canasg choral music publishing

SG1004

Ballad

Poem by William Soutar (1898-1943) from Collected Poems 1948
Tune by Ernest Buck (1908-1975)

Arrangement by his son Michael Buck (1998)

SATB performance time approx 2m 00s

Arranger's note

This is a sad and stark song of a love lost at sea. The first two verses beseech the listener for news of the lost fisherman; the third and fourth lead to the shocking truth that his dead body has been found.

Other settings of Soutar poems which could be used as companion pieces include A song, Day is düne and Sang (all published by Canasg).

Music

See a sample of the music

You need Acrobat Reader on your computer to see music pages. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, go to our 'links' page to find out how to get it free of charge. (You'll have to go back to the catalogue page first).

Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

Ballad

O! shairly ye hae seen my love [surely you have]
Doun whaur the waters wind: [down where]
He walks like ane wha fears nae man [one who fears no man]
And yet his e'en are kind. [eyes]

O! shairly ye hae seen my love
At the turnin o' the tide;
For then he gethers in the nets
Doun be the waterside. [down by the waterside]

O! lassie I hae seen your love
At the turnin o' the tide;
And he was wi' the fisher folk [with]
Doun be the waterside.

The fisher folk were at their trade
No far frae Walnut Grove; [not far from]
They gether'd in their dreepin nets [hanging]
And fund your ain true love. [found your own]

William Soutar (1898-1943)

Full pronunciation guide provided

Price per copy Ł1.30 ($2.00)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

Canasg Music

publishing startlingly original choral music

Ballad

Arranger's note

Music

Words

Companion pieces

Canasg Music