Lyr/Tune ADD: Whitby Fisherman (Bill Sables)

Subject: Lyr Req: Words and tune of Whitby Fisherman
From: GUEST,JennyO
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 01:06 AM

Does anybody have words, and possibly tune, of "Whitby Fisherman"? - a fairly contempory song? Don't know the author.          Jenny

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words and tune of Whitby Fisherman
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 01:13 AM

Words are in the dt, PM Mudcat member Bill Sables for the tune, as he wrote the song, its available on his CD "Bridging The Gap".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words and tune of Whitby Fisherman
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 01:22 AM

correction, the lyrics are in The Mudcat Songbook, go to quicklinks, then scroll down. The tune is an old American hymn called "Blessed Quietness".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words and tune of Whitby Fisherman
From: GUEST,JennyO
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 01:32 AM

Thanks. Got it. My friend Rhymin' Simon thanks you too.

Jenny

Subject: ADD: Whitby Fisherman (Bill Sables)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 03:13 AM

Click here for the post from Bill Sables with the lyrics to his "Whitby Fisherman." I know Whitby is in Yorkshire, but I can't picture the song being sung without Bill's Geordie accent.
The tune to "Blessed Quietness" is here (click) at the Cyber Hymnal, but it doesn't sound quite like Bill sings it. He sings it slower and more softly, and his rendition of the tune is a bit different. Here's a copy of Bill's post.
-Joe Offer-

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Thread #17902   Message #175515
Posted By: bill\sables
09-Feb-00 - 10:19 AM
Thread Name: Pt. III - Additions to Mudcat Songbook
Subject: ADD: Whitby Fishermen (Bill Sables)

WHITBY FISHERMAN by BILL SABLES

When I was spending an evening with Sandy and Caroline Paton in August 1999 they sang an American Hymn called "Blessed Quietness". I liked the tune and the chorus prompted a thought about the "coble" fishermen of Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland in the North East of England, so I strung a few words together and this is what came up. I have used the same tune and chorus of the origional Hymn. Whitby is a fishing town on the Yorkshire coast famous for being the starting point of Captain Cook when he discovered Australia, and the annual Whitby Folk Festival Week held every August.

WHITBY FISHERMAN
(Bill Sables)

I'm a fisherman from Whitby, keep my boat down on the shore
And I fish the banks for herring as my father did before
When we leave the land at sunset for to plough the northern sea
It's the peace of moonlit waters that brings thoughts of home to me

Blessed quietness, Holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul
On the stormy sea speaking peace to me
How the billows cease to roll

When I'm standing in the wheelhouse in the subdued compass glow
I can find a peace unequalled, while the crew's asleep below
And the stars are there to guide me and to help me through the night
Mingling with the lights of comrades sailing for the morning light

When we shoot our nets at daybreak praying for a bumper haul
Then the sun shows in the heavens spreading brightness over all
And the seagulls wheel above us as we turn the boat around
'Cos the nets are full of silver and tonight we're Whitby bound

We'll unload our catch in the harbour and make sure all is tied down
Then it's home, a bath, then supper and a stroll down into town
We will pass around the bottle in a pub down on the quay
And we'll praise the Lord's protection and His gift of Peaceful seas

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words and tune of Whitby Fisherman
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:20 PM

Joe - folks from Whitby sound 'halfway Geordified' to us from Hull.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Whitby Fisherman (Bill Sables)
From: Haruo
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 11:35 AM

I haven't listened to Bill's version of the tune (Whitby Fisherman) yet, but I'm wondering if he simply uses the refrain; this would possibly account in part for your (Joe's) description, "The tune ... is here (click) at the Cyber Hymnal, but it doesn't sound quite like Bill sings it. He sings it slower and more softly, and his rendition of the tune is a bit different." The original text is what we hymnal-editor types call "87.87 w/ Refrain", while Bill's text is "87.87 D w/ Refrain".

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Whitby Fisherman (Bill Sables)
From: bill\sables
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 04:13 AM

It was also recorded on Hissyfits CD