Beyond The Quay ~ track details and song texts.

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THE CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON    TARRY TROUSERS  PADSTOW BAR TO LUNDY LIGHT/THE WRECK OF THE MONTAGU

THE BOLD PRINCESS ROYAL    THE HERRING’S HEAD   LITTLE FISHES    THE DEATH OF NELSON   WATCHET SAILOR

YOUNG SUSAN  BONNY SAILOR LADDIE  SPIRITS OF GEORGE’S BANK  THE SHORT SONG SET  THE BLACKBIRD

THE SHIP IN DISTRESS    FIRING THE MAURITANIA    THE CONVICT MAID/TEN THOUSAND MILES

THE CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON (trad.)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.  Malcolm Woods – roped tenor drum

Now the Chesapeake so bold, out of Boston she was towed

To meet a British frigate neat and handy-O,

And the people of the port, they came out to see the sport,

And the band played ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy-O’.

Now the British frigate’s name, all for the purpose come

To cool the Yankees’ spirit neat and handy-O,

Was The Shannon, Captain Broke, with his men all hearts of oak,

Who for fighting were allowed to be the dandies-O.

Just before the fight begun said the Yankees, with much fun,

“We’ll tow her into Boston neat and handy-O,

And then afterwards we’ll dine with our sweethearts and our wives,

And we’ll show those British sailors we’re the dandies-O.”

Scarcely had the fight begun e’er they flinched from the guns

They thought that they might use so neat and handy-O,

Then brave Broke he drew his sword, crying “Now, me lads, we’ll board

And we’ll stop them playing Yankee Doodle Dandy-O”;

Notwithstanding all their brag, soon the glorious British flag

At the Yankees’ mizzen-peak it looked so handy-O.

Here’s a health, brave Broke, to you, with your courage strong and true

That tamed the Yankee’s spirit neat and handy-O

And may it ever prove, in fighting as in love

That the young British sailor is the dandy-O;

And may it ever prove, in fighting as in love,

That the young British sailor is the dandy-O.

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TARRY TROUSERS (trad.)

Barbara – vocals. Tom – guitar.  Hazel - flute.

 The tune which first makes its appearance in the instrumental section (and is repeated on the guitar thereafter) is the Irish melody The King of the Fairies – hence the reference to Orfeo in the CD notes.

As I walked out one midsummer morning,

The weather it being fine and clear,

There I beheld a tender mother

Talking to her daughter dear.

Said the mother, ‘I would have you to marry,

And live no longer the single life.’

‘Oh no,’ said she, ‘I would rather tarry

For my jolly sailor bright.

‘I know you would have me wed with a farmer

And not give me my heart’s delight,

But give me the lad with the tarry trousers -

Shines to me like diamonds bright.’

‘Oh daughter, sailors are given to roving,

And to some foreign ports they’ll go,

Then they’ll leave you broken-hearted

And they’ll prove your overthrow.’

‘No, sailors they are men of honour,

And they do face the enemy

When the thundering cannons rattle

And the bullets they do fly.’

‘Oh Polly, m’dear, our anchor is weighing,

And I have come for to take my leave;

Although I leave you, my dear jewel,

Charming Polly, do not grieve.’

‘Then, Jamie m’dear, let me go with you;

No foreign dangers will I fear;

When you are in the height of battle,

I will attend on you, my dear.’

Now hark, oh hark, how the great guns do rattle

And the small guns do make a noise;

When they are in the height of battle,

She cries, ‘Fight on, me jolly, jolly boys!’

So all you young maidens, pray give attention

If a jolly sailor is your delight;

Never be forced to wed with another

For all his gold and silver bright.

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PADSTOW BAR TO LUNDY LIGHT (tune & words: T.Brown)

Barbara – vocals.  Tom – English concertina.  Emily – fiddle & cello. Keith – chorus vocals.

Oh, the granite rocks of the Western shore,

That face the wild Atlantic’s roar,

With sandy bays in the summer sun,

Turn to jaws of death when the winter comes,

And tales of a wreck or a drowning man

Have filled the minds of the men on land,

Of a sailor brave or a pirate bold,

Of vessels lost with a store of gold.

            From Padstow Bar to the Lundy light

            Is a watery grave by day or night.

First Padstow Town and Padstow Bay,

Where the beast on the cliffs scared the French away,

And the mermaid fair cast her sandy bar

As a threat to sailors from near and far;

To the North, Pentire, Port Quin, Port Isaac Bay,

Trebarwith Strand where the slate stands grey,

Then Tintagel Head was Pendragon’s rest

When the seas o’ertook the land of Lyonesse.

Boscastle harbour the next in view,

Where they winch the boats to the black cliff’s lew,

Fire Beacon past, and then Cambeak strong

Defends the haven of Crackington;

The Dizzard rocks where in huntsmen’s song,

Arscott of Tetcott he rode headlong

Five hundred feet from the cliffs on high,

And the ghostly hunt still goes riding by.

The golden sands of Bude Bay are past;

To the Sharpnose points we are come at last;

Knapps Longpeak cliffs to the North rise high

Across the border into Devonshire;

From Hartland Point, beyond the quay

The coast runs East into Bideford Bay;

Clovelly; and on to Westward Ho!

Where the galleons sailed to face the Spanish foe.

From the shipping yard on the Torridge side,

O’er the Bideford Bar to the ocean wide

Sailed Frobisher, aye, and Grenville too

In ships of fame with the world to view,

And the seamen bold from each foreign shore

Brought the gold back home past Appledore;

Now Baggy, Morte and the Bull Points o’er,

Then the waters break on the Severn shore.

Beyond the bay lies Lundy Isle,

And many ships did that rock beguile;

The bold Moriscos called that land their own,

And plundered shipping as it passed the sound;

Cruel Coppinger and his ship Black Prince

All along the coast robbed and killed long since,

And Lundy still at the sailor mocks

For the Montagu sank on the Shutter rocks.

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THE WRECK OF THE MONTAGU (words: T.Brown. tune: trad. adapted T.Brown)

Tom – vocals. Emily - fiddle .  Hazel - melodeon.  Keith - anglo concertina

Now you’ve all heard tales of the sea’s dark foam, and the ships that went to Davy Jones,

But I’ll tell you a tale that is quite true, of a ship they called the Montagu

In ninety-nine her keel was laid: strong this gallant ship was made

To fight for the King on the ocean wide, to fear no man, nor wind nor tide.

But on Shutter Reef they beached her high, all in the wind and the waves to lie;

It is remembered to this day for the Montagu never got away.

In nineteen hunderèd and three she sailed away o’er the deep blue sea,

O’er the Mediterranean she did steer, not thinking on her last career.

Her three years done, she home did steam with the westerèn coast on her starboard beam;

She onward sailed both day and night ’til they thought they saw the Hartland light.

In the fog, the captain he did say, “We’ll take her into Bideford Bay,”

But the Hartland Point they had over-reached and on Lundy with a crash she beached.

Now not content to leave her there, her sister, the Duncan, did draw near,

And with all of her fourteen thousand ton, onto the reef she too did run.

Now for seventy-two days, it’s side by side these battleships were high and dry,

And many a fisherman seeing that show, thought he must be drunk – and went below.

The Duncan, at last, was well repaired, and away from Lundy Isle she steered,

But the Montagu ain’t on no map – they broke her up and they sold the scrap.

On Shutter Reef they beached her high, all in the wind and the waves to lie;

It is remembered to this day for the Montagu never got away.

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THE BOLD PRINCESS ROYAL (trad.)

Tom – vocals.

On the fourteenth of February we did sail from the land

On the bold Princess Royal bound down to Newfoundland;

We had forty brave seamen for our ship’s company,

And so boldly from the eastward to the westward sailed we.

Now on the eighteenth of February so clear blew the sky,

When a man on our topmast a sail he did espy;

She came bearing down us for to see what we were,

And it’s under her mizzen peak black colours she wore.

“Well, good God,” cries our Captain, “What shall we do now?

Here comes a bold pirate for to rob us I know.”

The Captain being aft my boys, the Mate’s answered him so –

“We are come from fair London, and are bound for Callao.”

“Oh, then it’s furl your main tops’l, aye, and heave your ship to,

For I have got a long letter for to send home by you.”

“I will furl me main tops’l and I will heave my ship to,

But it will be in some harbour and not alongside of you.”

Oh, they chased us to the windward: they did chase us that day;

They did chase us to the windward but they could not make way,

And they firèd shots after us, oh! but none could prevail,

And the bold Princess Royal, she soon showed them her tail.

“Well, thank God,” cries our captain, “Now the pirate is gone,

Go down to your grog, me boys, go down every one;

Go down to your grog, me boys, and be of good cheer,

For while the Princess has sea-room, brave boys never fear.

While the Princess has sea-room, brave boys never fear.”

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THE HERRING’S HEAD (trad.)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.

What have you made of me old herring’s head?

I made the best oven that ever baked bread,

Puddings and pies and everything,

Don’t you think I’ve done well with me jolly herring?

Why didn’t you tell me so?

So I did, long ago.

Thou lie!

Thou lie!

Well, well, and everything,

Don’t you think I’ve done well with me jolly herring?

What have you made of me old herring’s eyes?

Forty Jackdaws and fifty magpies,

Linnets and larks and everything.

What have you made of me old herring’s gills?

The finest old doctor that ever sold pills,

Powders and potions and everything.

What have you made of me old herring’s fins?

A parcel of needles and a paper of pins,

Thimble and thread and everything.

What have you made of me old herring’s guts?

Forty young ladies and fifty bright sluts,

Wantons and harlots and everything.

What have you made of me old herrings tail?

The finest ship that ever sailed sail,

Canvas and rigging and everything.

What have you made of me fish as a whole?

The biggest tall story that ever was told,

Lies and fibs and everything,

Don’t you think I’ve done well with me jolly herring?

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LITTLE FISHES (trad.)

Barbara – vocals.  Tom – concertina.  Keith – chorus vocals.

There’s a song in my heart for the one I love best,
And her picture is tattooed all over my chest.

Yay-ho little fishes, don't cry, don't cry.
Yay-ho little fishes, don't cry, don't cry.

Now the ship's underway and the weather is fine,
And the skipper is aft hanging out the new lines.

Little fish when he's caught he fights like a bull whale
As he thrashes the water with his mighty tail.

There are fish in the sea, there is no doubt about it,
Just as fine as the ones that ever came out of it.

Now the crew is asleep and the ocean's at rest,
And I'm singing this song for the one I love best.

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THE DEATH OF NELSON (trad.)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.

Arise ye sons of Britain, in chorus join and sing,

Great and joyful news is come unto our royal king.

An engagement we have had at sea,

With France and Spain, the enemy,

And we have gained the victory,

On board a man of war.

On the twenty-first of October, before the rising sun,

We formed a line for action, me boys, at twelve o-clock begun.

Brave Nelson to his men did say,

The Lord will prosper us this day,

Give them the broadside, fire away,

On board a man of war.

Then broadside to broadside our cannonballs did fly,

Like hailstones the small shot around our decks did lie.

Our masts and rigging were shot away,

Beside, some thousands on that day

Were killed and wounded in the fray,

On board a man of war

Oh then our brave commander, with grief he shook his head.

There is no reprieve; there is no relief; brave Nelson he is dead.

It was a fatal musket ball

That caused our hero for to fall

He cried “Fight on, God bless you all”,

On board a man of war.

Let us hope this glorious victory will surely bring us peace;

That all the trades in England will prosper and increase;

Our ships from port to port go free,

No more to face an enemy,

That Nelson died for liberty,

On board a man of war.

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WATCHET SAILOR (trad.)

Barbara – vocals.  Tom – guitar.  Emily - fiddle.

As I was a-walking down Watchet's Swain Street,

A jolly old shipmate I chanced for to meet;

Hello, brother sailor, you’re welcome to home;

In season to Watchet I think you are come.

Now don’t you remember once courting a maid;

Now through your long absence she’s going to be wed;

Tomorrow in Bristol this wedding’s to be,

And I am invited the same for to see.

Jack went and got license that very same night,

And walked into Bristol as soon as ‘twas light;

He sat in the Temple churchyard for a while

Till he saw the bride coming, which caused him to smile.

He went and he took this fair maid by the hand;

You’re going to be married as I understand.

Well, if you are to marry, then you’ll be my bride,

And I have come here for to change your design.

Oh, now, said this fair maid, It’s what shall I do,

For I know I was solemnly promised to you.

Well, it’s you are my sweetheart, and I’ll be your bride,

For there’s none in this world I could fancy beside.

Then the bridegroom he roared like a man that was mad,

I’m ruined, I’m ruined, I’m ruined, he said;

All you that have sweethearts take them while you may,

Or else the Jack Tars they will take them away.

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YOUNG SUSAN (trad.)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.

Young Susan was a blooming maid, so valiant, stout and bold,

And when her sailor went to sea, young Susan, we are told,

Put on a jolly sailor’s dress and daubed her hands with tar

To cross the raging seas for love on a British man-of-war.

It was in Portsmouth harbour this gallant ship was moored,

And when young Susan shipped, there were nine hundred men on board;

‘Twas then she was contented, all bedaubed with pitch and tar,

To be with her sweet William on a British man-of-war.

When in the bay of Biscay, she aloft like lightning flew,

Respected by her officers and all the jovial crew;

In battle she would boldly run, not fearing wound or scar,

And did her duty by her gun on a British man-of-war - and                                                                                                                               

She faced the walls of China, where her life was not insured,

And little did young William think that his Susan was on board,

But by a cruel cannon ball she did receive a scar,

And she got sorely wounded on a British man-of-war.

When on the deck young Susan fell, of all the whole ship’s crew,

Oh, young William was the very first who to her assistance flew;

She said, ‘Me jolly sailor, I’ve for you received a scar.

Behold your faithful Susan on a British man-of-war.’

Then William on his Susan gazed with wonder and surprise;

He stood some moments motionless while the tears stood in his eyes;

He cried, ‘I wish instead of you I had received that scar!

Oh love, why did you venture on a British man-of-war?’

At length to England they returned and quickly married were;

The bells did ring and they did sing and banished every care;

They often think upon that day when she received that scar,

When Susan followed her true love on a British man-of-war.

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BONNY SAILOR LADDIE (trad.)

Barbara – vocals. Tom – English concertina. Emily – sopranino recorder.

          Oh, me bonny sailor laddie, oh, me bonny sailor he,

            Oh, me bonny sailor laddie, blythe and merry may he be,

Sailor lads have gold and silver, fisher lads have nought but brass;

Well I love my sailor laddie because I am a sailor’s lass.

Some delight in jolly farmers, some delight in soldiers free;

My delight’s in a sailor laddie, blythe and merry may he be.

How I wish the press was over and all wars were at an end,

Then every bonny sailor laddie would be merry with his friends;

How can I be blythe and merry with my love so far from me,

When so many pretty sailors they are pressed and ta’en to sea?

Oh, I wish the wars were over, peace and plenty come again,

Then every bonny sailor laddie would come sailing o’er the main

Don’t you see his ship a-coming, don’t you see she’s in full sail?

Don’t you see the Britannia coming with the prizes at her tail?

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SPIRITS OF GEORGE’S BANK (trad.)

Tom – vocals.

You can smile if you’ve a mind to, but I hope you’ll lend an ear;

We’ve been men and boys together for nearly fifty years;

I’ve sailed upon the water in the pleasant summer days,

And through the stormy winter when the howling winds do rage.

I’ve been out in early season, wherever it would pay,

Been tossed about on George’s Bank, been fishing in the bay,

I’ve been out in different vessels from Western Banks to Grand,

I’ve been in herring vessels that sailed down to Newfoundland.

Oh I don’t lack for courage, but I’ll nothing say but this,

I’m not much easier frightened than most men, if you please,

For I’ve seen storms, I’ll tell you, when things looked rather blue,

But someways I was lucky, and always did get through.

This night that I am telling, we were off the shore aways;

I never will forget it, in all my mortal days;

I was standing in the dog-watch, I felt a shivering dread

Came over me, as if I heard one calling from the dead.

‘Twas o’er the rail they clambered, all silent one by one,

A dozen dripping sailors, - just you wait till I am done –

Their faces pale with seaweed, shone ghostly through the night

And each man took his station as if he had the right.

We crewed the boat together, the living and the dead

Till through the mist, the lighthouse, it shone its light ahead,

And then those ghostly sailors o’er the rail were quickly gone

And vanished in a moment before the light of dawn.

Well, we sailed right in the harbour, and every mother’s son

Will tell you the same story, the same as I have done;

So now I’ve told me story, to you I will confess

I have believed in spirits from that day onto this – you see:

The trip before the last one, we was on George’s Bank, and we

Ran down another vessel, and sank her in the sea;

I think ’twas those same fellows – may God now rest their souls! –

Who brought us safe, without revenge, from the mists on George’s Shoals.

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THE SHORT SONG SET

Tom & Barbara – vocals. Emily - fiddle. Hazel – melodeon. Keith – anglo concertina.

Americans At Sea (trad.)

TUNE: The American Marine

From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli

There’s a buzz going round the harbour

That the Yanks are off to sea

With a gallon of Coca-Cola

And a bloody great tub of ice cream

Oh, they’re damn fine kids in harbour

But Oh by Christ at sea!

Well I couldn’t care less (trad.)

TUNE: Brighton Camp

Well I couldn’t care less for the killick of the mess

Or the Buffer of the working party

I’m going ashore at a quarter past four

I’m Jack-me-bleeding-hearty

(Out in the) Lifeboat (trad.)   

I’ve been out in the lifeboat all night

Dressed up in me waterproof shirt

I’ve been out in the lifeboat all night

I said, “We’ve been on the alert.”

I walked down the Strand a show for to see

When a pretty maid in pink tights made glad-eyes at me

So I signalled the Missus “Don’t wait up for me,

I’ll be out in the lifeboat all night.”

Billy Flynn (words: trad. tune:B.Brown)             

Has anyone seen my poor Billy Flynn?

Has anyone passed him by?

It’s no joke, his nose is broke,

And one eye is in a sling.

As he hops upon his wooden leg -

And the thought of it makes me cry –

‘Cause he leaves round holes

in the mud where he goes

that’s what you can tell him by.

We’ll have another drink (trad.)

TUNE: The Sailor’s Hornpipe

We’ll have another drink before the boat shoves off.

We’ll have another drink before the boat shoves off.

And we’ll go to Sally Rackett’s and we’ll pawn our monkey jackets

And we’ll have another drink before the boat shoves off.

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THE BLACKBIRD (trad.)

Barbara – vocals.

It’s of a fair damsel, my fortune was sad,

I was overcourted by a rakish young lad,

I kept my love company by night and by day,

Now my Johnny has left me and he’s gone far away.

My love’s now a sailor; he’s neat, tall and slim,

And there’s none in the navy that can better him;

With his red rosy cheeks and his curly black hair,

His flattering tongue has my heart in a snare.

Now there’s some people say that I’m out of my mind.

And there’s some people say that I’m large with a child,

But it’s let them be talking and say what they will,

For the love I’ve got for him, I’ll keep it up still.

Now if I were a blackbird, I’d whistle and sing,

And I’d follow the ship that my true love sails in,

At the top of his mainmast I would build my nest,

And at night I would gaze on his lily-white breast.

And if I were a scholar and could handle my pen,

I would write him a letter, to him would I send;

So God send him safe sailing and a fair wind to blow,

And adieu to my true love wherever he goes.

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THE SHIP IN DISTRESS (trad.)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.  Tom – harpeleik.

You seamen bold who plough the ocean

See dangers landsmen never know;

It’s not for honour or promotion;

No tongue can tell what they undergo;

In the blusterous wind and the great dark water

Our ship went drifting on the sea,

Her head-gear gone and her rudder broken,

Which brought us to extremity.

For fourteen days, heartsore and hungry,

Seeing but wild water and bitter sky

Poor fellows all stood in a totter,

A-casting lots as to which should die;

The lot it fell on Robert Jackson

Whose family was so very great;

“I’m free to die, but oh, my comrades,

Let me keep lookout till the break of day.”

A full-dressed ship like the sun a-glittering

Came bearing down to our relief;

As soon as this glad news was shouted

It banished all our pain and grief;

The ship brought to, no longer drifting;

Safe in St. Vincent, Cape Verde she gained;

You seamen all who plough the ocean,

Pray you’ll never suffer the like again.

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FIRING THE MAURITANIA (tune & words: Redd Sullivan)

Tom & Barbara – vocals.

Oh, in nineteen hundred and twenty four,
I was in Liverpool on the floor;
I went down to the Cunard office door,
Got a job on the Mauritania.
She surely is a slaver;
To Hell with the Mauritania.

The Mauritania’s stoke-hold’s a wonderful sight -
Twenty-four fires a-burning bright,
But you'll shovel coal from morn till night
A-firing the Mauritania.

Now the coal was rotten and full of slate,
And that's what buggered the four-to-eight;
It very soon buggered the four-to-eight
A-firing the Mauritania.

The eight-to-twelve were far better men,
But they were knackered by half part ten,
Worn out and weary by half past ten
A-firing the Mauritania.

Oh, the fans broke down and the fire wouldn’t draw,
And that's what finished the twelve-to-four,
It very soon finished the twelve-to-four
A-firing the Mauritania.

So come all you trimmers where e’er you be,

A Cunard greyhound’s bloody purgat’ry;
Just stick to the coast, and don't go deep sea
Or firing the Mauritania.

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THE CONVICT MAID (trad.)

Barbara – vocals.  Tom – melodeon. 

You lads and lassies all, attend to me

While I relate my tale of misery;

By hopeless love was I once betrayed,

And now I am, alas, a convict maid.

To please my lover did I try so sore,

Till I spent on him all my master’s store,

Who in his wrath did so loud upbraid,

And brought before the judge this convict maid.

The judge his sentence then to me addressed,

Which filled with agony my aching breast;

‘To Botany Bay you must be conveyed,

For seven long years to be a convict maid.’

Now for seven long years I toil in pain and grief,

And curse the day that I became a thief;

Oh, had I stuck by some honest trade,

I ne’er had been, alas, a convict maid.

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TEN THOUSAND MILES (trad.)

Tom – vocals. Emily – fiddle. Hazel – melodeon.  Keith – anglo concertina.  Doug – chorus vocals.

Sing ho, for a brave and a gallant ship, and a fair and a favouring breeze,

A bully crew and a captain too to ferry me o’er the seas,

To ferry me o’er the seas, my boys, to me true love far away;

I’m taking a trip on a government ship ten thousand miles away.

            Then blow ye winds, hi-ho, a-roving I will go,

            I’ll stay no more on England’s shore to hear the music play;

            I’m off on the morning tide across the ocean wide;

            I’m taking a trip on a government ship ten thousand miles away.

Now dark and dismal was the day when last I seen me Meg,

She’d a government band around each hand and another one around her leg,

And another one around her leg, me boys, as the good ship left the bay;

“Adieu,” said she, “Remember me ten thousand miles away.”

My true love she was beautiful, my true love she was young,

Her eyes they shone like diamonds bright, and silvery was her tongue,

And silvery was her tongue, me boys, though now she’s far away;

I’m taking a trip on a government ship ten thousand miles away.

I wish that I was a bosun bold or even a bombardier,

I’d built me a boat and straightway float, strait to me true love steer,

Strait to me true love steer, me boys, where them dancing dolphins play,

Where the whales and the sharks are having their larks ten thousand miles away.

Now the sun may shine through the London fog, or the river run quite clear,

Or the ocean brine be turned to wine if ever I forget me dear,

If ever I forget me dear, me boys, or the landlord’s quarter day,

If ever I forget me own true love ten thousand miles away.

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