Tune Add: Norfolk Whalers (Row My Love Row)

03 Aug 99 - 09:39 PM (#102097)
Subject: Tune Add: NORFOLK WHALERS / ROW MY LOVE ROW
From: John in Brisbane

Norfolk Whalers is the published title of the song known in the DT as Row My Love Row.

Written by Harry Robertson I believe that this is one of the better songs in the whole database.

Norfolk Island is about 1000 km east of the Australian mainland in the Pacific and is notable (apart from its natural beauty and unique flora) because the descenfants of the mutiny on the Bounty migrated there after they outgrew Pitcairn. Alongside places like Moreton Bay (Brisbane) and Port Arthur (Hobart) it was also the site of one of Australia's cruellest penal colonies in the early part of the 19th century.

Norfolk Island was also home to a small fleet of row boats that hunted humpback whales - there is no harbour on Norfolk to this day so all sea craft had to be hauled up to the cliff tops for safe storage. Having harpooned a whale the crew of the small boats could be towed for many miles by the captured whale, leaving the arduous task of rowing the huge mammals back to home base. Apparently the sailors would on occasion have to watch helplesslly while the carcas was completely devoured by sharks on the return journey. While the men were out hunting the locals would maintain a vigil on the cliff-tops awaiting their return.

If the romantic nature of this tale is soured somewhat by the subsequent ruthless eradication of the humpback whale, there is a happier ending. The humpback and young calves now winter in considerable numbers in sheltered waters just north of Brisbane (and in equivalent latitudes off the West Coast of Australia) and provide immense pleasure to tourists and locals alike.

I obtained the tune from 'Whaling Songs of Harry Robertson', Albert Publications, Sydnet 1972, but modofied it somewhat to more closely resemble the version sung by Marion Henderson on Harry's LP 'Whale Chasing Men'.

Other songs by Harry in the DT include Brisbane Whalers, Homeless Man and Wee Pot Stove.

Regards, John

MIDI file: norfolk.mid

Timebase: 192

Name: Norfolk
Text: By Harry Robertson
Copyright: Sequenced © 1999 by John J Leahy
Key: D
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Start
0000 1 78 110 0336 0 78 000 0048 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0320 1 73 110 0094 0 73 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 69 110 0528 0 69 000 0048 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 73 110 0094 0 73 000 0002 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000 0048 1 78 110 0336 0 78 000 0048 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0336 0 76 000 0048 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 69 110 0336 0 69 000 0144 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 73 110 0094 0 73 000 0002 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000 0048 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0048 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 73 110 0094 0 73 000 0002 1 71 110 0336 0 71 000 0048 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 71 110 0336 0 71 000 0144 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 73 110 0160 0 73 000 0032 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0128 1 73 110 0094 0 73 000 0002 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Norfolk
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:D
f4df|e5c|d2c2F2|A6|B2c2d2|c2B2A2|F2B3c|B6|
f4df|e4c2|d2c2F2|A5A|B2c2d2|c2B2A2|F2B3c|
B6|d4dc|B4B2|e2e3e|B5A|B2c2d2|c2B3A|F2B3c|
B11/2||

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