I brought to mind a song from the days of my childhood called "The Keel Row song", and thought I'd hunt it down on YouTube along with the lyrics of what is indisputably a Northumbrian folk song which would be magic if it were revived. But then whence wading through YouTube and coming across this video/audio, I happened to discover an English lady singer of whom prior to this I was completely unaware.
Her name? - Kathleen Ferrier.
Kathleen Mary Ferrier CBE (22 April 1912 – 8 October 1953) was an English contralto, born in Higher Walton, Lancashire. She later moved with her family to Blackburn, Lancashire.
She came to prominence as a singer during and immediately after the Second World War, and was especially remembered for her courageous performances during her final illness.
Offstage, she had a vivacious personality, and gave herself the nickname "Klever Kaff". Full Bio HERE
And if that wasn't enough, I found she sang 'Blow the wind Southerly' lyrics which is HERE, and I was over the moon to find this out for that's another song from my childhood which I absolutely love. (I'm sure I heard a different version than Kathleen Ferrier's).
The Keel Row song then, which I hope others like as much as I do in that they signify a bit of England as some of us may remember it despite the song is a bit dated it is still a pleasure for me at least to hear again -
The Keel Row
The Keel Row
Blow the wind Southerly
Weel May the Keel Row
As I came thro' Sandgate,
Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
As I came thro' Sandgate,
I heard a lassie sing:
"O, weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
O weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in."
"O wha's like my Johnnie,
Sae leish, sae blithe, sae bonnie?
He's foremost 'mang the mony
Keel lads o' coaly Tyne;
He'll set or row sae tightly
Or, in the dance sae sprightly,
He'll cut and shuffle slightly,
'Tis true, were he nae mine.
He wears a blue bonnet,
Blue bonnet, blue bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet
A dimple in his chin.
And weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
And weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in."
Note: a keel is a boat; leish is lithe. The song was first
published around 1770, and has been called the national anthem of
the Tyne River.
Recorded, many years ago, by Jo Stafford, also Ian Campbell Folk Group.
Shame on you for not knowing the name of Kathleen Ferrier.
ReplyDeleteStill I am in my eighties, so perhaps you can be excused. After all all history is being re-written today by all three main parties.
Thank you for your comment Rayatcov, and I was born in 1956 just 3 years after this lady died, but I can and do appreciate her voice today as if it were then. You're right about them trying to re-write our history and maybe we're not alone in wanting to remember it. Personally speaking I think we left the best there was behind, but you never know. All I know is Geordie's at least will never die as long as I'm around to help preserve it. Regards and good wishes to you Raytcov.
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