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10 Jun 97 - 11:43 PM (#6612) Subject: Unst Boat Song From: R. Eamon Graham - robertg@awod.com Does anyone know anything about a song called "Unst Boat Song?" Lyrics or any kind of info would be appreciated. I heard it on "The Thistle and Shamrock" several years ago. Thanks! |
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17 Nov 04 - 09:09 AM (#1329858) Subject: Lyr Add: UNST BOAT SONG (trad. Shetlands) From: GUEST,jjlajo@yahoo.com The song "Unst boat song", as far I know, is in norn (old language of Shetlands, close related with foroyar and icelandic). I know the version of Hom Bru in the album "Obadeea" The lyrics are:
1.- Starka virna vestalie, |
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17 Nov 04 - 12:27 PM (#1330070) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: John Routledge The song is a small fragment of a long epic. It describes the scene in the harbour as wives and children nervously watch a storm brew up whilst waiting for husbands/fathers to return from fishing. A really beautiful song. |
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17 Nov 04 - 03:49 PM (#1330299) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: GUEST If it's a scottish song, then it's "Uist" I think, that might help your searching. There's a Uist Marching or Tramping song, don't know the Boat song. |
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17 Nov 04 - 04:43 PM (#1330349) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: Megan L It was recorded by Hom Bru on thier album Obadeeaa - 1982 it was originally gathered along with some 11 or so others from John Stikle on the island of Unst for collector Patrick Shuldham‑Shaw in 1947. Unst is part of the Shetland archepeligeo. |
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17 Nov 04 - 07:52 PM (#1330541) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: Malcolm Douglas From John Stickle, as Megan says; Pat Shuldham-Shaw recorded some 94 items from him over the years, both tunes and songs. He didn't publish The Unst Boat Song, though, as William Ratter had already noted it; it was first published by the Viking Society for Northern Research (as A Boat Song from Unst), but I don't have bibliographical details. Is there any evidence that this is part of a longer song? Offhand, I don't find any translation or further background information; though both will be available somewhere, of course. I thought that I was bad at geography; but confusing Unst and Uist? Good heavens. Our "Guest" must be from aways off. |
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17 Nov 04 - 07:59 PM (#1330551) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: John Routledge A group of us learned this song at Folkworks Summer School 2001? It was introduced as part of an epic. Will see what I can find. |
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17 Nov 04 - 08:32 PM (#1330582) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: Lighter Can someone post the melody? |
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17 Nov 04 - 09:05 PM (#1330608) Subject: RE: Unst Boat Song From: Joe Offer If you have a melody, you can post it in ABC in the Forum, or you can e-mail me a MIDI for posting. thanks. -Joe Offer- joe@mudcat.org |
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01 May 08 - 09:22 AM (#2330527) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song From: GUEST,Frances Bennett The translation is: Stronger wind comes from the wester Curse the weather, curse the weather Stronger wind comes from the wester Curses from all us sailors! Stow the shrouds, the yeards and sails, The dear old ship she'll ride the gales The dear old ship she'll ride the gales So give her the best you can, boys Bless the ship, almighty Father Curse the weather, curse the weather Bless the ship, almighty Father Curses from all us sailors! |
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01 May 08 - 10:30 AM (#2330595) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song From: GUEST,leeneia Thanks for posting, Frances. That's most interesting. Deep-sea fishing has been called the world's most dangerous occupation (by some office of the United Nations), and this song reflects that well. |
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30 Jun 08 - 01:26 AM (#2377115) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: GUEST,Richard Fleming The song can be heard here. http://www.shetland-music.com/ |
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30 Jun 08 - 04:00 AM (#2377150) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: Megan L Richards link It is also on "Isles asleep" By shirley and Larry Peterson |
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30 Jun 08 - 04:34 AM (#2377164) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: Malcolm Douglas Those are modern interpretations, though, rather slowed-down and prettified. For the real thing, listen to John Stickle himself. The full song is available nowadays as a paid-for download, but an excerpt at a lower sampling rate (actually most of the song) can be heard -for example- via this URL: http://www.mp3fiesta.com/preview/783752.m3u |
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01 Jul 08 - 10:46 PM (#2378779) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: Joe Offer Jim Carroll sent this for posting, but he didn't cite his source. It's similar to what's posted above, but with some differences. Tune will follow. Thanks, Jim. -Joe Offer- 4. THE UNST BOAT SONG, sung by John Stickle, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland; recorded by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw. John Stickle, a cooper, a good fiddler in his time and a humorous man with a broad knowledge of Shetland dialect and old Shetland songs, was born in Unst in 1879 and died there 73 years later. Perhaps the most remarkable of his songs was this ancient boat song in Norn, a form of Norse-language, whose leader chorus structure indicates that it was once a song for rowing - perhaps on board Norse galleys. The song has been published in the Shetland Folk Book, vol. 2 (Shetland Times, Lerwick, 1951.) somewhat overedited by William Ratter. 1. Starka virna vestilie Obadee-a, obadee-a Starka virna vestilie Obadee-a monye 2. Stala, stoita, stonga, raera 'T what ta doo, da bunshka baera 'T what ta doo, da bunshka baera A litera mae vee drengie 3. Saina papa wara Obadee-a, obadee-a Saina papa wara Obadee-a monye English Translation: 1 Stronger wind comes from the wester Curse the weather, curse the weather Stronger wind comes from the wester Curses from all us sailors. 2. Stow the shrouds, the yards and sails The dear old ship she'll ride the gales The dear old ship she'll ride the gales So give her the best you can, boys. 3. Bless the ship, almighty father Curse the weather, curse the weather Bless the ship, almighty father Curses from all us sailors. Click to play(tune from Leeneia 8 Dec 2009) |
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02 Jul 08 - 02:36 AM (#2378846) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: Jim Carroll Sorry Joe, It's John Stickle's version (as was the tune I sent) and came from the notes of Folk Songs of Britain. Worried about being sued!!! Jim Carroll |
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19 Feb 09 - 02:10 PM (#2571069) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: GUEST,Robin from Unst In response to the Jim Carroll/ Joe Offer posts, it is actually "Oh, Whit says du da bunshka baer" in the second verse. The translation that is posted sounds like it has been padded out a bit, my understanding of the words are a little more simplistic and follows; Strong wind form the Wester Trouble Trouble Strong wind from the Wester Trouble men Put in order, brace up the mast and yards oh what say you boat (Da Bunshka Bear is literally "the boat that will carry her sail") Oh what say you boat I'm pleased with that boys Bless us our father Trouble Trouble Bless us our father Trouble men. I understand this to be the words using the Shetland Folk Society book from 1973 "Da Sands at a'll sing ta dee" and clarification on the words from the Jacob Jacobsen Etymological Dictionary of Norn. Also I would say that this is a more likely translation because this is more the way that Shetlander's speak - short and sweet. I would like to see Uist Boat Song removed because this is very much a Shetland song. The tune is pretty simplistic, in D major, 6/8 time CAPITAL = crotchet, lowercase = quaver, Capital: = dotted crotchet BbBb AgGa BbAd BdAd BbBb AgGa BbAd B:B rest This is repeated for all verses. This song should match the rhythm of rowing so think of that kind of motion in it. It is suspected that this was part of a larger song but by the time that anyone recorded anything of the Norn language it was nearing its death so this is sadly one of the last records that we have of the language in use. Words in Norn were quite specific to describing things, for instance there are at least 3 words to describe daybreak. Hope everyone keeps enjoying this fantastic tune. Thanks Robin |
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07 Dec 09 - 03:08 PM (#2783131) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: GUEST,Richard Fleming The link above to John Stickle doesn't seem to work, but this should: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoGGrqWJFeo The Norn is challenging. Even modern Shetland dialect has vowel sounds different from those in English, and this is more different again. I can offer no intelligence to the debate, but I do like the song, particularly Hom Bru's version, though I can't comment on its authenticity. I had the rather unusual opportunity of playing it to the remains of a Uyeasound Regatta commitee meeting. My voice instantly gives away my non Shetland roots, and to say they were surprised would be an understatement. They certainly did not throw me off the island. I echo Robin's comment about editing out the rather emabarassing guessed reference to Uist. Richard |
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08 Dec 09 - 10:40 AM (#2783745) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: GUEST,leeneia I have made a MIDI from the recording linked by Malcolm Douglas above. If Joe is available, he should be posting it here soon. John Stickle got off to a shakey start there, and the first note is partway between an A and a B. I've decided it was an A. As I hear it, it's in the key of C (or its relative minor, Am.) If you want to put chords to it, experiment with C, Am, F and G. Click to play |
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08 Dec 09 - 03:13 PM (#2783991) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unst Boat Song / Uist Boat Song From: Joe Offer refresh - tune from leeneia posted Click to play |