Judy Collins - "Farewell to Tarwathie"

American singer Judy Collins, one of the most renowned voices to come out of the 1960s folk music era, sings a whaling song, with backing by the sounds of the Humpback whales. This song was written by George Scrogie, a miller at Fedderate, New Deer, in the early 1850s. Tarwathie is a farm in the lap of Mormond Hill, near the village of Strichen, and the song tells the story of a lad who left there to seek his fortune in whaling.

"Farewell to Tarwathie, adieu Mormond Hill
And the dear land of Crimond, I bid you farewell
I'm bound out for Greenland and ready to sail
In hopes to find riches in hunting the whale."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• judy
• collins
• tarwathie
• humpback
• whales
• whale
• song
• greenland

[grundoon51]

Wasn't this song on her first album, back in the very early '60's?

[betahifi]

No. You are thinking of "Bonnie Ship the Diamond. This one, "Farewell to Tarwathie" was on her "Whales And Nightingales" album, released in November 1970.

[BluegillGreg]

Reminds me of falling asleep standing up covered in blood with my knife still gutting black cod, three o clock in the morning fifty miles off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. I'm afraid I'd do it again given the chance, old bones and all. It's the Ocean's version of god with stars jumping crazy all over the blackest sky as the boat drifts, rocking, with the deck lights out and the motor off. Aren't we all seawater and stardust anyway?

[robertmaddoxjr]

I love this woman's voice

[dws84014]

An Angel's Voice from on High, Stuck in the confines of earth, Thank you Judy for the years of singing and giving us such joy.

[spiralpapermoon]

@BluegillGreg -- struck by your comment, it's poetry! I am anti-hunting just about anything, but your comment was electric. (The song is incredible, too, Judy Collins was fantastic!)

[Timberextra]

How many singers can sing with just whale calls as her backups???

[keygain]

This song has always been one of my favorite performed by Judy Collins. She's going to be in concert this week at THE EGG, in Albany, NY.

[tomscarr1]

heard this @ 15 it still moves me @ 56 The whales are excellent backup

[asbpab1966]

Beautiful.

[kehoe123321]

Her voice has been, and still is, like liquid silver.

[1234549084]

A Beautiful version of this song ,but think i like Ilsa stClairs version better ,but i may be becausei come from Aberdeenshire!

[12magicKid12]

She does this song very well, but this has nothing on The Corries' version.

[Chaiteaist]

sings like a bird!