Kara-Moon Forum

Well ... let's see how this one works out  :-X

This must have been one of the first songs I ever wrote.
I composed the lyrics back in 1973 (ish) and never got to put a tune to it. It disappeared and I just recently discovered it amongst some old papers so I thought I should finish it off by putting it all together, at last.  ::)

If this were played in it's natural environment, the folk club, I would expect you all to join in on the chorus.  :o  Let me know if you have  :D .... no lies  :-X

It is about the area in which I grew up and still live. The harbour at the mouth of the River Tyne is enclosed by two piers each with a lighthouse on the end. Just below the north pier there is a terribly dangerous stretch of semi-submerged rocks known as the Black Middens on which many a ship has been wrecked in the past.
At the very mouth of the river itself, in between the two piers, is a shorter pier with a structure on the end which looks like a lighthouse but is, in fact, also a bell tower. This is known as The Groyne and this bell would sound out in times of fog to give sailors an audible warning that they were nearing the rocks.

http://www.tyne-photos.co.uk/south-shields/4.htm (http://www.tyne-photos.co.uk/south-shields/4.htm)

The Groyne Bell

When the fog rolls in ‘cross the dark North Sea
The trawlermen’s wives lie in fear
For the lives of those brave strong fishermen
At sea beyond the Tynemouth pier.

The pilots ply past the great black rocks
That lie on the northern side
And the hatred bites right into their hearts
With the memory of those who’ve died.

(chorus) In Frenchmans Bay or Smugglers Cove
            You’ll hear the bell from the Groyne.
            When the dark fog threatens livelihood
            She steers the vessels to the Tyne

The two great piers like encircling arms
Reach out ‘midst the swirling sea
To grasp at the turbulent waters
And calm them to tranquillity.

In the dark of night there’s a guiding light
On either side of the bay
And a warning bell sends out it’s knell
For the mariner who fears the way.
(chorus)

When the fog rolls in ‘cross the dark North Sea
And the trawlerman’s wife lies asleep
And that brave lads ears for the bell are strained
He prays to God his life he’ll keep.
(chorus)
(chorus)


Adam Black S-5 acoustic guitar
Ibanez  AEL20 electro-acoustic guitar
Fretless acoustic bass
Vintage mandolin
15 bar Autoharp
Tubular Bell from Sampletank free
Waves from PIR

 ;)
James

Actually... yes I did sing along. Tried a bit of a harmony too.

Absolute classic folk song :)

pure, real Offthewall, folk, acoustic guitar, the sound of waves, I am with all of you on the beach, around a campfire ....
 :-* Azell

 :D
Thanks for the comments, Azell.

And Will, thanks to you too.  In response to your comment 'elsewhere' about the vocal being a bit of a stretch ... well. the way my range is so severely limited I find that the only way I can really try to improve it is to take this sort of approach. I find a key where I can 'just' scrape the bottom note and then write a melody. It's then up to fate, and many practice sessions, to see if I can make it  :o

 ;)
James

Yes, I do understand this James. I had exactly the same situation with 'The Storm'. I futzed around with the key, and kept on and on trying to sing it until I sort of got it. I don't know about you, but I find that (provided I don't overdo it) practice actually extends my range - but it only seems temporary :(

guys, you must return to school and take courses in vocal technique ... bon courage  :D :D :D

+1

Great song here James.  Love your guitar picking :-

Super lyrics also.

The only thing better than one furry Englishman and his acoustic guitar... is a whole slew of them playing a gamut of strange folky instruments.
Beautiful, James :;

(about singing along to the chorus, the language is sufficiently different from Canadian "English" that I couldn't get a handle on it  :-[... :D)

Thanks, Mario
and ... Oren, thanks too for listening.
I would be interested in your comments on the actual mix and engineering, my friend.
For a change I actually spent a lot of time on the timing issues and post-production of this piece.  ::)
It would interest me to know the opinions of others.  :-*

 ;)
James