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Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)

Tam the Bam (Nutter) 07 Sep 03 - 09:28 AM
Charley Noble 07 Sep 03 - 09:43 AM
sheila 07 Sep 03 - 10:12 AM
John MacKenzie 07 Sep 03 - 10:20 AM
Sorcha 07 Sep 03 - 10:58 AM
Tam the Bam (Nutter) 07 Sep 03 - 01:40 PM
open mike 07 Sep 03 - 02:45 PM
Willie-O 07 Sep 03 - 06:04 PM
Gareth 07 Sep 03 - 06:36 PM
Charley Noble 08 Sep 03 - 09:50 AM
The Fooles Troupe 08 Sep 03 - 09:52 AM
GUEST,Santa 08 Sep 03 - 10:19 AM
Wolfgang 08 Sep 03 - 11:20 AM
Tam the Bam (Nutter) 08 Sep 03 - 01:51 PM
GUEST,Emma Davidson 02 Jun 08 - 11:19 AM
Seamus Kennedy 02 Jun 08 - 12:09 PM
Megan L 02 Jun 08 - 12:37 PM
GUEST,margaret 09 Dec 09 - 06:08 PM
bubblyrat 10 Dec 09 - 06:27 AM
GUEST,eric the viking 10 Dec 09 - 01:51 PM
GUEST 22 Dec 09 - 09:35 AM
GUEST,Sarah 19 Mar 10 - 10:15 PM
Jim Dixon 21 Mar 10 - 02:57 PM
GUEST,Steve Evans 13 Apr 10 - 02:44 AM
GUEST,Orkney lass 01 Apr 11 - 08:32 PM
GUEST,Orkney lass - again! 01 Apr 11 - 08:43 PM
GUEST 01 Apr 11 - 08:54 PM
Keith A of Hertford 02 Apr 11 - 04:38 AM
GUEST,Guest 21 May 11 - 03:36 AM
Jim Martin 22 May 11 - 12:08 AM
GUEST,stephanie 09 Jan 12 - 12:13 PM
RunrigFan 21 Feb 19 - 07:38 PM
RunrigFan 21 Feb 19 - 07:56 PM
Joe Offer 01 Mar 19 - 01:25 AM
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Subject: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 09:28 AM

Hello my name is Tom Hamilton, I am looking the words to Scapa flow.

It was sung by many people like the Alexander Brothers, Jim McLeod and others.

So if anyone could help me I would really gratfull.

Thanks
Tom


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 09:43 AM

Could you fill in with more details? Is this a WW I or WW II ballad?

Charley Noble


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: sheila
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:12 AM

Tom - you must have been listening to Radio Scotland this morning! If you use the 'play it again' feature, you could probably manage to transcribe the words.
'Scapa Flow' was one of the songs which was regularly sung by my Orcadian friends in Edinburgh in the 60s.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:20 AM

Lonely Scapa Flow written by Ally Windwick is I think what you are looking for, I may have words somewhere.
Giok


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Subject: Lyr Add: LONELY SCAPA FLOW (A. Windwick)
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:58 AM

This one?

LONELY SCAPA FLOW (A. Windwick).

These words come from the same Jim McLeod album as Kirkwall Bay. The song has been re-recorded recently by the Orcadian band Three Peace Sweet and slightly different words are listed in the CD, Lightning Touches (1999). This new version has a different feel from the McCleod version. Allie Windwick wrote the words and Angus Findlater made the first recording in 1965.

Do you recall my dear how once, you walked with me,
Across the warm brown hills, towards the shining sea?
And how we lingered long upon the shore to see
Beloved ships come sailing up the flow.

Chorus:
But that was yesterday, and now they come no more,
Among the small green isles, where oft they lay of yore,
And so we linger sadly, by an empty shore,
And shed a tear for lonely Scapa Flow.

We saw them anchored proudly as the sun went down,
And heard a lonesome bugle from the old Renown.
And o'er the gleaming ocean, like a brand new town,
10,000 port lights winked on Scapa Flow

Chorus.

And for a while we met not on that darkened shore,
No winking port lights then, to glint the wave tops o'er.
And there were those who came who will return no more.
Who are asleep in lonely Scapa flow.

Chorus.

From: http://www.stephen1966.freeserve.co.uk/songs.html#Lonely%20Scapa%20Flow


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 01:40 PM

That's the one Scorcha.

And I don't weather it's A WWI or WWII song, I take it'll be a Second waorld war song, but I'm not sure.

Thanks everyone who helped.

Tom


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: open mike
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 02:45 PM

does this refer to a lava flow
or a geographical/geological
formation?
isn't Sorcha an amazing resource?!
so many answers!! yahoo!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 06:04 PM

Scapa Flow is a large circular basin of water sheltered by the Orkneys. It was a major anchorage for British naval vessels during both world wars, being sizeable, far away from Germany and defensible against U-Boats (I presume).

There were some tragic accidental sinkings there. There was an incident where due to a miscommunication in signals the crew of a battleship dropped a depth charge and blew the stern off their own ship. Hence the reference to "those who came who will return no more". I don't know if there was actual military engagement there resulting in casualties--anyone?

W-O


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Gareth
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 06:36 PM

Mmmm ! - Are we a verse short here ? - The reference to

"And there were those who came who will return no more.
Who are asleep in lonely Scapa flow. "


Refers to ??? Possibly :-

1/. The Sinking of HMS Royal Oak by U47 (Gunther Prien) - Click Here

2/. The sortie of the Grand Fleet to Jutland in 1916 ?

or

3/. The general attrition of the Royal Navy 1939/45 - for a folk view of this Click Here    and Keith A's excellent posting in this thread Click Here

HMS Renown was a "Repulse" Class Battlecruiser - Built 1916 ? 6 15" Guns in twin mounts turrets - Served with the Home Fleet and Force H (Gibralta) and and would have been in and out of Scapa. But I wonder if Lights would have been shown in wartime conditions. NB prior to 1938 the northen peace time anchorage was Invergorden, near Inverness

As the lower deck Ballad goes (- and insert description of the number of funnels to suit your own vessel)

" So roll on the Nelson, Rodney, Renown,
This three funneled b*****d is getting me down


The tune is the same as the FAA A-25 Song - Does anyone know the full words - I am afraid my memory is letting me down.

Gareth


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 09:50 AM

Well, after the end of WW I there was also the scuttling of the interned German High Sea Fleet by its crew on June 21, 1919, with some loss of lives.

Charley Noble


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 09:52 AM

There definitey was a major engagement somewhere near Scaps Flow. I am not strong on history, so am not sure of the details. there was much maneuvering around there when the Bismark and the Greman Northern fleet (ther were 2 sister ships eventually bottled up in a French port) were pusyfooting around in that region. Or at least the British Fleet was based and mad forays from there in that period.

The name Tirpitz springs to mind too.

There was a man named "Pertwee" who was an naval officer (allegedly a tactian) who was I believe taken off the "Hood" immediately before she was hit. I believe he later became a movie actor and I seem to believe that he later appeared in a minor role in a little known BBC TV Science Fiction Program... :-)


Robin


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 10:19 AM

I'd say WW2, as the the only "battle" actually in or near Scapa Flow was when Prien's U-47 sank the Royal Oak.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Wolfgang
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 11:20 AM

21. June 1919: The German fleet (74 ships altogether) when hearing that Germany should loose all ships in the Versailles treaty was sunk in a well prepared action by their own crews when the English fleet was away for an exercise.

Already in September 1914 a German submarine has entered Scapa Flow. That incident is less well know that Prien's attack for lack of success.

Wolfgang


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 01:51 PM

Thanks again to everyone


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: GUEST,Emma Davidson
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 11:19 AM

It was written by Allie Windwick-My great-great uncle!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 12:09 PM

Foolestroupe,

I think you may be referring to Jon Pertwee, who also played Chief Petty Officer Pertwee on BBC radio's 'The Navy Lark' as well as Dr. Who.

And for US based 'Catters...occasionally Brits will use the word 'scarper' meaning to go away.

This is a corruption of the Cockney rhyming-slang "Scapa Flow' which ryhmes with 'go'.

Seamus


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: Megan L
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 12:37 PM

The line and will return no more refers to two things.

1 many sailors spent time there before going on to other places and battles where they lost their lives.

2 On the 9th July 1917 HMS Vanguard exploded at her moorings with the loss of somethin like 843 lives. On the night of Friday 13th
October 1939, HMS Royal Oak, a 600 foot long 29,000 ton Dreadnought
battleship, was sunk by torpedoes from a German U boat which had penetrated the British Navy's main anchorage at Scapa Flow in Orkney. 833 men lost their lives and the 2nd World War was just six
weeks old. alsomany of the early aircraft carrier experiments were carried out there and several young pilots came to Scapa flow and will never come back.

In this number we should also include the seven German sailors who got shot during the confusion caused by the scuttling of the Grand fleet. I have two personal connections with that event my father in law was a small boy whos school had been taken out on the flow that day to see the big ships. a long time later my uncle was one of the divers who worked on the recovery of several of the ships with Cox and Danks. Also buried at the Lyness war cemetary are the crew of a German plane which was shot down on Hoy which forms one of the boundarys of Scapa Flow. those graves I find rather sad because most of them are buried together but one lad is buried away on his own, when I asked the caretaker about this he explained that one was a different religeon from the others.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: GUEST,margaret
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:08 PM

The Flo as we called it was ww2. I was born in Scrabster will get the words for you.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: bubblyrat
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 06:27 AM

I have just been doing some research on Scapa Flow and the airfield at Hatston ,from where ,among others,no.803 Squadron,detached from the carrier HMS Furious, were flying patrols in their Blackburn "Roc" obsolete "Turret Fighters" in October 1939,one of which fatally crashed off Wick on October 23rd (the object of my research).Yesterday I read the "Royal Oak" list of those killed & MBK ( Missing,Believed Killed) and it was very moving--so many lives snuffed out in moments.
    Some years ago,I read somewhere that steel from the wrecks of German ships there is / was used to make the finest surgical knives,instruments etc., as there is little or no radioactive contamination, but I don't know if this is true or not ?? It would be nice if it was,in a "Swords to Ploughshares" kind of way,no ??


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: scapa flow
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 01:51 PM

Yes. By all accounts much was made into razor blades and scalpels by wilkinsons, I believe.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 09:35 AM

is there a record shop who could supply me with a tape or dvd on lonley scapa flow


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 10:15 PM

I have a question about Allie Windwick. I am looking for a song that I think is by him called 'Orkney Lullaby'.

I know that there is another 'Orkney Lullaby' written by the American poet, Eugene Field in the 1800s. It has since been put to music by an American composer, Donna Gartman Schultz.

What I would like to know is: Did Allie Windwick write his own 'Orkney Lullaby'? or Has Allie Windwick at some point performed Eugene Field's 'Orkney Lullaby'.

I hope that is all clear, does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you

Sarah


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 02:57 PM

Sarah: If you want to ask about a different song than the one this thread is mainly about, it's best to start a new thread. More people will notice your question that way.

Accordingly, I have started one for you: Lyr Req: Orkney Lullaby (Allie Windwick?).


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,Steve Evans
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 02:44 AM

Possibly the song is an oblique reference to the sinking of the Royal Oak by the U Boat commanded by Otto Priem (not long afterward to be sunk itself)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,Orkney lass
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 08:32 PM

I was born and brought up in Orkney and knew Allie Windwick who wrote this song and several others about Orkney during the fifties and early sixties. This song was written about WW2. The Royal Oak went down with 800 men early in the war and resulted in the Churchill barriers being built - long causeways which linked the smaller islands together and so prevented incursions from wandering German U-boats, which was what sank the Royal Oak. The British fleet was moored here during large parts of the war because my father was involved in quarter-mastering the ships for the first year or more. The anchorage was also used by the American navy.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,Orkney lass - again!
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 08:43 PM

Yes, the wrecks of the German fleet were lifted during the early years of the fifties and the metal was much valued because it had escaped radio-activity. My father was involved in this work after the war. A salvage ship called the WHirlpool did most of the work. One or two wrecks still remain and were not lifted and nowadays divers go down and swim around them and in fact there was a fatality when one of them drowned within the last year or so.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 08:54 PM

Aha, I was just going to say, "What about the Churchill barriers?", up until Orkney lass's recent post not mentioned so far in this thread. They stopped ships from sailing through Scapa Flow, so I'd guess this is what the chorus is about.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 04:38 AM

My grandfather, A WW1 sailor, witnessed the scuttling.
Some of the wrecks are still there, and are popular dives.
Diving is not permitted on ships that are war graves.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 May 11 - 03:36 AM

Scottish Fiddle Orchestra have recently release a new CD titled "Rose of Galloway" track 7 has the song Lonely Scapa Flow sung by Colette Ruddy, arrangement of the orchestral backing by the founder of the SFO the late John Mason

http://www.sfo.org.uk/


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: Jim Martin
Date: 22 May 11 - 12:08 AM

Some of the wrecks were used in the construction of the barriers:

http://www.orkneypics.com/webpage/page/page011.html


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: GUEST,stephanie
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:13 PM

Hi can anyone help me find out who the rights belong to and how to go about getting permission to record it? I have been in touch with the PRS and they said it's a Andosong and to look it up on the internet but I can't find it.

Many thanks for any help.

Steph


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Subject: ADD: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 07:38 PM

LONELY SCAPA FLOW
(A. Windwick)

Verse 1

Do you recall my dear how once, you walked with me,
Across the warm brown hills, towards the shining sea?
And how we lingered long upon the shore to see
Beloved ships come sailing up the flow.

CHORUS
But that was yesterday, for no, they come no more,
Among the small green isles, where oft they lay of yore,
And so we linger sadly, by an empty shore,
And shed a tear for lonely Scapa Flow.

Verse 2
We saw them anchored proudly as the sun went down,
And heard a lonesome bugle from the old Renown.
And o'er the gleaming water, like a brave new town,
10,000 port lights winking Scapa Flow

CHORUS
But that was yesterday, for no, they come no more,
Among the small green isles, where oft they lay of yore,
And so we linger sadly, by an empty shore,
And shed a tear for lonely Scapa Flow.

Verse 3

And for a while, we walked, not on that darkened shore,
No winking port lights then, to glint the wave tops o'er.
And there were those who came, they will return no more.
Who are asleep in lonely Scapa flow.

CHORUS
But that was yesterday, for no, they come no more,
Among the small green isles, where oft they lay of yore,
And so we linger sadly, by an empty shore,
And shed a tear for lonely Scapa Flow.
And shed a tear for lonely Scapa Flow

As sung by David Solley


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 07:56 PM

The David Solley cassette I have has Emerald Music

https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B003F8ERX0?ref=dm_wcp_af_ex&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Scapa Flow (A. Windwick)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Mar 19 - 01:25 AM

I went to Orkney on a Jim Malcolm tour in June 2015, and I think we stayed 4 nights in the Stromness Hotel. We went all over, saw Kirkwall and standing stones and all sorts of things, but we didn't go to Scapa Flow. We toured the Highland Park Distillery, and I got the feeling that there was a good view of Scapa Flow just over the hill from the distillery. I walked as far as I could in the time allotted, but didn't get to see the Scapa Flow. One of our group went back after the tour and went diving in the shipwrecks of Scapa Flow, and he brought back wonderful tales.
But did I miss much by not seeing Scapa Flow when I went to Orkney?
-Joe-


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