Words:
© Phil and June Colclough
Music:
© Dick Swain
Dick Swain found this in a book, as a poem, and put his own tune to it, which Cindy and I arranged for our own voices. Since then, Dick found a recording of a tune that Phil wrote himself, that we have not yet heard, so this will be the Dick Swain version!
GB: 12-string C: drum
May the harpoon rust, may
the cold steel be gone
May the seas all be clear
where whalefishes run
May hook, knife, dart, and
line
all be lost in the brine
May the blood on the sails
all be fishermen's tales
May the whalesmen's breath
no more hang like the mist
May he never face danger
or take any risk
May boat, gun, oar and
mast all be lost in the frost
May the blood on the sails
all be fishermen's tales
May the women on shore
never have any fears
May smiles touch the
cheeks
that once ran with tears
May ship, deck, rope and
bells all grow cockle shells
May the blood on the sails
all be fishermen's tales
May the seas ne'er be red
where whalefishes bled
Nor shine like the wine
when the whalefish is dead
May fleets, planksheds and
quays
all be lost in the seas
And may the blood on the
sails all be fishermen's tales
Blood on the Sails is recorded on the album Neighbors