Change of Fortune
Lyrics
Song
Information and Liner Notes
Lady Franklin's
Lament
traditional
While sailing homeward out on the deep
swinging in my hammock I fell asleep
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true
concerning Franklin and his gallant crew
With a hundred seamen he sailed away
to the frozen ocean in the month of May
to seek a passage around the pole
where we poor sailors must sometimes go
Through cruel hardships they vainly strove
the ship on mountains of ice was drove
only the Eskimo in his skin canoe
was the only one to ever come through
In Baffin's Bay where the whale fishes blow
the fate of Franklin no man may know
the fate of Franklin no tongue can tell
where Franklin alone with his sailors dwell
And now my burden it brings me pain
for my long lost Franklin I would cross the main
ten thousand pounds would I freely give
to say on earth my Franklin lives
The
Rocky Road To Dublin
traditional
In the merry month of June from me home I started
left the girls of Tuam really broken hearted
saluted father dear, kissed me darlin' mother
drank a pint beer me grief and tears to smother
then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblins
a brand new pair of brogues, rattlin' all the bogs
frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin
One Two Three Four Five hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin
Whack fa la de rah.
In Mullengar that night I rested bones so weary
started by daylight next mornin' blithe and early
took a drop o' the pure to keep me heart from sinkin'
that's the Paddy's cure whenever he's on for drinkin'
see the lasses smile laughin' all the while
at me curious style t'would set your heart a bubblin'
asked me was I hired, wages I required
'til I was nearly tired on the rocky road to Dublin
In Dublin next arrived I thought it was such a pity
to be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
So then I took a stroll down among the quality
my bundle it was stole all in a neat locality
something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
no bundle could I find tied to my stick a wobblin'
inquiring for the rogue, said my Connaught brogue
wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
From there I got away my spirits never failin'
landed on the quay just as the ship was sailin'
the captain at me roared, said that no room had he
when I jumped aboard a cabin was found for Paddy
down among the pigs played some funny rigs
danced some hasty jigs, the water round me bubblin'
when at Holyhead wished m'self was dead
or better off instead on the rocky road to Dublin
The boys of Liverpool when I safely landed
called me self a fool I could no longer stand it
my blood began to boil temper I was losin'
poor old Erin's isle they began abusin'
“Hurrah me soul says I,” sheleighie I let fly
some Galway boys were neigh and saw I was a hobblin'
with a loud “Hooray,” joined in the affray
we quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin
The
Gull
© 1979 Stuart M Frank
A gull that soared above the wave and hovered in the clouds
landed on the foremast peak and settled in the shrouds
and kindred spirits, he and I we sailed that balmy day
the one to rest from flight in air and I upon my way
And can you sing a song my friend? and can you trim a sail?
or spin a yarn on the deck at night? and hoist a glass of ale?
What mystery of earth or wind or sky or sunlit sea
has brought this spirit to my ship and here to rest with me?
this canvas this hemp this hand-hewn oak
this schooner of my hands
it steers my fate amid stars and brine outside of reason stands
Of all the ocean followers who ever plowed the wave
of all the men who breathed salt air refused to be land's
slave
of all the ones who hoisted sail for pleasure or for pay
there's not a one as free as he yet rest with me he may
That we in life must seek anew and travel far and wide
for some the quest is on the wave the salt wind and the tide
it's no surprise to you or me a futile search at best
we see the gull as graceful, free yet here he sits to rest
Another spirit sails with me for him I tell this tale
I almost see him standing here to help to trim the sail
I like to think he's smiling now to see me at the wheel
this graceful ship, his epitaph in canvas, oak and steel
The
Rosabella
traditional
One Monday morning in the month of May
I thought I heard the old man say
the Rosabella will sail today
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella I'm goin'
on board the Rosabella
I'm goin' on board right down to board the saucy Rosabella
She's a deepwater ship with a deep water crew
She's a deepwater ship with a deep water crew
we can stick to the coast but we're damned if we do
On board the Rosabella
All around Cape Horn in the Month of May
All around Cape Horn in the Month of May
Around Cape Horn is a bloody long way
On board the Rosabella
Them Bowry girls do make me grieve
Them Bowry girls do make me grieve
They spent my money and made me leave
On board the Rosabella
The
Yankee
John O'Connor
© 1984 Flying Fish Music BMI
Down from the Carolina shore the Yankee sails tonight
carrying soldiers guns and more
Down below, the Yankee sails tonight
The orders in and the trainings done
the Yankee sails tonight
to put an end to the revo-lu-ti-on
Down below, the Yankee sails tonight
Oh she blows with the wind
it's a bloody end
she has for the rebels' fight
when there's money in the banks
there'll be hoodlums in the ranks
Down below, down below
the Yankee sails tonight
the Yankee once was a ship so bold
she sailed for freedom not for gold
But tyrants stole away the ship
now she robs from the poor for the greedy rich
where do your hard earned taxes go?
Down below the borders of Mexico
from where do the tyrants orders come?
from Wall Street and from Washington
Do you think it's for democracy?
when they practise common butchery
so raise your voice for the rights of man
and bring the Yankee home again
Back in the land of liberty
sure, that's where you want your home to be
But where did you get your freedom from?
You fought your own revo-lu-ti-on.
Just
the Motion
Richard Thompson
© 1982 Island Music, LTD.
When you're rocked on the ocean
you're rocked up and down
don't worry
when you're spinnin' and turnin'
round and around
don't worry
you're just feeling seasick
you're just feeling weak
your mind is confused
and you can't seem to speak
it's just the motion,
it's just the motion
when the landlord is knockin'
and your job is losin'
don't worry
when the baby needs rocking
and your friends are confusin'
don't worry
blown by a hundred winds
knocked down a hundred times
rescued and carried along
beaten and half dead and gone
and it's only the pain
that's keepin' you sane
and gives you a mind to carry on
oh the motion won't leave you
won't let you remain
don't worry
it's a restless wind
and a sleepless rain
don't worry
'cause under the ocean
at the bottom of the sea
you can't hear the storm
it's as peaceful as can be
It's just the motion
Paddy
Lay Back
traditional
It was a cold and frosty morning in December
and all of me money it was spent
and where it went to now I can't remember
so down to the shipping office I went
That day there was a great demand for sailors
for the colonies for 'Frisco and for France
so I shipped on board a Limey bark, the Hotspur
got paralitic drunk on my advance
Paddy lay back, take in your slack
take a turn around the capstan heave a pawl
about ship's station boys be handy
we're bound for Valapariso round the horn
I awoke next morning sick and sore
I knew that I was outward bound again
when a voice came a bellowin' through the door
“Lay aft me boys and answer to your names.”
It was on the quarter deck when first I saw them
such an ugly bunch I'd never seen before
there was a bum and a stiff in every quarter
and it made me poor old heart so sick and sore
Well I knew that in my box I had a bottle
by the boarding master it was put there
and I needed something wet to cool me throttle
something to drive away dull care
So I fell down to me knees as quick as thunder
and reached down to the bottom of the box
but what was there to my surprise and wonder?
it was only a bottle of medicine for the pox
Now I wish that I was in the Jolly Sailor
along with Irish Kitty drinkin' beer
I'd think what a jolly lot was sailors
and with me flipper I'd wipe away me tear
But here I am off again to sea boys
it's the same old bloody business over again
so stamp the capstan round and make some noise boys
and sing to me the jolly old refrain.
Bring
'Em Down
traditional
In Liverpool I was born
Bring 'em Down
London is my home from home
Bring 'em Down
learned my trade on the Blackball Line
Bring 'em Down
they're never a day behind their time
Bring 'em Down
It's around Cape Stiff we go
Bring 'em Down
fightin' on through the ice and snow
Bring 'em Down
along the coast to Valipo'
Bring 'em Down
northward to Callio
Bring 'em Down
Callio girls I do adore
they'll take it all and ask for more
Callio girls with their long black hair
they'll rob you blind and strip you bare
when I was young and in my prime
I'd take them flash girls two at a time
now I'm old and turning grey
and rum's my sweetheart every day
we're in Desolation Bay
hangin' around from day to day
blow you winds long may you blow
rise up y' bugger and let us go
all the way to Liverpool
spend my money like a bloody fool
spend my money in a week on shore
then go to sea and grab for more
I'm Liverpool born and bred
thick in the arm and thick in the head
rock and roll me over boys
let's get this damn job over boys
Bring 'em Down
A
Man's A Man For A'That
Robert Burns
Is there for honest poverty
who hangs his head and all that?
the coward slave we pass him by
we dare be poor for a' that
for a' that and a' that
their toils obscure and a' that
the rank is but a guinea stamp
the man's the gold for a' that
what though on homely fare we dine
wear hodden grey and all that?
give fools their silk and knaves their wine
a man's a man for all that
for all that and all that
their tinsel show and all that
the honest man though e'er so poor
is king of men for all that
Do you see yon birkie called a Lord
who struts and stares and all that?
though hundreds worship at his word
he's but a fool for all that
For all that and all that
his ribboned star and all that
the man of independent mind
he looks and laughs at all that
Now a prince can make a belted knight
a marquis, duke and all that
but an honest man's beyond his might
good faith he keeps for all that
for all of that and all of that
their dignities and all that
the pith of sense and pride of worth
are higher rank than all that
So let us pray that come it may
and come it will for all that
that sense and worth o'er the earth
will win the day and all that
For all that and all that
it's comin' yet for all that
that man to man the whole world o'er
will brothers be for all that
Auld
Lang Syne
Robert Burns
We twa have run about the braes
and pulled the gowans fine
we've wandered many's the weary foot
since auld lang syne
Since auld lang syne,
since auld lang syne
we've wandered many's the weary foot
since auld lang syne
And we twa have waded in the burne
from morning sun til die'n
but seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne
Since auld lang syne,
since auld lang syne
but seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne
And here's a hand my trusted friend
and give us a hand of thine
we'll take and raise the friendship cup
for auld lang syne
for auld lang syne,
for auld lang syne
we'll take and raise the friendship cup
for auld lang syne
Should Auld aquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should Auld aquaintance be forgot
and days of Auld Lang Syne?
for auld lang syne, for auld lang syne
Should Auld aquaintance be forgot
and days of Auld Lang Syne? |
