Songs about Whitby??!

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Lady Nancy
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:27 AM

Gus Gomersal of Dewsbury wrote Whitby Bells and Squire sang in in the '70s. At that time I sang with Squire. We are resurrecting it now with my new band, Sandrigg... When I get chance I'll post it and its tune in Digitrad - unless our CE comes out first and you can buy a copy and poach it from there...?

LN

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Bill t' bodger
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 08:41 AM

What about a couple of songs by Vin Garbutt:- The old ghost train and the potash song

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:53 AM

Jon Heslop wrote a song called Whitby Garland some years back about when the whalers went out they would hoist a may day garland on May day in the rigging and leave it there until they came safely back in to harbour, which also mentions throwing the shoes into the harbour as they left. I'm sure we have the dots on the computer at home if you can give us an e mail address [pm me]. He also wrote 'Ordinary Sorts of Men' about the Whitby lifeboat crew which is sung all over now and we have the dots for that on computer as well. Also I recorded a wonderful song called 'Bargheist coach' which was written by Jan Outram from Sheffield about the sailors who are buried at the top of the 199 steps and how the coach pulled by 6 black horses comes to take their souls back to the sea after burial.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:08 PM

I thought McGrath from Harlow might have posted his song "Kippers by Post" which mentions Whitby in the first verse
Bill the sound

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 07:58 PM

No worries matey - it's gotta be more or less the same thing in principle - email me (see website) and I'll send you an mp3 of the song in my version - Cheers - Duncan

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: nutty
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 04:36 PM

Sorry Andy .... its so long since I heard the Vin sing the song I just assumed.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 02:09 PM

PS to Nutty
I went to watch the hedge built in Whitby last year!
There's pix and a sound clip of the horn being blown on m'website.
attempts blue clicky - see 'news page'
Penny hedge pic and sound
As it's a Whitby connection to this thread - I feel it sets things back on track - that OK? Cheers - Duncan

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 02:04 PM

Well, actually, I hope not Nutty!
The lyric above (and tune that goes with it) is mine!
Written a few years back - I took your post to mean Vin had a different song about it!
Naturally - the words would cover the same subject matter.
If he is doing mine, grand!
But I reckon it's likely another song altogether.
(Would love him to do any of mine actually! - hah! Nearly happened one time!)

It's reminded me of other anecdotes actually - sorry for thread creep!
I went to be guest all t' way down to Leigh-on-sea - sat waiting my turn to do the first set
and a floorsinger did a song based on the 'Floating Brothel' book about first women convicts
sent to Australia - dammit if my opening song was to be my own song on the subject!!!
Floored me (ouch) to say the least!

Then m' old oppo Tom (Bliss) - simultaneously it seems - wrote a song based on one of two Lady pirates from English history
that were 'linked' (shall we say) - without knowing that elsewhere I'd come up with one about the other lass!
(Tom's on Ann Bonney, mine on Mary Read).

Spooky? May be - but I'm now developing a nervous tic!
Cheers - Duncan

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: nutty
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:06 PM

That's the one about the Penny Hedge, Andy.
The penance was to build the hedge and make it strong enough to withstand 3 tides.
It's still being built today.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Lynn W
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 04:34 PM

I think Gus Gomersal wrote Whitby Bells. Can't remember the words though.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 03:14 PM

Didn't know Vin had one about Whitby's Penny Hedge
Here's another! The story of the murdered hermit of Eskdale, Sir Richard de Veron (d.1160).

Out On Ye
^^
Now here's a tale of hunting men, three high-born men I'm sure
With staves in hand and hounds a-foot - Out searching of wild boar
- Out searching of wild boar

Before too long the hounds full cry in Eskdale forest rang
As the great boar fled the grass stained red - And men with blood lust sang
- And men with blood lust sang

Ch. Come officer blow your horn - Out on ye, Out on ye
Come officer blow your horn - Out on ye, Out on ye

On a hill sat a man so deep in prayer – the boar ran by his side
Through the open door of the chapel went the boar - and exhausted fell to die
- exhausted fell to die

So Brother Jerome, he closed the way – the hounds at bay, without
The gentlemen fast came to the brow - And called the hermit out
- And called the hermit out

They've opened the door and there looked in – in fury then did fly
They've wounded Jerome with long boar-staves - Now surely he will die
- Now surely he will die

To the church in Scarbro' they did run – and there sought sanctuary
But the Abbot him being a friend of the King - Says bring 'em back to me
- Says bring 'em back to me

And he's brought them face to brother Jerome – on his deathbed he did lie
'I am sure to die of these wounds you gave' - and the Abbot said 'So must they!'
- and the Abbot said 'So must they!'

'Forgive them Lord, a penance I call - in lieu of life and land
On Ascension Eve a hedge they'll build - By their own, or their own kin's hand
- By their own, or their own kin's hand

At nine of the clock with yethers & stakes - at the edge of the Esk beside
Struthers they'll set, or lose all yet - For to stand against three tides'
- For to stand against three tides'

So here's the tale of hunting men, three high-born men I'm sure
With staves in hand and hounds a-foot - Out searching of wild boar
- Out searching of wild boar

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,dredger
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:21 AM

Ask Tony Morris he has quite a few Whitby based Poems and Songs.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:36 PM

1558 wouldn't be a likely year for Henry the Eighth to be doing anything much, since he was long dead by then. 1538 sounds more likely, and it's more or less accurate historically.
............

Here's a song I write about Whitby during a folk week there a few years ago:
^^
Whitby coming home

Perhaps the seagulls woke me, but I could not sleep that night
So I walked down to the harbour, to see the harbour lights,
And the harbour lights were shining, and the night was calm and clear
But that's aniother reason I'll be coming back next year
To Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
To Whitby, where it's always coming home.

And rising in the morning, I climbed two hundred stairs
To sing there in St Mary's, and to listen to the prayers,
With the bells so sweetly ringing, and the seagulls wheeling by,
And high above the harbour we were singing in the sky
In Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
In Whitby, where it's always coming home.

With the singing and the dancing, and the music in the streets,
And the welcome always shining in the faces that you meet,
Why, Whitby in the summer is like moving through a dream,
But there's something there in Whitby that is deeper than it seems.
In Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
In Whitby, where it's always coming home.

And in the Seaman's Mission, I sat and drank my tea
And those sailormen up on the walls were looking down at me
And standing in the evening on the cliffs above the shore
I seemed to see those little ships go sailing out once more
Go sailing out from Whitby, together and alone
And some of them would never make it home.

And all through the streets of Whitby you can hear the seagulls cry
Don't they say they are the spirits of lost sailors long gone by?
So when we sing the old songs, it is more than just a game,
We wake the memories of the dead, and call them home again
To Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
To Whitby, where it's always coming home.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: collierlad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:35 PM

Also Jude Knight singing Three Jolly Fishermen is also on the new Tap & Spile CD.

John Greaves of Little Beck is a good source of local Whitby songs.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: collierlad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 07:48 PM

Sue Haithwaites singing "The Eighth Wreck/Whitby Lifeboat disaster"
is featured on the new Tap & Spile CD.

Tap & Spile new CD "Behind Closed Doors"

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: nutty
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 04:14 PM

I completed this song last year. It has been sung out but not extensively. I hope you like it.

HAUL ON THE SAIL
^^
CHORUS
HAUL ON THE SAIL, BOYS,
HAUL ON THE SAIL
THERE'S A FAST TIDE FLOWING AND THE WIND IS BLOWING FREE
HAUL ON THE SAIL, BOYS,
HAUL ON THE SAIL
TILL WE'RE SAFELY ANCHORED, IN OLD WHITBY

WHEN I SIGNED ON A WHALER, A YOUNG AND FOOLISH LAD
I THOUGHT T'WOULD MAKE A MAN OF ME, WITH CASH I'D NEVER HAD
BUT TWO YEARS ON I KNOW FOR SURE, I'M FINISHED WITH THE SEA
AND LONG TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN , IN OLD WHITBY

FIRST WE MADE FOR GREENLAND, AND SAILED THE SEAS AROUND
THOUGH WE SEARCHED FOR MONTHS ON END - ONE WHALE WAS ALL WE FOUND
SO CAPTAIN SAID, FORGET THE WHALES, AND SEALS WE HAD TO TAKE
WE SLAUGHTERED NEAR ONE THOUSAND THEN, OUR LIVING FOR TO MAKE

I HATE THE ARCTICS STORMY SEAS, THE ICEBERGS AND THE FLOES
I HATE THE STINKING QUARTERS THAT WE LIVE IN DOWN BELOW
BUT MOST OF ALL THE SLAUGHTER - THE ENDLESS BLOOD AND GORE
I HATE IT ALL AND LONG TO BE IN WHITBY TOWN ONCE MORE

I LONG TO SEE THE GREEN, GREEN, GRASS AND WALK THE HEATHER MOOR
AND LISTEN TO THE WATER AS THE WAVELETS LAP THE SHORE
NO MORE I'LL GO TO FROZEN LANDS WITH BLINDING ICE AND SNOW
BUT I'LL STAY WARM IN WHITBY TOWN, WITH ALL THE FRIENDS I KNOW

SO WHEN MY FEET ARE ON DRY LAND, AND THE SHIP'S TIED TO THE QUAY
I'LL TURN MY BACK AND MAKE MY WAY HOMEWARD FROM THE SEA
THANK GOD, I AM A SINGLE MAN NO COMPANY DEBT I OWE
SO MANY MEN MUST SIGN AGAIN AND BACK TO SEA THEY GO.

HAZEL BOLTON SEPT 2006

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,squeezeboxhp
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:38 PM

while you are looking for things for the pub wall during the festival times we met at the Met and wrote dances for Whitby, Mick Peat leading the session and the books were published during the folk week. most of the dances were named for places in the town like Arguments Yard etc. i will bw coming over at some stage this year and will bring the copies i have if you are interested i usually did the music to test the dances to.
Ken

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Raggytash
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 01:16 PM

Colin/Andy
One of the best people to ask is Valmai, collar her on Sunday if she's in, as for the Whitby Lifeboat song, properly known as the Eighth Wreck I'll tell you the story later and let you have Sue Haithwaites words

Raggytash

(Nick)

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: gnomad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 12:14 PM

Sorry, Pilgrim, I know the tune but not how to transmit it other than by singing it. How very traditional!

John Squire & John Leonard [yes THAT JL] did a recording of it on their LP Broken-Down Gentlemen, Rubber Records RUB018, in 1976. Hope that may help.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Blowzabella at work
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:46 AM

Whitby Tailor is another ... Bob Fox sings it (scuse haste)

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: nutty
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:37 AM

Don't forget Vin Garbutt's song about the legend of te Penny Hedge

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: fogie
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:22 AM

I used to sing a song called Whitby bells about the bells ringing underwater -I cant remember who wrote it but it was a very good song, and I did a terrible thing relating to it! I turned up at the local club in Amersham and sang it ,not realizing that the chap who wrote it was the guest - I'll never forget it. It starts something like. In 1558 by Henry the eighth every abbey in the land was plundered - (the date's surely wrong)- however does anyone remember it well enough to add the rest of the words.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:17 AM

Sue Haithwaite has written songs about Whitby, including The Whitby life boat song and one about mad Maggie(??) a famous whitby witch...and others

e-mail [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Pilgrim
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 04:29 AM

Fantastic Gnomad. Refreshing to see a song where the maid deceives the sailor as opposed to the countless ones the other way around.
Have you got the music forrit?

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: gnomad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:14 AM

The Whitby Maid is even about pubs, to some extent. Sorry, don't know its origin.
^^

There was a maid in Whitby town, she was both fair and clever,
And she would sit by her father's door, no matter what the weather,
And a sailor coming home from sea, his pockets overflowing,
He saw the maiden sitting there, quietly with her sewing.

Chorus:
Blow away you northern winds, blow away so cruelly,
But none so cruel as a pretty maid, for they'll deceive you surely.

Won't you come along with me? My Bonny, Oh my Honey,
And we'll go down to Whitby town and spend a little money."
My Father he would not agree, 't would be against his wishing,"
But with a twinkle in her eye she says "But he's gone fishing."

This couple's gone to Whitby town, and soon were making merry,
At every tavern in the town they spent a little money,
The night came down, the stars came out, the lady says "My sailor,
Oh won't you come back home with me, I feel I must repay you?"

They went back home and went upstairs, the maid turns down the covers,
Saying "Come to bed my sailor boy, let's you and I be lovers."
And the sailor jumped out of his clothes, no faster than he ought to,
When the door broke down, a man came in crying
"Who's this with my daughter?"

The sailor through the window's leaped, and to the ship's gone running,
And he's left behind his coat, his watch, and the best part of his money,
The Father with his daughter's gone down to the kitchen table,
And they've shared the sailor's money out as quick as they were able.

The Father's gone to buy new boots, and a new suit from the tailor's,
And the daughter to the door has gone, to wait and watch for sailors.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:56 PM

Thanks, Lynn. That covers my query - essentially a mix and match song, but nothing to say that Whitby has any less claim than anywhere else.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Susan of DT
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:53 PM

Songs in the DT (including update) that mention Whitby:
   North Sea Holes
   Song of the Fish Gutters
   Hermit of Eskdaleside

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Lynn W
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:24 PM

The Whitby Lad is on the Watersons' Yorkshire Garland. From the sleeve notes-
The Whitby Lad
A big family of highwaymen and poacher songs interbred with a family of transportation songs to produce a large number of offspring all resembling each other closely. A central feature of them all is the lamentation of the aged parents. The Whitby Lad was collected from Mr. W. F. Verril of Staithes some sixty years ago by R. A. Gatty. In other versions the young transportee comes from other parts and sails down other rivers than the Humber. On the face of it the song is modest enough but it has exercised a powerful interest on singers and hearers alike and versions of it quickly became common in Scotland, Ireland and America (where it still flourishes under such titles as The Boston Burglar and The Jail at Morgantown).

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:11 PM

From: eanjay - PM
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 03:17 PM

The Whitby Lad


Just curious - it's not a song I am aware of. Do you have any information about the song, origins or collecting/writing credits for it?
Is it originally about Whitby, or just one of those songs where you "insert local place names".
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Lynn W
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 03:32 PM

There is a nice jig called Whitby Pier in the Vickers manuscript (1770). Here it is in abc computer notation-

X:1
T:Whitby Pier
B:Vickers part 3
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
A|F2Ad2e|fed cBA|BdB AFD|FAF E2G|F2A d2e|fed cBA|Bgf edcd3D2:|
g|faf d2f|gbg e2g|fed faf|ecA A2g|faf d2f|bag fed|Bgf edc|d3D2:||

If you copy and paste the above into an abc convertor such as the one on Concertina.net -
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html
just hit the "submit" button and it will give you sheet music to print. PDF will give you better quality.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 03:17 PM

The Whitby Lad
^^
Chorus:
Son oh son what have you done
You're bound for Botany Bay

Now come all you wild and you reckless youths wherever that you be
I would have you quit night-walking and shun bad company
And it's

I was born and bred in Whitby town and raised up honestly
Until I became a sporting lad which proved my destiny
And it's

I broke into some lady's house about the hour of three
Two peelers stood behind the door and they got quick hold of me
Crying

It bein' at the March assizes the judge to me did say
Now the jury has found you guilty, lad, you must go to Botany Bay
And it's

Oh to see me aged father a-trembling at the bar
Likewise my own dear mother, she 's a-tearing her grey hair
Crying

It bein' on the twenty-third of March from England bore away
And as we sailed down the Humber we heard the sailors there
Crying

Second chorus:
Boys oh boys there are no joys
Down there in Botany Bay

Now there is a girl in Whitby town, a girl I love so well
And if ever I get me liberty it's with her I will dwell
And it's

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Blowzabella
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 03:13 PM

You might also want to contact Richard Grainger, who has written many songs about Whitby, including Whitby Whaler, I think. Story goes, he was in the Museum at Middlesbrough, which had a dispaly about ... Whitby - or whaling - and, in a glass case was some sheet music .... for song that he wrote .... He explained the situation ... usual story but with a nice ending - I think that he and the Museum curator are still together   - aaahhhh

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Tap and Spile
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:44 PM

Cool, Ray is in tonight so will ask him! Cheers x

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:38 PM

Another local resident is Ray Randall who recorded his Polly Swallow CD inspired by the F.M.Sutcliffe photo.
And Charles O'Connor up at the Stonehouse, produced his Resolution Suite and Breaking Waves (for the Bark Endeavour) CDs.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:32 PM

Tee hee!

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Typical
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:23 PM

You sit at a different computer for a couple of minutes and your wife gets her posting in first...
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Tap and Spile
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:21 PM

Thank you, it is an idea I only had last night whilst watching the paint dry!!! See you soon, col x

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:21 PM

Try talking to some of the folky Whitby residents. People such as Derek Elliott would know what belongs to the town.
You could also ask permission from people who have written songs more recently.
Richard Grainger wrote one called Whitby Whaler - he can be tried via the web sites for the Captain Cook/Shanty festivals.
Bill Sables, who is a mudcatter, although I'm not sure how often he looks in these days, wrote one called Whitby Fisherman (to an old American Hymn tune).
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:20 PM

'Three Jolly Fishermen' is a song collected in Whitby ask Jude Knight or Derek Elliott about it. Another written more recently and set to an old hymn tune is 'Whitby Fisherman' written by Bill Sables.

^^ WHITBY FISHERMAN
(Bill Sables)
I'm a fisherman from Whitby, keep my boat down on the shore
And I fish the banks for herring as my father did before
When we leave the land at sunset for to plough the northern sea
It's the peace of moonlit waters that brings thoughts of home to me

Blessed quietness, Holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul
On the stormy sea speaking peace to me
How the billows cease to roll

When I'm standing in the wheelhouse in the subdued compass glow
I can find a peace unequalled, while the crew's asleep below
And the stars are there to guide me and to help me through the night
Mingling with the lights of comrades sailing for the morning light

When we shoot our nets at daybreak praying for a bumper haul
Then the sun shows in the heavens spreading brightness over all
And the seagulls wheel above us as we turn the boat around
'Cos the nets are full of silver and tonight we're Whitby bound

We'll unload our catch in the harbour and make sure all is tied down
Then it's home, a bath, then supper and a stroll down into town
We will pass around the bottle in a pub down on the quay
And we'll praise the Lord's protection and His gift of Peaceful seas

If only you'd mentionned it the other week when I was there I'd have sung it to you :0)

Subject: Songs about Whitby??!
From: GUEST,Tap and Spile Whitby
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:03 PM

We are currently re-decorating the pub and thought it would be quite nice to display either, some sheet music and/or song lyrics on some of the walls. As we are right in the centre of Whitby, if anyone knows of any Whitby tunes or anything that would be fitting we would be very grateful!

Also thanks to everyone for their continued support and kind words,

Colin.