Tom Madden's version best of all. Tom was resident singer at Ewan and Peggy's club in London during the 70's and singing better than ever, based in Clonakilty, Co Cork. Hear him in De Barras every Mon night. Contact brigid.madden@gmail.com
Nice to see this on here - As a point of interest, this song was featured on one of the original Radio Ballads, Singing the Fishing, which tells of the east coast herring fishing industry. It's nice too to see that these original MacColl/Seeger/Parker radio ballads have been re-released on CD
Nice to see this on here - As a point of interest, this song was featured on one of the original Radio Ballads, Singing the Fishing, which tells of the east coast herring fishing industry. It's nice too to see that these original MacColl/Seeger/Parker radio ballads have been re-released on CD
I love McColl's voice, but Luke Kelly's is better and Liam Clancy's too. The voice I'd love to hear singing it also, but he didn't as far as I know, is the great Dick Gaughan.
and prepare for a visit to the The Scottish Fisheries Museum, see the video links and the pull down menu links and you'll appreciate your visit so much more! See the museum more like a local fisherman sees it.
Couldn't even imagine going out on those brigs. Always dreamed about fishing like my dad, and grandpa. Week straight, no sleep, no food. Now its on a five day quota. I feel guilty sleeping four hours a night in my bunk, with warm food in my belly.
@1lightheaded Sings it better than Ewan McColl? Luke Kelly for one. Liam Clancy as well. McColl was surely a great songwriter but hardly the best singer
I love all traditional music, British Folk, Irish, Appalachian / American & others but I'm tiring of Irish / Irish americans or whatever trying to take credit for every bloody folk song going.
I suppose there is no greater tribute to a songwriter than to write a song which people come to think is "traditional". I have just been watching a BBC4 programme on sea songs and shanties which treated this as if it was a much older song... Wonderful set of photos with this!
For dragonking and anyone else who doesn't know Ewan MacColl, he was a enormous fish in a pond he purposely kept small. He believed passionately in the truths revealed by the experiences and emotions of ordinary working people. The songs he sings, both true folk and his own folk-influenced compositions are witness to this. Look at Topic Records for superlative stuff by this great singer.
@Maksimfan Me too, when I go back there it is depressing. Not sure the new harbour will make that much differenceand I hate that you cannot now get down to the harbours mouth.
@nicdavdi it's horrible isn't it! my dad says that due to the depth of where they're building it, the big ships that they really want to get in won't even be able to dock. It seems an utter waist of money unfortunately.
I heard this on the radio last night for the first time, and thought he was singing "Shores of Erin" until the penny dropped. Wonderful! and favourited. I was never the greatest fan of Ewan MacColl but this is making me think again. Thank you.
@jonno52 Funnily enough MacColl told a story of how he visited relatives in irekland and was taken out to a local pub where they were singing this song. The singer intorduced it as "a traditional Irish song, the Shores of Erin". It was of course written, words and music , by MacColl.
@hetrodoxly Well...the name of the port probably changed as the song was "Irished". It would easily work with "Galway" or "Derry" or any number of other Irish harbour towns.
@hetrodoxly Then they'd change it to "hunting FROM the Shores of Erin". Look, they really DID change the song to "Shores of Erin" in Ireland. This has been proved over and over. Don't be so pedantic about this.
Great songwriter but Luke Kelly sang the ultimnate version of this song...his performance is breathtaking and everyone with any taste for music should hear it ...
@dubb1995 I just listened to Luke Kellys version and to be sure its a great interpretation. I heard the Ewan MaColl version way back and so its version that stuck in my head. Both great performances
A great song. If you're interested, there is an even BETTER version of this song performed by Mary Jane and Winston Young and accompanied by their son Cavan and daughter Michelle. It is on an independent release entitled "Memories of the Bohemian Embassy". Check it out, fool.
Forget the song for one minute, (although I think its great) look at the photographs (good to see them on display to the world), if they are all that many boats leaving the harbour how many fish populated the north sea?
@zonkozonko In 1966 1.2 million tonnes of herring were landed from the North Sea. Thats a lot of fish. By 1975 only 200,000 tonnes. It was estimated that 70% of the herring stock were taken each year. Not surprising that the stocks crashed. From the Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Roberts
Yarmouth Norfolk , on the mouth of the River Yare was where the Scottish Herring Fleets moved to so that they could follow the herring as they matured from the south in the North sea. It was the highlight of my childhood to watch them.
You will get even more Goosebumps! if you listen to Luke Kellys Version of same..... Luke.... god rest him, made this song like so many outhers his own !!!! we are lucky that we can listen to these guys great songs and great singers never die!!!!!.......
Glad to learn of this man through researching Dirty Old Town sung by The Pogues- he dont seem like a drunk though...like to heare Ewan sing Dirty Old Town
This song has haunted me for over 25 years since I watched Scottish Ballet perform a beautiful piece to it on tour at Pitlochry. The sound quality was the best I'd ever heard - I'd say he did a special recording for them though I don't know. I was a stage manager so I was watching from the wings. How does a song (and a singer) stir something in us? Apart from some pleasure sailing, I have no connection with the sea yet the song moves me; sorrowful and proud. Lovely slide show too, thanks.
did you know that yarmouth and lowestoft are still at war! they declaired civil war on each other in the 16oo's. no fighting ever happend but no piece treaty, was ever signed so the war technicly never ended!
No I did not! Great piece of history. My info comes from a great book on the herring fishery called the "Driftermen" which is a history of the great herring days of the steam drifters. Thanks so much for the response.
yeah I can't remember what book mine comes from but my dad and history teacher both told me as a kid! Norfolk has so much history. I'll be studying archaeolgy (viking studies) at uni soon and people always think I'll have to go to scandinavia to study it. I say, Ormesby's a Viking village! why go anywhere! haha
I had always assumed that Maccoll was a Scottish guy, but, in fact, "Maccoll" was a showbiz name. He was born James Miller in Salford, now part of Greater Manchester. Just for info.
I seem to recall reading that he wrote Dirty Old Town for a stage production of some sort. I thought he was scottish too. I'm pretty sure his mother was. I've seen a picture where the both of them are singing togather. I guess that that is where he got the scots singing from.
great song by ewan ,our greatest folk songwriter and singer,just a shame the tories signed the common fisheries act , and a shame we backed down to iceland in the cod wars,devestated our fishing industry ,all were left with is songs like this to tell us how it was like
matter of opinion thats all, listend to the 3 you said,quite like that harvey andrews, first impression of the other 2 not that great ,thats only a first impression mind ,on their voices ,going on voices alone ,ralph mctell and the bloke out of the spinners ,have great voices, for example ,ellan vannin ,here on you tube
Great song writer he certainly was ,without question."The Greatest no way"? In making him sound like a contestant from the x factor I think you have completely missed the point.
I come from a long line of Hull fishermen, thou I never took to the trade myself (tried it.. too tough for me). but from the couple of trips I did do I can honestly say it is the hardest life a man can take to.. not just the fishing but the home life as well.. not seeing your children grow up.. missing your women.. christmas away at sea.. What can a fisherman do but fish? land jobs are poorly payed for a fisherman.
To all the fisherman.. missing.. past.. and present.. I pour a dram for you.
the man who wrote this song did an amazing thing, he made me "feel" the lifestyle of an English fisherman, Im an American girl in a landlocked state! Still his images are so vivid.
If you want to know more, see if you can find 'BBC The Radio Ballads-Singing The Fishing' it's a brilliant CD with songs written by McColl and others (I can't quite remember who) with stories told by actual fishermen, including Samual Larner who fished Yarmouth's waters from the 1890's. he was an folk singer in his own right. He died not long was recorded and saw yarmouth in it's hay day right to it's decline. He's buried in the church yard in front of my allotment in Winterton-On-Sea.
Come to Canada. Lanse aux Meadows the viking settlement in Newfoundland. It was discovered by a chap who believed that the sagas were historical fact! Followed the clues then Eureka Lanse aux Maedows
This song is probably the best tribute we can offer the brave fishermen who endured terrible conditions to do their job. Thank you lads, I'm happier to think you're sitting at you're firesides now, surrounded by your children instead of facing gales in the North Sea now Britain's fishing indstry is just a memory. What men you all were. God bless.
Tom Madden's version best of all. Tom was resident singer at Ewan and Peggy's club in London during the 70's and singing better than ever, based in Clonakilty, Co Cork. Hear him in De Barras every Mon night. Contact brigid.madden@gmail.com
brigidoconnell1 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice to see this on here - As a point of interest, this song was featured on one of the original Radio Ballads, Singing the Fishing, which tells of the east coast herring fishing industry. It's nice too to see that these original MacColl/Seeger/Parker radio ballads have been re-released on CD
the2boneheads 3 months ago
Nice to see this on here - As a point of interest, this song was featured on one of the original Radio Ballads, Singing the Fishing, which tells of the east coast herring fishing industry. It's nice too to see that these original MacColl/Seeger/Parker radio ballads have been re-released on CD
the2boneheads 3 months ago
I love McColl's voice, but Luke Kelly's is better and Liam Clancy's too. The voice I'd love to hear singing it also, but he didn't as far as I know, is the great Dick Gaughan.
golaoi 4 months ago
Haunting & nostalgic, better than the Kelly version - and the photos enhance the experience.
dwm1943 5 months ago
Very nice. Enjoyed the pics also. : )
Traveler2112 5 months ago
Golliwogg APPROVES of this song.
GolliwoggMusic 5 months ago
I think the melody bears a striking resemblance to Dylan's "times they are a'changin" of course MacColl wrote this first.
philochsmemory 6 months ago
what a great song writer -- wrote Dirty Old Town and Sweet Thames Flow Softly, too!
drybonesband 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
watch?v=8OQJ4UrAVJw
and prepare for a visit to the The Scottish Fisheries Museum, see the video links and the pull down menu links and you'll appreciate your visit so much more! See the museum more like a local fisherman sees it.
keplermission 9 months ago
anyone got Banks of Newfoundland sung by mr. MacColl?
MrsMeiwes 10 months ago
No wonder Luke was a fan of Ewan MacColl. A stunning performance.
angelf1re 1 year ago
Couldn't even imagine going out on those brigs. Always dreamed about fishing like my dad, and grandpa. Week straight, no sleep, no food. Now its on a five day quota. I feel guilty sleeping four hours a night in my bunk, with warm food in my belly.
Praying for a good opener!
NorStarReviews 1 year ago
this is best rendition of this song.......he wrote it
jimmcinnes 1 year ago
@jimmcinnes Doesn't mean someone else can't sing it better
tony10396861 9 months ago
@tony10396861 u know anybody sings it better than he ?, let me know
1lightheaded 5 months ago
@1lightheaded Sings it better than Ewan McColl? Luke Kelly for one. Liam Clancy as well. McColl was surely a great songwriter but hardly the best singer
tony10396861 5 months ago
I love all traditional music, British Folk, Irish, Appalachian / American & others but I'm tiring of Irish / Irish americans or whatever trying to take credit for every bloody folk song going.
KITCHENOFDISTINCTION 1 year ago
Comment removed
KITCHENOFDISTINCTION 1 year ago
I suppose there is no greater tribute to a songwriter than to write a song which people come to think is "traditional". I have just been watching a BBC4 programme on sea songs and shanties which treated this as if it was a much older song... Wonderful set of photos with this!
GilesConradWatson 1 year ago
For dragonking and anyone else who doesn't know Ewan MacColl, he was a enormous fish in a pond he purposely kept small. He believed passionately in the truths revealed by the experiences and emotions of ordinary working people. The songs he sings, both true folk and his own folk-influenced compositions are witness to this. Look at Topic Records for superlative stuff by this great singer.
tomasperry 1 year ago
Poor Great Yarmouth. To see it now is tragic. Break my heart every time I go into town :(
Maksimfan 1 year ago
@Maksimfan Me too, when I go back there it is depressing. Not sure the new harbour will make that much differenceand I hate that you cannot now get down to the harbours mouth.
nicdavdi 1 year ago
@nicdavdi it's horrible isn't it! my dad says that due to the depth of where they're building it, the big ships that they really want to get in won't even be able to dock. It seems an utter waist of money unfortunately.
Maksimfan 1 year ago
One of the best vids ever McColl and Yarmouth in it's heyday The pictures are grand and the music soars
McGrenzer 1 year ago
brilliant use of the photos in this video.
pfg125 1 year ago
I heard this on the radio last night for the first time, and thought he was singing "Shores of Erin" until the penny dropped. Wonderful! and favourited. I was never the greatest fan of Ewan MacColl but this is making me think again. Thank you.
jonno52 1 year ago
@jonno52 I think this is called a Mondegreen. I used to thik Phil Collins was singing "P****d Again" until I realised it was "Missed Again"
nicdavdi 1 year ago 5
@nicdavdi HaHa...... that's great! :)))))))
19Moira 11 months ago
@jonno52 Funnily enough MacColl told a story of how he visited relatives in irekland and was taken out to a local pub where they were singing this song. The singer intorduced it as "a traditional Irish song, the Shores of Erin". It was of course written, words and music , by MacColl.
scotrelf 1 year ago
@jonno52 Actually, in Ireland they DO sing it as "The Shores of Erin".
KennBurch 1 year ago
@KennBurch
That would make it an incredibly strange song? hunting the "The Shores of Erin". out of Yarmouth, lol.
hetrodoxly 1 year ago
@hetrodoxly Well...the name of the port probably changed as the song was "Irished". It would easily work with "Galway" or "Derry" or any number of other Irish harbour towns.
KennBurch 1 year ago
@KennBurch
That's not what would make the song very strange, it's the hunting of shores of Erin, that is unless you know of a fish called shores of Erin?
hetrodoxly 1 year ago
@hetrodoxly Then they'd change it to "hunting FROM the Shores of Erin". Look, they really DID change the song to "Shores of Erin" in Ireland. This has been proved over and over. Don't be so pedantic about this.
KennBurch 1 year ago
beautiful beautiful!
friscochick 1 year ago
Great songwriter but Luke Kelly sang the ultimnate version of this song...his performance is breathtaking and everyone with any taste for music should hear it ...
dubb1995 1 year ago 4
@dubb1995 I just listened to Luke Kellys version and to be sure its a great interpretation. I heard the Ewan MaColl version way back and so its version that stuck in my head. Both great performances
nicdavdi 1 year ago 2
@dubb1995 luke is my fav singer of all time but without ewans grasp of song we would never have had our luke, period.
irishgeal1 3 weeks ago
Beautiful.
Joseph Kay ex Fisherman
josephkay1 1 year ago
Sweet song.
cockhead1000 1 year ago
grilled fresh herring , LOVELY ; )
lifeboat911 1 year ago
My family fished for the silver darlings, this brings wonderful memories of my grandfather telling us all about the herring drifters and their crews.
610Foxhall 1 year ago
A verra gweed video ma freen' tap stars fur yea!!
kintakintyea 2 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
A great song. If you're interested, there is an even BETTER version of this song performed by Mary Jane and Winston Young and accompanied by their son Cavan and daughter Michelle. It is on an independent release entitled "Memories of the Bohemian Embassy". Check it out, fool.
mr10pm 2 years ago
Kippersnak's packed in mustard, now thats how to get a lass to take notice, or change your rotten stinkin socks!
Squarekn0t 2 years ago
i am from wick it used to be the main herring port in europe alas no longer
JAKWIK 2 years ago 4
Forget the song for one minute, (although I think its great) look at the photographs (good to see them on display to the world), if they are all that many boats leaving the harbour how many fish populated the north sea?
zonkozonko 2 years ago 2
@zonkozonko In 1966 1.2 million tonnes of herring were landed from the North Sea. Thats a lot of fish. By 1975 only 200,000 tonnes. It was estimated that 70% of the herring stock were taken each year. Not surprising that the stocks crashed. From the Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Roberts
nicdavdi 1 year ago
This song is certainly very appropriate for another Yarmouth...Yarmouth Nova Scotia...a herring fishing town for many years
hossafus 2 years ago 8
Yarmouth Norfolk , on the mouth of the River Yare was where the Scottish Herring Fleets moved to so that they could follow the herring as they matured from the south in the North sea. It was the highlight of my childhood to watch them.
RichardZombie 2 years ago 7
Yarmouth was built on herring fishing, it's funny how times changed, 1200-1300 Yarmouth fishermen had a navel battle with Kent Fishermen
off Belgium for the right to fish out of the river Yar.
hetrodoxly 2 years ago
Well I never knew about the "Battle of the Kippers" so I looked it up and you are absolutely right. Amazing, thanks for sharing.
RichardZombie 2 years ago
check out the song "Yarmouth Town" ..not as lovely as this but very interesting lyrics ;-)
joeygsmom 2 years ago
Brilliant song
paulterry1000 2 years ago 5
There's something fishy about this song.
Fretkillr 2 years ago 2
I am a Northern soul freak but this is one of my all time fave songs! Ever since Junior school when we did a project on herring fishing.
door2yourheart 2 years ago 3
just goosbumps ovehere hearing him singing this song
lytsepieter 2 years ago 24
You will get even more Goosebumps! if you listen to Luke Kellys Version of same..... Luke.... god rest him, made this song like so many outhers his own !!!! we are lucky that we can listen to these guys great songs and great singers never die!!!!!.......
malachy1847 2 years ago
This is a great song!!
00JTM 2 years ago 3
I just discovered Ewan MacColl...Great post...Cheers...DK
dragonking134 2 years ago 15
Comment removed
konklaven 2 years ago 18
Glad to learn of this man through researching Dirty Old Town sung by The Pogues- he dont seem like a drunk though...like to heare Ewan sing Dirty Old Town
Amethysting 2 years ago
I first heard this sung by the Mariners (folk group) more years ago than I can remember. Always get a catch in my throat.
anthonyjohn41 2 years ago 11
This song has haunted me for over 25 years since I watched Scottish Ballet perform a beautiful piece to it on tour at Pitlochry. The sound quality was the best I'd ever heard - I'd say he did a special recording for them though I don't know. I was a stage manager so I was watching from the wings. How does a song (and a singer) stir something in us? Apart from some pleasure sailing, I have no connection with the sea yet the song moves me; sorrowful and proud. Lovely slide show too, thanks.
skkeptickle 2 years ago 12
Near the end Lowestoft LT 153. Lowestoft got the last word over Great Yarmouth!
Great song. Great pics.
stuartbeaton 3 years ago
did you know that yarmouth and lowestoft are still at war! they declaired civil war on each other in the 16oo's. no fighting ever happend but no piece treaty, was ever signed so the war technicly never ended!
Maksimfan 2 years ago
No I did not! Great piece of history. My info comes from a great book on the herring fishery called the "Driftermen" which is a history of the great herring days of the steam drifters. Thanks so much for the response.
stuartbeaton 2 years ago 3
yeah I can't remember what book mine comes from but my dad and history teacher both told me as a kid! Norfolk has so much history. I'll be studying archaeolgy (viking studies) at uni soon and people always think I'll have to go to scandinavia to study it. I say, Ormesby's a Viking village! why go anywhere! haha
Maksimfan 2 years ago
I hate to see Yarmouth now. I go to Great Yarmouth College and passing that bridge everyday and seeing an empty quay is soal destroying
Maksimfan 3 years ago 13
I had always assumed that Maccoll was a Scottish guy, but, in fact, "Maccoll" was a showbiz name. He was born James Miller in Salford, now part of Greater Manchester. Just for info.
TerrySleeper 3 years ago
i think his pap was Scottish? i had thought he was Scottish too but ach well.
Leftylemur 3 years ago
And 'Dirty Old Town' was his song about Salford.
postcardsoflife 2 years ago
I thought he was born in Auchterarder in Perthshire?
TheAngusBawbag 2 years ago
I seem to recall reading that he wrote Dirty Old Town for a stage production of some sort. I thought he was scottish too. I'm pretty sure his mother was. I've seen a picture where the both of them are singing togather. I guess that that is where he got the scots singing from.
Clashma 2 years ago
Born in Salford Lancashire to two Scottish social activist parents, he is still the pride of Bonnie Scotland so they say , Albainn gu Brath
Macangusagain 2 years ago
He was a wonderful songwriter, with over 300 to his name.
bigpad69 3 years ago 6
portavogie fisher man says , sends the shivers up the back of me neck, love it , \mark s
simsonic1233 3 years ago 8
EU, fuck em.
dogsbreath101 3 years ago
Great job Nic - very atmospheric photos...
tullochgorum 3 years ago 3
I love to sing this while at the helm of my own little boat. Drives my poor wife crazy- but hey, a man could have worse habits.
BenAliGtor 3 years ago
Woman over board ?
mush1955 3 years ago
Comment removed
skipper42bk 3 years ago
great song by ewan ,our greatest folk songwriter and singer,just a shame the tories signed the common fisheries act , and a shame we backed down to iceland in the cod wars,devestated our fishing industry ,all were left with is songs like this to tell us how it was like
TheMightOfTheEnglish 3 years ago 3
Song writer, yes he was, greatest, no way!
Try Vin Garbutt, Jez Lowe, Harvey Andrew, not in any particular order + many, many others.
What you mean is that he suits your politics.
skipy936 3 years ago
matter of opinion thats all, listend to the 3 you said,quite like that harvey andrews, first impression of the other 2 not that great ,thats only a first impression mind ,on their voices ,going on voices alone ,ralph mctell and the bloke out of the spinners ,have great voices, for example ,ellan vannin ,here on you tube
TheMightOfTheEnglish 3 years ago
Hi, just checked out ellan vannin, very well sung indeed! Just added it to my favs. may sing it myself.
Regards Skipy
skipy936 3 years ago
Great song writer he certainly was ,without question."The Greatest no way"? In making him sound like a contestant from the x factor I think you have completely missed the point.
calum66 3 years ago 2
I come from a long line of Hull fishermen, thou I never took to the trade myself (tried it.. too tough for me). but from the couple of trips I did do I can honestly say it is the hardest life a man can take to.. not just the fishing but the home life as well.. not seeing your children grow up.. missing your women.. christmas away at sea.. What can a fisherman do but fish? land jobs are poorly payed for a fisherman.
To all the fisherman.. missing.. past.. and present.. I pour a dram for you.
tincankid 3 years ago 9
the man who wrote this song did an amazing thing, he made me "feel" the lifestyle of an English fisherman, Im an American girl in a landlocked state! Still his images are so vivid.
joeygsmom 3 years ago 3
If you want to know more, see if you can find 'BBC The Radio Ballads-Singing The Fishing' it's a brilliant CD with songs written by McColl and others (I can't quite remember who) with stories told by actual fishermen, including Samual Larner who fished Yarmouth's waters from the 1890's. he was an folk singer in his own right. He died not long was recorded and saw yarmouth in it's hay day right to it's decline. He's buried in the church yard in front of my allotment in Winterton-On-Sea.
Maksimfan 3 years ago
thanks very much for the info, will check it out.
joeygsmom 3 years ago
you're most welcome :D
Maksimfan 3 years ago
Come to Canada. Lanse aux Meadows the viking settlement in Newfoundland. It was discovered by a chap who believed that the sagas were historical fact! Followed the clues then Eureka Lanse aux Maedows
stuartbeaton 2 years ago
This song is probably the best tribute we can offer the brave fishermen who endured terrible conditions to do their job. Thank you lads, I'm happier to think you're sitting at you're firesides now, surrounded by your children instead of facing gales in the North Sea now Britain's fishing indstry is just a memory. What men you all were. God bless.
Snedger 3 years ago 11
Great Song. Great pictures too.
UISTMAN59 3 years ago 13
this a great song, sung by the great man himself. very nice photos too. well done nic.
mtsongs 3 years ago 12