Lyr Add: 150 Days Out from Vancouver (C. Fox Smith

Subject: Lyr Req: 150 Days from Vancouver(C.FoxSmith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Oct 05 - 12:42 PM

There has been some discussion of this poem by Cicely Fox Smith in the threads and Tom Lewis adapted it for singing. Here's his version:

A HUNDRED AND FIFTY DAYS OUT FROM VANCOUVER
(Words by C. Fox-Smith. Music by Tom Lewis)

Chorus:

A hundred and fifty days out from Vancouver,
Don't you hear them all singing it over and over?
A hundred and fifty days longer to roam,
Or less if you're lucky to England and home!

I leaned on the taffrail to watch the day dying,
Like a flock of gay birds round the royal yards flying,
High o'er the sunset I saw the young moon,
And the wind and the tide they were singing one tune.

The ship took it up as she tugged at her tether,
Brace, footrope and halliard all singing together,
So did the seagulls which round us did call,
But, oh, my heart sang it the strongest of all.

We've sailed round the world, lads, to ports without number,
To Chile for nitrates, the Fraser for lumber,
All o'er the ocean since first we did roll,
By the Straits of Le Maire to Coquimbo with coal.

There's many good songs we have knocked round the world to,
Manned capstan and windlass, reefed, shifted and furled to,
Where charters might offer or cargoes might call,
But the homeward-bound shanty's the best of them all.

A hundred and fifty days out from Vancouver
Brings the ship to the land, brings the lad to his lover,
A hundred and fifty days longer to roam
Or less if you're lucky to England and home!

I can't seem to find this poem in any of my books and I'm wondering if anyone else can nail the reference and the original words. The title may be incorreect.

I'm sent an e-mail to Tom Lewis but he's so busy that I'm not expecting a reply.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: 150 Days from Vancouver(C.Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 03:50 PM

Hey, I know this isn't any easy one but all the easy requests hae been answered. I'd really like the original words and a reference.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: 150 Days from Vancouver(C.Fox Smith)
From: MMario
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 04:03 PM

according to Tom (via a website at: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/folklore/worksong/150days.htm



"C. Fox Smith was a popular author of English children's stories between the two World Wars. This song is based on her poem: The Ship's Good-bye; from a 1914 book of her poetry titled: Sailor Town. Her knowledge and insight is profound. Thanks, Cecily, from all of us."-Tom Lewis

Subject: Lyr Add: SHIP'S GOOD-BYE (C. Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 04:10 PM

Alright, I found it myself. According to Tom Lewis' information raked up by Goggle, the real title is "The Ship's Good-bye"; the poem's from a 1914 book of her poetry titled SAILOR TOWN, pp. 51-52:

I leaned on the taffrail, I saw the day dying
Like a flock of gay birds round the royal yards flying;
High over the sunset I saw the young moon,
And the wind and the tide they were singing one tune.

"A hundred and fifty days out from Vancouver
(Don't you hear 'em all singing it over and over?)
A hundred and fifty days longer to roam
(Or less if you're lucky) to England and home!"

The ship took it up as she tugged at her tether,
Brace, footrope, and halliard all whistling together,
And so did the seagulls which round her did call -
But oh, my heart sang it the strongest of all!

There be many good songs we have knocked round the world to,
Manned capstan and halliard, reefed, shifted and furled to,
All round the oceans, since first we did roll
By the Straits of Le Mair for Coquimbo with coal.

All round the world, lads, to ports without number,
Chile for nitrates, the Fraser for lumber,
Where charters might offer or cargoes might call -
But the homeward-bound chantey's the best of them all.

"A hundred and fifty days out from Vancouver
Brings the ship to the land, brings the lad to his lover,
A hundred and fifty days longer to roam
(Or less if you're lucky) to England and home!"

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: 150 Days from Vancouver(C.Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 04:18 PM

Thanks, MMario! You're quicker to the post than I. I didn't realize until now that I didn't launch this thread as LYR REQ.

Charley Noble