Roger Whittaker------ Durham Town

[rdvqc]

Someone below referred to Pierre Cour - that would be the Mon Pays Bleu version of this song - I actually kinda liked it just a bit better than this - somehow the words fit just a touch better. Thanks Pierre for that.

[britmanuk]

super

[GenericGene]

5 Star -------------

[brx1030]

I so remember this song.

We were living in Wiltshire ('69).

This is one artist I would take with me to a deserted island.

[michaelgrieve]

Fantastic song, and a fantastic singer.

Thanks for sharing

[teknicol]

Actually my Dad did leave to go to war but I don't remember him. I did spend time as a boy sitting on the banks of the Tyne watching the ships and train spotting too, and I did have to leave my beautiful home and fabulous old Durham Town several times and love the ancient place. Eventually emigrating to Canada from there. Could have written this song myself-great song great voice-It still breaks me up and I'm seventy.

Thanks to the writer Piere Cour and Roger and also for the video.

[MsPaulagina]

Danny... my son and me memories of old songs... and just chillin

[mackemsteve1973]

Ive got a new version of the second verse to put the record straight about the river Tyne

WHEN I WAS A BOY I'D SHED A TEAR

SITTING ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER WEAR

WATCHING ALL THE SHIPS SAILING PAST THE PIER

Much more like it dont you think haha

[cdtpatterson]

Shame he couldn't get his geography right :( Bit insulting since loads of people from Durham are Sunderland fans. Including me :(

[flagascaro]

Everytime somebody tells me Bono is such a wonderful bloody geezer I sing this song to myself. To Cromwell Ulster and the prince of wales.

[tod4533]

"I've gotta leave old cols ohio!"

should use this as my song title!

[ScaeanGate]

Lovely melody, beautifully sung by an old trooper.

[MrClivedavid]

love this song love Geordie's best wishes from wales

[jollypollydoodah]

the song is actually about newcastle but he couldn't get it to work so changed it to durham town

[ashlincs15]

I remember watching him on the TV thinking i will never get through the rest of night. Love him or hate him the man had talent and a great voice.

[tommy3lions]

And the River Tyne runs through Newcastle, the River Wear runs through Durham.

[Serendipity353]

Tommy Man! Divint be such a kill joy! Who cares if the Tyne flows though the toon (gods country) Hiya not hord of poetic licence. From a Geordie lad!

[tommy3lions]

Hadaway man bonny lad :-)

[Serendipity353]

Eeee sat doon by the banks of the tyne on a Sataday after watchin the toon play cos he was a toon supporta not a machem!

[tommy3lions]

Nee way marra, ahl be on the banks a tha wear, as gannin to the light ta see tha lads cos am a mackem, some canny ships mad thor yenar,then gannin to tha seaside at Roker if the weather is areet. Gan canny.

[tommy3lions]

Being a Durham lad I love this song but must remind big Rodge that Durhm is not a town, its a city, a proper city with a cathedal.

[2020ric]

tommy3lions..AAAHHH..Wish to get there someday..sounds like a so BEAUTIFUL place to live..this songs says it too well..

[tommy3lions]

Mate, its a beautiful city with such lovely surroundings, woodland walks around the river by the cathedral, cobbled streets etc and great people. Hope you get the chance. I live in London now but go home regular. All the best mate,

[mistofoles]

Yeah, but you can't sing "I've gotta leave old Durham city", it just doesn't scan!

[tommy3lions]

I've gotta leave old durham city, I don't wanna go oh what a pity !!! You can work that around the tune :-) maybe not !

As stated tho great song, I'm proud to be a Durham CITY lad .

[Grado2003]

This guy is like comfort food!!

[getcheve43]

Por donde se le escuche es espectacular, su voz su estilo, su tono y su profundidad desde muy joven me encantó y por eso la sé de memoria y cada tanto intento entonarla....superbe en francés, beautifull en inglés! Es un clásico

[Dreamcatcherwrites]

dont' get mad at me anyone,buti have to say Irish, english, kenyan, who cares! !! As long as he sings like that!! He can be anything he wants to be :D:D:D:!

[armydave]

This song pops in my head every time I do leave Durham...makes me both happy and sad to hear it.

[Passionbandit]

This is one great Irishman who can sing

[Godwinite]

He's English, not Irish.

[SANDWALKER7]

south african even!!!!

[DrMarv]

Kenyan even, even!!

[nilsdrew]

great voice great man love this

[TheMuntsa]

desde muy jovencita ,esta canción me gusto mucho y me sigue gustando, ademas tiene una voz maravillosa, y ademas silba que es una maravilla. Gracias ROGER

[w9x7cv3vg6]

anyone know when this performance took place

[bigfootskitty]

it had to be in about 77 or 78. this was one of the last albums my father bought before he landed in the hospitalhe was in during 79-80but sadly, he never recovered, so now I hane the album

[philpiv]

This is fron the " Live at the Tivoli" DVD from a Concert in Copenhagen in 1989

[w9x7cv3vg6]

thanks just wanna label the video in my collection

[CoolDudeTulsa]

He is a real singer ~~~ sounds just as good live as on the album ~~~ he is real good!

[CoolDudeTulsa]

Good feeling, good memories, sweet feeling, leaving but optimistic feeling ~~~

[michaelgrieve]

Nice video, and nice song, thanks for sharing ;-)

[jadethehappymonkey]

this song makes me cry every time it remindss me when i was little with my pap (IM 12 not30000)

[bobiom]

I was born in Co. Durham - Durham is a City on the Wear - not a town on the tyne

[loukanika]

I was born in Sunderland , classed back then as county Durham, I agree that its only the song thats important and not where you are from , to me all the areas of the North East are great places. Thanks Roger for a great song.

[kev113113]

River Wear, river Tyne. Who's bothered. Lovely song! Born on the Tyne btw!

[elvisghost100]

Whose maritime song is better? This or Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald'?

[ladymilley]

My Dad loved listening to this and it was played at his funeral in december after he lost his brave battle with cancer. Thoughts are with you Teddyboy53rocker.

RIP Dad xx

[Teddyboy53Rocker]

You lot stop arguing, its just a song, my dad listened to roger all his life, now my dad has just a couple of weeks to live through cancer, so i came to revive some memories and you lot are arguing,

PACK  IT IN

[2020ric]

Teddyboy53Rocker..My prayers for your dad!..Regards..RIC!!!

[usaruss]

A man curses when he has nothing worthwhile to say.

[silverrainhorse]

Where in the song does he actually state that the Tyne is in Durham, because it doesn't sound to me that he actually states that at all. Surely, in real life it is quite normal to live in an area & also spend time in other close-by locations. To my ears, that's all he refers to...spending time in another place that is quite close to Durham. This aside, people are allowed to use some imagination & artistic licence in song-writing. It's a beautiful song, sung beautifully.

[sludgefingers]

Bollocks to sitting by the River Tyne, what's wrong with the Wear (which is actually in Durham, for foreigners) - couldn't he find a rhyme for it? Useless git.

[gmf65]

dont be so fuckin ignorant you fuckin nomark

[sludgefingers]

Go fuck yourself Roger.

[jeffreymarcus123]

i think you'll find you're the useless git you clueless imbecile

[sludgefingers]

Blimey, that's me told good and proper.

[stripemister]

Roger, after leaving Durham Town, come to the Philadelphia area, and do what you do best. When things aren't going well, all I do is listen to one of your LP's. Instant high.  Continue making people happy for another 50 years.

[ArmenianNationalism]

Childhood memories :)))

[broomybank]

A beautiful sad song about separation and loss, so apt at this time of year. Although clearly aimed at a more mature market, as a young teenager I liked it when it was released.Similar in sentiment to the Beatles 'In My Life'. Thanks for posting!

[usaruss]

From Durham, NC...thanks for posting this. I haven't heard it in years.

[jdolew]

Thanks for posting this. I grew up in Whitby Ontario in the Region of Durham and when my parents played this song I always thought it was about Whitby in Canada. When I grew older I learned of other Durham towns. It's a lovely song.

[SIRSXC999]

sensational, im 15 and a great fan of this song.

[mindurownbizzo]

This was always my favorite Roger Whittaker song...thanks a million hellincastro, for sharing this wonderful clip!

[hellincastro]

Thanks my friend,from barcelona Spain,i hope to meet you again.

[BigKwell]

@mindurownbizzo And in is native Africa!

[tangaloomababe]

What a beautiful voice. I remember this song from my youth, my parents played it and it remains in my head. A quality act. Thanks.

[hellincastro]

Thank you,from Barcelona Spain!

[will0479]

same here,,, the old days of family journeys in the back of the car as a child with this song played on tape as we travelled along... class,,, lol