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10 May 08 - 09:50 PM (#2337419) Subject: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Ross Campbell I just heard a lady named Sue sing this at the Saturday evening Singaround in "Stamps" (below the Postcard pub ) at the Holmfirth Festival of Folk. A gentleman sat beside me gave me the title (The Lifeboatman's Prayer) and author (John Heslop, whom he thought might be from Cornwall). Unfortunately I had to leave before I had a chance to get more details. The chorus went:- "Should I be beset by gales Let me not drink the bitterest cup Yet if winds and waves prevail Let not the deep swallow me up" The last line is said to be the motto of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution", though I couldn't confirm that from their website. Google searches produced nothing except the RNLI connection. An alternate "lifeboat prayer" check produced a few references such as "the Lifeboat prayer was said", without producing any words. Can anybody help? Ross |
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11 May 08 - 04:14 AM (#2337522) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Leadfingers Jon Hislop's S O is a member - Cats - and will no be here ere long ! |
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11 May 08 - 10:20 AM (#2337645) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Herga Kitty Jon Heslop, Cornish songwriter and singer... spelling his name right might help, but meanwhile here's a link to Jon and Kathy's website Kathy - Cats - will probably be along directly, once she's recovered from their Fox and Hounds weekend! Kitty |
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11 May 08 - 05:40 PM (#2337896) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Ross Campbell Thanks, Leadfingers and Kitty. I already found an email address in an old thread (and Jon's right name!) last night and have emailed him. I also had a PM about the website. Ross |
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11 May 08 - 06:17 PM (#2337920) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Rattler Hi Ross The Sue was me - 'Sue the Borderer' - that sang it at Holmfirth, but I'm still away from home. I will PM you when I get back. It is a cracking song, isn't it! Glad you liked it. Sue |
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11 May 08 - 07:05 PM (#2337950) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Ross Campbell Hi, Sue Looking forward to hearing from you. As you say, a cracking song. Some of us denizens of Fleetwood Folk Club are working on a set of songs for Fylde on the subject of Wrecks and Rescues - Ron Baxter has put together a script and a bunch of songs relating to shipwrecks from Liverpool Bay, up the Fylde coast and round Morecambe Bay, and the various efforts of lifeboat crews to render assistance over the years. The show is pretty well set at this stage, but I'm always on the look-out for songs even slightly related. There may be an opportunity at one of our performances to add on some of this additional material. Ross |
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12 May 08 - 05:29 AM (#2338176) Subject: Lyr Add: LIFEBOAT PRAYER (John Heslop) From: GUEST,Cats Hi Ross, The song is called 'The Lifeboat Prayer' and was written by Jon Heslop in 1999 when the Port Isaac inshore lifeboat was lost during a rescue. All that was left of it was a piece of orange plastic and the prop shaft bent through 2 right angles. The 3 crew rescued a man and his son who were washed into a cave and trapped for over 8 hours. It was a silver medal rescue and this is displayed in their lifeboat shed. The words 'let not the deep swallow me up' are inscribed around the edge of the RNLI Gold medal for Gallantry. We were honoured to be invited guests at the naming ceremony for the new lifeboat. 2 years ago at the Cornish Voice Tour I sang this on the Sunday morning while the RNLI were actually rescuing swimmers from the sea on the other side of the road from the hotel where we were all singing. Very hairs on the back of the neck stuff! It is recorded on our Not For Glory CD, which is sold out but if you wanted a copy of the song we still have the master and can get it sent to you or check out the Cd's of people you hear singng it as it has been recorded by a fair few. LIFEBOAT PRAYER (John Heslop) To those who venture on the sea, Who ply their trade upon the deep, They sail within fates countenance, And pray their gentle lives to keep. CHORUS And should I be beset by gale, let me not drink the bitterest cup Yet if the wind and wave prevail, Let Not The Deep Swallow Me Up. When the call for rescue comes From those in peril on this day, No matter how the storms may roll, We cannot turn our heads away. We must go where we are called Through wind and rain, through wave and foam, It's not for glory nor for gold We bring poor sailors safely home. I am a leaf upon the wind, I am a man in love with life I am afeared like any man To venture 'gainst the ocean's strife. ch x2 |
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12 May 08 - 05:34 AM (#2338180) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: GUEST,Cats PS Sorry for got to put this on. We are actually locked out of our website which is why it has no new contact details on and an old address. If you pm me I'll give you our contact details and get back to you soonest. If anyone knows how we can get the site back to us we would appreciate it. |
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12 May 08 - 06:40 PM (#2338765) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Ross Campbell Thanks for that, Kathy, I had begun to suspect that the website was a "ghost" from the past! But glad to know your Fox & Hounds do continues. Hope you had a great week-end. I'll PM my email address, and hope you can supply the tune in some form. Ross |
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13 May 08 - 03:54 AM (#2339011) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: GUEST,cats Hi Ross, I'll pick up the pm tomorrow when I get back home from work. Fox & Hounds was brilliant this year ~ see the F&H 2008 thread for comments. I'll find a way of getting the tune to you.. do you read dots? we have it written if that is any help. |
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13 May 08 - 07:44 AM (#2339125) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Ross Campbell Thanks, Kathy, dots would be fine (takes me some time, but I get there eventually!) Ross |
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13 May 08 - 01:30 PM (#2339452) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: Saro Kathy and Ross, if it is any help I can send it as a midi file. Send me a PM if this is useful. Saro |
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14 May 08 - 05:06 AM (#2340055) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboatman's Prayer (John Heslop?) From: GUEST,Cats That would be good Sara. Thanks |
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24 Nov 13 - 09:30 PM (#3578829) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: VivIlo Veith Kathy uploaded a video of Jon singing the Lifeboat Prayer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dHxVh0Kp0 Can anyone tell whose names he mentions at the beginning of the video? |
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25 Nov 13 - 10:09 AM (#3578982) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: Marje He mentions Craig, Morgan, Robson: this is the three-part harmony group comprising Moira Craig, Carolyn Robson, and our own dear Sarah Morgan (posting here as Saro, above)who died a couple of months ago. I heard them sing this song only weeks before Sarah's death, and it is indeed spine-tingling stuff. It's on their CD "The Wind May Blow". |
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16 Sep 19 - 06:17 AM (#4009060) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: GUEST,Ada the Cadre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dHxVh0Kp0 |
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16 Sep 19 - 04:15 PM (#4009157) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: MoorleyMan Six years on from Marje's post, and I've still not heard the Craig Morgan Robson rendition of this wonderful song. I saw them live a number of times, but I don't recall them performing it. Also, I thought I had all their recordings, but I don't know of a CD of theirs called The Wind May Blow. Moreover, all searches on YouTube etc only turn up other songs entirely. So can anyone point me to this one please? |
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27 Apr 20 - 01:55 AM (#4048801) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: Joe Offer Needs formatting for Digital Tradition submission. Any corrections? |
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27 Apr 20 - 06:44 AM (#4048831) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: GUEST,A new recording on YouTube Lifeboat Prayer - Sheringham Shantymen |
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29 Apr 20 - 08:35 AM (#4049306) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: MoorleyMan Thanks for posting that new recording, GUEST. It provided a timely reminder that no-one had responded to my request (last September) for details of the recording by Craig Morgan Robson that was mentioned above by Marje... it must be out there somewhere! |
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07 Jun 20 - 02:05 AM (#4057808) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: Joe Offer ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE LYRICS POSTED UP TOP? |
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07 Jun 20 - 10:31 PM (#4058043) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: cnd Joe, a recording here by John Heslop does not differ substantially from the lyrics provided above. MoorleyMan, interestingly enough the video I linked had Heslop himself saying that Craig, Morgan and Robson sang a lovely version of the song, but I was also unable to find anything. Marje may have accidentally said CD when she meant to refer to the songbook by the same name (link here), but I can't guarantee that. Of the two, Craig and Robson still appear to be performing (or, I should say, they would be) and are active on FaceBook -- you could ask them about it at their page, here |
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08 Jun 20 - 02:03 PM (#4058191) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lifeboat Prayer (John Heslop) From: MoorleyMan Yeah Joe, that version is substantially the one i sing and got from Jon himself. I'll continue the investigation, cnd, and report back here as and when. |