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22 Feb 00 - 10:18 AM (#182732) Subject: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Tony Burns Does anyone know when this shanty was written? Digital Tradition list the author as Mervyn Vincent. Does anyone know anything about him? |
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22 Feb 00 - 11:11 AM (#182764) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca I have a friend who sings it. I'll ask if he knows more about the song. |
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23 Feb 00 - 06:55 AM (#183266) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: GUEST,Peter Billinge Mervyn Vincent died some years ago. He lived near Padstow in Cornwall and the song is sometimes known as the Padstow Shanty. He was highly regarded by 'folkies' as an ambassador for folk music and sang regularly throughout Britain. I do not know whether Mervyn wrote the song or whether it pre-dates him or not but I suspect it might. |
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25 Feb 00 - 04:29 AM (#184578) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Boarding Party (KC) I don't know if it was Johnny Collins or Eric Ilott (from whon the Boarding Party first heard it), or some one of that ilk, but someone related the story that Mervyn had found the text in an old [19th century] "chap" book in Cornwall and had set it to its present tune. Chap books, as I understand are student note books or copy books - affordable, ubiquitous and, like old whales teeth, just the thing for rummaging about for songs. Its a grand end-of-evening, parting song from whose tag line the BP lifted its first album title - 'tis our sailing time. I hadn't heard the Padstow name but that certainly makes sense. KC |
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25 Feb 00 - 11:33 PM (#185100) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Mark Cohen KC, just noticed your name. I have The Boarding Party's first tape and have been listening to it and singing songs from it, including this song, for more years than I (or you, probably) care to remember. I believe I may have picked up the tape at a little folk festival in northern Connecticut in 1984 or so. Of course, I don't remember the name of the town. I was living near Springfield at the time. Bill Staines was there, as was Sandy Paton, Cindy Mangsen, my old friend Valentine Doyle who had just moved to CT from SF, and maybe you guys were there too. Are you still performing, or recording? Still in the Baltimore/DC area? Thanks for helping to keep this music alive. Aloha, Mark |
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26 Feb 00 - 11:04 AM (#185272) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Boarding Party (KC) Mark, Thanks for the kind words. As for your last line of questions, the answer is no, no, no and "My pleasure". I've moved down to New Orleans where its considered impolite to sing on choruses let alone sing. As a group, the Boarding Party has drifted far from its performing and recording shore. There is a thrid album in a can somewhere well beyond my reach. I should be thanking you and others for whom the Boarding Party, in its day and its way, helped keep the music alive. That's not a bad epitaph when you think of it - "They helped keep the music alive" Fair winds, KC |
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11 Mar 02 - 01:43 PM (#667053) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Noreen In trying to find the history of this song, I came across this thread, and this posting from Hawker in a finishing songs thread- seems to fit here: Subject: RE: What song do you finish with?
Lucy
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11 Mar 02 - 01:45 PM (#667056) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Noreen So, it's traditional, but 'discovered' by Mervyn Vincent? Any further information? Thanks, folks. Noreen |
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11 Mar 02 - 02:42 PM (#667099) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Charley Noble Good notes! Thanks! |
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11 Mar 02 - 05:47 PM (#667233) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Dave Bryant I knew Mervyn quite well - in fact it was I who gave Dick the attribution for his DT version. Noreen's Husband's account exactly accords with what Merv told me. I can remember some wonderful evenings both at "The Stable Loft" (I used to get an annual booking - the week before Sidmouth) and also at "The Ring 'o Bells" at St Issey, just over the road from where Merv used to live. Mervyn liked everyone to join in choruses and was known as "The old Bugger" partly because of his admonishments to "Sing you buggers, sing !" |
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11 Mar 02 - 06:03 PM (#667251) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Noreen Uh-huh.. Lucy (Hawker)'s husband (I cut& pasted her message from another thread.) Noreen |
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11 Mar 02 - 07:13 PM (#667303) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Liz the Squeak Ah, then if that's the case I met Mervyn in Wadebridge at the folk festival one year, many MANY years ago.... when I was still an innocent bystander on the folk scene..... I didn't like being told to sing when I was already doing so at a high rate of decibels.... LTS |
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11 Mar 02 - 09:49 PM (#667400) Subject: RE: Farewell Shanty - When was it written? From: Bob Bolton G'day LTS, ... So, he wasn't talking to you, was he? Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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08 Oct 10 - 06:42 PM (#3002892) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: Hesk The Farewell or Leaving Shanty is such a good song, I was wondering if anyone knows of any other songs by Mervyn Vincent, and if they are in published form. |
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09 Oct 10 - 07:51 AM (#3003127) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: doc.tom I'm sure I've put this up before, but for the record. The Farewell Shanty was found in 'an old book' in Plymnouth Library by Alan Molyneux (who later died of leukemia, just in case anyone wants to know) who gave it to Mervyn: "listen to this, boy, can't you just hear the basses coming in on the third line?" From Mervyn it became part of the North Cornwall traditional repertoire, got taken up by Collins & Mageean and passed around the world, the rest, as they say, is history. I know, cause I was there. Tom |
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09 Oct 10 - 08:09 AM (#3003141) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: Hesk doc.tom Thanks for your reply. I am familiar with what you have posted, but like you am not quite sure from which thread you posted it on. Can I assume, as you knew Mervyn, that this was just a one off, or do you know of other tunes that he composed. |
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09 Oct 10 - 09:12 PM (#3003540) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: Charley Noble Someday we'll get a literary source for this song. Till then we can just enjoy singing it! Cheerily, Charley noble |
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28 Sep 11 - 04:21 PM (#3230718) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: GUEST,caz padstow cornwall hi i now look after mervyns wife AND SHE IS always talking about his singing etc |
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29 Sep 11 - 07:24 AM (#3231008) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: GUEST,AlanG at work Every year I visit Padstow for the May Day and I always take a walk up and sit on the seat dedicated to Mervyn near the war memorial. Fond memories of Mervyn, The Stable Loft and my first introduction to folk music. |
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29 Sep 11 - 01:11 PM (#3231173) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: JHW I was privileged to hear Mervyn sing the Farewell Shanty more than once on his occasional visits up here. Ken Allen to thank for bringing him. Though many moons since I heard him in the Collingwood, Thornaby I don't think he claimed the song but then probably wouldn't have done anyway. A habit has evolved of repeating the first verse at the end, a common enough trait but IMHO it ends better on 'Haul away for Heaven' (believer or not). That's the way Mervyn ended the song and maybe the night. |
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29 Sep 11 - 02:55 PM (#3231226) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: doc.tom JHW - I agree wholeheartedly - and it should end "The Lord be by my side", not "God" and then repeat v.1 GUEST caz - give Jean our love, hopefully we'll see her before next May. Tom & Barbara. |
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28 Sep 23 - 07:44 AM (#4182607) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: GUEST,Robbie and Maureen Tatlow Just to complete the story. We are now the custodians of the book the Farewell Shanty was found in We sang with Mervyn in Cornwall from 1965 to the year he died. He was quite a character. The tune and words came from The Bunkside Book published by Maritime Press Ltd in 1962 Mervyn Alan Molineaux and Ken Penney brought it to public notice, the book passed between all three and on Ken's death it was gifted to Robbie to sing the Farewell Shanty in the crematorium in Exeter. We treasure the book and its history. The Farewell Shanty has no named writer or composer in the book and the notes and acknowledgements do not given any information as to its origin. It may be that the author of the book wrote it C Rutter Fletcher but he does not claim it. |
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28 Sep 23 - 07:44 AM (#4187091) Subject: RE: Origins: Farewell Shanty (Mervyn Vincent) From: GUEST,Robbie and Maureen Tatlow Just to complete the story. We are now the custodians of the book the Farewell Shanty was found in We sang with Mervyn in Cornwall from 1965 to the year he died. He was quite a character. The tune and words came from The Bunkside Book published by Maritime Press Ltd in 1962 Mervyn Alan Molineaux and Ken Penney brought it to public notice, the book passed between all three and on Ken's death it was gifted to Robbie to sing the Farewell Shanty in the crematorium in Exeter. We treasure the book and its history. The Farewell Shanty has no named writer or composer in the book and the notes and acknowledgements do not given any information as to its origin. It may be that the author of the book wrote it C Rutter Fletcher but he does not claim it. |