| Author | Topic: Add: Davey Lowston | |
| Ed | Posted - 05 Nov 02 - 05:35 pm | |
Davy Lowston Oh my name is Davy Lowston, I did seal, I did seal. My name is Davy Lowston, I did seal. Though my men and I were lost, though our very lives it cost We did seal, we did seal, we did seal We were set down in Open Bay, we were set down, were set down We were set down in Open Bay, we were set down We were left we gallant men, never more to sail again For to seal, for to seal, for to seal. Our Captain John Bedar he set sail, he set sail. Our Captain John Bedar he set sail "I'll return, men, without fail". But she foundered in a gale, And went down, and went down, and went down. We cured ten thousand skins for the fur, for the fur. We cured ten thousand skins for the fur. Brackish water, putrid seal, we did all of us fall ill, For to die, for to die, for to die. Come all you sailor lads who sail the sea, sail the sea, Come all you jolly tars who sail the sea, Though the schooner Governor Bligh took on some who did not die Never seal, never seal, never seal. Source: Journal of New Zealand Folklore (1970) Notes: Information taken from folksong.org.nz/davylows/ Ship's Mate David Loweriston and other sealers were left on an island in Open Bay (now Jackson Bay?) in Fiordland, New Zealand in 1810. They were there for nearly 4 years before being rescued by the Governor Bligh. The tune and structure was obviously derived from the old Captain Kidd song series ("My Name is William Kidd," "My Name is Samuel Small," "Ye Jacobites By Name," "What Wondrous Love is This?" etc.) See Captain Kid's Farewell to the Seas. The lyrics probably originated on the Sydney waterfront after Loweriston sued the owners of the 'Active' for abandoning his group. The song was then taken to Kororareka in New Zealand, where Yankee whaling crews learnt it and carried the song back to Halifax, where it was eventually collected by John Leebrick. For more information, see The story of David Lowston, a pre-colonial NZ song Database entry here Edited By Ed - 11/5/2002 5:57:29 PM | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 06 Nov 02 - 09:20 am | |
Interesting reading Ed. It looks like as soon as Jon figures out how to best handle the Randal collection, we have another collection here. Your examples are an excellent start - especially one we get them ABC'd. Its a good abstract concept though - they are related based on the lyrical/melodic structure, not on the story (like Randal). It's going to be fun writing that one up! | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 06 Nov 02 - 02:10 pm | |
Database entry for Admiral Benbow, another Kid-like song, is here | ||