In a recent discussion Wreckin' Rea mentioned the "Lonesome Boatman". Why is this tune immensely popular in Belfast, just produce a whistle and that is all people want to hear. I have never heard it played anywhere else.
It's the only tune I can play on a whistle, because it's the only one I need to know, albeit in a "folk" group rather than a session.
for some god unknown reason, all children in belfast are taught from a very early age to .........1. love
2. rever
that good old tune [ formally known as the sailor without a mate ]. it is the standard to which all other forms of `diddly dee` are held.
this is a very complex issue you wish to discuss my friend.
like opening pandora`s box........................
Gogi McCullough,a Belfast whistle player recorded it with a band called `the Wolfhound `in the 70`s .He played it a bit quick and we all thought it was from a spaghetti western soundtrack!
It's cos Belfast Harbour is boggin' with pollution and all the wee fishies are dead (or have 3 eyes due to mutation), so all the fishermen are very lonely...
It's a tribute to a once flourishing time of maritime bliss of yester-year.
However, a good way out if playing it, is if someone asks if you know the lonesome boatman, just reply
Some groups used to actually run it into "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Seriously! By the way, you notice no-one else can contribute because they have never heard of it.
Not having heard of it, I tried this (TheSession) db, and it's not there. If you want it, it is on The Traditional Music db, where is its attributed to Finbar Furey, so it can't be all that old.
The Session search suggests you also try JC's ABC tune finder, but this just snarled at me and told me that I was not permitted to access it. Do you need some magic entry handshake?
I worked offshore with a Corkman (Cork City that is) who would play it whenever he got a whistle in his moo'. Began to drive me batty.
He always attributed it to Finbar Furey; but I've heard tunes elsewhere in Europe that sounded remarkably similar. I wish I could remember where .......
Cos - As suggested by bliss, Gogi McCullough played the two together.
It's not really that bad a tune - just played to death. I am forever being asked for it but it is nigh on impossible to play on the Susato - only a generation will do. So that's a handy reason for not playing it.
Having said that, if you can use a tune like the boatman to win the crowd over to you you will be thier best pal for the rest of the lives. Many's a pint and joint has been procured on the basis of the lonesome one!!
Because it's the second tune anyone learns on the whistle in Norn Iron, the first being the South Wind. In a fit of altruism and for the love of the music, I stopped there.
Ooo...don't get me started on how often An Ghaoth Aneas (otherwise known as "The South Wind") gets MURDERED by novice whistle players! Anyone who wants to play that tune should be chained to a chair and forced to listen to it sung (in Irish!) over and over until they have the feel of it down.
I tell you what, many`s a good night has been spent here turning those marches into cracking session tunes , but then again alot of them did originate from trad, either in Ireland or Scotland, not to forget the other celtic countries. But I am of the firm opinion that the poor guy`s boat should be set alight like the boat burials of old. Then we could have a last good Hooley in rememberance, and be done with it. God rest his sole. [ Get it ? Soul/sole?
Why Belfast?
Why Belfast?
In a recent discussion Wreckin' Rea mentioned the "Lonesome Boatman". Why is this tune immensely popular in Belfast, just produce a whistle and that is all people want to hear. I have never heard it played anywhere else.
It's the only tune I can play on a whistle, because it's the only one I need to know, albeit in a "folk" group rather than a session.
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Why Belfast?
for some god unknown reason, all children in belfast are taught from a very early age to .........1. love
2. rever
that good old tune [ formally known as the sailor without a mate ]. it is the standard to which all other forms of `diddly dee` are held.
this is a very complex issue you wish to discuss my friend.
like opening pandora`s box........................
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by wreckin` rea
Re: Why Belfast?
Gogi McCullough,a Belfast whistle player recorded it with a band called `the Wolfhound `in the 70`s .He played it a bit quick and we all thought it was from a spaghetti western soundtrack!
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by cos
Re: Why Belfast?
It's cos Belfast Harbour is boggin' with pollution and all the wee fishies are dead (or have 3 eyes due to mutation), so all the fishermen are very lonely...
It's a tribute to a once flourishing time of maritime bliss of yester-year.
However, a good way out if playing it, is if someone asks if you know the lonesome boatman, just reply
"No, where is he from?"
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by Murrough
Re: Why Belfast?
Some groups used to actually run it into "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Seriously! By the way, you notice no-one else can contribute because they have never heard of it.
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Why Belfast?
Not having heard of it, I tried this (TheSession) db, and it's not there. If you want it, it is on The Traditional Music db, where is its attributed to Finbar Furey, so it can't be all that old.
The Session search suggests you also try JC's ABC tune finder, but this just snarled at me and told me that I was not permitted to access it. Do you need some magic entry handshake?
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Sokol
Re: Why Belfast?
Just submitted an alternate link to JC's. It's in the "Links" section. Maybe it'll work better for you.
Mike
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by MikeJV
Re: Why Belfast?
You will hear this tune played all over Ireland by whistle players and not just Belfast.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by compaqjohn
Re: Why Belfast?
I worked offshore with a Corkman (Cork City that is) who would play it whenever he got a whistle in his moo'. Began to drive me batty.
He always attributed it to Finbar Furey; but I've heard tunes elsewhere in Europe that sounded remarkably similar. I wish I could remember where .......
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Bren
Re: Why Belfast?
Apparently Finbar Furey wrote it alright but it does have similarities with other tunes.
We used to call it "Loan us some blow, man"
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Why Belfast?
I kike that last one, except when they are looking paid back.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Why Belfast?
Anyone think those "smoke" breaks taken outside pubs should be deducted from a musicians fee and redistributed among the other members?
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by jfiddlerh
Re: Why Belfast?
Cos - As suggested by bliss, Gogi McCullough played the two together.
It's not really that bad a tune - just played to death. I am forever being asked for it but it is nigh on impossible to play on the Susato - only a generation will do. So that's a handy reason for not playing it.
Having said that, if you can use a tune like the boatman to win the crowd over to you you will be thier best pal for the rest of the lives. Many's a pint and joint has been procured on the basis of the lonesome one!!
# Posted on February 2nd 2005 by breandan
Re: Why Belfast?
Because it's the second tune anyone learns on the whistle in Norn Iron, the first being the South Wind. In a fit of altruism and for the love of the music, I stopped there.
# Posted on February 2nd 2005 by kate_d
Re: Why Belfast?
Ooo...don't get me started on how often An Ghaoth Aneas (otherwise known as "The South Wind") gets MURDERED by novice whistle players! Anyone who wants to play that tune should be chained to a chair and forced to listen to it sung (in Irish!) over and over until they have the feel of it down.
# Posted on February 2nd 2005 by MacTireRua
Re: Why Belfast?
And there was me thinking it was An Gaoth Aduaidh, ah well, what do i know, maybe it`s a different South Wind, then again my irish is Ulster dialect.
# Posted on February 3rd 2005 by wreckin` rea
Re: Why Belfast?
We did see a man get kicked out of The Lady Gregory in Dublin for playing it on the clarinet. Maybe folks in Belfast are more tolerant?
# Posted on February 3rd 2005 by Gzeg
Re: Why Belfast?
Another reason that it is so popular,is that many of the protestant marching bands have played it for years and indeed recorded it on their albums.
# Posted on February 4th 2005 by banjo billy
Re: Why Belfast?
I tell you what, many`s a good night has been spent here turning those marches into cracking session tunes , but then again alot of them did originate from trad, either in Ireland or Scotland, not to forget the other celtic countries. But I am of the firm opinion that the poor guy`s boat should be set alight like the boat burials of old. Then we could have a last good Hooley in rememberance, and be done with it. God rest his sole. [ Get it ? Soul/sole?
# Posted on February 4th 2005 by wreckin` rea