Lyr Req: The Old Polina

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Polina
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 08:42 PM

Polina = the little ball in bocce?
Polynia = hole in pack ice?

Thank you, mateys!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Polina
From: GUEST,Graeme
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 04:43 AM

Sorry forgot to add that the song can be heard on the Lowland Folk Four album "Eh'll tell the boaby" -a collection of dundee songs.
Interestingly some of the boats names live on in Dundee as there are pubs named after the Arctic and the Terra Nova. I can't remember the verse about the storm being in any versions i heard of this song in the 60's so maybe it was added after a real storm was experienced by the whaling fleet on the other side of the Atlantic?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Polina
From: GUEST,graeme
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 04:34 AM

there was a dundee folk band in the 60s called the lowland folk from Dundee in Scotland. They recorded a Dundee song called the Baleana. It is virtually the same song. Given that Dundee was a base for Whaling -as it needed the oil for working jute-the major industry in the town at the time- and that the song sets off from Dundee I would think it's origin may well be there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 07:41 PM

A little more info about Captain Guy, the Balaena and other ships mentioned in the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Les from Hull
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 09:40 AM

refloat

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 02:59 PM

I'm sorry Lynn, but it took me some little time to find my copy of the book I mentioned in the other thread. I've got far too many books!

These are the references to Captain William Guy.

In 1883 he took over the Arctic when Captain William Adams retired from the sea. Actic was a steam whaler owned by Messrs Alexander Stephen and Sons of Dundee. She was 828 tons gross (522 net), 200 ft 6 ins in length with 98hp engines.

In 1887 his ship Arctic II was abandoned near Cumberland Gulf while trying to get Fox Channel.

1891 he commanded Polynia on the voyage I mentioned earlier in these threads heading for the Newfoundland sealing grounds. Polynia carried on fishing and accounted for 16,535 seals. She then went on to the Davis Straight and on July 10, in a strong NE gale was caught by the stern between two floes and sank. Her crew of 37 got off safely and were picked up by the Aurora two days later.

In 1892 he took Eclipse to the Newfoundland sealing grounds. Because of an accident with her machinery, she only got 3,595 seals, and missed going on to the whaling.

In 1893 he had Nova Zembla in the Davis Straits, killing 4 whlaes in near Coutts Inlet.

In 1894 he took Nova Zembla to the Davis Straits, nearly losing her on July 8 when stuck in the ice. An iceberg came down, the crew got onto the pack ice, the iceberg pushed the ship onto her beam ends but she wasn't crushed. As the iceberg drifted past, over the next four hours, the ship fortunately righted. They got four whales that season.

In 1906 he left the whaling trade (his last ship was Balaena, and became master of the training brig Frances Mollison, attached to the training ship Mars, moored below the Tay Bridge.

Cheers, Les

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Deckman
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 11:55 AM

To me, this thread represents the very BEST of what mudcat is and can be. This thread started in 1999, was revived in 2003, and just look at the posting prior to this posting. Great going MUDCAT. (in case you didn't know it, I'm a great Mudcat fan). CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: GUEST,lynn in australia
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 05:07 AM

Hello to Les from Hull and all others who have given information with regards to the Old Polina/Balaen. I am a descendant of Captain William Guy and am pleased to have learnt so much about him. I read with interest the story Les supplied from Arctic Whalers. Do you have a copy of this book Les. I can not buy one or order one in Australia. Thankyou Lynn

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 05:45 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From:
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 10:09 AM

Les had some great information on the ship(s)' named Polynia/Balena

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 21 Feb 99 - 09:51 PM

Thanks Tim
Cheers
Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD POLINA
From:
Date: 21 Feb 99 - 03:37 PM

A CD recording I have of The Old Polina states that the Newfoundland song "The Old Polina" comes from "The Old Balena", described as "an old English whaling song." (Hence, one assumes, "Balena" which makes much more sense for the name of a whaling ship.) The lyrics to the Newfoundland song are very much as posted above.

THE OLD POLINA

There's a noble fleet of Whalers, a sailing from Dundee
Manned by British sailors, to take them o'er the sea
On a western ocean passage, we started on the trip
And we flew along, just like a song in our gallant whaling ship.

CHORUS
For the wind was on her quarter, and the engines working free
There's not another whaler, that sails the Arctic Sea
Can beat the Old Polina, you need not try me sons
For we challenged all, both great and small, from Dundee to St. John's.

'Twas the second Sunday morning, just after leaving port
We met a heavy Sou'West gale that washed away our boat
It washed away our quarter deck, our stanchions just as well
And so we set the whole she-bang a-floating in the gale
[Note: some sing "a-floating off to hell"]

[chorus again]

Art Jackman set his canvas, Fairweather got up steam
And Captain Guy, the darling bye, came plunging through the stream
And Mullins in the "Husky" tried to beat the blooming lot
But to beat The Old Polina was something he could not

[chorus again]

There's the noble "Terra Nova", a model without doubt
The "Arctic" and "Aurora" they talk so much about
Art Jackman's model mail boat -- the terror of the sea
Tried to beat the "Old Polina" on a passage from Dundee

[chorus again]

And now we're back in old St. John's, where rum is very cheap
So we'll drink a health to Captain Guy who brought us o'er the deep
A health to all our sweethearts and to our wives so fair
Not another ship could make the trip with the "Polina" I declare.

[chorus again]

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 20 Feb 99 - 06:44 PM

All very interesting guys, but it's not getting me the lyrics...LOL. Tim do you still have them?
I'd be much obliged if you could do the honours..
Now I'm wondering whether I should submit this message 3 times or not...
Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 12:11 AM

The Report of the Commisioner of Fish & Fisheries (New England), register a Balaena from the 1850's up till it's sale in while in the port New Bedford 1871. She had been managed by the same ship's agent (James Howland & among her captains there was never a Guy), tonnage was 301. She was ship rigged & somtime between 1863 & 64 rerigged as a bark. She fished the Alantic, Pacific & Indian Oceans. In Nov. 1868 she lost her 3rd mate & 3 others & sent home 550 sperm. The copy of my report only goes as far as 1876, so there could've been another Balaena later but if she was lanched in 1861 I'd say it was slim. At 301 tons she would've been a fair size then, I only found 2 ships over 400 tons, 1 at 407 & 1 at 408, so it seems that 472 tons would be a mega ship at that time. I couldn't find any listing of a Polynia or Polina or anything close to that spelling. None of the reports cover futher north than Mass. only from New York to Mass. but I'd think that those ports handled a very large percentage of the ships in the whaling industry for the North Alantic. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 18 Feb 99 - 01:42 PM

And for your etymological digression, I wonder if Polynia is a spelling of "polynya", an area of open water in sea ice, from Russian polyn'ya. If so it was a new word then--Merriam-Webster On Line gives the first use in English as 1853. And the pronunciation changed, as the Newfoundland tape I've heard pronounced it to rhyme with "Carolina". And the fate of the ship was ironic.

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 18 Feb 99 - 03:31 AM

Yes, the song is a Newfoundland song, but the ship's name (says Edith Fowke, Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs) is the Polynia, launched 1861, a 472-tonner owned by Dundee Seal and Whale Fishing Company (so you didn't know whales and seals were fish?). It was commanded by Capt. William Guy from 1883 until it was lost in davis Strait 10 July 1891, being crushed between two ice floes in a gale. Fowke got the song from Doyle (Old-Time Songs and Poetry of Newfoundland, 1955 ed.), and it's also mentioned in Paul Mercer's "Newfoundland Songs and Ballads in Print 1842-1974" and Michael Taft's "A Regional Discography of Newfoundland and Labrador 1904-1972", both lovely books from Memorial U. Folklore dept. I recall singing it in the Saint John (New Brunswick) Public Market years ago with John Murphy of th4e Saint John Folk Club, and he sang it as "... from Dundee to Saint John."

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Jack Hickman - Kingston, Ontario
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 04:29 PM

I read with interest the posting from Barry Finn. The song included therein is almost identical to one by the Irish Rovers on their tape "Tall Ships and Salty Dogs", but their title is the "Old Polina."

Jack Hickman

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 15 Feb 99 - 06:21 PM

Hi Barry
Sorry I forgot also to mention I noticed you'd refreshed the thread.. different song though I'm afraid. Thanks anyway
Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALAENA
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Feb 99 - 02:46 PM

I refreshed the other Polina thread but it seems that it may not have been spotted. Here's part of that thread.

Subject: RE: Words to The Polena?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 03-Dec-98 - 08:30 AM

THE BALAENA

The noble fleet of whalers went sailing from Dundee,
Well manned by British sailors to work upon the sea.
On the Western Ocean passage, none with them can compare,
But the smartest ship to make the trip is Balaena, I declare.

CHORUS: Oh, the wind is on her quarter, her engines working free.
There's not another whaler that sails out of Dundee
Can beat the ol' Balaena. She needs no trial run.
We challenged all, both great and small, from Dundee to St John.

It happened on a Tuesday three days out of Dundee.
The gale took off her quarter boat and a couple of men, you see.
It battered at her bulwarks, her stanchions and her rails,
And left the old Balaena boys a-frothing in the gale.

Bold Jackman cut his canvas and fairly raised his steam
And Captain Guy with Erin Boy was ploughing through the stream,
And the noble Terra Nova her boilers nearly burst
And still at the old whaling grounds Balaena got there first.

And now the season's over and the ship half full of oil.
Our flying jib boom points for home towards our native soil,
And when that we have landed, boys, where rum is very cheap,
We'll drink success to the skipper's health for getting us over the deep.

The Balaena was right around the time (1890's) of cutting edge tech, fast steamers and the harpoon cannon. While Captain Guy started the hunt for bottlenose whales (considered the most dangerous to chase), the Balaena went into the Antarctic after the fin and blue whales. They were fast swimmers and couldn't be caught in the old style. They were too big and too fast, yet the fin was easy to cut and try and had a good yield. The blue was a great yield and meant big money for the men. The fast steamer and cannon changed the face of the industry and its music. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 15 Feb 99 - 11:22 AM

Whoops!
Forgot to say.. definitely the Old Polina as Frank quite rightly says.. i.e. The Newfoundland song
Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 15 Feb 99 - 11:15 AM

Pete,
Thanks.. I did check the database and drew a blank.. honest injun...
Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Pete M
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 10:22 PM

No reason you should have Frank, it's about Scottish whalers. Not all songs that mention a place originate there. I merely thought that given the first song requested was a whaling song, it was at least reasonable that the second was also, and given that Mick stated that recording was rather unclear, polina / baleena seemed a possible confusion. If it's any consolation I've never heard of any songs about a Polina, whatever it is.

Pete M

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Frank Maher
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 10:18 PM

The Old Polina is a Newfoundland Song..... I'm from Newfoundland and I've never heard of the Old Baleena!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Frank Maher
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 10:11 PM

The Old Polina is a Newfoundland Song..... I'm from Newfoundland and I've never heard of the Old Baleena!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Pete M
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 07:46 PM

Hi Mick,

BLOW YE WINDS IN THE MORNING is in the DT here. If you enclose the title in square brackets [] as a search string the search engine looks for that phrase but because its looking for an exact match it can be a bit dodgy; for example it wouldn't find "Blow ye winds of the morning". I find the best option is to search on something fairly specific to the song, but which is unlikely to be misheard or misspelt.

Given the poor quality of the recording, could the other song be "the Old Baleena?

The chorus goes:

Here's a health to the old Baleena, she needs no trial run,
And we challenge all both great and small from Dundee to St. Johns."?

If so I'll try and it dig out.

Pete M

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 06:45 PM

HI Tim,
Thought I'd finally flipped when I opened this.. as Phillipa says.. This ain't my thread.. wonder where that's gone to?..
Mine should have read something like....
I'm looking for the lyrics to The Old Polina and if possible Blow Ye Winds in the Morning..Someone gave me a tape of the Paddy Doyles performing these, but the quality is so bad (sounds like it was recorded in someone's toilet) you can't make them out..
So to stop being long winded.. yes please Tim.
Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Philippa
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 03:05 PM

Tim Jacques. Do go ahead and post the Old Polina. I've seen the reference to The Great Speckled Bird already in another recent thread. This cross-pollination is happening a lot when people try to start new threads - it seems that, in succession, everything that can go wrong is going wrong! I think at the moment that you CAN paste in lyrics on existing threads. You certainly can type msessages directly in to extant threads.

Subject: RE: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From:
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 03:00 PM

Your thread title asks for the lyrics to Old Polina, but your message asks for another song. If it is the lyrics to The Old Polina you seek, I do have them.

Subject: Lyr Reqd.. The Old Polina
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 13 Feb 99 - 06:35 PM

Hi gang
Anyone have the lyTO HEAVEN"
(Melody: "The Great Speckled Bird"

When Mama lay a-dyin' on the flatbed,
She told me not to truck with girls like you;
But I w sun instead. Thanks link.net

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