Lyr Req: The Last Whale

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 18 Jun 22 - 09:30 AM

Whales now face the dangers of chemical, plastic and noise pollution.

The last remaining resident orca population in the UK, located off the west coast of Scotland, has not produced a calf in 25 years. The experts believe that infertility among the small whale population has been caused by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls. Dr. Paul Jepson of the Zoological Society of London said, “There’s no way that this population can recover.” earth.com

Thousands of tonnes of chemical and industrial waste including Agent Orange derivatives, dioxins and PCBs from a Monsanto-owned plant in Newport were dumped at the Brofiscin quarry, near the village of Groesfaen, in the 1960s and 70s. Department for the Environment described it as one of the most contaminated sites in Wales. The Guardian

We found that overall 61 (68%) of the 90 whale and dolphin species have been reported to be affected by marine plastic pollution, either by ingestion or entanglement - Whale and Dolphin Conservation

There are two ways in which noise pollution impacts whales. First, there are short and extremely loud noises that can physically harm whales, potentially causing them to go deaf and even cause them to strand on coastlines. Sources of such noise include sonar and seismic surveys. Second, there are noises that are quieter but are constant and ever-present. Most of this noise comes from shipping – primarily from giant ocean-going cargo ships. whale.org

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Brock
Date: 18 Jun 22 - 06:27 AM

I like the Archie Fisher and Garnet Rogers version of this song. Pondering whether to add it to my 'repertoire' or is it too sad?
I would be interested in any background to the song. Is it about the gray whale that become extinct in the Atlantic?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,Rudie Singer, Seattle
Date: 19 May 10 - 12:08 PM

I wonder whether Japanese performers have gotten a listen from the citizens who are committed to making change, making a difference in this lamentable, tragic exploitation of one species by another.

Not that Japan is the sole culprit by any means, just the most widely publicized.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 03:48 PM

considering it was the author that posted them - you have to wonder whose memory is better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 03:42 PM

those dont seem to be the original words as i remember. there seems to be alot missing

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 10:25 AM

I think it's a wonderful song. I'm only familiar with Archie Fisher's version.

I agree too, that it's fine if DaveO doesn't care for it, but a little common courtesy don't hurt either. We don't have to like the same music, but there's too much negativity around to beat down the stuff that isn't our cups of tea... why not be positive about songs and artists and discs you like instead? Admittedly, Andy's active participation in the thread opens him up to comments good and bad, but I think it's an indication of quality that the song is being recorded and covered... certainly a greater degree of sucess than I'm having as a songwriter, and I'd guess that's true of most of the participants in the thread here..
.
I still think it's quite moving. Thanks for sharing and clarifying, Andy.

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: breezy
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 09:10 AM

guru did it last Friday at St. Albans

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From:
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 01:09 AM

Hello

This tune is sung here by Solas.

http://shanachie.com/album.cfm?id=78041

And done VERY well I might say.

Regards

Johnny

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,mike
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 04:49 PM

bich you a ho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Dipsodeb
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:46 AM

Thanks for the lyrics Andy I am honoured to have them sent by the original writer. I think that it is a beautiful song and the words are unfortunately still so poignant to the plight of the whale.
All I need to do now is get hold of the song, so I can learn the tune, and learn to play it on my Dulcimer. Which is how I heard it played for the first time. The sadness of the song played, on the haunting sadness of the Dulcimer certainly set my heart strings off.
Dave if your'e reading this I think you might have a long wait to hear me do it. Performing in public is definitely not my Forte!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:18 AM

So when are we going to hear you sing it Debbie ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:22 AM

Whoa there guys!
All I'm saying is that the guy who wrote the song was obviously in the house as it were, so Dave O didn't actually have to say anything at all. "If you can't say something nice, say nothing". It just struck me as a bit churlish to throw that wholly unnecessary and negative comment into the mix. I respect Dave's right to dislike the song, but it was not in the nature of the thread. I'm getting down from my high horse now, as I can't stand the view from up here.
Peace and love
a.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: treaties1
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 10:26 AM

Hi Andy
Great to see you on Mudcat.
This is one of my all time favourite songs and I still have the tape you sent me so long ago after I had heard you sing it for the first time and asked you for the words.
I've sung it many times but never in front of you and it always gets that "back of the neck tingle.Many thanks and keep writing those gems.
Love Theresa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: nutty
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 04:27 AM

It's not what was said Dave, but the way it was said ......... particularly when the comments were being aimed at the person who wrote the song.
It is possible to be honest without being downright rude.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 12:42 PM

When was it declared rude for a Mudcatter to express his own reaction to a song being discussed?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 12:03 PM

My father-in-law sings this in his "gravel covered in honey" voice, and it's great. He misses one of the verses out, though, I wonder if he knows it. Thanks Andy, I'll give him the original (complete) version. As for Dave Oesterreich, there's probably a time and a place to say how much you hate certain songs (Hey, let's start a new thread called Songs that Suck) but this isn't it. I know I'm just a guest, but a guest would never be so rude.
a.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Julie B
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 01:05 PM

Regarding the opinion that the song is "ultimately boring and forgettable", I don't feel that way. Ok, I'll admit I've heard one or two rather tedious and forgetable performances of it (true for any song, I guess), but I think the song itself is memorable. In the 'wrong' hands it can come out sounding over twee, but I remember being very struck by the lyrics the first time I heard it.

Julie B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Schantieman
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 12:01 PM

Thanks, Andy.

This is one of my 'Desert Island' songs.

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 11:48 AM

I doubt if you'd say that if you heard Andy perform it in the barn at Towersey - mind you I think he'd agree that we usually provide a fairly good chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:51 AM

Frankly, I've always found this song to be ultimately boring and forgettable.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:40 AM

I'm beginning to think that this needs to be a PERMATHREAD !

It's nice to see YOU putting up the definitive version Andy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:29 AM

Hello, Andy

Great to see you putting THE words up on Mudcat, after Michael Batonys's correspondence about the song(see the thread above with 109 contributions)

Anyone who has learnt the version with the wrong word might need to re-learn it!

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:08 AM

Yeah, thanks Andy. Great stuff. Didn't know you'd been around since 1883!.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: nutty
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 07:59 AM

Thanks Andy ....after all the discussion it's great to get the definitive version from the horses mouth so to speak :-)
It's great to see you aroung Mudcat.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST OF THE GREAT WHALES (A Barnes)
From: GUEST,Andy Barnes
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 07:37 PM

Full version as originally written

Sing and enjoy

Andy

THE LAST OF THE GREAT WHALES

CHORUS: My soul has been torn from me and I am bleeding
My heart it has been rent and I am crying
For the beauty around me pales and I am screaming
I am the last of the Great Whales and I am dying.

Last night I heard the cry of my last companion
The roar of the harpoon gun, then I was alone
I reflected on days gone by when we were thousands
For I know I soon must die the last leviathan.

This morning the sun did rise crimson in the north sky
The ice was the colour of blood and the wind did sigh
I rose to take a breath it was my last one
From the gun came the roar of death and now I am gone

And e'er since time began we have been haunted
Through the oceans that were our home we have been hunted
From Eskimos in canoes to mighty whalers
Still you ignored our plea none came to save us

Now that we're no more, there's no more hunting
The big feller is now gone there's no use lamenting
What race is next in line all for the slaughter?
The elephant or the seal or your sons and daughters?

WORDS AND MUSIC - Andy Barnes AUGUST 1883

COPYRIGHT 1986 - FRIENDLY OVERTURES

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From:
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 10:56 PM

Actually that should be The Last Leviathan

Last Whale

Last of the Great Whales

Greenland Fisheries

Last Leviathan

Last Leviathan

LAst Leviathan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From:
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 10:49 PM

I think you mean the LAst Leviathon

LAst LEviathon

Last Leviathon

Subject: Lyr Req: The Last Whale
From: Dipsodeb
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 10:21 PM

Please please can anyone help with the lyrics and chords for this beautiful song I heard it tonight for the first time and I would love to have a go at playing it. I think it might also be called the last Hyathon or something like that, I have probably spelt that wrong!!.