Sir Patrick Spens - a loyal sailor meets his doom off Aberdeen

The story of Sir Patrick Spens and the loss of so many Scottish nobles at sea is thought to be based on an event in 13 th century. However, the story gets its poigniancy from the unflinching loyalty of Sir Patrick who obeys the orders of the king despite knowing that his voyage is almost certainly doomed. This version inspired by the Martin Carthy rendition of the Nic Jones tune -- and John Boden's Folk Song a day. Sung by Alan Rosevear in Exeter. Roud No. 41. SIR PATRICK SPENS Oh the king sits in Dunfermline town, Drinking the blood-red wine, Sayings, "Where will I get me a brave mariner to sail this ship of mine?" And up and spoke an old, old man, that sits at at the king's right knee. He says, "Patrick Spens is the very best sailor that ever did sail on the sea." So the king he has written him a long, long letter, Sealed it with his hand, And he sent it along to Patrick Spens, who was walking on the sand. And the very first line that Patrick read, So loud, so loud laughed he, And the very next line that Patrick read he fell down to his knee. "Oh, who is this, who has done this deed, to tell the king on me, For to send us out this time of the year, to sail on the salt, salt sea?" "To Norway, to far Norway,to Norway over the foam. It is the king's daughter of far Norway and we must bring her home." Now they set sail with all good speed, on a Monday morning tide, And they have arrived far over the sea, on a Wednesday evening tide. And they'd not been in far Norway, a week but barely three, When all the lords of far Norway, began out aloud for to say: "Oh, you Scots foreigners spend our king's gold, Swallow up our money." "Oh, weary weary the tongue that lies, See how it lies on thee." "Make ready, ready my good men all, The little ship sails in the morn. Be it wind, be it wet, be it hail, be it sleet, Be it fair or deadly storm." But up and spoke our own weatherman, "I fear we'll come to harm. For I saw the new moon late last night, The old moon in her arm." And they'd not sailed a league and a league, A league but barely three When through and through the little ship's side [They?] spied the green-walled sea. "Oh, where will I get me a brave young boy, Take my helm in hand, While I climb up to the tall topmast, See can I spy land." And he'd not gone a step and a step, A step but barely one, When the whirling winds and the ugly jaws Came a-driving to their shin. "Oh, fetch me a web of the silken cloth, Another web of the twine, And lay them around our little ship's side Let not the sea come in." And they got a web of the silken cloth, Another web of the twine, And they laid them around the little ship's side, Still the sea come in. Oh, the anchor snapped, the topmast cracked, It was a deadly storm. And the whirling winds and the ugly jaws Came a-driving to their chin. And there came a gale from the north-north-east, So loud, so loud it weep, It cried, "Patrick Spens and all of his men Are drowning in the deep." And loath, loath were the good Scots lords To wet their shining shoen, But long and ere this day was done Their hats were soaking through. And many were the fine feather bed Flattering over the foam, And many were the good lords' sons Never, never more come home. And long, long will the ladies sit, Their gold combs in their hand, Before they see Sir Patrick Spens Come a-sailing to dry land. Oh, it's east by north from Aberdeen, Full fifty fathom deep. And it's there lies Patrick Spens, With the Scots lords at his feet.