Lyr Req: Seagull cry

Subject: Seagull cry
From:
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 06:14 AM

Hi everybody,
I've been searching for the lyrics of " Seagull cry " for some time now-in vain.I know the version the late Derek Moffat used to sing.It's a Gaelic song translated into English.Who can help?

Subject: RE: Seagull cry
From: GUEST,Alex Gilmore
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 07:05 AM

Try http://members.aol.com/drochsceal/seansouth.html
or http://www.geocities.com/lorettapage/irish/seansouth.html
or search through Copernic Basic

Subject: RE: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 04:34 PM

Alex Gilmore: Your links have nothing to do with the requested song.

Subject: Lyr add: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 04:36 PM

SEAGULL CRY

I would tend the flocks and waken in the morning
With the dawning of the day
But time passes slowly as the herd so lowly
Sadder I than they.

CHORUS:
Seagull cry, cry the spirit of the sea.
Seagull cry, cry the spirit of my love for thee.

Fortune never came my way and yet it mattered not
For I was young and free
Yet if I'd had this land I'd ha'e up and ta'en your hand
Though it's now too late for me.

(chorus)

I will sail my boat on courses charted by my own hand
Seeking one that's true.
I will travel lonely for this journey solely
Without thought of you.

Foreign lands come into view and yet I turn the helm
And run for open sea.
Sad she'll be to know that I have found another
Sadder I than she.

(chorus twice)


Transcribed by ear from the LP "At your service" by The McCalmans.

Subject: RE: Seagull cry
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 05:18 PM

See also

Lyr Req: Seagull Cry, Lyrics ?

The transcription there is from the same record, but seems to contain some mis-hearings. Did the McCalmans name their source?

Subject: RE: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 06:02 PM

Argh! I could have sworn I searched the forum a few days ago. Anyway I think my transcription is better, though it may not be perfect (English is not my native language). The McCalmans' LP supplies no notes, the label just says trad. arr. the McCalmans, and in the spoken introduction (it's a live LP) Ian McCalman says it's a song from the Hebrides. I'll have a go at the ABC for the tune, but the rhytm is a bit tricky.

Subject: Tune Add: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 06:45 PM

X:6
T:Seagull Cry
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Eb
EE GG BB cc | e>e dd c>c BB |
w: I would tend the flocks and wa-ken in the morn-ing with the dawn-ing
M:3/4
c>c G4 |
w: of the day
M:4/4
EE GG c2 B2 | E>E GG B2 A2 |
w: But time pas-ses slow-ly as the herd so low-ly
M:5/4
FF BB G6 |
w: sad-der I than they.
M:4/4
cG B6 |
w: Sea-gull cry
M:6/4
cG BG (F/E) F/ C6 |
w: cry the spi-rit of_ the sea.
M:4/4
ce B6 |
w: Sea-gull cry
M:5/4
c>G BG FE F2-F>C |
w: cry the spi-rit of my love_ for
M:4/4
E8 |]
w: thee.


This is the best I can do. Corrections and comments are welcome, as usual.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 04:38 PM

Apparently there is a new album out "McCalman Singular" featuring songs written by Ian McCalman: Info and Background.

Seagull Cry is included on it, which would indicate that Ian McCalman himself is responsible for the English lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seagull cry
From: bfdk
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 05:08 PM

Lyrics as per McCalman Singular CD booklet:

SEAGULL CRY (sung by Derek Moffat)

I would tend the flocks and waken in the morning
With the dawning of the day
But time passes slowly as the herd sounds lowly
Sadder I than they

Seagull cry. Cry the spirit of the sea
Seagull cry. Cry the spirit of my love for thee

Fortune never came my way and yet it matters not
For I was young and free
Yet if I'd had this land I'd hae up an ta'en your hand
Though it's now too late for me

I will sail my boat on courses chartered by my own hand
Seeking one that's true
I will travel lonely for this journey's only
Without thought of you

Foreign lands come into view
And yet I turn the helm and run for open sea
Sad she'll be to know that I have found another
Sadder I than she

----

The comment reads:

Derek was, indisputably, the finest singer in "The McCalmans" and was best when he had the audience in his sights. This track is taken from the album, "McCalmans Live", recorded in "The Carnegie Halls", Kirkaldy in 1980, so it's Hamish Bayne that you hear playing whistle and singing. Spot the deliberate mistake. The song was written in Kilchattan Bay on the Island of Bute and was one of my "here I am all alone and I don't care" songs. The tune of the verse owes much to a Faroese song which I learned when I recorded a Faroese children's album with Annika Hoydal in the early 70's. I claim to be the only native-born Scots that can sing "Lord of the Dance" in Faroese. I wrote "Seagull Cry" around '75 and "The Macs" sung it for years before the "live" recording. There was no holding back with Derek's voice on "quiet" songs like this yet he managed to get the feeling across.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seagull cry
From: OldPossum
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 12:39 PM

Thank you for the background and the correct lyrics. It is good to see that my transcription by ear was not too far off!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seagull cry
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 06:03 PM

I should buy the CD (McCalman Singular): it is superb, with a "Hall of Fame" of invited guests singing Ian's songs (15 tracks in all.) No, I'm not on commission! It's on Greentrax CDTRAX269
TB