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.]