Lyr Req: Heave Ya Ho (Battlefield Band)

10 Sep 00 - 01:35 AM (#294442)
Subject: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

HELP ME PLEASE!! MY DYING GRANDMOTHER WANTS HEAVE YA HO TO BE SUNG AT A CONCERT IM DOING IN A FEW MONTHS.. i NEED LYRICS POST HASTE!!! PLEASE HELP IF YOUY CAN... THEYRE BROAD SCOTS I THINK! SONG BY DAVY STEELE FROM THE BATTLEFIELD BAND

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10 Sep 00 - 03:38 AM (#294460)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Joan from Wigan

It may be the 'Mingulay Boat Song' you need, a search for 'mingulay' will bring up one version in the DT. Although the chorus in the DT begins 'Heel yo ho boys', I have heard it sung recently as 'Heave yo ho boys', the singer explaining that 'heave' made more sense to him than 'heel'.

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10 Sep 00 - 04:58 AM (#294465)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Noreen

More info on the song please, Guest Mettey, and we'll try to help, but DON'T SHOUT!!

Noreen

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10 Sep 00 - 06:00 AM (#294477)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Fiolar

The song you want is on the Battlefield CD entitled "Rain, Hail or Shine." Sorry I don't have it but you should be able to get the disk at any good music store.

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10 Sep 00 - 09:54 AM (#294543)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: GUEST,leeneia

That singer who likes "heave" better than "heel" must not have been in small boats much. The image of a small fishing boat gracefully heeling as it makes the turn to head for home is just right.

I saw an old edition of this song posted in a music store once, and it was originally "heel."

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10 Sep 00 - 04:57 PM (#294687)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Joan from Wigan

My music copy has 'hill' (pronounced 'heel'), and as the song was taken from the Gaelic, I've always assumed it was a bit of Gaelic that wasn't translated into English, but I'm open to suggestion.

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10 Sep 00 - 09:00 PM (#294789)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Malcolm Douglas

The Mingulay Boat Song was never a Gaelic song.  It was written, in English, by Hugh S. Roberton, (d. 1952) -founder of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir- and set to a traditional tune; he wanted it to sound like a sea shanty, and chose "Mingulay" because it he thought it sounded romantic.  There is some discussion on an earlier thread, here:  Mingulay Boat Song's Minch?

Malcolm

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10 Sep 00 - 11:54 PM (#294850)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Joan from Wigan

Malcolm, I am familiar with that thread. My source of the song is a little book called '101 Scottish Songs', selected by Norman Buchan and published by Collins in 1962. I have a 1972 reprint. Buchan's note at the top of the song says "Trad. Gaelic arr. Robertson", and in the 'Acknowledgments' he credits the copyright to J Curwen & Sons Ltd and states his source for the song as 'Songs of the Isles', which was edited by Hugh S. Robertson. Not having access to 'Songs of the Isles', I can't comment on whatever notes may be there. Buchan only gives two verses, and a slightly different chorus from that in the DT.

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11 Sep 00 - 06:19 AM (#294911)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: George Seto - [e-mail]

It was a tune which they refer to there, Joan. I believe that someone had said he had taken a traditional pipe tune from the Lochaber region, Creag Guanach, and wrote those words. I thought it was mentioned in the thread mentioned in the thread mentioned above.

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11 Sep 00 - 01:26 PM (#295092)
Subject: Lyr Add: SMITH OF BRISTOL (sung by The Dubliners)
From: Fiolar

Following my posting yesterday, I checked all my record sources and came up with the following entitled "Smith of Bristol." The song is by The Dubliners and as I have not heard the Battlefield version, I am not sure if it what you are looking for. However, here it is.

"Smith was a Bristol man and a rare old sort was he;
With his cutlass and his pistols,Heave Ya Ho!
With a noble crew of cut-throats he used to scour the sea
A-plundering and a-robbing high and low.
He swore 'twas no concern; he didn't give a herrin'
About right or wrong or any holy show.
He swore that grabbing booty was Britain's foremost duty,
Wherever She could get it, Heave Ya Ho.

"Chorus:
Heave Ya Ho, Heave Ya Ho, Heave Ya Ho, Heave Ya Ho!
He swore that grabbing booty was Britain's foremost duty.
Wherever She could get it. Heave Ya Ho.

"For Smith was a noble soul and lofty was his pride;
With his cutlass and his pistols, Heave Ya Ho.
He'd watch his beaten foemen jump out into the tide.
Call 'Ye beggars ye had no where else to go.'
And hanging on his lanyards were Portugese and Spaniards
And beaten Frenchmen jumping too and fro.
Right along the blazing story shall illumed in England's glory.
Pirate Smith of Bristol, Heave Ya Ho.

Chorus.

"But accidents will happen, even to heroes such as he
With his cutlass and his pistols, Heave Ya Ho.
He was standing at his capstain as happy as could be;
Hoping soon to have another prize in tow.
When a whistling Spanish bullet came and caught him in the gullet,
And very sad to say laid him low.
He was only 97 but his soul has gone to heaven
To rest on Nelson's bosom, Heave Ya Ho.

Chorus."

Excuse the punctuation but I took it down as it sounded. Would like to know if that is the version you are seeking. Mike.

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Line breaks added. --JoeClone

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12 Sep 00 - 02:01 AM (#295502)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: GUEST,amemory at [e-mail]

If it is the Mingulay Boat Song, the words I learned from Liam Clancy in 1971 are as on the DT except: What care we how white the spray is, What care we for the wind and weather,; and Wives are waiting at the peer head, all lookin' seaward from the heather,. I've never heard the third verse before - will sure add it to my rep.

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12 Sep 00 - 07:06 PM (#296042)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Susanne (skw)

Ieeneia, thanks for explaining 'heel'! I've always wondered about that term, but not being familiar with boats and sailing just thought it might be a nonsense word. Makes much more sense now! - Susanne

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24 Mar 02 - 02:23 PM (#675445)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: Jim Dixon

"Heave Ya Ho" was indeed written by Davy Steele and recorded by the Battlefield Band on their CD "Rain, Hail or Shine," 1998, Temple #2074. It is also on "A Tribute" by Drinkers Drouth with Davy Steele Greentrax #223.

I couldn't find the lyrics, but since I have no evidence this song is related to The Mingulay Boat Song, or to Smith of Bristol, it appears that the original request has not been answered.

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24 Mar 02 - 08:02 PM (#675605)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: George Seto - [e-mail]

From KMSU World Beat Playlist: June 1998, Mark R. Thomas

Heave Ya Ho

The basis of this song was sung to Davy of The Battlefield Band by an old oyster fisherman from Prestonpans, a small town on the Firth of Forth. The oystermen fished in two rowing boats, heading parallel to each other and the shore with a weighted net dragging (or dreggin) between them. Songs like "Heave Ya Ho" would help them keep rowers and therefore the boats in time with each other.

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25 Mar 02 - 02:33 AM (#675748)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
From: GUEST,Boab

The Mingulay Boat Song was the work of Sir Hugh Roberton of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir, was it not?

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