Lyr Req: Tail o' the Bank (Battlefield Band)

Subject: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Sebastian
Date: 13 May 02 - 10:05 AM

Hello all you mudcatters!

I'm searching for the lyrics of the Battlefield Band song "Tail O' The Bank". I can't find it anywhere would be great if someone could post it!

Thanks, Sebastian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Frank Maher (extra)
Date: 13 May 02 - 11:47 AM

I have It on a Record!!I can make an MP3 of It and send It to You if You want...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Sebastian
Date: 13 May 02 - 08:11 PM

Hello Frank,

thanks for offering to send a record of the song but I'm searching for the words of the song. I know that Battlefield Band puts all their songlyrics into the inlet of a CD Cover perhaps you can have a look at it and post it here???

Greetings, Sebastian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Emma B
Date: 14 May 02 - 01:31 PM

Words and music by Alan Reid printed in 'Battlefield, Forward with Scotland's Past' a collection of 90 tunes and 44 songs from their repertoire published by Kinmor Music,Shillinghill, Temple, Midlothian. If you cannot access a copy let me know and I'll forward

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Sebastian
Date: 15 May 02 - 04:15 PM

Hi Little Mo!

Thanks for your hint on the book, but I don't want to buy a book because I'm searching for one text only. Couldn't you pick the text out and post it here???

Bye Sebastian

Subject: Lyr Add: TAIL O' THE BANK (Battlefield Band)
From: Emma B
Date: 15 May 02 - 04:44 PM

I knew you'd say that! and I still haven't worked out how to break line endings so will you bear with me . . . .

---

When the sunset falls behind the Kyles and Cowal hides the light
And the dark hills lie against the sky like sentries of the night
Along the Firth to the Holy Loch the lights are shing bright
As we stand across the water at the Tail O' the bank

Our fathers stood here yesterday and gazed upon the Firth
Where the old majestic liners left behind their place of birth
And the sea-salt air embraced them as they stood upon that earth
And they dreamed of better fortune for the Tail o' the bank

We have seen the emigration boats departing with the tide
We have heard the dying echoes of the shipyards on the Clyde
And the promises of those that said that they were on our side
Lie strandedlike a shipwreck on the shoreline

Faces you remember and some you soon forget
Places that won't leave you, never mind how far you get
But wherever ther's a hungry heart a spark is living yet
And that's what keeps them going at the Tail o' the Bank

---

For those who doesn't know the Tail o' the bank is the colloquial name for Greenock which faces the beautiful Cowal Peninsular across the firth of Clyde and was hit particularly hard with the decline of shipbuilding Hope you enjoy the song Sebastian but I recommend you get a chance to take a look at the book anyway; try your library we should be encouraging them to stock folk music

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 May 02 - 05:01 PM

Putting in an add for Little Mo's post, this thread, 4:44. Also need a clone to help with breaks. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 May 02 - 03:45 PM

Little Mo, many thanks for posting the lyrics! Rather you than me ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Emma B
Date: 16 May 02 - 03:54 PM

I'd rather you than me as well! Thanks to Mudcat for breaking lines for me; will someone help Sorcha and myself with a SIMPLE explanation p.s. it was a labour of love really because I happen to think that Brian McNeill and Alan Reid are two of our finest living songwriters, their songs deserve to be known more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Sebastian
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:03 PM

I have to thank you, too Little Mo!

I'm happy to have them now. Because of the many place or town names i wasn't able to transcribe the words from the song! Will the lyrics now be added to the archive or is it necessary to post a lyrics add thread???? By the way in my opinion you're absolutely right with saying that McNeill and Reid are two of the best songwriters! I like their music very much.

Sincerely, Sebastian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 May 02 - 10:26 PM

Seconded!!!
Some more notes: [1987:] The 'tail o' the bank' is the colloquial name for Greenock. Facing the town across the Firth of Clyde is the Cowal peninsula, the beginning of the highlands in the west of Scotland, but the beauty of this backdrop only serves to highlight the town's plight, for the decline of shipbuilding has brought Greenock one of the highest unemployment levels in Britain, and it's a place that has to fight hard to retain its hope. Successive governments have been lavish with promises of new light industry, investment etc etc. It would take a saint to believe in them. (Notes Battlefield Band, 'Celtic Hotel')

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Sebastian
Date: 18 May 02 - 08:32 PM

Thanks for the notes, I have an old LP of the 'Celtic Hotel' Album thats were I got the song from but the inlet was missing! Thanks again to all of you!

Sebastian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tail o' the bank - Battlefield Band
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 19 May 02 - 08:39 PM

Sebastian, if you need the rest of the 'Celtic Hotel' notes eMail me at: skw at worldmusic.de.