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Subject: Lyr Req: English folk song? From: GUEST Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:55 AM I remember a folk song from the late 60s and would like the complete lyrics,if anyone has them. All I remember is,
boys and men, were lost to Grimsby town. From Yarmouth down to scarboro, six hundred more were drowned. In their fishing boats and trawlers......? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: English folk song? From: The Borchester Echo Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:03 AM 'Tis in the Digital Tradition here. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: English folk song? From: pavane Date: 27 Oct 04 - 09:21 AM I seem to remember a parody as well - but can't actually bring it to mind - was it Dustbin men? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: English folk song? From: Snuffy Date: 27 Oct 04 - 09:37 AM I think Dead Horse does one, Pavane. Why not PM him. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Abuwood Date: 27 Oct 04 - 12:37 PM "From Yarmouth round to Scarborough" is more geographically correct and how I have heard it sang in Whitby. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Oct 04 - 01:27 PM There's no entry on this song in the Traditional Ballad Index. folktrax.org has an entry, but it's very brief. The only songbook source cited is Palmer's Oxford Book of Sea Songs. Here's the Folktrax entry:
The version in the Digital Tradition is not attributed. It's almost the same lyrics that I found in the Turning Toward the Morning CD by Bok, Muir, and Trickett - but not exactly. I wonder where the DT version is from. Roud Index Search |
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Subject: ADD Version: Three Score and Ten From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Oct 04 - 02:01 PM Here's the version from Roy Palmer's Oxford Book of Sea Songs (1986). Note that this version has only three stanzas, and the one in the DT and Bok/Muir/Trickett has four. Palmer mentions an 8-stanza version. Can we find that one? THREE SCORE AND TEN
And it's three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby town; From Yarmouth down to Scarborough many hundreds more were drowned. Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well. They longed to fight that bitter night to battle with the swell. As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the northern sea. Methinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave Going out to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave. Methinks I see them yet again as they leave the land behind, Casting their nets into the sea the fishing ground to find. Methinks I see them yet again and all on board's all right, With the sails flow free and the decks cleared up and the side-lights burning bright. October's night was such a sight was never seen before: There was masts, there was yards; broken spars came floating to our shore. There was many a heart of sorrow, there was many hearts so brave; There was many a hearty fisherlad did find a watery grave.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Bassic Date: 27 Oct 04 - 03:00 PM Re the Up/Down debate, this was posted some time ago.... ...................................................................... Subject: RE: A note to Three Score and Ten From: Wolfgang Hell - PM Date: 10 Mar 98 - 04:17 AM here's a copy from an old thread relevant to this thread: Subject: RE: Eyemouth disaster (Lyr. req.) From: Pete M Date: 29-Sep-97 - 05:52 AM I can add nothing about the original request I'm afraid. but I can throw some light on the point about "Three score and ten" by Ferrera. Scarborough is indeed north of Yarmouth, but in interpreting traditional folk songs you need to know a bit about the millieu in whivch they were created, The prevailing winds, currents and tidal streams of the East coast of Britain mean that going North is the "Downhill" direction, usually running with the wind on the port quarter, whilst going South meant beating into the wind. Hence amongst the sea farers the reference was always to going "down to the North". However, I recollect hearing up to Scarborough from the singing of the McKenna Brothers. I'll relisten tonight. Wolfgang ...................................................................... This seems to have a certain logic to it imho. G |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 27 Oct 04 - 03:33 PM Isn't it 'They long defied that bitter night'? I doubt very much if they longed to fight it! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Oct 04 - 03:43 PM Hi, Johnny - that goes to show you that maybe even Roy Palmer can be wrong. I'll agree that it doesn't make much sense. The DT version has They long defied that bitter night, And battled with the swell.The Bok, Muir, & Trickett version has They long did fight, that bitter night, their battle with the swell.I like both of those better than the Palmer/Oxford version. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 27 Oct 04 - 03:56 PM Yep Joe, agreed! Both sound better and make far more sense! As a long-time Tall Ship sailor I never, ever longed for a storm, but I sure as hell defied a few! Makes me queasy to think about them! LOL! :0) SJ :0) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Leadfingers Date: 27 Oct 04 - 04:38 PM Perhaps I have a warped mind , but the 'Battle with the Swell ' line always makes me think of lads from the East End of London going up to Mayfair for a punchup with the upper class !! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Les from Hull Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:01 PM Me too - knock 'is bloody top hat off! Most people do sing 'long to fight' but then most people are pillocks (IMHO). This is part of the oral tradition at work, I'm afraid. Most people have picked up this chorus from somebody else singing it. I'm not sure about the reason for Yarmouth down to Scarborough, but the prevailing wind round here is between south and west, so Scarborough is usually downwind of Yarmouth. That's the first time that line has made sense to me - we usually think in terms of maps, but I'm sure they didn't think that way so much in C19. Another way to sing this song is to leave the (second) verse till the last one, and you can imagine the ghosts of these small craft heading away from land. Spooky! This song is still (surprisingly) popular among the fishing communities of the East Coast, and is often requested in Whitby in informal pub singsongs. Which reminds me of a session that used to take place in Whitby Yacht Club bar, when we were asked by the Commodore why we sang so many songs about drowning sailors. Of course, we just took this as a challenge and stated keeping a running total on a board. I still remeber the glee of somebody coming up and saying 'Put this lad on - he knows 'The Loss of the Royal George' - there's nine hundred of 'em on that one!' |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: GUEST,Boab Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:54 AM I use the song as Joe sets it down fairly regularly, but I have seen somewhere [forgetful!] an additional third verse. Anybody come up with it? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Joe Offer Date: 28 Oct 04 - 01:59 AM Ahem... Yeah, Boab - the version in the Digital Tradition has four verses. Here's the additional verse:
"Me lads we'll shorten sail" With the sky to all appearances Looks like an approaching gale Me thinks I see them yet again Midnight hour is past The little craft a-battling there Against the icy blast -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: DMcG Date: 28 Oct 04 - 03:13 AM I am told that a copy of the original broadside is held at Grimsby Public Library. Perhaps someone from 'Ull can nip across and copy it for us. I found this entry from the local newspaper some time ago, describing the storm (which was not in October):
Hull Times, 2 March 1889. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: A BALLAD IN MEMORY OF THE FISHERMEN.... From: BB Date: 01 Nov 04 - 03:38 PM From 'The Oxford Book of Local Verses', comes the following: 'A Ballad in Memory of the Fishermen from Hull and Grimsby who lost their lives in the Gale of 8 and 9 February 1889' by W. Delf, a Grimsby fisherman. Methinks I see some little crafts spreading their sails a-lee As down the Humber they did glide bound in the Northern sea; Methinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave, Going to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave. Methinks I see them as they left the land all far behind, Casting the lead into the deep their fishing grounds to find; methinks I see them on the deck working with a will, To shoot their net into the deep either for good or ill. Methinks I see them shoot their trawl upon the Thursday night, And saw the watch upon the deck, and everything was right; methinks I see them yet again when daylight did appear, All hands working with a will getting off their gear. Methinks I see the net on board and fish so fresh and gay, And all were busily engaged clearing them away; Methinks I see them put away into the ice below, And then the sea began to rise, and the wind did stronger blow. Methinks I heard the skipper say, 'My lads, we'll shorten sail, As the sky to all appearance looks like an approaching gale.' Methinks I see them yet again, and all on board was right, With sails close reef'd, the deck cleared up, and sidelights burning bright. Methinks I see them yet again, the midnight hour was passed [sic]; Their little craft was battling there with the fiery blast; Methinks I heard the skipper say, 'Cheer up, my lads, be brave. We'll trust in Him who rules the deep, in Him who alone can save.' Methinks I read the thoughts of them who now are called away; They were thinking of their loved ones dear many miles away; Thinking of wife and children dear, and aged parents too, Who no more will see them here again in this world below. Great God, Thou sees each sorrowing heart, the widow in distress, Thou knows the little children dear, who now are fatherless; Comfort and cheer them here below, and lead them by Thy hand, And at last may they meet with their loved ones dear in the promised land. The notes say: 'Supplied by F.R. Whitmarsh of Grimsby from the original broadsheet as sold by the author.' I have heard that the tune and the chorus, were written by Mike Waterson, but whether or not that's true, I have no means of knowing. If so, presumably he also did the adaptation of the words. Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: GUEST,Anne Croucher Date: 01 Nov 04 - 07:00 PM I heard this at the George in Barnsley, Yorkshire - in 1968 or early 69 I think. There are slight differences. It was three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby town From Yarmouth down to Scarborough many hundred more were drowned There were herring craft and trawlers and fishing smacks as well Went out to fight that bitter night and battle with the swell. Methinks I see a host of craft their sails set to the breeze As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the Northern sea Methinks I see on each small craft a crew with heart so brave Going to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave Methinks I see them yet again as they leave the land behind Casting their nets into the sea the herring shoals to find Methinks I see them yet again and all on deck all right with sails close reefed and decks cleared up and sidelights burning bright October's night brought such a sight as never seen before As masts and spars and broken yards came floating to the shore there was many a heart of sorrow there was many a heart so brave there was many a hearty fisherman went to a watery grave Anne |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Joe_F Date: 01 Nov 04 - 09:19 PM "Masts and spars and broken spars" -- that line always makes me catch my breath, because of what it does not mention. When I said that to Don Duncan at one of his sings, he told me that the fishermen's wives each knitted special designs into their husbands' sweaters, which might identify them. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Richard Bridge Date: 02 Nov 04 - 03:23 AM I have a version (the short version) recorded by the Watersons, from the 60s, (one of the "New Voices" set, at least I assume it was a set, recorded by the BBC) where they definitely sing "long to fight that bitter night". The chorus on that version has "masts and spars and broken yards". The other verse posted above I picked up in South London about 10 years ago in a slightly different form as
'Tis time to shorten sail The sky to all appearances Heralds an approaching gale Methinks I see them yet again Though the midnight hour is past Those little boats are battling Against the icy blast. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Dead Horse Date: 02 Nov 04 - 03:42 AM At the risk of being taken for a curmudgeonly old bastard, I will say that the lyrics of this song are no better than dozens of similar disaster/murder/sensation crap found on broadsides from even earlier. The only saving grace of this tedious offering is the tune, which alone saves it from being lost in some dusty archive. Methinks it is somewhat repetitious. Methinks it overdramatic. And methinks again that it doth go on far too long. I shall now await the storm I have so deservedly unleashed upon myself, methinks. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Dave Hanson Date: 02 Nov 04 - 03:47 AM Methinks You are a curmudgeonly old bastard you. eric |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Steve Parkes Date: 02 Nov 04 - 04:15 AM Dead Horse has raised an interesting point. Old-established and well-loved songs are not, in fact, sacred, and to criticise one on fair and reasonable grounds is rather less unforgivable than blaspheming the Holy Ghost. Or is it? If we want to have a debate on this, I suggest we start another thread and leave this one in peace! Steve |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: GUEST,Keith A o Hertford Date: 02 Nov 04 - 05:24 AM I have read that the event commemorated was in February not October, the change to improve the scan. I find that I can make Feb. scan OK. Should I ? Floating to the shore, Keith. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts Date: 02 Nov 04 - 01:07 PM Ref Dead Horse's comments --- Steve P is quite right --- merely being old and well-loved does not make anything safe from criticism (I know this because people have been known to criticise me!) On the other hand, there are wellknown traditional ways of dealing with this situation. 1) Ignore it --- nobody who likes the song cares about what anyone else thinks. 2) Rewrite it so that you like it. Nobody else will, but you'll be happy. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: BB Date: 02 Nov 04 - 02:23 PM The version as it is usually sung is not particularly long, unless you're not into singing choruses which would make it seem long I suppose. The folk process has been at work on what was originally a poem, and made it into something that fishermen from all over love to sing, and which they can and do relate to. Dead Horse, I doubt that you're a fisherman, and therefore might find that difficult to understand, and therefore to you it may seem no better than other broadsides - and indeed it may not be, but it obviously strikes a chord with many. I see no particular virtue in its age or that of other broadsides - in this situation, its age is irrelevant. Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Dead Horse Date: 02 Nov 04 - 04:14 PM I say again, it is only the tune that makes this one a favourite. I like to hear it myself, but the lyrics....the lyrics....aaaargh! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: BanjoRay Date: 02 Nov 04 - 06:22 PM When I first heard the Waterson's sing this in the sixties the tune AND the words sent shivers up my back - it still does. Ray |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Bates from Birregurra Date: 03 Nov 04 - 03:48 AM Gerday from Birregurra I know that line as "They learned to fight that bitter night and battle with the swell" Cheers Keith Maxwell |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Flash Company Date: 03 Nov 04 - 11:33 AM I used to sing this a lot in my Malt Shovel days, I heard it from Mike Waterson's version and I originally had it as 'longed to fight that bitter night' which I didn't think made a lot of sense. Someone suggested ( my wife, I think!) that it should be 'long defied', and from then on that's what I sang. (Never argue with the missus!) FC |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Score and ten? From: Rozza Date: 03 Nov 04 - 02:02 PM The song as sung by the Watersons was collected by the Huddlestons at Filey from "Jack Pearson and men" and is on p.45 of Nigel Huddleston's "Songs of the Ridings" - a photocopy of the broadside is on p.46. William Delf lived in Grimsby in the 1890s (in Victor Street). He was lost at sea in about 1893, aged c.40. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THREESCORE AND TEN (from Clancy Bros.) From: GUEST,999 Date: 17 Nov 09 - 08:39 PM These are the lyrics used by the Clancy Brothers. THREE SCORE AND TEN As recorded on "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Sing of the Sea" (1968) CHORUS: And it's threescore and ten Boys and men were lost from Grimsby town. From Yarmouth down to Scarborough Many hundreds more were drowned. Our herring craft, our trawlers, Our fishing smacks, as well, They long did fight the bitter night And battle with the swell. 1. Methinks I see a host of craft Spreading their sails alee As down the Humber they do glide All bound for the Northern Sea. Methinks I see on each small craft A crew with hearts so brave Going out to earn their daily bread Upon the restless wave. 2. Methinks I see them yet again As they leave this land behind, Casting their nets into the sea The herring shoals to find. Methinks I see them yet again And they all on board all right, With their nets close-reefed and their decks cleaned up And their sidelights burning bright. 3. October's night brought such a sight! 'Twas never seen before. There was masts and yards and broken spars Come washed upon the shore. There was many a heart of sorrow. There was many a heart so brave. There was many a fine and hearty lad To find a watery grave. Hope this helps. |
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Subject: RE: Perpetuated Errors From: GUEST Date: 13 Apr 11 - 11:51 AM Folk process or not, can we please lay to rest that persistent mondegreen "longed to fight the bitter night" from "Threescore and Ten"? |
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Subject: RE: Perpetuated Errors From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Apr 11 - 01:57 PM The Digital Tradition has They long defied that bitter night - is that correct? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Perpetuated Errors From: Snuffy Date: 13 Apr 11 - 04:48 PM It's what I always sing. Why would anyone in their right mind long to go out into a huge storm if they didn't have to? |
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Subject: RE: Perpetuated Errors From: JHW Date: 26 Apr 11 - 07:11 AM The DT lyrics at Joe's link is as he says but the text accompanying the stave there is 'they long did fight that bitter night' which is widely sung. I like 'long defied' as 'fight' and 'battle' are almost repetition. Just to confirm, in 'Threescore and Ten' the DT lyrics are correct in the chorus as 'They long defied that bitter night' I spoke to Harvey Blogg (who runs Riverside Folk, Bedale ). Henry Blogg, cousin of Harvey's grandfather wrote the words as a poem at school about age 10 circa 1886. The chorus was his first verse and it became a song perhaps around 1900 when someone set it to a traditional tune. Harvey tells me the words can be seen in Cromer Lifeboat Museum though their online factsheet does not mention the song. Henry Blogg joined the lifeboat crew aged 18 and went on to be coxswain. |
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Subject: RE: Perpetuated Errors From: Tattie Bogle Date: 28 Apr 11 - 01:02 PM There are several previous threads on "Threescore and ten" with a lot of useful info about the origins of the song. There is a discrepancy in the DT between the lyrics at the top of the page and the words under the music at the bottom of the page! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Joe Offer Date: 28 Apr 11 - 02:51 PM I moved the "perpetuated errors" messages over here because they really ought to be with other information on the song. I think this is the definitive thread on "Three Score and Ten." You will note above the Roy Palmer's Oxford Book of Sea Songs has "They longed to fight that bitter night to battle with the swell." I wonder if his Boxing the Compass revision has something different. I have to agree that this version doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You will notice in the message from BB above, a version that appears to be quite early, that doesn't have a chorus or a mention of a "bitter fight/night" at all. So, what's the "correct" version? I'd venture to say that there is no correct version. There are just "various" versions, and whether it's "defied" or "to fight" is a matter of personal preference. I think that most of us will tend to prefer the first version we learned. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: CupOfTea Date: 28 Apr 11 - 03:27 PM My favorite version is Lou Killen's. His version has the last line of this verse as the poem cited above: Methinks I heard the skipper say, 'My lads, we'll shorten sail, As the sky to all appearance looks like an approaching gale.' Methinks I see them yet again, and all on board was right, With sails close reef'd, the deck cleared up, and sidelights burning bright. When I first started looking for the dots/chords to do this other than acapella, all I found was the Soodlum book version, which only had a passing acquaintance to how I heard it from Lou and others. When I was first looking, DT didn't have the dots for things - this is a WONDERFUL addition to have, and I give thanks for whatever Mudmarvelous sorts who have accomplished this. Joanne in Cleveland |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Steve Gardham Date: 28 Apr 11 - 03:33 PM I'm sure I've posted this before. Never mind. William Delf undoubtedly wrote that broadside original in 1889 shortly after the event. The unknown quantity is how it got to Filey further up the coast in Yorkshire to be collected by the Hudlestons in about 1960. Talking to Brian Dawson of Lincolnshire at Whitby Festival a couple of years ago he told me he had talked to descendants of William Delf in the Lowestoft area who knew how the song was reduced to the 3 verses and chorus and set to music in Lowestoft. Now the comments above applying to Cromer may have some relevance in this context. However, Rozza who posted earlier, has done further research into the life of Delf and found that he died childless, so no descendants one presumes. It may have been a close relative who moved to Lowestoft, such as a brother. Hopefully further info will come to light when Rozza and Brian can compare notes. And I'm sure I've posted this as well, but thanks to Geoff Lawes of Hull there is now a photo of one of the Hull gravestones of the men in the disaster on the Yorkshire Garland website www.yorkshirefolksong.net where you can hear the song sung by 'Three-Score-and-Ten'. Delf wrote other sea disaster songs. There is one on a broadside on display in Hull Maritime Museum. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Joe Offer Date: 28 Apr 11 - 03:44 PM Can anyone post the two versions found in Nigel Huddleston's "Songs of the Ridings"? Also, if somebody can check Palmer's Boxing the Compass to see if it's different from the version Palmer had in the Oxford Book of Sea Songs. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Steve Gardham Date: 28 Apr 11 - 06:16 PM Joe The only versions in SOTR are the Pearson version from The Filey Fishermen's Choir which is almost the same as The Oxford book of Sea Songs version which is not surprising as they are from the same source. And the broadside already given above. There is an actual photo of the broadside. Unfortunately the two gentlemen who Nigel paid enormous sums to to transcribe the songs were to put it kindly, less than competent, when it came to the texts. We are currently working on a new edition much more carefully transcribed. I would say Roy probably transcribed his version more accurately from the commercial recordings made by the Hudlestons at the time in the 60s, an LP, and an EP of the original singers put out in limited numbers and I think sold or given away by themselves. Here follow the differences Roy has 'longed' in the last line of the chorus and SOTR has 'long'. As soon as I get chance I'll have a listen to the EP I've got and see what I make of it, if it could be 'long did' for instance. Verse 1 ends with the word 'wave' in Roy's version and in SOTR it's 'waves'. Verse 2 where Roy has 'nets' SOTR has 'net', and 'flow' becomes 'blowing' in SOTR. Verse 3, line 1 Roy gives, 'night was' and SOTR has 'night left' Also in this verse wherever it says 'There was' in SOTR the tense changes to 'There's'. There are one or two silly typos I've ignored. Any differences between the Pearson text and those well sung on the folk scene I would put down mainly to Mike Waterson who quite rightly IMO adapts to suit himself. I've got the Oxford book but not 'Boxing TC'. I can't think why he would have changed it from one book to the other, but it's possible. If anyone has 'BTC' they can compare it with the Oxford text given above on 1st Nov 04. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THREE SCORE AND TEN From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Apr 11 - 02:31 PM THREE SCORE AND TEN original recording transcribed from EP by SG. 1 Methinks I see some little craft spreading their sails alee, As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the northern sea. Methinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave, Going out to earn their daily bread upon the restless waves. Chorus:- And it's three score and ten, boys and men, were lost from Grimsby town, From Yarmouth down to Scarborowe many hundreds more were drowned, Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well, They longed to fight that bitter night, to battle with the swell. 2 Methinks I see them yet again as they leave the land behind, Casting their net into the sea, the fishing grounds to find. Methinks I see them yet again, and all on board's alright, With the sails flowing free and the decks cleared up and the sidelights burning bright. 3 October's night left such a sight was never seen before, There was masts, there were yards, broken spars came floating to our shore. There was many a heart of sorrow, there was many a heart so brave, There was many a hearty fisher lad did find a wat'ry grave. The transcription in SOTR was about as carefully done as most of the other transcriptions in there. However, although the recording is relatively clear Pearson is singing closer to the mike with another singer(s) in the background making some of the consonants not as clear as they would have been had he sung solo. The controversial 'long/longed to fight seems to be as sung. there is some lingering on the g in 'long' which makes me veer towards 'longed' but it could be just 'long'. the 'to' is repeated in front of 'battle' which makes the intended meaning quite clear. It may be that the writer was looking back and saying this is how they felt when they set out before the storm arose. In verse 2 'grounds' could be 'ground'. It's not easy to make out the final s with 2 or more singing. However, the broadside has 'grounds'. Sails 'flowing' free is also difficult to make out as they're trying to fit 2 syllables into one. The broadside gives 'sails close-reefed' which is what I sing and what I suspect Mike W interpolated from the broadside. Verse 3 There seems to be clarity lacking on whether it states 'There's'/'There was'/'There were'. Again they are trying to cram syllables in to fit with the music. The above is my best shot. It certainly isn't 'There's' in any of the cases as given in SOTR. I'm passing this transcription to our score transcribers who are working on a new edition of SOTR and they have copies of the EP so they might come up with something slightly different to my transcription. 'northeren' and 'Scarborowe' are my attempts to transcribe what was actually sung. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Joe Offer Date: 29 Apr 11 - 03:11 PM Thank you very much, Steve. You may get some flak for coming down on the "they longed to fight" side, so I admire your courage.... |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Apr 11 - 04:29 PM Joe, I'm not coming down on any side. I just transcribed what I heard from the original recording. I'd be happier singing 'They long did'... 'and battled'. The chorus wasn't in the original so we can only wait to see what Ruairidh and Brian can come up with when they get together. If we can identify the writer of the later version we may get somewhere. Currently we are looking at the Norfolk coastal towns. My own guess is that Brian was right about relatives (as opposed to descendants) of Delf moving down to Norfolk during WWI to avoid the persecution of people with Dutch/German sounding names. If a relative did rewrite it as part of one of the Norfolk fishermen's choirs then it would be a small step back up the coast to Filey to being sung by the fishermen's choir there, Filey lying just to the south of Scarborough. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THREE SCORE AND TEN (from Elle Osborne) From: GUEST,guestLS Date: 29 Apr 11 - 04:43 PM Elle Osborne has recently recorded 'Three Score and Ten' for her new album 'So Slowly Slowly Got She Up', and having heard the recording, I can say she sings "longed to fight" - and she's a Grimsby lass raised by folk singers from a fishing family! As I've understood it, "longed to fight", is interpreted as "longed to BEAT" the swell. Also, the "Yarmouth DOWN to Scarborough" line is true, in that North Sea fishermen always referred to North as 'down'. THREE SCORE AND TEN As recorded by Elle Osborne on "So Slowly Slowly Got She Up" (2010) 1. Methinks I see a host of craft spreading their sails alee As down the Humber they do sail bound for the great North Sea; And methinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave Setting out to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave. CHORUS: And it's three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby town. From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, many hundreds more were drowned. Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well, They longed to fight that bitter night and battle with the swell. 2. Methinks I see them yet again as they leave the land behind, Casting their lead into the deep the fishing grounds to find. And methinks I see them yet again and all on board's alright, With the sails close-reefed and the decks cleared up and the side-lights burning bright. CHORUS 3. October's night was such a sight as never seen before. There were masts and spars and broken yards come floating to our shore. There was many a heart of sorrow; there was many a heart so brave. There was many a hearty fisher lad has found a watery grave. CHORUS In verse 2, "casting their lead" is the more accurate, as it was line-fishing, not nets, in the 1880s, as Mike W sings, and Elle has been significantly influenced by him. LS |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Apr 11 - 05:08 PM LS You haven't been reading the rest of the thread have you? Yes in the original it says casting the 'lead' in verse 2 line 2 but in line 4 it says 'shoot their net' Verse 3 'Methinks I see them shoot their trawl' Verse 4 'Methinks I see the net on board' I would guess they are casting the lead to find the shallower Dogger Bank where the fish often congregate. The net may well have had some lead weights on it, but casting the lead usually refers to the 'lead line' to test the depth. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: goatfell Date: 30 Apr 11 - 09:17 AM the version that I know is 'they longed to fight that bitter night' |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: Mysha Date: 30 Apr 11 - 12:25 PM Hi JHW, Are you saying the chorus is a rhyme by a ten-year-old? Wouldn't it be somewhat unlikely that a ten-year-old would have "defied" in his vocabulary? On the other hand, they didn't fight against the night. To me the version Joe quoted makes the most sense: "They long did fight, that bitter night, their battle with the swell." But is that a sentence for a ten-year-old? Bye, Mysha |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Three Score and Ten From: GUEST,Vizalma Date: 30 Apr 11 - 01:03 PM As far as the Grimsby/Lowestoft point, fishing families moved about from time to time - My wife's grandfather was born in Gorleston (Suffolk at that time), his father was skipper of a sailing trawler. In the name of better fishing, they loaded up the trawler with all their belongings and moved lock, stock ans barrel to Grimsby in around 1906. Her grandad and his brothers all became skippers. As far as the lyrics are concerned, I suppose it's relevance depends on whatever area you're singing it in. Sing it in Grimsby and you'll stir up different feelings than you will in Cheam. Two of my wife's family were lost at sea in the name of catching fish. It's that close to home. The one thing I do know, is that I can't imagine fisherman nit-picking about the song like has been going on here! |
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