Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)

Subject: Martin Greigh
From: Charcloth
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 12:16 AM

Anybody have the Lyrics to the Taylor Whiteside song "Martin Greigh"
Thanks Charcloth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 12:39 PM

All I found was the album for sale. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Giac
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 03:29 PM

Hey, Charcloth --

I have these lyrics somewhere, I've looked in several likely places to no avail. I got them from a friend and if I can contact him and get a copy, I'll post them in a couple of days, if no one has come up with them by then. Sorry I'm so disorganized. Love the song.

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Charcloth
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 04:12 PM

Thanks Giac, it is a cool song. I think Taylor has recorded it on a solo project but I have the recording he did as part of North East Winds. I am having trouble making out several of the words, hence the reason for my post
Charcloth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: kendall
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 05:06 AM

I'll post them

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Giac
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 06:14 AM

Thank you, Kendall!

Never did find my copy of the lyrics, nor was my friend able to find his copy. Glad to have them again myself.

Mary

Subject: Lyr Add: MARTIN GREIGH (Taylor Whiteside)
From:
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 09:20 AM

Have sung this one often for years, but can't guarantee the accuracy of the lyrics, as in my religion the singer gets to revise the songwriter:

My Father was a fisherman, likewise my brothers too
They followed in his footsteps, with a wooden point of view
While I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore
And keep account of what we got, find ways to make it more

CHORUS: Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?
         She was due to fetch that Cutty Light by 3O'clock today
         No sail on the horizon, no vessel by the Cay(sp?)
         Four boats in the harbor, oh where's the Martin Greigh?

Now our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago
Us boys'd see that letter come each Christmas time or so
And father takes the dory then, and round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in that's when the sorrow shows

I know our father said that some fine day he'd take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coasting trade don't know
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
And dream about old fishing grounds and think on her once more

You see, a man's the master of his heart as boys we all were told
And you strain to play the hero's part, a Captain brave and bold
But in the end you'll pay the toll for feelings never shown
And trapped within this age-old role you find yourself alone



Hope that works for you --- a fine singalong and one of the best modern (sensitive?) sea songs in my collection

fred

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Brían
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 11:03 AM

Aw, heck. I'll put this on my lis of midis to do...
:-)
Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: cetmst
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 06:36 PM

I think it's "No vessel by the quay". On a previous thread concerning this song I had asked whether it might be Quoddy Light, the West Quoddy Head light in Lubec, Maine. There is also a Cuttyhunk Light on Cuttyhunk Island off Cape Cod. but I can't find a Cutty Light.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: kendall
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 07:33 PM

I believe it is "angels role" not age old role.

Subject: Lyr Add: MARTIN GREIGH (T Whiteside)
From: raredance
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 10:19 PM

The following is transcribed from the CD. Note some wording and tense variation with Fred's text and the transposition of the 3rd and 4th stanzas.

rich r


MARTIN GREIGH (T Whiteside)
As recorded by The Brandywine Singers on "World-Class Folk" (1992)

My father was a fisherman, likewise my brothers too.
They follow in his footsteps with a wooden point of view
While I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore.
I keep account of what we've got, find ways to make it more.

Our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago.
We sons receive a letter each Christmas time or so,
And Father takes the dory then, and round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in; that's when the sorrow shows.

CHORUS: Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?
She was due to fetch the Cutty Light by 3 o'clock today.
No sail on the horizon, no vessel by the quay,
Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?

Now a man's the master of his heart, as boys we all were told.
He strains to play the hero's part, a captain brave and bold,
But in the end must pay the toll for feelings never shown,
But trapped within this age-old role he finds himself alone. CHORUS

Now Father says that one fine day he'll take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coasting trades don't know,
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
And leave behind old fishing grounds and think of her once more. CHORUS TWICE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 10:25 PM

cool thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh
From: Charcloth
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 10:35 PM

The last guest was from me. my cookie expired
Thanks again Charcloth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 13 - 01:59 AM

Any chance someone has noted the chords for this yet?
cheers
PoohBear

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MARTIN GREIGH (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 09 Sep 19 - 11:47 AM

I came across this in a search. These are the chords I use and they seem to work fine for me.


Martin Greigh Taylor Whiteside

    G                      C                   G
My Father was a fisherman, likewise my brothers too
                                                                                          
                                                       D
They followed in his footsteps, with a wooden point of view
      C                G                               D
While I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore
    C                G                D               G
And keep account of what we got, find ways to make it more

Chorus                                                                                                G                         C                   G
Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?                                                   
                                                    D
She was due to fetch that Cutty Light by 3 O'clock today
C                G          C          D                                 
No sail on the horizon, no vessel by the quay
C                G          D                  G
Four boats in the harbor, oh where's the Martin Greigh?



Now our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago
Us boys'd see that letter come each Christmas time or so
And father takes the dory then, and round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in that's when the sorrow shows

I know our father said that some fine day he'd take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coasting trade don't know
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
And dream about old fishing grounds and think on her once more

You see, a man's the master of his heart as boys we all were told
And you strain to play the hero's part, a Captain brave and bold
But in the end you'll pay the toll for feelings never shown
And trapped within this age-old role you find yourself alone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 09 Sep 19 - 11:54 AM

Here's a rendition on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 20 - 12:15 PM

If anybody is still following this: It is for sure the Cutty Light. Folks often abbreviated in speach. Also, the quay - same as "cay" - and pronounced cay whatever the spelling. I have heard Taylor perform this many times - what memories!

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MARTIN GREIGH (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 30 Mar 20 - 08:36 AM

I guess I should have checked those chords once I posted them, Sorry. There will be some slight difference in the lyric as it came to me via a band member who learned from a source other than Taylor Whiteside. Now it is too hard to relearn it after doing it this way for twenty years or so.

Martin Greigh Taylor Whiteside

My Fa(G)ther was a fisherman, like(C)wise my brothers to(G)o

They followed in his footsteps, with a wooden point of vi(D)ew

While I(C) the black sheep of(G) the lot worked safely on the sho(D)re

And ke(C)ep account of wh(G)at we got, find wa(D)ys to make it mo(G)re

CHORUS: Fo(G)ur boats in the harbor, whe(C)re's the Martin Gre(G)igh?

She was due to fetch that Cutty Light by 3 O'clock to(D)day

N(C)o sail on the hori(G)zon, no ves(C)sel by the Ca(D)y(sp?)

Fo(C)ur boats in the har(G)bor, oh whe(D)re's the Martin Grei(G)gh?

Now our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago
Us boys we'd see that letter come each Christmas time or so
And Father takes the dory then, and round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in that's when the sorrow shows

I know our father said that some fine day he'd take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coastal trade don't know
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
And dream about old fishing grounds and think on her once more

You see, a man's the master of his heart as boys we all were told
And you strain to play the hero's part, a captain brave and bold
But in the end you'll pay the toll for feelings never shown
And trapped within this age-old role you find yourself alone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 30 Mar 20 - 08:37 AM

Arrrgh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Mar 20 - 01:04 PM

I've mentioned to Taylor that this thread exists -- perhaps he'll check in.

Linn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Apr 20 - 02:17 PM

Hi,

I just heard from Taylor who has checked this thread and found he couldn't post a response, probably because of the high security of his work computer.

So here it is, direct from Taylor Whiteside —

617-510-1010

Hello All and thank you for your interest in this song. Here’s how I do it: First, be in Drop D tuning (drop the 6th string E to D). For the D chord use all six strings. The G chord is 3rd finger 6th string 5th fret, 4th finger 5th string 5th fret, 1st finger 1st string 3rd fret, and the other strings open. The A chord is as normal but leave out the 6th string. In the first half of the second line, walk down: D (open 4th string), C# (4th finger 5th string 4th fret), B (1st finger 5th string 2nd fret), A (open 5th string). Then for the Em chord the low E is thumb on 6th string 2nd fret, 2nd finger on 5th string 2nd fret, 3rd finger on 4th string 2nd fret, and the other strings open. Chorus is same as verse.

   D                         G                D
My father is a fisherman, likewise my brothers two

    D/D    /C#    /B       /A    Em             A
They follow in his footsteps with a wooden point of view

      G                D               D             A
While I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore

G               D                   A               D
I keep account of what we've got, find ways to make it more

Our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago
We sons receive a letter each Christmas time or so
And Father takes the dory then, and 'round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in, that's when his sorrow shows

CHORUS: Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?
She was due to fetch the Cutty Light by 3 o'clock today
No sail on the horizon, no vessel by the quay
Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?

Now a man's the master of his heart as boys we all were told
He strains to play the hero's part, a captain brave and bold
But in the end must pay the toll to feelings never shown
For trapped within this age-old role he finds himself alone

CHORUS

Now father says that one fine day he'll take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coastin' trade don't know
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
To leave behind old fishing grounds and think of her once more

CHORUS

CHORUS (a capella)

Last line of CHORUS (with guitar)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 20 - 11:46 PM

Well the chords are misaligned because the font changed but you get the idea. Ta.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Manuel
Date: 11 Apr 20 - 04:50 PM

Just seeing this thread. Great intervention from Bat Goddess. Sure we are all grateful to her. And good to hear from her again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Apr 20 - 04:43 PM

Thank you.

It's a reminder that I DO need to not only check in here more often, but to POST more often as well.

For the past six+ years I've been trying to pick up where Curmudgeon, my late husband Tom Hall, left off. Not just here. He left me the responsibility for leadership of our Press Room sessions and, for a couple years at least, the helm of the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival, as well as his share of our joint participation in Ballad-L.

I'm trying to keep Tom's memory and legacy alive. I intend to learn (sigh, one of these days) how to post his recordings (accompanied by my photogaphs) at YouTube and I'm working on writing a memoir of the Press Room Anglo-Celtic trad session.

As for the above, I'm very glad I could help.

Linn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Greigh (Taylor Whiteside)
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 15 Apr 20 - 02:04 PM

Great.

Linn, I will look forward to your husbands music.

Don Meixner