and all. I've always wanted the lyrics to this lovely song. It's a wonderful Christmas present.

Cheers!

Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWEEL YOU SILVER DARLINS (Roy Gullane
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:32 PM

The above song, SILVER DARLINGS by Bob Halfin and Jim McLean, was previously posted here.

There seems to be yet another song called THE SILVER DARLIN'S (click), written by Brian McNeill and Dougie Pincock, and sung by The Battlefield Band (with Alison Kinnaird) on their album "Music in Trust, Volume 1", 1986.

Then there is this song called "Fareweel You Silver Darlins", recorded by The Tannahill Weavers on their album "Leaving St. Kilda", 1996:

(The following lyrics and notes are from The Official Tannahill Weavers Website)

FAREWEEL YOU SILVER DARLINS   
(Roy Gullane)

When this world was younger, I fished the ocean sae deep and wide,
But noo these days are flotsam and washed up wi' the tide.
I sit hame starin' at the fire,
Too young tae gledly be retired,
And mind on a' they guid days before we had tae say:

CHORUS: Fareweel, ye silver darlin's.
Nae mair we'll trawl those North Sea shoals.
We left the auld girl in the harbour,
Nae mair tae feel the ocean's roll.

My faither worked the trawlers. his auld man did the very same.
For a' the fowk in this toon the fishin' was their game.
A way of life grew auld and grey.
The young move oot or waste away.
They've never kenned the guid days before we had tae say: CHORUS

When this world was younger, the hale toon worked on this empty quay.
The fleet streetched oot afore me as faur as I could see.
Noo at the harbour I maun staun,
And count the ships on baith my hauns,
And mind on a' they guid days before we had tae say: CHORUS

Aye noo the harbour's empty, like a' the poackets in this auld toon.
The government will help ye. Aye, we'll a' flee tae the moon!
And noo the streets in front o' me
are deid just like the very sea.
What happened tae the guid days before we had tae say: CHORUS

There's rules and regulations and laws that naebody understands.
They're fishing here frae a'place but we must bide on land.
Some o' us still earn a crust
While other boats just turn tae rust
And mind on a' they guid days before we had tae say: CHORUS

[On a recent holiday to northern Scotland, the author found himself in conversation with a retired trawlerman. He was told that when the fisherman was a youngster, the children would cross the bay by walking over the decks of the trawlers. It was hard to imagine this given the dearth of boats in the bay at the time. The size of the fleet in the 90's is but a mere fraction of what it used to be, and is ever shrinking.

[This song is based on that conversation. The expletives, however, have been removed from the fisherman's references to the government.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 03:13 AM

Refreshed for Jacqui C.
Told You!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: jacqui.c
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 04:55 AM

Thanks for that Keith - now I can copy out the lyrics so I can join in next time Ronnie sings it.

It's actually surprising to find that the song is relatively new - it sounds as if it goes back a long way - particularly when Ronnie does it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings on Aberdeen's Quay
From: sfmowl
Date: 09 May 05 - 07:54 PM

I heard Dave Peloquin (of Wickford Express) sing this song 7 years ago and it being pre-mudcat he said HE wasn't even able to track down the credits to the song. I hit gold a couple months ago when I found somebody else who knew the song and had the authors, but not till this search did I get the specifics. Thank you Jim McLean, it's a beautiful song, and thanks Mudcat for making these quests so much easier to satisfy!!

Peace,

S Morse aka sfmowl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Jim McLean, Bob Halfin)
From: GUEST,jenni R
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 04:33 AM

having a good old scottish knees up on hogmany and my grandad has requested i play this for him but does anyone know the chords for this? would really be appreciated :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 05:16 AM

I wrote this melody to a poem by Halfin and Halskrimmer and produced it for an LP, Nevis 002,Scotland in Song, in 1972 sung by Alastair McDonald. This was the first ever recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,GUEST Jenny Gunn
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 08:46 AM

Good afternoon. I have no idea if posting on a thread from 2009 is going to get me anywhere! But I absolutely love your song and find it very poignant. I really would love to use the lyrics of Silver Darlings on an artwork. I can’t find anything about copyright and don’t know where to start or who to ask for permission. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 10:07 AM

Dear Jenny,
The credits to the song are given as Jim McLean, Bob Halfin and Halskrimmer. It was published by Cinephonic, London.
I set the words of the poem to music and produced and recorded Alastair McDonald on a NEVIS LP, 002, in 1972.
It has been recorded many times by different artistes so you are free to record it. Good luck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Jenny Gunn
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 11:51 AM

Ah thanks Jim. I want to write the words on a physical piece of artwork - I hope the same applies? Warm regards.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 01:09 PM

Dimple- you might be interested in a song written by Iain Ingram (of Milngavie) called Ill Wind Frae Cumberland at the time of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. (Iain has a holiday home in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the first places in Scotland to be hit after Northumberland and Cumbria.)
I can post the words but have no idea how to share the tune- -
oops, just discovered I can't work out how to copy and paste so -- I shall have to print it off then type it into the 'reply' box!
shall do later - --

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 02:13 PM

Jenny, no problems.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 02:23 PM

Fascinated to read first few messages on this combined thread. Appears if someone suggests you say please it is alright to yell at them because you have had some irrelevant bad bad luck.
When you do, people will be nice to you.
Hmmm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 08:25 PM

For Dimple -

Iain's Notes:
The first case of foot and mouth disease was diagnosed in February 2001 at an abattoir in Essex.
The source was traced to a farm in Northumberland.
The disease spread rapidly throughout Britain - with Cumbria being the worst affected. In Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway was one of the first areas to be hit. I've written the song from a Scottish perspective, after watching an old farmer break down on television as he explained to a reporter how he had list everything.

Ill Wind Frae Cumberland

chorus:
Its an ill wind blawn frae Cumberland
That is sweeping o'er the Solway sand
Wi' disease and devastation fanned aroon

Noo the pyres burn and fortunes fa'
The length and breadth o' Gallowa
And anger bides in countryside and toon

v1
See the fairmer in ahint his gate
Broken doon in sic a state
While government debate whit should be done

A' his fields and his pastures bare
O' the kye and yowes he'd grazing there
Noo victims o' a scare
And the slaughtering gun

chorus: Its an ill wind blawn frae Cumberland....

v2
There's nae words o' hope can ease the pain
Or mak him want tae stairt again
When a' a lifetimes work in flames
You see.....................??? (oops, my copy is missing this line!)

Aye its hard enough to mak it pay
But when ye ken nae ither way
Whit is lost and gaun this day
Has brought misery

chorus: Its an ill wind blawn frae Cumberland...
    _________________________

Alas tho I have the tune in my head, I have no recording of it so either you'll have to contact Iain or me to have it sung to you! (Iain writes for accompanying himself on guitar -- then I learn some of them to sing traditionally / un-accompanied so -- best to get Iain's own version!!)
There;'s a possibility Jim Jack and John Graham have got this one from Iain, if so you might hear them do it - -- ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 09:01 PM

Yes, fellow Guest, this thread is a corker.

Is there not a Scottish play, a theatre piece,
called The Silver Darlings, as well?
Maybe named after the song, maybe just named after the saying.

I seem to recall reading about
Raindogs, the theatre company founded by the likes of Robert Carlyle
in Glasgow,
staging a production years ago of The Silver Darlings.

First I had heard of the term.

I wonder if dimplydoo dimple and nutty are no longer with us.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 09:56 PM

See Mudcat ThreadId=159358, I would link to it if I wasn't lousy at it.

Just came from a Google search, and had my ignorance... corrected a little.

1941, Neil Gunn published a novel called The Silver Darlings.
Sad to admit, I never before heard of Neil Gunn.
In this novel, protagonist Finn sings a version of The Cambric Shirt,
and it was this lyric which prompted Mudcatter Jack Campin
to starte ThreadId=159358 in search of info about this variation.

Neil Gunn's novel is a historical-fiction rendering
of the era following the Highland Clearances;
the Highlanders who have been evicted, and pushed to the shore,
must now earn their living fishing for herring.
Hence the title.

Since then, playwright John McGrath, he of
The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil,
has adapted Gunn's novel into a stage play of the same name.
It is this adaptation of which I first heard.

And when it was premiered in Glasgow, at the Citizen's Theatre,
young Finn was played by a young fellow in his first big professional stage appearance:
Kevin McKidd, no less.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 02:33 AM

Jim Maclean off the topic.. The late Bob Halfin suggested my father should write a song called 'You'll never get used to Uist'. It was probably as bad as it sounds - and is now completely lost -existing only as a song title on a contract.   When the contract came out - it was credited as Halfin/Ross - even though Mr. Halfin only gave the title! Long dead now, Bob Halfin was one of those old tin pan alley types, with cases of lyrics and songs..and dodgy contracts!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 09:38 AM

Bob was an incredible character. He wrote many songs, some good some bad ... I'm a Pink toothbrush, you're a Blue Toothbrush .. for example. I don't think he altered Halskammer's poem, Silver Darlings, but by giving it to put music to it justified a claim on it in Bob's eyes. As you say, he was an old Tin Pan Alley type but I question your statement 'he has dodgy contacts'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 10:09 AM

It turns out that English cinema snatched up
"The Silver Darlings" and hurried to make a film out of it.
Novelist Neil M. Gunn assisted with the adaptation.
The film can be looked up on the Internet Movie Data Base.
Like the novel, the film was before 1950.

Don't know if the film met with success at the time,
but it seems to have sunk into oblivion since.

Perhaps a fresh attempt at filming it is in order,
working from the stage adaptation?

As for Neil M. Gunn's novel,
there's no shortage of second-hand copies for sale online,
and English publisher Faber & Faber
have since reissued the book in both hardcover and paperback.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 10:46 AM

Guest-Rossey:
that's interesting re the lost song -- now only a title ! I am currently on the hunt for a lost song (think thread title is Last Vango in Harris)probably composed around 1973/4 in the area of Tarbert, Harris and commenting on the attempt by Sir Hereward the Ladwake (!)who owned Amhuinnsuidhe Castle for about 10 years (late '60s - late '70s) to have the public road that went very close to the front of the castle (wonder which was there first?) bypassed. Sir H was a school friend (Eton?) of the leader of Inverness county council -- I think, someone of influence --- who offered to fund the bypass- - however there was a public outcry and it never happened.
The song I seen (Last Vango in Harris) was set to Chatanooga Choo Choo tune and began:
Pardon me boy, is this the Amhuinnsuide bypass,
Is Sir Hereward in, I've heard a lot about him -- - -
Alas the guy who composed it died a number of years ago so I am trying to to contact people who might have been in sessions or bars or camping etc on Harris / Lewis in the mid -'70s, perhaps recall a phrase or two, so we can build a jigsaw of bits and weave them together -- - - failing which we plan a gathering in Autumn where armed with the facts of the event we shall endeavour to remake the song ourselves!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 12:55 PM

Jim Maclean - oops! You misread what I said about Bob Halfin. You didn't see the R - it was dodgy contracts - not contacts! Minch Music co. had the old style 100 percent mechanical copyright tie you to them forever small print - whereas now a lot of people now sign contracts with reversionary rights. I found a local press story about Halfin writing a song about the beauty of Tomnahurich Cemetery Inverness, that one died a death. He used to find any novelty angle on music and try and right something about it. But a darned cheek to claim the share of a song just for suggesting the title! I do wonder if my father's tune was any good, sadly even he couldn't remember what he wrote!
(Though the song doesn't now exist so I'll never know how bad it was!)   

Re- Gallus Moll, Last Vango in Harris, your talking about a parody as it's set to someone else's copyright tune, and there are already lyrics set to it - so a lost lyrical parody rather an original compositional copyright work. Interesting though.. I must see if I can find any mention of it elsewhere!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 01:55 PM

Sorry Guest if I misread your post. I do agree that claiming for a title suggestion is cheeky. Some people in Tin Pan Alley did take advantage, I lost out a couple of times due to my näivity.
Bob's greatest line was "Mr Ben Nevis, you're as old as the hills". I don't think that can be beaten!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 03:02 PM

Thanks Guest 16 April 12.55 - that had not occurred to me! I imagine there are many parodies (?) in existence eg for amateur dramatic group pantomimes etc? Folk songs even- - so many borrowed tunes!

As for 'Last Vango in Harris' - it was very specific, about a single event (which did not in the end actually happen)and those that vaguely recall it are not 100% certain it was much more than the title and intro -- tho' I have a gut feeling with that title there must be a mention of camping somewhere?
I might have to head for Tarbert, Harris and start quizzing everybody over a certain age --- think I'll contact the castle too, the estate became a community buyout enabled by the current owner, and the castle a hotel I think, probably employing many locals --

I knew Allan Law who apparently composed the words - but I never heard him sing it in Argyll -- - (or maybe I wisnae there the time(s) he did?!
Think it is like the Ballad of The Torrey Canyon, of its time and place - --
Anyone who has contact with Lewis / Harris 'folkies from the mid '70s please ask! (and let me know---!!!!)

Subject: ADD: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 06:37 PM

SILVER DARLINGS
(Andrew Huskramer, Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)

O herrings are harvests that fishermen glean
Where flashes the silver through deep ocean green,
But when herring harvests reach old Aberdeen
They're known as the silver darlings.

CHORUS:
Silver darlings on Aberdeen quay,
Brought by the fisherman home from the sea
To the city that stands 'twixt the Don and the Dee,
The home of the silver darlings.

The boats leave the harbour, their wake spreading wide
And empty they roll, with the swell of the tide.
O soon may their hatches be thrown open wide
For a catch of the silver darlings.

CHORUS:
Silver darlings on Aberdeen quay,
Brought by the fisherman home from the sea
To the city that stands 'twixt the Don and the Dee,
The home of the silver darlings.

With ice in the rigging and death down below,
The gales screaming wild and the glass hanging low,
The wives and the sweethearts are women who know
The price of the silver darlings.


As sung by David Solley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 01:01 PM

What is a Hulskrammer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 01:07 PM

In an attempt to answer my own question,
my searches have scraped up

"Andrew (Andy) Hulskramer"

and I'll go back to look now, through this thread,
but I don't think
this co-author's full name and correctly spelled surname
have been on this thread previously.
More, if I dig up any.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 01:58 PM

https://www.discogs.com/artist/5098381-Andy-Hulskramer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 03:59 PM

I explained already that Bob Halfin gave me a poem he said was written by a man called Hulskramer who was dead. This was around 1964/5. I wrote the music to it and in 1971/2 I recorded Alastair McDonald singing it on my own label NEVIS Records. I wrote a spoken intro performed by Leo McQuire.
Bob worked for a publishing firm called Campbell Connelly and it had a subsidiary company called Cinephonic who then published the song. Bob, by supplying the poem, claimed a third of the song hence the credits reading, Jim McLean, Bob Halfin and Hulskramer ...... I never knew his first name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 11 Aug 19 - 09:14 PM

see link above Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 04:55 AM

RunrigFan, I don't understand why you are pointing to the Discog page as it only lists recordings of the song and the reference to Hulskramer only applies to the credits on the albums which I have already explained.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 02:47 PM

I never knew his first name.

hence the link and for keberoxu

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 06:07 PM

RunrigFan, I didn't know his first name either so I don't know why it's given as Andy.
I am the only source for this poem and only put last names on the credits on the original LP.
I do t understand "keberoxu".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 06:12 PM

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MearnsCoastal/posts/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 06:22 PM

RunrigFan Alastair McDonald recorded the song many years later and credited ANDY Hulskramer along with Bob and myself. Where he got the name from, I have no idea as I gave HIM the song.
I will as Alastair.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 07:46 PM

Actually, where I found "Andy Hulskramer" by name
was not the "discogs" pages.

My online search pulled up,
from the 1930's yet,
some directories of copyright listings.

The song was NOT "silver darlings"
but something called "and now you know,"
don't ask me what that is;
and "Andy" or was it "Andrew" Hulskramer
was named as the author of the lyrics.
1930's, yet!

Fascinating to see how the folk-music process takes over.
It's a wonder his name is recorded anywhere,
he could have been just another of the multitude
covered by the words Anonymous or Traditional.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Aug 19 - 10:20 AM

I spent the last couple of days searching through my old notebooks and, Eureka! I found the original scribble from Bob Halfin who gave me the poem and he said the writer was ANDY Halskrimmer who came from Aberdeen and was writing during 1920-30s.
My only excuse for forgetting this is that it was over 50 years ago and I apologise to anyone I may have mislead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Aug 19 - 01:16 PM

Hulskramer!!!! I wrote that last post too quickly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 03:39 AM

Andrew Huslkramer Scottish amateur poet whose works were set to music, was born in 1913 and died in 1969. This is from Aberdeen Evening Express August 1970 .POET'S DREAM COME TRUE When Aberdeen Corporation adoption officer Mr Andrew Hulskramer died in December he missed by only a few months what would have been the proudest moment, of his life. For to-day a long-playing record of some of Mr Hulskramer’s poems set to music is on sale in an Aberdeen music shop. His wife, Elsie, 28 Deeside Gardens, Aberdeen, told of how her had hoped that he would live long enough to see the issue of the LP that had been his ambition. “My husband had been writing poetry from an early age, and one day he showed some of bis work to a colleague “He thought It marvellous, and advised Andrew to tend some poems to London. Then was told that the poems would make beautiful songs. “The music was written by Mr Bob Halfln, who Is associated with Grampian Records of Wick. “I believe this record; ’The World was Born In Scotland’ — may bethe first of many.” Mr Hulskramer, whose grandfather was Dutch, was born In Buckhaven, Fife, and moved with his wife to Aberdeen in 1965.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 04:11 AM

Could someone please alter the heading of this thread? Clearly Anddrew Hulskramer was the originator of the work as per the MCPS PRS registration, with the esteemed Jim Mclean mainly setting it to music, as for the dodgy late Bob Halfin's role (?) - ah well he is credited.   Anyway, the publishers have claimed the lion's share of this work, so I hope they are paying the author's estate their dues.. as the guy wasn't a PRS/MCPS member.   But it should be made clear in the thread heading, it is Halfin/McLean/Hulskramer.. not just Halfin and McLean. The guy deserves his tribute.. see above the story I found about him in newspapers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Darlings (Bob Halfin, Jim McLean)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 06:32 AM

There are 21 registered lyrical works with Andrew Hulskramer's name.. and Bob Halfin associated with the songs.. and in one other case apart from Silver Darlings "THERES MONY A BONNIE BOAT" credited with Jim McLean. An LP was released in 1970 by James John Beveridge on Grampian Records, as per the newspaper story.

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 04:15 AM

For the record:
The poem by Andrew Huskramer was given to me in the late 1960s by Bob Halfin and I wrote original music for it.

It was sung for the first time by Alastair McDonald and recorded on an LP NEVR 002, NEVIS RECORDS in 1970.

I produced the LP and gave the following credits:

Silver Darlings. Halfin/Hulskramer/McLean   
Publisher Cinephonic.
It was thus registered with the PRS and MCPS.

I don't know about the LP "The World Was born in Scotland" but will on the credits.

I already explained that Bob claimed a third of the song as he came up with song ... typical Tin Pan Alley tactics.

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 04:20 AM

".... Don't know about the World was born in Scotland but will CHECH on the credits........"

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 04:23 AM

" .....CHECK..... ". Too early in the morning!

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 04:38 AM

Hi, Jim - anything you can add to this thread will be helpful. I want to wrap up the thread and correct and format the songs.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 08:23 AM

Joe, I think I clarified all there is to know about the writers and composers of this song. I am at the moment trying to find information on the LP " The World was born in Scotland" just in case Bob Halfin was incorrectly credited as the music writer.
The bottom line is that Hulskramer wrote the words and I wrote the music.

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 04:47 PM

Peculiar things happen with credits and the late Bob Halfin. My father wrote a typical heather and haggis song called the 'Highland Road', recorded by Dennis Clancy. It was signed by Halfin to Minch Music a company he was involved with, originally correctly credited on record to Stewart Ross.   Then in the 80's it was re-issued on CD by a Canadian Company, and mysteriously wrongly credited to Bob Halfin.. and my father had to phone up various parties to prove he wrote that darned thing.   despite being corrected, more Halfin credits appeared on other re-issues - though it is correct as Ross today. I have a feeling Halfin may have nicked the US and Canadian royalties even though he had no connection to the work. By the late 80' he was dead anyway, but it was weird how his name got attached.

Then of course as I said before - Halfin claimed 50% writing credit of a song (non-existent now), for suggesting the title to my father 'You'll never get used to Uist'. Anyway, 'Silver Darlings' is a beautiful touching melody in its own right which can be played as an instrumental and still sound great. Its nice to know that Jim wrote that element, such a shame Halfin is credited at all.. but that's the way it was back then.. Tin Pan Alley crediting arrangements.

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Aug 19 - 09:07 AM

Last call!
I have checked the LP The World was Born in Scotland. All titles Hulskramer/Halfin published by Minch Music which I think was Bob's own publishing company.
The singer is a fairly light, crooner and the tracks are arranged in a pseudo country and westerns style and no mention of Silver Darlings.
Instantly forgettable (in my opinion).

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Aug 19 - 07:55 PM

With a hundred grand of the silver darlings that we'd taken from the shoals of herring...

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: GUEST,Vic at home
Date: 26 Aug 19 - 05:38 PM

Mrrzy, I always thought it cran not grand.

leaps into deep bunker waiting for the manure to hit the windmill.

Vic

Subject: RE: ADD: Silver Darlings (various)
From: GUEST,Dougal Lee
Date: 13 Aug 24 - 04:17 AM

I was searching for the lyrics of an entirely different song when the title of this thread caught my eye. I have two observations: first, I played Roddy (it would take a while to summarise the plot of Neil Gunn's novel-suffice it to say I was, in effect Kevin McKidd's stepfather) in Wildcat Theatre Company's staging of John McGrath's adaptation of 'The Silver Darlings' back in about 1994. I think I'd be right in saying that John had written a film script, but couldn't get funds, so mounted it as a play in the hope that producers might see its potential as a movie. They didn't. Shame, but we kept ourselves amused touring the show imagining who they'd get to replace us when Hollywood turned up.
Second, might the song which initiated this thread not be Brian McNeill/Dougie Pincock's's 'Silver Darlings' as performed by the Battlefield Band back in the day?:

Between the Beggar's Mantle and the lights of Peterhead
The fisher lads were heroes and the herring was the creed.
The herring paid the factor, the herring fed the wean,
But now the herring's gone, and the fishing's no' the same.

As I recall there are three other verses about how oil riggery has replaced drift fishery, and this thread is so old now the song may need something of a codicil about IT or something.