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The Ship In Distress

from Gracious Wings by Jackie Oates

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Gracious Wings is the 8th solo album from English traditional singer, Jackie Oates.

    This CD comes in a digipack format, with CD, sleeve and booklet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Gracious Wings via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

I first came across this song with Kathryn Roberts while researching material for a project about Cecil Sharp. It is said to have been collected from James Bishop of Priddy, Somerset. According to the late Lou Killen, the subject matter is inspired by a 16th century Portuguese ballad which travelled to France, and became La Corte Paille (The Short Straw).

lyrics

5. The Ship In Distress – Trad. Arr. Oates/Wilks

You seamen bold, who plough the ocean
Know dangers, lands men never know
The sun goes down, with an equal motion
No tongue can tell what they undergo
In blusterous winds or in heat of battle
There are no back doors to run away
But thundering cannons loudly rattle
Mark well what happened the other day

A merchant ship, long time had sailed
Long time been captive out at sea
The weather proving so uncertain
Brought them to great extremity
Nothing on board poor souls to cherish
For want of food they are freely grown
Captain and men were almost starving
There was nothing left but skin and bone

The cats and dogs how they did eat them
Their hunger being so very severe
Captain and men in one position
Captain and men went equal share
Until at last a hitch came on them
A hitch came on them most speedily
Captain and men fell in a totter
Casting of lots as to who should die

The lot it fell on one poor fellow
His family being so very great
These very words did he grieve sorrow
These very words did he regret
“I’m willing to die my mess mates, brothers
Let someone up to the topmast stray
And then perhaps, some sail discover
While I unto the Lord do pray”

These very words, did he grieve sorrow
These very words did he regret
When a merchant ship, there came a sailing
There came a sailing to their delight
May God protect all jolly sailors
Who boldly venture on the main
And keep them free from all such trials
Never to hear the like again

credits

from Gracious Wings, track released September 2, 2022
Jon Wilks – guitar
John Parker – double bass

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about

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Jackie Oates Wallingford, UK

Jackie Oates is a mainstay of English traditional music and one of the country’s best loved folk performers. Her deeply personal 2018 album The Joy Of Living was described as “utterly gorgeous” by The Guardian. Through collaboration and commission, Jackie brings elements of the English tradition to new people and places; bringing a much needed calm and joy to those who hear it. ... more

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