ADD/Origins: Beachcomber - origin please?

Subject: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 09:07 AM

A good friend of mine sings this but as she's not singing in public any more I thought I'd have a go. It's such a beautiful song & needs to be sung out....

But we don't know where it came from - I've tried the forum search but maybe I'm doing something wrong. Anycat got any clues?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 11:44 AM

What is the song? Is it "The Beachcomber" as published in "My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions?"

Give us some lyrics to work with, please.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEACHCOMBER
From: My guru always said
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:33 AM

Thanks EBarnacle - sorry I don't know that book at all.....

Sheer panic about posting lyrics - I've been away & read the HTML threads & I've practised line breaks & I just hope this works!!! I apologise if it comes out all awful :-)

BEACHCOMBER

As I was out walking on North Huis sand
There I met a seal maiden; she gave me her hand
And I kissed it so sweet, she followed me home
And she spoke in a voice so forlorn
All the day I've been searching the shore for my skin
For without it I cannot return to my kin
But the skin I had hidden, to guard with my life
And I asked her to stay with me, be my wife

So we married so happy for many's the year
With six beautiful children without shame or fear
And I kept the skin moist, but cleverly hid
Always wanting the things that she did
Till the time came she obviously yearned to get back
And my son saw me hiding the skin in a sack
Told his mother, who waited till night, then she crept
And she kissed us goodbye as we softly slept

So she made for the shore to be rid of dry land
Her footsteps disturbing not one grain of sand
And she dressed in her skin and swam back to her folk
And the ache in my heart, it was broken
But I notice each morning, about the same spot
Lay a basket of fishes, she has not forgot
Since she went from my house, we never hunt seals
And not one of my clan has been lost at sea

That's my seal maiden, who's heart will ever with seal folk be

My friend remembers singing it at Cambridge folk festival 20-25 years ago, maybe that'll help!

---

See message from "guru" below:
I'm very sure now that this IS the same Beachcomber & the info that they've given on origin is that it's by 'S Cowe' who was a member of a band from the North-East of England called 'Jack the Lad'. This rings all sorts of bells with me. I can't wait to play it to my friend who introduced me to this song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 05:47 AM

refresh......

AnyCat out there know this one??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 11:48 AM

I don't know the melody but the words flow so sweetly that, if you can't find one, you ought to be able to create one of your own. I know I shall.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,My Guru Always Said
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 02:16 PM

Blast that Cookie....

Hi again EB, yes, the words are fantastic aren't they!

I know the tune (superb stuff) & I'll be singing it out at my singaround in Barton tonight (singing this one out for the first time). I was hoping to know who wrote it by now, but I guess I'm just going to have to keep asking around for the origin.

Ah well, I'll try to keep this thread going for a few days & see if anyCat comes up with something. Maybe I should try it as a Lyric Addition?

Thanks for looking EB, may you always have music :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,Malcolm Douglas
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 09:00 PM

I've put an "ADD" in the header of this message, so you won't need to post it again. It certainly isn't the Beachcomber song that I had in mind when you asked the question, though it's vaguely familiar from somewhere or other. It's a versification of the story of the MacCodrums, who were supposed to have seal blood in the family; North Huis should be North Uist. Quite modern from the sound of it, so probably written not long before your friend first heard it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 09:27 AM

Thanks LOADS Malcolm!!! Cor, that's clever stuff...

Yes, I'd wondered about the Huis / Uist possibilty. I know that the story / fable itself is fairly well known & had hoped that this thread would turn up the song origin fairly quickly.

I've talked to loads of people about it over the last couple of weeks & no-one has heard of this song although the story is familiar.

Sang it last night at our Barton session & no-one had heard the tune either. I'm really intrigued now....

Thanks again & stay cool!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:55 AM

refresh... Shame the Lyric add. didn't work, ah well

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: IanC
Date: 09 Aug 02 - 06:43 AM

Sorry

I haven't found any information about the song, which is undoubtedly fairly recent and is clearly based on the folk story from North Uist, associated with the MacCodrum (MhicCodrum) family.

The Story is widespread, and versions are available on the web here, here, here, here and here for example.

Best I can do so far

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Aug 02 - 06:48 AM

What a wonderfully, wimscical set of lyrics. Great fun, thank you for posting them.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 09 Aug 02 - 07:19 AM

For more on this topic, try a Gooogle search for "Selkie", the name given in myth to these 'were-seals'

Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: IanC
Date: 09 Aug 02 - 07:26 AM

If you use my links above, you'll avoid most of the crap a Google search brings up. There's little else of interest about the North Uist legend.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 07:54 AM

Thank you Ian & Nigel, for your research and information!!!! Those links made really interesting reading - wonderful stuff.

I think you're right that it's a recent sond - I've sung it at 4 gatherings now & so far no-one has heard the tune before although of course the story is the stuff of legend. I'll continue to sing it as it's such a lovely tune & just hope that someone will recognise it one day!

Thanks too to Gargoyle, the melody is just as good!

May you always have music :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:07 AM

Refresh....

Sang it at a singaround in Broadstairs last night & I'm sure I heard a couple of voices join in for a note or two, but then they tailed off. Before the song I did ask for any clues for origin, but with no luck last night :-(

I'll keep trying...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:33 AM

Sang this at the Portaferry gather at the weekend & John Moulden suggested I refresh this again, any clues anyone??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:59 AM

The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 11:18 AM

Yes, that's another one Nigel, I love that one too :-) Actually I'm trying to find out who wrote Beachcomber as lyrics posted above, but thanks for linking to the Silkie stuff. We think this one is only about 30 years old, the tune is lovely!

Maybe someone could 'fix' the 'Lyr request' to 'Origin Req'?

Hil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,The deep
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:06 AM

It's a true story

I'm the distressed spouse left to bring up a load of snotty nosed kids

And all my friends laugh at me down the pub because I slept with a seal

I wondered where the fishy smell came from

The cow

Regards

Unhappy fisherman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 01:30 PM

Any clues on the tune? Is it similar to any traditional tue you could name?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 01:49 PM

I'm not a musician, I just sing a bit so I don't know any way of describing it. It's certainly not like any other song I've heard. I'll see if I can get a real musician to put a format for the tune on here that you clever people can understand. This may take a while....
Thanks for the interest Charley :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 02:46 PM

Reminiscent of the wonderful story of "Peter Kagan and the Wind" by Gordon Bok (and the Silkie stories- post by Nigel Parsons). Several threads, but this one has Bok's text, 28745: Kagan and the Wind
Also see thread 30675 and the fine text copy at Peter Kagan
The Inuit have the story of a girl turned into a seal, and fine carvings of her mermaid figure have been produced by their stone carvers.

I hope more information will be posted on the song Beachcomber posted by My Guru...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 02:49 PM

Thread 28745: Peter Kagan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 06:20 PM

I'm afraid it'll be a few days before I can ask Mick Pearce if he can help me get the tune onto here somehow, sorry! But it's a beautiful tune & well worth the wait :-) I suppose I could always sing it to someone over the phone if anyone was really interested!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: GUEST,Ross
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 07:02 AM

Not a musician - that's a good joke guru

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Watson
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 08:38 AM

The Beachcomber is on a CD recently released by Roots Quartet called Prehistory.
It's available by mail order from their website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 09:01 AM

Thanks for the link, Watson.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 10:23 AM

Cor, thanks Watson :-) Is it definitely the same song? I hope it is because this sounds like a CD I want to buy!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Watson
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 12:20 PM

Yes it is the same song - and beautifully performed it is too.
I also like it when my partner sings it, but I may be accused of some slight bias there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 01:28 PM

Be biased Watson, but it IS a fab song - will definitely order it via their web-site! Thanks very much, may you always have music :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 04:34 AM

Well the CD (Prehistory by Roots Quartet) has arrived in this morning's post! Now I've got to get through a whole day of work before I can go home & listen to it :-(

I'm very sure now that this IS the same Beachcomber & the info that they've given on origin is that it's by 'S Cowe' who was a member of a band from the North-East of England called 'Jack the Lad'. This rings all sorts of bells with me. I can't wait to play it to my friend who introduced me to this song!

So at some point in the future I'll get someone to do a midi of it (???) & hopefully it'll get onto this thread. Then you'll all know just what a superb air it is aswell as having wonderful words!

Watch this space, this may take a while. Suggestions & advice always gratefully received!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: IanC
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 07:05 AM

Right, Hilary

I can remeber "Jack The Lad" during the '70s ... they didn't last long though. They were essentially a split off from "Lindisfarne".

"The Beachcomber" is indeed by Simon Cowe and is on their "Rough Diamonds" album (1975) ... it's track 9.

We know the story which is the source of the song, so I think you've essentially found it.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 07:08 AM

Thanks for the Blicky IanC :-)

And thanks to everyone who's helped me on this quest - Wonderful place!

Subject: Lyr Add: ...FINE TIME TO LEAVE ME YOU SEAL (parody
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 01:04 PM

from the sublime Beachcomer to the ridicule (parody), another modern song based on the old seal legends:
found at womynsong

YOU PICKED A FINE TIME TO LEAVE ME, YOU SEAL
To the tune of "Lucille" by H. Bynum and R. Bowling, lyrics by Elizabeth Scarborough
Adaptation by Muriel Doris

Chorus:
You picked a fine time to leave me, you seal
The babe that I bore you just makes my head reel,
He'll only eat kippers, has four lovely flippers,
Likes to dive down to the well for his meal,
You picked a fine time to leave me, you seal

Oh, you are a silkie, or that's what you told me
Though I'd sworn you were a man
A right comely boy, oh, you gave me much joy, oh,
But I never did understand
I'd have cause to regret, once you got your feet wet
For a silkie as I've come to know
On hitting the water can swim like an otter
And balance a ball on his nose


Though we parted friendly, I think you should send me
Some child support, that is my wish
Since I moved to Ohio, it's so hard, don't you know
Just to keep that poor kid in fish
And if I should remarry it must be to some faery
Of silkie descent, or at least
To some understanding and most undemanding
Boy in the employ of Greenpeace

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: semi-submersible
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 05:35 PM

Any luck on the MIDI yet?

That parody ...You Seal is a hoot!

Maureen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 08:35 AM

What a wicked parody to unload at the next sea songs gathering. Thanks for posting it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: Beachcomber - origin please?
From: IanC
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 05:47 AM

Here's a C19th poem on the same subject.

Eliza Keary only had 3 kids in her poem.

:-)