Interesting Facts about Blow The Wind Southerly
The melody and text of the Blow The Wind Southerly, which you will hear in my reconstruction, were taken from the earliest source I can achieve W. G. Whittaker’s “Blow The WInds Southetly” (1921 by J.Curwen & Sons Ltd.), but the origin, of course, is much older and some part of this song was first in print in the Sharp, Cuthbert, ed. (1834) “The bishoprick garland, or A collection of legends, songs, ballads, &c. belonging to the county of Durham”. This song generally is called “The Fishes”, it is the origin of the shanty under the same title. What we know about it this song is undoubtedly a Scottish fishermen’s song.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the shore song.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Blow The WInds Southetly” by W. G. Whittaker (1921 by J.Curwen & Sons Ltd.).
The lyrics: “Blow The WInds Southetly” by W. G. Whittaker (1921 by J.Curwen & Sons Ltd.).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).
The Record of the Blow The Wind Southerly
You also can find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.
The musical notation
The full lyrics
Blow The Wind Southerly
Blow-the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow–the wind south o’er the bonnie blue sea;
Blow-the wind southerly southerly southerly
Blow bonnie breeze, my lover to me
They told me last night there were ships in the offing.
And I hurried down to the deep rolling sea;
But my eye could not see it, wherever might be it
The barque that is bearing my lover to me.
* 2 *
Blo.w the wind southerly, southerly, southerly
Blow the wind south, that my lover may come;
Blo.w the wind southerly southerly southerly,
Blow bonnie breeze, and bring him safe home.
I stood by the lighthouse the last time we parted,
Till darkness came down o’er the deep rolling sea!
And no longer I saw the bright bark of my lover–
Blow bonnie ‘breeze, and ‘bring him to me.
* 3 *
Blo.w the wind southerly, southerly, southerly
Blow the wind south, that my lover may come;
Blo.w the wind southerly southerly southerly,
Blow bonnie ‘breeze, and ‘bring him to me.
Is it not ‘sweet to ‘hear the breeze singing,
As lightly it comes o’er the deep rolling sea?
But sweeter and dearer by far when ’tis bringing
The bark of my true love in safety to me.
Related to this song
The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye (Alan Lomax) -River Song