Tune Req: Sweet Thames Flow Softly (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 11:41 AM

More to the point, where's my post? I did say to eric that I thought the "sand between scenes" was a rather good image of a boats sailing silently by a moonlit strand . . . oh, never mind.   Leadfingers is quite right about the 1966 recording. I know because I have it too.   In fact, I got it from him after my old vinyl wore out.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 09:23 AM

Probably in the oven.

eric

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: GUEST,countess richard (where's my cookie?)
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 07:17 AM

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 06:21 AM

That should have said ' sang between scenes '

Curse the evil minded computer.

eric

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 06:19 AM

Ewan in fact wrote this song in 1966 for a BBC Radio production of
Romeo and Juliet, it was sand between scenes, qote from Ewan " the Critics Group worked out just the right kind of improvisation, "
from The Essesntial Ewan MacColl Songbook.

eric

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: GUEST,Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 05:55 AM

GUEST,Annabelle - I am afraid your information is a little off the mark ! I have a recording of the song by 'The Critics Group' who were the residents at MacColl's Singers club which has the full verses with Shadwell Dock , Limehouse Reach etc recorded in 1966 .

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 12:03 AM

Actually, the original version of the song that was written by Ewan MacColl that was written in 1968, from what I've researched, only has nine verses. The song was really about a friendship that didn't last very long. Ewan wrote this after seeing the movie Mary Poppins. He was inspired by the part when Mary told the children, "I shall stay until the Wind Changes." It was at the time of the initial publishing of this song, that the girl that Ewan met at Woolwich Pier on the banks of the Thames River, who was really just a good friend of his, told him, I shall stay until the tide turns. The verses that mention places like Shadwell Dock, Limehouse Reach, Blackwell Point, Whopping, and some others, were written in 1970. These verses were thrown in by a local Londoner who read a tabloid story in the London Times, which claimed that Ewan MacColl wrote this song about a love affair that he was having with another woman, while still married to Peggy Seger!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: OtherDave
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 11:51 AM

The Irish Rovers sang a version on their "Greatest Hits" album. Great intro, making fun of the overly sentimental romantic song, pointing out that this mentions the less attractive places, "which is where they all get it, anyway, innit?"

And considering these are the guys who won't let the unicorn song die, they do a lovely job.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Gypsy
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 11:44 AM

Tee hee, tee hee, tee hee. Now, do i tell client who told me that this was a wonderful 'traditional tune' the truth, or leave him happy? I've learned to let people think that Ashokan dates to the Civil war these days.........

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET THAMES FLOW SOFTLY (Ewan MacColl)
From: Cllr
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 04:12 PM

the words in the digitrad are missing a part of a verse

( Words and Music : Ewan MacColl )

I met my girl at Woolwich Pier beneath a big crane standing
And oh, the love I felt for her it passed all understanding
Took her sailing on the river, flow, sweet river, flow
London town was mine to give her, sweet Thames, flow softly
Made the Thames into a crown, flow, sweet river, flow
Made a brooch of Silvertown, sweet Thames, flow softly

At London Yard I held her hand at Blackwall Point I faced her
At the Isle of Dogs I kissed her mouth and tenderly embraced her
Heard the bells of Greenwich ringing, flow, sweet river, flow
All the time my heart was singing, sweet Thames, flow softly
Limehouse Reach I gave her there, flow, sweet river, flow
As a ribbon for her hair, sweet Thames, flow softly

From Shadwell dock to Nine Elms Reach we cheek to cheek were dancing
Her necklace made of London Bridge her beauty was enhancing
Kissed her once again at Wapping, flow, sweet river, flow
After that there was no stopping, sweet Thames, flow softly
Richmond Park it was her ring, flow, sweet river, flow
I'd have given her anything, sweet Thames, flow softly

From Rotherhithe to Putney Bridge my love I was declaring
And she, from Kew to Isleworth, her love for me was swearing.
Love had set my heart a-burning, flow, sweet river, flow
Never saw the tide was turning, sweet Thames, flow softly
Gave her Hampton Court to twist, flow, sweet river, flow
Into a bracelet for her wrist, sweet Thames, flow softly

But now alas the tide has changed my love she has gone from me
And winter's frost has touched my heart and put a blight upon me
Creeping fog is on the river, flow, sweet river, flow
Sun and moon and stars gone with her, sweet Thames, flow softly
Swift the Thames runs to the sea, flow, sweet river, flow
Bearing ships and part of me, sweet Thames, flow softly

©1968 Ewan MacColl

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:35 PM

Hear hear, or is it here, here, Jon. Well said, my friend.

FWIW, bargemen always referred (and still do) to the Thames as 'London River'.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: growler
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:25 PM

Try the recent CD, Maddy Prior and Girls

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:02 AM

Just an anecdote to this.
Ewan MacColl wrote this song for a TV play.
It has since been recorded and performed by many artists, each of whom seems to have altered the verses to "personalise" their own version.
As a result, many of the "lyrics" found on the net reflect these various changes as well as mis-hearings of recorded work.
In any event, it is a beautiful tune and all the various lyric versions I have come across manage to evoke the emotions (I believe) Ewan was aiming for.
Play and sing whichever version you like, or do as others have done and "personalise" your own version.
I will be a bit controversial and state my belief that Folk Music should be a living and evolving thing, too much emphasis on detailed accuracy of originality and correctness stifles our art. Play songs your own way and enjoy yourself, let your own emotions show through the music and the songs will spring to life and sound much better. Those with ears will hear......

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Gypsy
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 10:32 PM

blush...........thanks again, to both of you. And again, i DID search the trad first, really i did. However, mebbe my semantics screwed me up!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 10:28 PM

Note that the DT text contains mistakes, as has been pointed out before. "Lighthouse" was presumably a duff guess for "Limehouse" made by someone who didn't know London. There are probably other mishearings.

Search tip: don't rely on what you think is the full name. In this case, there is no "river" in the song title. The river itself is either "Thames" or "river Thames"; never "Thames river".

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 10:19 PM

Lyrics in the Digitrad

Check out the MIDIs section too. You might find the rest of what you need, there as well

:-)

Subject: Tune Req: Sweet Thames River flow Softly
From: Gypsy
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 10:14 PM

Same gig, different tune. Anyone out there familiar with this one? Lyrics would be good, too. Yes, there will be yet a third thread for the same gig! thanks, all.