Lyr Req: Lighterman's Lass? / Limehouse Reach

Subject: Lightermans Lass
From: Dead Horse
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:01 PM

Looking for lyrics to song called either Limehouse Lass or Lightermans Lass. Chorus goes

For she's gone & married a Lighterman
It's time for me to go
But I could have loved you so, my dear
I could have loved you so.

Person requesting this knows three verses, but believes there is a fourth, which she hopes some lovely 'catter can come up with.

Subject: Lighterman's Lass or Limehouse Lass
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:27 PM

Sounds intriguing, Dead Horse. Can you give us all you have so far?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lighterman
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:30 PM

This is Cicely Fox-Smith's Limehouse Reach. I thought this was discussed in a thread in the last year, but I can't see it at a quick look. Give me 5 minutes to check and if I can't find it here I'll post it.

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: LIMEHOUSE REACH (Cicely Fox-Smith)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:46 PM

Sorry I've only got 3 verses for this, so your friend already has all I know. I'll post it for Joe though:

Mick

---

LIMEHOUSE REACH
Cicely Fox-Smith arr Dave Webber

I fell in love with a Limehouse lass
And she has proved untrue.
She looked as fresh as a figurehead
That's just been painted new.
But she's gone and married a lighterman
And it's time for me to go.
But I could have loved you so my dear,
I could have loved you so.

A shake of the fore-sheet pays for all
A sailor leaves behind,
An ale-house shot, a friend forgot
Or a sweetheart false or kind.
But the bloomin' mud-hook's off the ground
And it's time for me to go,
But I could have loved you so my dear,
I could have loved you so.

So a last goodbye to Limehouse Reach
And a fond farewell to you.
There's many's a man has died for love
Which I don't mean to do.
For there's girls as smart in every port
From here to Calio.
But I could have loved you so my dear,
I could have loved you so.

But she's gone and married a lighterman
And it's time for me to go.
But I could have loved you so my dear,
I could have loved you so.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lighterman
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 06:43 PM

No wonder it sounds familiar. "Limehouse Reach" is on the Constant Lovers album by Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman which I haven't found since I moved. Can't find my Fox-Smith book yet, either.
Thanks, Mick.
-Joe Newlywed-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Dead Horse
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 01:07 PM

Thanks muchly, Mick. Will pass it on. One (or all)of 'em may be missing verse.
P.S. I wonder why Joe Newlywed is so interested? Could it be his new brides previous suitors were all heavyweights, so he is a lighter man ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 05:33 PM

Dead Horse- No missing verses in the above postings, according to my copy of C. Fox Smith's FULL SAIL © 1926. I've fitted the poem to a different tune, less of a dirge in my opinion; if you're interested in a MP-3 file, send me a PM.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Dead Horse
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 02:38 PM

Thanks Charley, but I was searching for the lyrics for a non-Catter who had it in her head that there MAY have been a fourth verse. I beleive she sang it at the "Nationals" which she won!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Rank
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 03:42 PM

Just had a listen to a recording of a local singer and he actually repeated the first verse at the end, which may thus be the "missing" first verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 09:33 PM

It's entirely possible that someone has composed another verse; it is a rather short song. I've thought about adding another verse but I'm reluctant to mess this time with something that seems so complete. I do repeat the last line as a refrain all the way through, and I've done away with "lighterman" which is hard to sing as well as understand when it is sung; instead I've substituted "keelboat lad."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: LIMEHOUSE REACH (C. Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 11:31 AM

Here's the original poem:

By C. Fox Smith in FULL SAIL: More Sea Songs & Ballads, pp. 59-60 © 1926

Limehouse Reach


Now, I fell in love with a Limehouse lass,
But she has proved untrue;
She looked as fresh as a figurehead
That's just been painted new;
Now she's took and married a lighterman,
So it's time for me to go:
But I would have loved you so, my dear,
I would have loved you so!

Oh, a shake o' the foresheet pays for all
That a sailor leaves behind,
For an alehouse shot, and a friend forgot,
And a sweetheart false or kind;
And the bloomin' mudhook's off the ground,
For it's time for us to go:
But I would have loved you so, my dear,
I would have loved you so!

Now a long good-bye to Limehouse Reach,
And a last good-bye to you;
A feller's a fool to die for love,
Which I don't mean to do;
There are girls as smart in every port
From here to Callao –
But I would have loved you so, my dear,
I would have loved you so!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: GUEST,Daniel Nicolato
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 10:30 AM

Heard this just last night in a open performance event, and I believe that the singer repeated the first verse in the end. At least I remember he singining the lines "Now, I fell in love with a Limehouse lass, But she has proved untrue" twice.

- Daniel.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 10:27 PM

Daniel-

Any clue who was leading the song?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Daniel Nicolato
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 01:37 PM

- Charley

I'm sorry.. I wish I could remember. It was my first (and only, so far) night at the club, so I couldn't keep everyone's name. Was at Cecil Sharp House, London.

Daniel.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightermans Lass - Limehouse Reach
From: Singing Referee
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 04:45 PM

I've only ever heard it sung as in Dave Webber's arrangement as quoted by MCP above.

So 3.5 verses, last half of first verse repeated after 3rd.

That's how we sing it anyway!