Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore

Subject: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: GUEST,old bones
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:34 PM

Chorus : "there were thirty four on board all told in eighteen fifty four when we weighed anchor and set sail for Greenland's icy shore"

Can anyone help with the verses?

Subject: Lyr Add: GREENLAND'S ICY SHORE
From: radriano
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 07:55 PM

Greenland's Icy Shore

Chorus:
There were thirty-four on board all told
In eighteen fifty-four
When we weighed anchor and set sail
For Greenland's icy shore, brave boys
For Greenland's icy shore

Our captain's name was William Penn
And the second mate's was the same
And our good ship's called the Nancy Mare
And she ploughed the raging main, brave boys
And she ploughed the raging main

The weeks passed by and the days rolled on
And ne'er a whale we did spy
When the lookout he cried - whar away and there she blows
Ahead and on our lea, brave boys
Ahead and on our lea

The captain he was soon on deck
Excitement grew apace
Overhaul, overhaul, let your davey-tackle haul
And soon we'll be in the chase, brave boys
And soon we'll be in the chase

The first mate bold was the first away
And the whale gave a flip of his tail
And down went the boat with five brave boys
Oh, ne'er to rise anymore, brave boys
Oh, ne'er to rise anymore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:47 PM

Radiano, any info on who wrote it or its age? The verse about the whale flipping its tail seems related to the one in the Greenland Whale Fisheries in the DT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 03:34 AM

Sounds like a version of the "Greenland WHale", alright. Source?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 10:37 AM

It seems to be a version of the Greenland whale fishery, indeed. Just look up "greenland whale" in the Digitrad Lyric Search, and you'll find some similar songs, with sources and tunes.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:05 AM

True; but that won't tell us anything about the source of this version, which is what Martin (and I, for that matter) would like to know!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: radriano
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:22 AM

Oops, sorry! I forgot to cite my source.

These lyrics are from the recording "Shipshape & Harry Fashion" by the English shanty group "The Harry Browns of Bristol" (formerly the "Harry Brown Shantymen of Bristol"). Unfortunately the liner notes give almost no useful information about the song. I contacted one of the group members about another song on the album which turned out to be composed by a band member but I rather doubt that this one was. I'll get in touch with them and see what they have to say about this one.

Regards,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:33 AM

Wasn't much of the whaling trade of East Coast USA Quaker-dominated? Penn?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:59 AM

Brummings' Folk Song Index (Garland) says "Greenland's Icy Shores" (the title is in the plural) is in The Book of Naval Songs, edited by the Trident Society of the United States Naval Academy, but the song is not in my edition (8th printing, 1987).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: radriano
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:26 PM

I've sent off an e-mail to those Harry Browns. It took a while for them to respond last time so we may have to wait a bit for an answer. In the meantime I'll see what I can dig up when I get home tonight - I don't believe I've come across this song anywhere else but the thing is that I've got this rather unruly filing system.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 01:40 AM

Thanks, Richard.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: radriano
Date: 26 Apr 02 - 11:33 AM

Ian Greening, one of the members of the "Harry Brown Shantymen of Bristol" responded to my inquiry.

"We found the song in 'The Book of Navy Songs' published in the USA by the Trident Society, Doubleday and Company, New York, 1926."

Apparently later publications deleted this song for some reason.

Regards to all,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Greenland's Icy Shore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 02:32 PM

Thanks, Richard.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: TITAN'S ICY SHORES
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 11:48 AM

There's a song based on "Greenland's Icy Shores".

TITAN'S ICY SHORES

A Space Chantie for Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
(based on the original ballad Greenland's Icy Shores)
Revised Words (C) 1997 by Dansen T. Stahl

There were thirty four on board all told
in twenty fifty four
when we left orbit, railing,
for Titan's icy shores, brave boys,
for Titans icy shores.

Our captain's name was John DeFoe.
His second was Bill Lace
and our good ship was the Mare Argo.
And she braved the depths of space, brave boys,
oh, she braved the depths of space.

The weeks passed by, the days rolled on
but no crys-fish did we spy
'Til the lookout, he cried, "Whar away?" and "Thar she sings!
Far ahead and a little to our lee, brave boys,
far ahead and little to our lee.".

The captain was soon on the deck.
The excitement grew apace.
"Overhaul! Overhaul! Let your thrusters burn!
We'll soon be in the chase, brave boys,
oh, we'll soon be in the chase.

The first mate's boat was the first away
and neared the fish so fast.
Three tails flicked the boat to sea
and never will rise those four, brave boys,
oh, never will rise those four.

When the captain saw the crys-fish lost
full loudly did he swear.
But when he saw the brave boys lost
he said he would ship some more, brave boys,
oh, he said he would ship some more.

Daniel Turner -- 2055 AD

(Source: This page)

~Masato