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Father Father

from Shorelines by Nuala Kennedy

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about

What I see as a more open-ended version of the song ‘Died for Love’, the first part of this melody I learned from Alasdair Roberts, which he got in turn from Shropshire singer Fred Jordan. John Moulden comments that ‘The Fred Jordan tune is a close relative of The Croppy Boy tune aka Cailín Ó Chois tSúire Mé, among the first Irish tunes in the oral tradition to be written down’. I have added to the melody here.

lyrics

O Father, Father, build me a boat,
That o'er the ocean wide I may float,
And every ship I should chance to meet,
I will inquire for my William sweet.

We had not sailed for half an hour,
Before we met with a man-o-war.
Oh, Captain, Captain, pray tell me true,
Does my boy William sail onboard with you?

What colour suits does your William wear?
What is the colour of your true love's hair?
He wore a suit o' the royal blue,
And you would know him for his heart was true.

Then your boy William, I'm sad to say,
That he was drowned the other day.
On yonder island that we passed by,
Twas there we laid to rest your sailor boy.

She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
She was a young lady in great despair.
Oh father, father, how can I go on?
How can I live now that my William's gone?

I'll sit me down and I'll write me a song,
I'll write it neat and I'll write it long,
And in every line I will shed a tear,
And in every line I will set my William dear.

I wish, I wish, but it's all in vain,
I wish I was a young maid again.
But a maid again I will never be,
Till apples grow on an orange tree.

credits

from Shorelines, released July 7, 2023

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Nuala Kennedy Ennis, Ireland

Traditional Irish singer and flute player.

“vital and original" Songlines

“fearless of the unknown” The Irish Times

'minimal, decorative and utterly beautiful' Culture Northern Ireland ... more

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