Grey Funnel Line

I don't mind the rain or the rolling sea
The weary night never worries me
But the hardest time in a sailor's day
Is to watch the sun as it dies away
Here's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line

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The widest ship that sails the sea
Is still a prison for the likes of me
But give me wings like Noah's dove
And I'll sail up harbour to the girl I love
Here's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line

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Oh lord if dreams were only real
I'd put my hand on that wooden wheel
And with all my heart I'd turn her 'round
And tell the boys that we're homeward bound
Here's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line

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I'll pass the time like some machine
Until blue water turns to green
And I'll dance on down that walk ashore
And sail the Grey Funnel Line not more
And sail the Grey Funnel Line no more

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Traditional, arrangements by Sophie Janna and Margot Merah

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Polly Vaughn
 

I will tell of a hunter whose life was undone
By the cruel twist of evil and the setting of the sun
His arrow was loosed and it flew through the dark
And his true love was slain as the shaft found its mark
 

For she wrapped an apron round her
and he took her for a swan
and it’s oh and alas
it was she, Polly Vaughn
 

He ran up beside her and found it was she
And turned away his head for he could not bear to see
He lifted her up and found she was dead
And a fountain of tears for his true love he shed

 

He bore her away to his home by the sea
Crying Father, o father, I’ve murdered poor Polly
I’ve killed my fair love in the flower of her life
And I always intended that she’d be my wife

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He roamed near the place where his true love was slain
He wept bitter tears, but his tears were all in vain
He looked over the lake and a swan glided by
And the sun slowly sank in the grey of the sky

 

Traditional, arrangements by Margot Merah and Sophie Janna

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Hush Hush

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Once our valleys were ringing
With songs of our children singing
But now sheep bleat till the evening
And shielings lie empty and broken

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Hush, hush, time to be sleeping
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creeping
Dreams of peace and of freedom
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby

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And we stood with our heads bent in prayer
While factors burnt our cottages barer
And the flames rose up in the clear mountain air
And many were dead by the evening

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And where was our fierce highland mettle
Our soldiers once so fearless in battle
Now stand, cowed, huddled like cattle
And wait to be shipped o'er the ocean

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And there is no use pleading or praying
Gone are all our hopes of staying
So hush now, the anchor's a-weighing
Don't cry in your sleep, bonny baby
 

***We do not own the copyright to these lyrics, written by Jim McLean. If the rightful owners object to our inclusion of these lines on our website, we will take them down immediately.***

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Across the Blue Mountains

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One morning, one morning, one morning in May
I overheard a young man to a young girl did say:
Dress you up, pretty Katie, and come along with me,
Across the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny 
 

I'll buy you a horse love and a saddle to ride.
I’ll buy myself another to ride by your side
We'll stop at every tavern, we'll drink when we're dry
Across the Blue Mountains goes my Katie and I
 

Then up spoke her mother, and angry was she then,
Crying, daughter, dearest daughter, he is a married man.
Besides there’s young men plenty more handsome than he
Let him take his own wife to the Allegheny
 

But Mother, oh Mother, he's the young man of my own heart
And wouldn't it be a dreadful thing if my love and I should part?
I'd envy every woman that e’er I would see

Across the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny

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They left before daybreak on a dapple and a roan
Past tall shivering pines where the mockingbirds do roam
Past dark cabin windows where eyes never see
Across the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny

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Traditional, arrangements by Margot Merah and Sophie Janna​

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Eileen Og

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Eileen Og and that the darling's name is
Through the Barony her features they were famous
If we loved her then who was there to blame us
For wasn't she the Pride of Petravore?
But her beauty made us all so shy
Not a man could look her in the eye
Boys, Oh boys, sure that's the reason why
We're in mourning for the Pride of Petravore

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Eileen Og me heart is growing grey
Ever since the day you wandered far away
Eileen Og there's good fish in the say
But there's none of them like the Pride of Petravore

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Friday at the fair of Ballintubber
Eileen met McGrath the cattle jobber
I'd like to set me mark upon the robber
For he stole away the Pride of Petravore
He never seemed to see the girl at all
Even when she ogled him from underneath her shawl
Looking big and masterful when she was looking small
Most provoking for the Pride of Petravore

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So it went as 'twas in the beginning
Eileen Og was bent upon the winning
Big McGrath contentedly was grinning
Being courted by the Pride of Petravore
Says he: "I know a girl that could knock you into fits"
At that Eileen nearly lost her wits
The upshot of the ruction was that now the robber sits
With his arm around the Pride of Petravore

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Boys oh boys, with fate 'tis hard to grapple
Of my eyes Eileen she was the apple
Now to see her walking to the chapel
With the hardest featured man of Petravore
Now, boys, this is all I have to say:
When you do your courting, be sure make no display
If you want them to run after you, just walk the other way
For they're mostly like the Pride of Petravore
 

***We do not own the copyright to these lyrics by Percy French. If the rightful owners object to our publication of these lyrics, they can contact us and we will immediately take them down.***

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In the Pines

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In the pines, in the pines, where the sun never shines
Down where the cold winds blow
In the pines, in the pines, in the cold and lonesome pines
I shivered where the cold winds blow

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Little girl, little girl, where'd you sleep last night?
Not even your mother knows
I stayed in the pines, where the sun never shines,
I shivered where the cold winds blow

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The prettiest girl that I ever did see
Lived out in the Georgia pines
And the only girl that I ever did love
I knew she'd never be mine

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Little girl, little girl, what have I done
That makes you treat me so?
You caused me to weep and you caused me to mourn
you've caused me to leave my home

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Little girl, little girl, don't you lie to me
Tell me where did you get that dress?
From a man in the pines, where the sun never shines,
I shivered where the cold winds blow

 

Traditional, arrangements by Margot Merah and Sophie Janna

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Cobbler's Daughter

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I am a cobbler's daughter
Thought of rude and mean
But a finer and a bonnier lass
You have never seen
I've plagued my father's head
For my life I wouldn't wed
my mother's in the prison cause of me

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There was a handsome young man
Who used to live by me
If I went out, if I went in
He'd always follow me
I knew I’d rue the day
It happened as I say
I took him to my chamber room you see

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I took him to my chamber
Where we could be alone
Knowing that my father
And my mother were at home
He's kissed me on the cheek
And I screamed till I was weak
My father came a running to the door

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He's jumped upon the young man
As I was standing by
And he brought his fist behind his head
And thumped him in the eye
My mother heard the din
Up the stairs she did begin
With a broom for a weapon she held high

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Out ran the young man
To the stairs straightway
But my mother she was waiting
Like a raging bull I'd say
She's hit him on the head
The young man fell like lead
Quite dead upon the floor he lay

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I am a cobbler's daughter
Thought of rude and mean
But a finer and a bonnier lass
You have never seen
I've plagued my father's head
For my life I wouldn't wed
my mother's in the prison cause of me

 

***These lyrics are owned by Kate Rusby, since it is her translation of the traditional French story. If she would like us to remove our version of the song from our website, we will do so upon notification.***

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Fare Thee Well

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If I had wings like Noah’s dove
I’d fly up the river to the one I love

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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I had a man, he was long and tall
He moved his body like a cannonball

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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Once I wore my apron low
Trying to keep you from my door

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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Then I wore my apron high
Scarcely saw you passing by

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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Now my apron is up to my chin
You pass my door but you won’t come in

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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The river Jordan is muddy and wild
You don't give a bloody for your unborn child

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

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One of these mornings and it won’t be long
You pass my door and I’ll be gone

Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
 

Traditional, arrangements by Sophie Janna and Margot Merah

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Old Cook Pot

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Mama's gonna bargain with the ol' cook pot
Try to get more than what that womans got
Don't trim no fat, no potatoes from a box
Mama's gonna bargain with the ol' cook pot

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Mama's gonna water that gravy down
Try to make enough to go around
With five mouths to feed and Papa in the ground
Mama's gonna water that gravy down

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So thank the Lord and sit up straight
Mind your manners and clean your plate
Don't ask for more, savour every drop
Nothin' more comin' from the ol' cook pot

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Mama's gonna bargain with the ol' cook pot
Pray to the Maker, make the hunger stop
And ask a little more than what we've got
Mama's gonna bargain with the ol' cook pot

***We do not own the copyright to these lyrics. Upon the rightful owners' request we will immediately take this page down.***

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Dimming of the Day

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This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in the river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
and I need you at the dimming of the day

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You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side

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What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonny birds have wheeled away
and I need you at the dimming of the day

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Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant

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I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
and I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

 

***We do not own the copyright of this song. If the rightful owner of this song contacts us and requests it, we will take this page down immediately.***

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The One I Love

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I don't know, I don't know
Where I'll go or what I'll do
It makes no difference
What I'll do without you
Cause I love you, my darling
But I'll try and let you be
Goodbye, it's the last
You'll hear of me

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Well, I saw a little bluebird
High on a mountain side
And that little bird
It sang a little song
So I'll sigh and I'll cry
And I'd even wanna die
For the one that I love is gone

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Well, I saw a little bluebird
High on a mountain side
And that little bird
It sang a little song
So I'll sigh and I'll cry
And I'd even wanna die
For the one that I love has gone

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I don't know, I don't know
Where I'll go or what I'll do
It makes no difference
What I'll do without you
Cause I love you, my darling
But I'll try and let you be
Goodbye, it's the last
You'll hear of me

***We do not own the copyright to this song. If the rightful owner requests so, we will remove the lyrics from our page.***

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Ae Fond Kiss

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Ae fond kiss and then we sever
Ae fareweel, and then for ever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee
 

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him
While the star of hope she leaves him
Me, no cheerful twinkle lights me
Dark despair around benights me
 

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy
Nothing could resist my Nancy
But to see her was to love her
Love but her, and love for ever
 

Had we never loved so kindly
Had we never loved so blindly
Never met - nor never parted
We had ne'er been broken-hearted
 

Fare thee weel, though first and fairest
Fare thee weel, though best and dearest
Thine be all the joy and treasure
Peace enjoyment love and pleasure
 

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy
Nothing could resist my Nancy
But to see her was to love her
Love but her, and love for ever

***These lyrics are in the public domain***

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Stretched on your Grave

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I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they would not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
and I'm worn by the weather

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When my family thinks
That I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning
I am stretched at your head
Calling out unto the darkness
With tears hot and wild
My love for the girl
That I knew as a child

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Do you remember the night
O the night when were lost
In the shade of the black thorn
and the touch of the frost
Thanks be to Jesus
We did all that was right
And the moon in the sky
Was our pillar of light

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The priest and the friars
They approach me in dread
For I love you still
All your life and your death
And still would be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
But with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm

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So I am stretched here on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I am sure they would not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
and I'm worn by the weather
 

***These lyrics are in the public domain***

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