The Stirling Castle
A spin-off of MOSTLY WHOLE. From research done while working on MOSTLY WHOLE. Fascinating bit of history. A typhoon in the English Channel. Both the public and government of England saw it as divine retribution for not kicking enough Catholic butt in the Wars of Restoration.
Verse Vocals: Chris Price & Chris Freeman
Chorus Voices: Chris & Chris, Aldo, Julio, Doug, Terry, Rob.
Olde Vinyle Crackle: Terry
https://soundcloud.com/tornblomterence/the-stirling-castle
Oh Cheltenham I'm finally home
With no place to call my own
Walking down these cobblestones
Who knows the terrors i have known
CHORUS:
We all fought five years together
Plank by plank and row by row
I alone am on this dock now
But for a limb I'm mostly whole
Here comes the miller's lovely daughter
But I see no friendly smile
Years of war have surely taught her
I've been gone too long a while
CHORUS
We were the crew of the Stirling Castle
Wrecked upon the Goodwin Sands
The nation's fleet made fror the Channel
Fifteen ships, two thousand men
Captain Johnson dragged the anchor
Rising tide scarce carried us o'er
The current changed and that's what sank her
Battered by that deadly storm
Our stern remained above the breakers
I wept and clung onto the rail
We prayed but God he did forsake her
And beat us with His wind and hail
While on the shore the chimneys tumbled
Oak trees laid down evermore
The lighthouse sank with crippling rumble
A violence worse than the war.
Comments
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It gives me the impression of a sound testimony of a part of history, as if the wind were bringing these voices from beyond yesterday. @DullRoar
Good atmosphere!!!
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Nice harmonies. sounds like the kind of thing that would be sung in dockside taverns in years gone by.
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Certainly feels like it could be a traditional song! A true "chorus" of people for the chorus is great.
Be nice to hear it with violin or accordion accompaniment. The acapella works, but the verses feel a little thin.
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Nice song man , Can't beat choir stuff
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@OnlyGavin "sung in dockside taverns in years gone by"
@RainyDayMan " The acapella works, but the verses feel a little thin"
@ElvisNash thanks for kind comment, lad
It's a "shanty" (derived from "chant"). Typically used to co-ordinate/encourage heavin', haulin', swabbin', bailin'... and such activities as are prone to befall ye salty dogs.
No hands for instruments or handclaps while working. But I'm sure that favourites were more fully-blown on shore. I imagine that below decks, on a voyage... fiddles, whistles and concertinas gave voice to more "restful" songs.
Just guessing tho', I'm no expert.
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I had a hand in this one. Nice to hear it again Terry. This is a clever ditty. It still sounds good to my old ears.
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Hi
i am not so familiar with this genre Sea Chanty ??
its performed very well & the vocals are really tight
nice to hear Chris doing something outside his rock & Roll
subvibe
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I guess if the Beatles can get away with English references with Americans , You can to , Sounds good
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