Lyr Add: The Ferryman (Pete St. John)

Subject: Lyrics: Strawberry Beds
From: Brian Leahy
Date: 06 Nov 97 - 06:09 PM

I'm in need of lyrics for the tune "The Strawberry Beds" although it may have another title. The chorus goes like:

I'll love more today and I'll love you more tomorrow If you've ever loved me Molly love me now.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Strawberry Beds
From: Bruce O.
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 12:24 PM

Can you give us any more of the song? An opening line or two. 'Molly' is most often found in Irish songs, or perhaps I should call them Anglo-Irish songs.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Strawberry Beds
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Nov 97 - 09:37 AM

The song is a modern one, written by Pete St. John, as far as I remember.

Strawberry Beds is a area on the R. Liffey, near Chapelizod (of Joyce fame). Used ot be a picnic area from the city.

Words later, if I can find them!

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FERRYMAN (Pete St John)^^^
From: Ezio
Date: 01 May 98 - 10:51 AM

THE FERRYMAN

Oh the little boats are gone
From the breast of Anna Liffey
And the ferrymen are stranded on the Quay
Sure the Dublin Docks are dyin'
And a way of life is gone
And Molly it was part of you and me

Chorus:
Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey
You kiss away the worries from my brow
I love you well today and I'll love you more tomorrow
If you've ever loved me Molly love me now

'Twas the only job I knew
It was hard but never lonely
The Liffey ferry made a man of me
Now it's gone without a whisper
Half forgotten even now
Sure, it's over, Molly, over
Can't you see

Chorus

Now I'll tend the yard
And I'll spend my days in talkin'
And I'll hear them whisper - Charlie's on the dole
But Molly we're still livin'
And darlin' we're still young
And the River never owned me heart and soul

Chorus

(Recorded by The Dublin City Ramblers)

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 02 May 98 - 02:39 AM

I thought this was going to be the Ferryman by Chris De Burgh.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 02 May 98 - 07:31 AM

The Ferryman - written (and copyright I imagine) by Pete St. John

Regards

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 05 May 98 - 04:21 AM

Want to listen to it? go here

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Brack&
Date: 19 May 98 - 09:22 PM

Ezio......Shouldn't the last verse start " Now I spin the yarns"

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: alison
Date: 20 May 98 - 08:46 PM

Hi,

I have to agree I was expecting to find Chris de Burgh's "Dont' pay the ferryman." (He wrote some good stuff..... have to admit I went off him after "Lady in Red" got played to death.)

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Brack&
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 03:57 AM

From the breast of Anna Liffey or
From the crest of Anna Liffey

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 06:28 AM

I think its "crest" - or , for that matter, "crests" - which makes more sense. "Strawberry Beds", incidentally, is a placename - well upriver from the ferry crossings! It was a favourite picnic place for city folk years ago.

Rergards

Subject: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Sue and Ali
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:43 PM

We are having problems tracking down the tune and/or guitar chords for this song. Can anyone help us? We have the lyrics (two versions) and are desperate for the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,sajumikey
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 11:24 AM

I have both lyrics and chords for several versions. Give me the first line and I'll give you the chords

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Sue and Ali
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 01:36 PM

Thanks sajumikey, Here is the first few lines.

All the little boats are gone, From the banks upopn the Liffey The ferrymen are stranded on the quay

Hope you have this version.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE FERRYMAN (Pete St John)
From: mike putt
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 12:43 PM

THE FERRYMAN
by Pete St John

          D                             G
  Oh the little boats are gone from the breast of Anna
   D          G                            A
  Liffey the ferrymen are stranded on the quay
           D                            G               D
  Sure the Dublin Docks are dying and a way of life is gone
      A             A7             D
  And Molly it was part of you and me
  
  
  CHORUS
             A                     G
  Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey,
       G                             A
  You kiss away the worries from my brow
     D                            G             D
  I love you well today and I'll love you more tomorrow
         A             A7            D
  If you ever loved me Molly love me now

'Twas the only job I knew. 'Twas hard but never lonely.
The Liffey ferry made a man of me.
Now it's gone without a whisper, half forgotten even now,
And it's over, Molly, over, can't you see? CHORUS

Now I'll tend the yard and I'll spend my days in talking,
And I'll hear them whisper Charlie's on the dole
But Molly, we're still living and, darling, we're still young,
And the river never owned me heart and soul. CHORUS

There you go, Sue and Ali. Like all Pete St John's songs, it's a cracker.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Ferryman
From: Woozel
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 01:24 PM

Cheers Sajumikey. We'd best get practising this.

If you don't recognise the name I'm on my own PC now and a Forum member.

Sue and Ali (aka Woozel)

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Reiver 2
Date: 15 May 05 - 12:43 PM

Please excuse what may seem to all of you Dubliners (and others as well) a dumb question from an outlander. What can anyone tell me about "Anna Liffey" a name that occurs in several (fairly recent, I think) Irish songs? ("Dublin In The Rare Ould Times" is the one I know best.) Was she a real person? Was the river Liffey named for her? What is known about her, if she was a real person?

I came across this recently in an Ireland Travel Guide in the Dublin section: "Also on O'Connell Street... is the ridiculous Anna Livia Millenium Fountain.... It is supposed to represent the River Liffey but most Dubliners dismiss it as the 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi.'" Are Anna Liffey and Anna Livia the same person? When I was in Dublin, I made a special point of visiting with the "Tart with the Cart" -- how could I have missed the 'Floozie?' Oh, well, I plan to visit Ireland again if at all possible. BTW, is the fountain really "ridiculous?" Thanks to anyone who can clear things up for this ignorant sassenach.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 15 May 05 - 03:20 PM

I must admit I didn't have a good answer so I snooped around I found in a site about Anna Liffey
that the origin may be in the Irish, Abhann Liffe, The river on the Liffe plains. Certainly James Joyce popularised it in Finnegan's Wake.

Brian

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 15 May 05 - 06:55 PM

Anna Livia and Anna Liffey are one and the same - the personification of the RIver LIffey. No real person. Brian's suggestion is plausible - but I'll need to check.

Regards
p.s. "Livia" is just bog-Latin for Liffey, methinks!

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Reiver 2
Date: 15 May 05 - 07:55 PM

Ah. The fog is beginning to lift. Thanks, Brian and Martin! Now I must read Finnegan's Wake I can tell. A fine site, Brian. Thanks for the link. More comments and links will be much appreciated -- keep them coming.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Reiver 2
Date: 16 May 05 - 11:19 AM

I'm still wondering, is the fountain really "ridiculous?" Oh, I know: it's a matter of personal taste, I ssuppose.

I walked up O'Connell St. as far as the GPO -- should have gone a half a block farther! Darn! Anyone know where I can find a photo of the Floozie?"

Reiver 2

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Noreen
Date: 16 May 05 - 03:20 PM

Picture on this page: Click the Floozie

I rather liked her- but hasn't she been moved from O'Connell Street to Phoenix Park as she was attracting 'undesirable' visitors?

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 17 May 05 - 07:00 AM

Certainly been moved - though I would have thought there are unenough "undesirable" visitors in the Phoenix Park to be going on with!

Regards

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Reiver 2
Date: 17 May 05 - 06:08 PM

Thanks Maureen and Martin. Now at least I have some idea of what the fountain looks like. (The entire link is fun!) I'm also glad to know that the Floozie is no longer on O'Connell Street. (Not that I think Phoenix Park is either a better or worse location, but just that I won't spend hours looking in the wrong place when I visit again.) I was there, looking at the Tart, Dan O'Connell, the GPO, etc. in Sept. 2001. Had sweet Anna Liffey/Livia, aka the Floozie, already been moved from O'Connell St. at that time, I wonder? Maybe that's why I didn't see her.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 18 May 05 - 07:25 AM

Yes, Reiver2 - she was gone by then. Mind you,The Spire they put up fpr the millenium was late - so the area may well have been a building site!

Regards

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: Reiver 2
Date: 18 May 05 - 03:15 PM

Thanks, Martin. No wonder I missed her. I did go to Phoenix Park, too, but it's so bloody big I'm not surprised I missed her there. I don't remember much about the Phoenix except the Wellington monument and what seemed like thousands of people playing soccer (or football, or whatever the proper term is over there.) Do you know WHERE in the Phoenix she's hanging out (ooops!, poor choice of words) now?

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The Ferryman
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 05 - 08:07 PM

Talk about thread creep....I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Ralph McTell's song "The Ferryman"

Subject: DT Correction: THE FERRYMAN (Pete St. John)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Aug 05 - 08:14 PM

Big Mick gave me a Pete St. John songbook, along with a Little Red Songbook. This has instilled in me lifelong feelings of guilt, so I am obligated to post lyrics from these publications whenever the need arises. The version of this song in the DT is unattributed and badly flawed. Ezio's version above is almost perfect, but here's the version from the Pete St. John Songbook:

THE FERRYMAN
(Pete St. John)

Oh, the little boats are gone from the breast of Anna Liffey.
The ferrymen are stranded on the quay.
Sure the Dublin Docks are dyin' and a way of life is gone,
And, Molly, it was part of you and me.

CHORUS: Where the Strawberry Beds sweep down to the Liffey,
You kiss away the worries from my brow,.
I love you well today and I'll love you more tomorrow.
If you've ever loved me, Molly, love me now.

'Twas the only job I knew. It was hard but never lonely.
The Liffey ferry made a man of me.
Now it's gone without a whisper, half forgotten even now,
And it's over, Molly, over, can't you see? CHORUS

Now I'll tend the yard and I'll spend my days in talkin',
And I'll hear them whisper, "Charlie's on the dole,"
But, Molly, we're still livin' and, darlin', we're still young,
And the river never owned me heart and soul. CHORUS

Words and music by Pete St. John.

From The Fields of Athenry: Songs of Pete St. John (Soodlum, 1985)

I typed up a MIDI for this song but can't upload it today because FTP is down. I'll post the tune later. If I forget, remind me.
-Joe Offer-

---

Click to Play temp

Subject: RE: Lyr Corr: The Ferryman (Pete St. John)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 01:23 AM

The Irish have a marvellous way of bringing people down to earth,
the staue of Anna Livia is also called The whore [ pronounced whooer]
in the sewer. they christened Luciano Pavarotti Fat Lucy, love it.

eric

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Ferryman (Pete St. John)
From: GUEST,Greg
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 12:34 PM

This what we use when we sing it in our group, so see what you think... it might be of some use. It is a very popular song in the pubs here in Ireland so great choice!!!

The Ferrymen

         C                      G                   F                   C
The little boats are gone from the breast of Anna Livia,
                  F                                          G
And the ferrymen are stranded on the quay,
          C                                             F                   C
The Dublin Docks are dying and a way of life is gone,
            C                G                     C
And Molly it was part of you and me.

Chorus:
                         G                               F                  C
Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey,
             F                                                 G
You'll kiss away the worries from my brow,
      C                                        F                         C
I love you well today and I'll love you more tomorrow,
                                     G                   C
If you ever loved me Molly love me now.

It's the only life I knew, it was hard but never lonely,
The Liffey ferry made a man of me.
Now it's gone without a whisper, and forgotten even now,
And it's over Molly over can't you see!

Chorus:

Well now I spin my yarns and I'll spend my days in talking,
And I'll hear them whisper Charlie's on the dole
But Molly we're still living and Molly we're still young,
And the river never ruled my heart and soul.

Chorus: