Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs

21 Jun 00 - 07:25 AM (#245346)
Subject: New Bedford Whaler's Songs^^
From: Billy the Bus

G'day cobbers,

Peter Puter has survived major surgery, and is now cohabiting compatibly with Minnie Modem and Sally Skanner - Herewith proof of the puddin' - lyrics of a couple of "songs" from the logbook of a New Bedford whaler Samuel Robertson.

I WAS ONCE A SAILOR^^

Yes I was once a sailor lad
I plowed the restless sea
I saw the sky look fair and glad
And I felt proud and free

I breathed the air of many a clime
Saw beauties fair and gay
My hopes were fixed on future time
The present slipped away

Experience and hope's brilliant view
Like mist dissolved away
I found small harvest did accrue
To plowmen of the sea

I found my team would rage and rove
'Twas but the fickle wind
That plowing o'er the rolling sea
No furrow left behind

Days have passed by I'm snug on shore
Safe from the sea's alarms
I have a never failing store
A fifteen acre farm

Oh sweet it is to till the soil
'Neath our New England sky
And sweet when I have eased my toil
To muse on days gone by.

From the logbook of _Samuel Robertson_ of New Bedford, who made two voyages to New Zealand in 1837-40 and 1849-52.

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SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA^^

A sailor loves a gallant ship
And messmates bold and free
And ever welcomes with delight
Saturday night at sea
Saturday night at sea my boys
Saturday night at sea
Let every gallant sailor sing
Saturday night at sea

One hour each week we'll snatch from care
As through the world we roam
And think of dear ones far away
And all the joys of home
Saturday night at sea my boys
Saturday night at sea
Let the winds blow high on board
Saturday night at sea

We'll think of those bright beings who
Bedeck with joy our lives
And raise to heaven a prayer to bless
Our sweethearts and our wives
Saturday night at sea my boys
Saturday night at sea
In storms and calms through life we'll sing
Saturday night at sea.

From the logbook of Samuel Robertson of New Bedford, who made two voyages to New Zealand in 1837-40 and 1849-52. ______________________________________

I need help

Catters from the "New Bedford" area - anyone prepared to go to the Whaling Museum, track down the Samuel Robertson logbook, and get back to me?

There's a story there....;)

Cheers - Sam

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21 Jun 00 - 09:33 AM (#245381)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs
From: MMario

I've heard there will be a couple of dozen folkies from New Bedford at Old Songs.

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09 Dec 04 - 10:37 AM (#1351998)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs
From: Charley Noble

One of my Roll & Go members has put this version of "Saturday Night at Sea" to a traditional sounding tune. I'm not sure where he channeled the tune from.

There are several other versions of this song that can be found by a general search of the www.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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09 Dec 04 - 10:44 AM (#1352004)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs
From: EBarnacle

You can find the music for I was once a sailor in Gale Huntington, p.66 and Saturday Night at Sea is on page 65.

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09 Dec 04 - 10:44 AM (#1352005)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs
From: SINSULL

Paul Clayton recorded it on his LP of Whaling Songs. He got the tune from an old salt.

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09 Dec 04 - 10:48 AM (#1352010)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Bedford Whaler's Songs
From: InOBU

Boy this is Timely, Mudcat and my bands newest member, Amanda Plain and Tall, just watched the 1922 Down To The Sea in Ships... a couple of Quakers sitting around watching other Quakers kill whales, dolphins, and each other... great fun.
Larry

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09 Dec 04 - 04:36 PM (#1352275)
Subject: Lyr Add: SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA
From: Charley Noble

Sinsull and EBarnacle-

Thanks for the references for Saturday Night at Sea.

Turns out my Roll & Go partner has a different version of "Saturday Night at Sea", attributed to a Judge Howe:


SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA-2

"Sweethearts and wives!" The goblet pass.
A bumper let it be.
Bright eyes are sparkling through each glass;
It's Saturday night at sea.

A matron sits by the fireside,
Her children at her knee.
They're breathing prayers that we may glide
In safety o'er the sea.

The maiden droops in her shady bower:
What cause for grief has she?
A heart that heeds not bird or flower
Is with us on the sea.

But brighter hours are yet in store
From every danger free.
We'll share the smiles of those on shore
We toasted on the sea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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