Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics

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Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics

05 Dec 98 - 10:21 AM (#48115)
Subject: Ellen Vannen
From: Bill Sullivan

I've sent a few messages asking who knows more about 'The Spinners' of Liverpool. One of their best songs, in my opinion, was Ellen Vannen. (MY SPELLING) Chorus Oh Ellen Vannen, of the Isle of Man Company Oh Ellen Vannen, lost in the Irish Sea

I need the lyrics.

Bill

05 Dec 98 - 11:18 AM (#48128)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: dick greenhaus

Bill, that's an easy one. Go to the blue box at the upper right of the forum page, and do a search for Vannen.

05 Dec 98 - 11:44 AM (#48134)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bill Sullivan

Thanks Dick.

Technology gets the better of me sometimes. I had no confidence in my spelling of Ellen Vannen (Helen Vanin, Helen Vannan, etc) so I tried the words "lost in the Irish Sea" and got no results.

Thanks again

Bill

05 Dec 98 - 12:04 PM (#48142)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Gene

Bill, the DT search engine
seems to work best with UNIQUE words...
If the exact SPELLING/PHRASE is unknown
While--
[Lost ON the sea]
would find it

[Lost IN the sea]
would not find it
[ellen] or [liverpool]
would find it
as would [spinner*]
using a wildcard accounts for
[spinner] [spinners] [spinner's] [spinners']

05 Dec 98 - 01:29 PM (#48151)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin

The name, 'Ellan Vannin' is the Manx Gaelic name for 'the island of Mannin', the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea at the centre of the Celtic world, from where the great god, Manannan Mac Lir, rules the sea.

The vessel itself was called the 'Ellan Vannin', so perhaps you'll find it under that spelling. Just as a matter of interest, the vessel also had a nickname, the 'Li'l (Little) Daisy'.

On 3 December 1909, she left Ramsey in the Isle of Man to sail to Liverpool. As she was entering the River Mersey, she was apparently swamped by a wave which broke over her stern, and she sank with loss of all aboard.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has never used the name 'Ellan Vannin' for any of its vessels since.

A great 20th Century collector of Manx folklore, music, dance, etc was Mona Douglas. According to Mona, her mother was heavily pregnant with Mona when she set off to visit relations in Liverpool in 1898. Unexpectedly, she went into early labour, so Mona Douglas says she was born on board the 'Ellan Vannin'.

Later, her father was due to go to Liverpool on board the 'Ellan Vannin', but Mona says she had some sort of vision of burning out on the sea, and she begged her father not to go. Her father was willing to humour her, so he didn't go. That was the night that the 'Ellan Vannin' went down.

The story of the wreck of the 'Ellan Vannin' was in a book by Fred Henry about the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd that big John Kaneen sent to Hughie Jones of The Spinners. Hughie made the song about the wreck of the 'Ellan Vannin' from the information there.

I don't know if the song is in the database. If not, it's pretty well known round here, so could be posted for you.

05 Dec 98 - 05:59 PM (#48178)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bill Sullivan

Wow.This is amazing. I remember the Spinners telling something of this Tale before they sang this Haunting song.

Thanks Bob

08 Dec 98 - 03:35 AM (#48522)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: skw@

Thanks from me too! I happen to agree with Bill about this being one of their best songs. The Spinners were the ones who got me started on folk, so I have about a dozen of their albums still in my collection. I also have a book about their rise to fame called (surprise, surprise!) 'Fried Bread and Brandy-O'. (It's quite balanced, actually, for a 'fan' book.), bought from the Liverpool Tourist Information some fifteen years ago. I'll bring in the details later if anyone is interested. - Susanne

08 Dec 98 - 03:59 AM (#48528)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bill Sullivan

I'd love to know more Susanne. In my opinion there is a place in Folk for everyone and all tastes. The Spinners were mostly 'easy listening'. I never got to see them 'In Concert' but if you did you wouldn't leave wanting to slash your wrists.

Thanks

Bill

29 Feb 04 - 01:56 PM (#1126279)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: GUEST,EAW

The lyrics on the site aren't all correct. It says "that terrible storm in ninety nine" when it should be "Nineteen-nine" (as in 1909) when the tragedy happened :)

I did get to see the Spinners perform but sadly not Ellan Vannin, my favourite of all their songs. I was very young and it was their final fling that I saw when they came local to here...

But Ellan Vannin has always been my favourite :)

29 Feb 04 - 02:25 PM (#1126289)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: GUEST,Tunesmith

The Spinners came in for a lot of stick ( i.e criticism ), but I've always considered Hughie Jones to be a very talented singer/songwriter. His " Marco Polo" is another very powerful song.

29 Feb 04 - 06:25 PM (#1126450)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Blowzabella

Hughie is on at Lancaster Maritime Festival over Easter weekend - Ellen Vanen and Marco Polo are sure to feature among his songs

29 Feb 04 - 06:38 PM (#1126457)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Fliss

Just started to sing the song again and found the words easily.

I saw the Spinners two or three times at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in the early 70's. Did enjoy the patter and fun. Got an LP of theirs, but no record player any more.

Also saw Ralph McTell there several times... and have Tickle on Tum and Alphabet Zoo LPs. My kids loved them.

cheers
Fliss

29 Feb 04 - 06:55 PM (#1126472)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Amergin

I first heard it a few years ago when Dave (the Ancient Mariner) was singing it in paltalk...

for anyone interested in hearing a recording there is this link:

Ellan Vannin Tragedy

29 Oct 09 - 04:47 PM (#2755136)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ellan Vannin
From: bradfordian

I'm one of those sufferable types who likes, on occassion, to do something topical. I have often sung Ellen Vannin (Hughie Jones)in early December.
Just to note that this time (3rd December)will be the 100th anniversary. It will probably go over the heads of most of the audience --as was the case when I did "Grey October" on 21st October (43rd anniversary),- but at least, it works for me.
(PS the blue bit is NOT a clicky!!!)

Brad

01 Dec 09 - 06:11 PM (#2777963)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: bradfordian

Lots of maritime catastrophes over the years. Guess this one sticks out due to Hughie Jones' popular song. more info here

brad

02 Dec 09 - 05:34 AM (#2778266)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: GUEST,Art

I hear from a friend that Hughie will be singing the song
tomorrow (3rd December) at the spot where the ship went
down.The date and commemoration marks the centenary of
the disaster in 1909.
Hughie will also be talking to Geoff Speed on Folkscene
tomorrow evening at 9pm (UK time) with listen again
available for the next seven days.
bbc.co.uk/liverpool
then look for folkscene.
Art.

02 Dec 09 - 06:04 AM (#2778292)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: John MacKenzie

I love the words of this song, but I sometimes think the tune is a bit too dreary.

02 Dec 09 - 07:40 AM (#2778366)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bernard

It's only dreary if sung in a dreary manner!

;o)

Some people have a way of singing that allows the tune to dictate how the words should be sung, but this is definitely a song where the words modify the tune beyond a simple rhythmic adjustment.

Not quite 'recitative' (pronounced 'ressitateeve', a classical term for words being recited to a tune, often preceding an aria, etc.), but going in that direction.

Listen to a recording of Hughie singing it, and you'll understand what I mean. The tune becomes dreary if sung in strict tempo.

Let's be fair, too, it's not exactly a happy subject to sing about... although there are quite a few songs about the Titanic tragedy which are irreverent, to say the very least - and I'm guilty of singing one of them! I was support for Kerfuffle on the first night of their 'Lighten the Dark' tour, and Sam asked me to include 'he Titanic' in my 'set list'... "what 'set list'?" I replied!!

Still, what suits one doesn't suit another!

02 Dec 09 - 08:46 AM (#2778422)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Vin2

Aye tunesmith the Spinners did get some stick and quite ill founded and misplaced in my 'umble opinion. I saw em lots at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester in the late sixties / 70's and i've said before they are the only group i know who could turn a hall that size into a folk club for an envening. They were most definately a 'family' oriented bunch hence the title of one of their albums and songs 'The Family of Man'. Hughie is still a fab performer. RIP Cliff.

02 Dec 09 - 09:40 AM (#2778465)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: Bernard

Amen!

03 Dec 09 - 04:00 AM (#2779254)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen
From: bradfordian

"Few Manxmen now remember
The third day in the month December
A terrible storm in ninety-nine
Ellen Vannen sailed the very last time"

Slight error in the digitrad.
Should read:
A terrible storm in NINETEEN NINE. (Check out my earlier link)

Brad

03 Dec 09 - 07:11 AM (#2779379)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Ellan Vannin
From: GUEST

Ceremony will take place today on the River Mersey to commemorate the loss of the Ellen Vannin. Hughie Jones will be on board and will sing the song, Liverpool schoolchildren will throw 35 red roses into the river and a short dedication service will be held. Hughie is also on Folkscen (Radio Merseyside) tonight to talk about the event. i think it's rellay nice to remember the little ship and those who were sailing on her that day.

03 Dec 09 - 02:28 PM (#2779845)
Subject: Ellan Vannin - Centenary
From: Jack Blandiver

Just been watching the local BBC news (North-West Tonight) which featured an article on the centenary of the sinking of The Ellan Vannin, December 3rd 1909. Naturally, a bunch of folk types were singing the song Who were they???

Anyway, always a much loved song on the Folk Scene down the years, so I'm surprised there was nothing on it here.

I might add it's in digi-trad as Ellen Vannin. Time for a correction??

03 Dec 09 - 04:01 PM (#2779916)
Subject: RE: Ellan Vannin - Centenary
From: EnglishFolkfan

Cant get BBC NW here but:

Ellen seems correct, Vannin/Vannem/Vannan seem interchangeable!

Oh Ellen Vannen,
Of the Isle of Man Company,
Lost in the Irish Sea
Oh Ellen Vannen,

3rd December 1909 ~ 100 years ago today

http://is.gd/5aBoL

Tweeted this at 1am this morning, is when she set sail 10 yrs ago.

The video uses the Spinners (The English 'Liverpool') Folk group version (imho a sadly underrated Folk group who did a lot to make folk music 'popular' on tv & radio in my youth also their concerts were sell outs and albums sold well when not much other singalong 'folk' was around.)

http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/mquart/mq08699.htm

Earlier thread:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=7931&messages=14

03 Dec 09 - 05:14 PM (#2779973)
Subject: RE: Ellan Vannin - Centenary
From: GUEST,bigJ

I didn't see the TV item myself, but I do know that earlier today the chief minister of the Isle of Man and the current chairman of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. layed wreaths at the approximate spot on the Mersey that the Ellan Vannin sank.
They, together with a party of descendants of the victims, the minister of the Mariner's Church (St. Lukes?) on the Liverpool Dock Road and Hughie Jones, sailed out to the spot on the Mersey ferry MV Snowdrop. Hughie sang his song.
You can learn more here:
www.manxradio.com/news.aspx

03 Dec 09 - 05:57 PM (#2780004)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/ly
From: Joe Offer

SO'P, since we already had one thread active today on this subject, I combined the two. It does seem that the name of the ship involved was the Ellan Vannin, but there are a number of alternate spellings for the song title. "Ellen Vannin" is the most common alternate, but I've also seen "Ellan/Ellen Vannen. So, I think the Digital Tradition should contain all alternates, so the song can be found no matter how you search.
And the DT should certainly give proper attribution to the songwriter, Hugh Jones, a member of the Spinners.
But the DT should also include proper lyrics. I'm going to post the song as it appears in the Oak Publications New English Broadsides songbook, and ask for corrections to the text I post. Right off the bat, the Oak book calls the song Ellen Vannin, so I know there's going to be some disagreement with the Oak text. Right off the bat, I think I'll change the name to Ellan Vannin

ELLAN VANNIN
(Hugh Jones)

Snaefell, Tynwald and Benmy Chree,
Fourteen ships have sailed the sea
Proudly bearing a Manx name,
But there's one will never again.

CHORUS
Poor Ellan Vannin, lost in the Irish Sea,
Poor Ellan Vannin, lost in the Irish Sea.

At one a.m. in Ramsey Bay,
Captain Teare was heard to say,
"Our contract says deliver the mail
In this rough weather we must not fail."

Ocean liners sheltered from the storm,
Ellan Vannin on the waves was born,
Her hold was full and battened down
As she sailed toward far Liverpool Town.

With her crew of twenty-one Manxmen,
Her passengers Liverpool businessmen,
Farewell to Mona's isle, farewell,
This little ship was bound for hell.

Less than a mile from the bar lightship,
By a mighty wave Ellan Vannin was hit,
She sank in the waters of Liverpool Bay,
And there she lies until this day.

Few Manxmen now remember
The third day of the month December,
That terrible storm of Nineteen—O-Nine,
Ellan Vannin sailed for the last time.

©Spin Publications, 1965

Notes:

Ellan Vannin

Source: New English Broadsides, compiled by Nathan Joseph and Eric Winter (Oak Publications, 1967), page12

Alternate spellings of the song title

Here's the current DT version:

CLICK TO PLAY

Here is a version posted by Jon Freeman in another thread after referring to a Hugh Jones songbook and after discussion:

Joe, it appears I was a bit clumsy in correcting the DT version using my text. Jim Dixons (which I don't remember seeing before - have you combined threads?) version is better. Here is "my" version corrected:

ELLAN VANNIN
(Hugh Jones)

Snaefell, Tynwald and Ben-my-Chree,
Fourteen ships have sailed the sea.
Proudly bearing a Manx name,
But there's one will never again

Oh, Ellan Vannin, of the Isle of Man Company,
Oh, Ellan Vannin, lost in the Irish Sea.

At one a.m. in Ramsey Bay,
Captain Teare was heard to say,
"Our contract says deliver the mail,
In this rough weather we must not fail."

Ocean liners sheltered from the storm,
Ellan Vannin on the waves was borne.
Her hold was full and battened down,
As she sailed toward far Liverpool town

With her crew of twenty one Manxmen,
Her passengers Liverpool business men.
Farewell to Mona's Isle, Farewell,
This little ship was bound for hell.

Less than a mile from the bar lightship,
By a mighty wave Ellan Vannin was hit.
She sank in the waters of Liverpool Bay
And there she lies until this day.

Few Manxmen now remember
The third day of the month December
That terrible storm of Ninteen-O-Nine,
Ellan Vannin sailed for the very last time.

I suppose there could be variations in the way he or the Spinners did it but you are right, this one is taken from Hugh Jones' publication.

Any further corrections, or is Jon's transcription definitive? To me, it sounds very close to the Spinners recording except that I hear "terrible storm in nineteen-nine" on the recording. I corrected the spelling of the ships' names in Jon's post, following Noreen's link below to the Isle of Man Packet Company.
-Joe-

03 Dec 09 - 06:09 PM (#2780011)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Jack Blandiver

Ellan - is Manx for Island; Ellan Vannin means Isle of Man. Ellan Vannin was the name of the ship. It's only in the song title that the variations occur.

At our folk club tonight (Fleetwood, on the Irish Sea, from which you can the Isle of Man on a clear day) - no one sang it!

03 Dec 09 - 06:23 PM (#2780028)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/ly
From: Joe Offer

OK, we have an agreement on the song title, but are there any corrections on the lyrics? What's the meaning of the first line of the first verse - are those ships they're talking about, or towns, or what?

From the number of threads on this song, you'd think it would be one of the Spinners "greatest hits - but I can't find a Spinners recording of the song anywhere, other than the very nice YouTube recording that EnglishFolkFan linked to. In fact, I can't find a recording of the song in question at all. Most of the songs titled "Ellan Vannin" that I found were of "Ellen Vannin, dear Isle of Man" - which has a tune similar to the verses of "Blessed Quietness."

-Joe-

Oh, and I did find this:

Ellan Vannin

We fire up the boiler (?), I'll be dreaming for days
On the smoke from Bally Sanna through that shimmering haze.
And we mend our way down the road to the sea
Looking west from Port Arran upon Ellan Vannin.

You in the sunlight on the Castletown Hill
Like she's waiting for angels to come down and help.
I said help put a frame around this firmament scene
Looking west from Port Arran upon Ellan Vannin.

Chorus:
I said I'd go there a while, go there a while
I must travel in dreams.
One moment to stand, one moment to stand
There on Ellan Vannin,
With the prettiest lady, the prettiest lady
That I, that I, that I've ever seen.
Looking west from Port Arran upon Ellan Vannin.

Well I can see us right now, my love, far ahead of our time
You quilting blankets and me I'm making rhyme, making rhyme, making rhyme.
Oh we ran with our blankets at where we always, always have been,
Looking west from Port Arran upon Ellan Vannin.

Chorus

03 Dec 09 - 06:40 PM (#2780036)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/ly
From: EnglishFolkfan

Tweeted this at 1am this morning, is when she set sail 10 yrs ago.
Grrr typo gremlins '100 yrs ago'

Forgot to add this link to a site with lots of pictures of the Ellan Vannin and the other information given in previous posts.

http://talesofriverside.blogspot.com/2009/03/ellan-vannin.html

03 Dec 09 - 06:53 PM (#2780044)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: s&r

The names in the first verse are ships run by the IOM steam packet company ( I think that was/is its formal name). The names are after hills on the Isle of Man. Interestingly Tynwald is also the parliament held at Tynwald Hill.

Presumably the other ships in the fleet were also named after Manx places as indicated in the verse.

Stu

03 Dec 09 - 06:59 PM (#2780048)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: s&r

The Wiki article is interesting Here

Stu

03 Dec 09 - 07:07 PM (#2780058)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Noreen

Snaefell, Tynwald and Ben-My-Chree are names of other ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Joe, sailing from the English mainland to the Isle of Man.

There is still a Ben-My-Chree sailing to Douglas, I.O.M from Heysham, according to this site: The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (I love that they still keep the old name of the company).

Pictures of the ships: here

(Snaefell is the highest mountain on the Isle of Man
Tynwald is the island's parliament
Ben-my-chree means "lady/girl of my heart" in Manx.)

03 Dec 09 - 07:15 PM (#2780072)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: s&r

Some notes on the tragedy

Stu

03 Dec 09 - 07:32 PM (#2780089)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Tattie Bogle

Have sung it twice this week so far: she was built in Glasgow, so that's good enough reason for me to sing it in Scotland! Originally named "Mona's Isle", another name for the Isle of Man, later re-named "Ellan Vannin", the Manx name with the same meaning.
(Similar to Scots Gaelic, where island is Eilean)

03 Dec 09 - 07:37 PM (#2780097)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ellan Vannin
From: Tattie Bogle

As I said, have sung it twice this week already!
Nothing wrong with seasonal songs or anniversaries, Brad: I also did Ivan Drever's "Long December Night".

03 Dec 09 - 07:46 PM (#2780102)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: bradfordian

I refreshed this thread on 1st Dec in order to stimulate some interest in a topical subject. Many thanks to the contributors who have added their input.
I sang the song at my local club on Tues night and it was well received. I think maybe because many remember the song from when it was popular around the clubs and it not being sung these days. There are those older folkies (ie me)who like to hear again (occassionally!) some of the timeless songs that were popular in the 60s/70s.

brad

03 Dec 09 - 10:38 PM (#2780191)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/ly
From: Simon G

Sandra sang Ellan Vannin at a Kitchen Party here in Nova Scotia on Wednesday, probably pretty close to the time the ship sailed. Passed on a little Manx history this side of the Atlantic.

13 Mar 14 - 05:49 PM (#3609487)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: GUEST,Alp777

Did The Spinners ever record the song onto disc ? I have looked everywhere - without success!
Seems strange for such an iconic and anthemic song.

13 Mar 14 - 06:19 PM (#3609498)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: GUEST,Jan

Yes and so did Hughie on his CDs - go to Chantey Cabin

03 Oct 19 - 07:40 AM (#4011695)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Waddon Pete

I can see that there have been quite a few posts regarding this lovely song, but I can't find whether my friend's story is true.

Perhaps someone out there has a little more information? I sung Ellan Vannin the other night and a friend in the singaround said that his father had served in Northern Ireland during the war and knew the vagaries of the Irish Sea. He also said that his dad said that nights in the bar were often punctuated by a rather drunk fellow who used to sing Ellan Vannin. Now we all know that Hughie Jones wrote this well after the 2nd World War, so is there another song out there somewhere?

Over to you!

Peter

03 Oct 19 - 10:22 AM (#4011709)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: GUEST,bigJ

Yes, it's in the Manx National Song Book and begins "When the summer day is over and its busy cares have flown...…." published in 1896.
Words by Eliza Craven Green - music by J.Townsend.
You’ll find words and music in this 1914 publication:
http://isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/ms1914/p01.htm

03 Oct 19 - 10:25 AM (#4011713)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: GUEST,bigJ

P.S. More often than not Hughie's song is called "The Ellan Vannin Tragedy" to differentiate the two.

03 Oct 19 - 10:51 AM (#4011716)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Jim Carroll

I remember the Spinners singing this at the Club - (my first)
I vaguely remember it on a disc - a Topic CD maybe
I also recall they sang another sea song called The Marco Polo which they interminably described as "The ship with the hole in it" - funny at first but, like the sweet, it eventually wore thin
Jim Carroll

03 Oct 19 - 07:12 PM (#4011802)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Tattie Bogle

I have it, The Ellan Vannin Tragedy, on the second disc of a double vinyl set, The Spinners Collection. Contour record label, ref no PDA 026, "Manufactured and distributed by Pickwick International Inc (GB). Copyright Phonographic Performance Ltd.
Bought it in an antique/junk shop in Sidmouth a few years back: all records £1! Even when I pointed out that it was 2 LPs, they only wanted £1 - and in mint condition!

And yes, the other "Ellan Vannin" song: a friend who has Manx connections sings this at one of our local clubs.

04 Oct 19 - 03:30 AM (#4011841)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Waddon Pete

Thanks! I hoped someone would know and low and behold, they did!

Wonderful!

04 Oct 19 - 04:11 AM (#4011848)
Subject: RE: Ellen Vannen/Ellan Vannin - definitive name/lyrics
From: Jim McLean

This may be interesting (or not!) but the reason the English word 'man' as in Isle of Man is pronounced with a 'V', Vannin, it's probably because it follows the Gaelic grammatical rule that when using the genitive, the word is aspirated with an 'H' and the pronunciation is changed to a 'V' sound. See Scottish Gaelic math and mhath (Slainte mhath).
Just a thought.