Many people have asked for the lyrics to the songs on my CD The Sea is Wide.
Here they are!
Here they are!
(1) The Sea is Wide
Traditional Scottish/Irish
The sea is wide I cannot cross o’er
Neither have I the wings to fly
Give me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
There is a ship and she sails the sea
She’s loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I’m in
I know not if I sink or swim
Oh love is handsome and love is kind!
Bright as a jewel when first it is new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew
I leaned my back up against some oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just as my false love did to me
The sea is wide I cannot cross o’er
Neither have I the wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
(2) Carrickfergus
Traditional Irish
I wish I was in Carrickfergus
Only by night in Ballygrand
I would swim over the deepest ocean
The deepest ocean, to be by your side
But the sea is wide and I can’t cross over
Neither have I the wings to fly
Come all you young men and bear me over.
Carry me over to my love to die
(These childhood places bring sad reflections
Of happy days spent so long ago
My boyhood friends and my own relations
Are all passed on now with the melting snow
So I'll spend my days in endless roving
Soft is the grass and my bed is free
Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus
On the long road down to the salty sea)
Now in Kilkenny it is reported
On marble stone as black as ink
With gold and silver I would reward you
But I'll say no more til I've had a drink
For I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober
A handsome rover from town to town
Ah but I'm sick now my days are numbered
Come all ye young men and lay me down
For the sea is wide and I can’t cross over
Neither have I the wings to fly
Come all ye young men and bear me over
Carry me over to my love to die
(3) Shenandoah
Traditional American
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, you rolling river.
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, I'm bound away,
Across the wide Missouri.
O Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, you rolling river.
O Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, I'm bound away,
Across the wide Missouri.
O Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, you rolling river.
O Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, I'm bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
(4) Skye Boat Song
Traditional Scottish
Chorus:
Speed bonny boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailor’s cry
Carry the lad that was born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the winds roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare
Chorus
Though the waves leap, soft may you sleep
Ocean’s a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Fanny will keep
Watch by your royal head
Chorus
Many’s the lad fought on that day
Well the culdow could yield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden’s field
Chorus
Burnt are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath
Danny will come again
Chorus
(5) Bonny Wood Green
Traditional Irish
All around the green valleys of Bonny Wood Green
Where me and me sweetheart we oft times were seen
Ah the years they rolled by and how happy were we
For tis little we knew that a soldier he’d be
But early one morning while the lambs they did play
From Derg to O’Connor he then made his way
To enlist as a soldier to fight for the Queen
To uphold the good cause he left Bonny Wood Green
Oh Bonny Wood Green, Bonny Wood Green!
To uphold the good cause he left Bonny Wood Green
And soon he was sent far away o’er the foam
For soldiers were needed for to fight for their home
He kissed me and told me “Oh Nell, you’re my queen”
And softly I whispered “Remember Wood Green”
Remember Wood Green, Bonny Wood Green!
And softly I whispered “Remember Wood Green”
It was way out in Flanders at the end of the line
They were talking of sweethearts that they’d left behind
Said one Irish soldier, “Well I’ve got a queen!
And she works at the factory in Bonny Wood Green"
Oh Bonny Wood Green, Bonny Wood Green!
And she works at the factory in Bonny Wood Green
It was early next morning, the sun was still low
And the bullets were flyin' and he was laid low
He turned to his mates in a terrible scene
Saying, “Kiss my love Nell, and remember Wood Green”
Remember Wood Green, Bonny Wood Green!
Saying, “Kiss my love Nell, and remember Wood Green”
So if ever to Ireland you happen to stray
And you go to the factory at the end of the day
There’s a quiet old woman who can oft times be seen
For she wears the white apron of Bonny Wood Green
Oh Bonny Wood Green, Bonny Wood Green!
For she wears the white apron of Bonny Wood Green
(6) Dreams
Words: Langston Hughes & Esther-Ruth Teel / Music: Esther-Ruth Teel
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Filled with snow.
So hold your dreams, fall in love
Plunge into the sea
Never fear the darkness
Never fear the light
(7) Lullaby
Words & Music: Elanor Teel
You are growing weary.
Dusky starlight glows in your eyes
As you fade away.
Lullaby, Lullaby to you my dear one.
Hush, I will stay with you now and forever.
(8) I Feel the Winds of God Today
Words: Jessie Adams / Music: Traditional English ("Kingsfold")
I feel the winds of God today; today my sail I lift,
Though heavy, oft, with drenching spray, and torn with many a rift;
If hope but light the water’s crest, and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at His behest, and brave another cruise.
It is the wind of God that dries my vain regretful tears,
Until with braver thoughts arise the brighter, purer years;
If cast on shores of selfish ease or pleasure I should be;
Lord, let me feel Thy freshening breeze, and I’ll put back to sea.
If ever I forget Thy love or how Thy love was shown,
Lift high the blood red flag above; it bears Thy name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way, Thou wilt not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today; today my sail I lift.
(9) The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle
Traditional Canadian
One evening for pleasure I wandered
To view the fair fields all alone
Down by the banks of Loch Erin
Where beauty and pleasure were known
I spied a fair maid at her labour
Which caused me to stay for a while
I thought her the goddess of beauty
The blooming bright star of Bell Isle
I humbled myself to her beauty
“Fair maiden, where do you belong?
Are you from the heavens descended
A bidding in Cupid’s bright throng?”
“Young man I will tell you a secret” she said
“It’s true I’m a maid who is poor!
But to part with my vows and my promise
Is more than my heart can endure.
And so I’ll remain at my labour
And go through all hardship and toil
And wait for the lad who has left me
Alone on the banks of Belle Isle.”
“Young maiden, I wish not to banter” I said
“It’s true I came here in disguise!
I came to fulfill my last promise
And I thought to give you surprise
“It’s true you’re the one I love dearly
You’ve been in my thoughts all the while!
To me there is no other damsel
Than the blooming bright star of Belle Isle!”
(10) Farewell to Nova Scotia
Traditional Canadian
Chorus
Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast,
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
And when I am far away, on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me?
The birds were singing in every nest
The sun was setting in yonder tree
All nature seemed inclined for a rest
But still there was no rest for me
Chorus
I grieve to leave my native land
I grieve to leave my comrades all
And the parents whom I hold so dear
And the bonny, bonny lass that I do adore
Chorus
The drums they beat and the horns do alarm
The captain calls; we must away
So farewell, farewell, to Nova Scotia’s charm
By early in the morning we’ll be far, far away
Chorus (x2)
(11) Frozen in Frobisher Bay
Words & Music: James Gordon
Chorus
Cold is the Arctic sea
Far are your arms from me
Long will this winter be
Frozen in Frobisher Bay
Frozen in Frobisher Bay
"One more whale," our captain cried
"One more whale and we’ll beat the ice"
But the winter star was in the sky
The waves were rough, the winds were high
Chorus
Deep were the crashing waves
That tore our whalers mast away
Dark are these sunless days
Waiting for the ice to break
Chorus
Strange is a whaler's fate
To be saved from the crashing waves
Only to waste away
Frozen in this lonely grave
Chorus
(12) Sea Fever
Words: John Masefield / Music: Zachary Windus
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
(13) Scarborough Fair
Traditional English
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to the one who lives there
And he shall be a true love of mine
Tell him to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without any stitches or needle work
And he shall be a true love of mine
Tell him to wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Where water ne’er sprung nor a drop of rain fell
And he shall be a true love of mine
Tell him to hang it on yonder sharp thorn
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Where blossom ne’er bloomed since Adam was born
And he shall be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to the one who lives there
And he will be a true love of mine
(14) Blackbird
Traditional English
I once knew a maiden whose fortune was so
She courted a sailor, a young sailor boy
She courted him dearly by night and by day
Until this young sailor, he sailed miles away
Chorus
And if I were a blackbird I’d whistle and sing
I would follow the ship that my true love sailed in
And on the top rigging I’d there build my nest
I would pillow my head on his lily white breast
My true love is handsome in every degree
My parents despise him because he loves me
But let them despise him or say what they will!
While there’s life in my bosom I’ll love the lad still
Chorus
If I were a scholar, could handle a pen
A letter of love to my true love I’d send
I would tell him my sorrows, my griefs and my woes
If I could but find him, I’d crown him with gold
Chorus
(15) Danny Boy
Traditional Irish
Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
It's you, it's you, must go, and I must bide
But come you back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
Yes I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so
And when you come, and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I may well be
You'll come and find that place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me
And I will know, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
And you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I will rest in peace until you come to me
(16) Greensleeves
Traditional English
Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
For I have loved you so long
Delighting in your company
Chorus
Greensleeves was all my joy!
Greensleeves was my delight!
Greensleeves my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
For I have loved you so long
Delighting in your every song
And I have waged life and land
To win your lovely hand
Chorus (x2)
(17) Will Ye Go, Laddie, Go? (Wild Mountain Thyme)
Traditional Scottish
Oh the summertime is coming
And the trees sweetly blooming
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Laddie go?
Chorus
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Laddie go?
I will build my love a bower
By yon' pure crystal fountain
And on it I will twine
All the roses of the mountain
Will ye go, Laddie go?
Chorus
If my true love he were gone
I would surely find another
Where yon wild thyme
Grows around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Laddie go?
Chorus (x2)
(18) My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
Words: Robbie Burns / Music: Traditional Scottish
My Love is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
My Love is like the melody,
That's sweetly played in tune.
So fair art thou, my dearest maid,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till all the seas gang dry.
And I will love thee still, my dear,
When the rocks melt with the sun;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
When the sands of life have run.
But fare thee well, my dearest maid!
And fare thee well, awhile!
And I will come again, my Dear,
Tho 'twere ten thousand mile!
(19) The Last Rose of Summer
Words: Thomas Moore / Music: Traditional Irish
'Tis the last rose of summer left blooming alone
All her lovely companions are faded and gone
No flower of her kindred, no rosebud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes or to give sigh for sigh
I'll not leave thee, thou lone one, to pine on the stem
Since the lovely are sleeping, go sleep thou with them
Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed
Where thy maids of the summer lie scentless and dead
Thus soon may I follow when friendships decay
When from love's shining circle the gems fall away
When true hearts lie withered and fond ones are flown
Oh who would inhabit this bleak world alone?
(20) Parting Glass
Traditional Scottish
Of all the money that e’er I’ve spent
I’ve spent it in good company
And all the harm that e’er I’ve done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To memory now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Goodnight and joy be to you all
So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health, whate’er befall
Then gently rise and softly call
"Goodnight and joy be to you all"
Of all the friends that e’er I’ve had
They’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve loved
They’d wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise, and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
"Goodnight and joy be to you all"