{"id":602,"date":"2013-07-26T15:12:38","date_gmt":"2013-07-26T19:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=602"},"modified":"2018-03-01T21:38:07","modified_gmt":"2018-03-02T01:38:07","slug":"leaving-of-liverpool","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=602","title":{"rendered":"Leaving of Liverpool"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool seems to be the default Mecca in sea songs… The exemplary home port for English speaking sailors the world over.\u00a0 This song makes mention of an American ship Davy Crockett<\/em> <\/a>– a clipper ship built in Mystic, CT in 1853,\u00a0and also uses poetic license for the sake of mood and rhyme, such as alternating “you” and “thee”.<\/p>\n

The Leaving of Liverpool<\/strong> is a\u00a0beautiful\u00a0sea song and is often referred to as a brain worm.\u00a0\u00a0It expresses the life of a sailor and the regret of leaving loved ones behind but hope for the return.\u00a0\u00a0 The song\u00a0had been\u00a0 collected by William Main Doerflinger\u00a0\u00a0(Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman) from Richard “Dick” Maitland<\/a>,\u00a0an old\u00a0 sailor living his retirement at Sailor\u2019s Snug Harbor, on Staten Island\u00a0(and who died on 2 January 1942),\u00a0who while bosun on the American ship\u00a0General Knox<\/em> around 1885, had learned it one night from a Liverpool man; “I was on deck on night… when I heard a Liverpool man singin’ it in the fo’c’sle… Yessir, that song hit the spot!<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Jos. Morneault<\/p>\n

Hear “Dick” Maitland sing Shenandoah from the National Archives Collection.
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 <\/p>\n

Fare thee well, to you, my own true love,
\nFor I’m\u00a0going far away.
\nI am bound for California,
\nAnd I hope that I’ll return some day.<\/p>\n

CHORUS :
\nSo fare thee well, my own true love,<\/em><\/strong>
\n And when I return, united we will be;<\/em><\/strong>
\n It’s not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me,<\/em><\/strong>
\n But, my darling, when I think of thee.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I have signed on a Yankee clipper ship,
\n“DAVY CROCKETT” is her name
\nand Burgess is the Captain of her,
\nand they say she is a floating hell.<\/p>\n

CHORUS :<\/p>\n

I have sailed with Burgess once before,
\nAnd I think I know him well
\nIf a man’s a sailor then he can get along,
\nbut if not, then he’s sure in hell.<\/p>\n

CHORUS :<\/p>\n

I am bound for California,
\nBy the way of the stormy Cape Horn.
\nAnd I will write to you a letter, love,
\nWhen I am home-ward bound.<\/p>\n

CHORUS :<\/p>\n

Fare thee well to Lower Frederick Street,
\nAnson Terrace, and old Park Lane.
\nFor I know it will be a long, long time,
\nBefore I see you again<\/p>\n

CHORUS :<\/p>\n

Oh, the sun is shining on the harbour wall,
\nAnd I wish I could remain.
\nFor I know it will be a long, long time,
\nBefore I see you again.<\/p>\n

CHORUS 2x:<\/p>\n

Skip Henderson in 2013