We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

When Conditions Were Right (Re​-​Release)

by Andrew Paine

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £3 GBP  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 58 Andrew Paine releases available on Bandcamp and save 70%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Chiron 6.0, Passage, Chapter Nine, Radios, Abandonment, Whole Day Falling, Kledon, Sky Station Z4: Final Contact, and 50 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      £31.05 GBP or more (70% OFF)

     

1.
One night we were fishing Happisburgh* Light, Fishing and trawling, all through the night Chorus (repeated after each verse): In this windy old weather, stormy old weather, stormy old weather, When the wind blow, we'll all pull together. Up jumped the herring, the queen of the sea, He sang out, “Old Skipper, O you can't catch me!” Up jumped the mackerel, with spots on his back, He sang out, “Old Skipper, come square your main tack!” Up jumped the crab, with his great long claws, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you'll run her ashore!” Up jumped the rooker, his back hard and tough, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you will burn the duff!” Up jumped the sprat, the smallest of all, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you will loose your trawl!” Up jumped the whiting, with silvery eyes Said, “You haven't gt long on the sea for to ride!” Up spoke the skipper, “The saying is right, We'll haul up our trawl and we'll go home tonight!”
2.
As I walked out one morning, so careless I did stray, I overheard a sailor bold to his young lady say: “Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, I soon must leave the shore To cross the briney ocean on a British man-o'-war.” Pretty Susan fell a-weeping and this to him did say: “How can you be so venturesome to throw yourself away? For 'tis when I am twenty-one I shall receive my store, Jolly sailor, do not venture on a British man-o'-war.” “Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the truth to you I'll tell: The British flag insulted is; Old England knows it well. I may be crowned with laurels but, like a jolly tar, I'll face the wars of China on a British man-o'-war.” Young Henry took his handkerchief and cut it fair in two, Said he, “One half you keep for me; the same I'll do for you. Though the bullets may surround me and cannons loudly roar, I'll fight for fame and Susan on this British man-o'-war.” “Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the time will quickly pass, Let's go down to the ferry house and take a parting glass. My shipmates they are waiting to row me from the shore, For 'tis old England's glory on a British man-o'-war.” A few more words were spoken, then her love let go her hand; The jovial crew they launched the boat so merrily from land. Young Henry waved his handkerchief while far away from shore, Pretty Susan blessed her sailor on a British man-o'-war
3.
Pretty Nancy from Yarmouth, o my joy and delight! It's of a kind letter I am now going to write; It is to inform you what we undergo All on the salt sea, my love, where the stormy winds blow. 'Twas early one evening, just before it grew dark, Our captain came to us and he showed us a mark; He showed us a mark, boys, from Zeus in the sky, He said he was sure there was a storm very nigh. 'Twas early the next morning just before it grew day Our captain came to us and these words he did say, “Be all of good heart, boys, be all of good cheer, For whilst we have sea-roads, brave boys, never fear.” It's well, my dearest jewel, how we were toss'd about Like an army of soldiers going forth for to fight. A soldier may fly to his sword or his gun But a sailor must submit to his watery tomb.
4.
When first I went a-waggoning, a-waggoning did go Well, it filled my poor old parents' hearts with sorrow, grief, and woe And many are the hardships that since I've undergone. Chorus (after each verse): Sing whoa my lads, sing whoa, drive on my lads, drive on Who wouldn't be for all the world a jolly waggoner. When it's pelting down with rain, my lads, I get wetted to the skin But I bear it with contented heart until I reach the inn And I sit down a-drinking with the landlord and his kin. Well, things is greatly altered now and waggons few are seen The world's turned topsy-turvy, lads, and things is run by steam And the whole world passes before me just like a morning dream. Aye, things is greatly altered now but then what can us do The folks in power all take no heed to the likes of me and you It's hardship for us workmen, lads, and a fortune for the few. Well, Martinmas is coming, lads, what pleasures we shall see Like chaff before the wind, my lads, we'll make our money flee And every lad shall take his lass and he'll have her on his knee
5.
"O where are you going my pretty fair maid, With your red rosy cheeks and your curly black hair?" "I'm a-going a-milking, kind sir," she answered me, "For it's rolling in the dew makes the milkmaids so fair." "O shall I go along with you my pretty fair maid?" "Why surely you can please yourself, kind sir, "she answered me. "Supposing I should lay you down, ,my pretty fair maid?" "Why surely I'd get up again, kind sir," she answered me. "Supposing I should dirt your gown?" (etc., as above) "Why surely it would wash again." "Supposing you should have a child?" "Why surely you would be the father of it." "What should you do for linen?" "My father he's a linen-draper." "What would you do for a cradle?" "My brother he's a basket maker." "Supposing I should run away?" "May the Devil fetch you back again."
6.
'Twas in Scarborough fair town a young damsel did dwell, She loved a young sailor, she loved him full well. When they were about to marry her this was this young man's lot: Instead of a married life a watery grave he got. Now as we were got sailing through Robin Hood's Bay, The wind came down all on us and dismal was the day. The wind came down all on us and the seas like lions roared, Which tossed these poor sailors all on the lee shore. Now as we were got swimming, yes, swimming for our lives, Some of them had sweethearts and some of them had wives. And it was about our landing, it worked to be this young man's lot, For instead of a-marrying her a watery grave he got. Now as soon as this fair maid these tidings did hear She pulled off her ringlets, she tored off her hair, Crying, “Come, all you cruel billows, come, toss my love on shore So that I may behold his sweet features once more.” Now as she was got walking down by the sea side She met a pretty sailor washed up all by the tide, And when she saw him she immediately did stand, For she knew it was her own true love by the marks on his right hand. “And now that I have found my true love I do adore, I'll kiss him, I'll embrace him ten thousand times o'er, I'd be happy and contented to lay down by his side.” And the very next day morning this pretty fair maid died. Now in Scarborough fair town these two couple do lay, And written on their tombstone in full memory, Crying, “Come, all you loyal lovers, this way as you pass by, Think of those unfortunate couple who now here do lay.”
7.
Arise, arise, you pretty fair maids, And take your May bush in, For if that is gone before tomorrow morn You would say we had brought you none. Oh, the hedges and fields are growing so green, As green as grass can be; Our heavenly father watereth them With his heavenly dew so sweet. I have got a little purse in my pocket That's tied with a silken string; And all that it lacks is a little of your gold To line it well within. Now the clock strikes one, it's time we are gone, We can no longer stay; So please to remember our money, money box And God send you a joyful May.
8.
Adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu, I am going across the ocean, love, to seek for something new. Come change your ring with me, dear girl, Come change your ring with me, For it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea. And when I'm far upon the sea you'll know not where I am. Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land. The secrets of your heart, dear girl, Are the best of my good will, So let your body be where it might, my heart will be with you still. There's a heavy storm arising, see how it gathers round, While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the crown. There's nothing to protect us, love, Or keep us from the cold, On the ocean wide, where we must fight like jolly seamen bold. There's tinkers, tailors, shoemakers, lie snoring fast asleep, While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep. Our officers commanded us, And them we must obey, Expecting every moment for to get cast away. But when the wars are over, there'll be peace on every shore, We'll return to our wives and our families, and the girls that we adore. We'll drink out liquor merrily, And spend our money free, And when the money is all gone - we'll boldly go to sea.
9.
Oh, don't you remember, a long time ago, Those two little babies, their names I don't know They were stolen away one bright, summer's day And left in a wood, so I've heard folks say. Sweet babes in the wood Sweet babes in the wood Oh, don't you remember Those babes in the wood Now the day being gone and the night coming on Those two little babies sat under a stone They sobbed and they sighed, they bitterly cried Those two little babies they laid down and died
10.
The trees they grow so high and the leaves they grow so green, The day is past and gone, my love, that you and I have seen. It's a cold winter's night, my love, when I must bide alone, For my bonny boy is young but a-growing. As I was a-walking by yonder church wall, I saw four-and-twenty young men a-playing at the ball. I asked for my own true love but they wouldn't let him come, For they said the boy was young but a-growing. “Oh father, dearest father, you've done to me much wrong, You've tied me to a boy when you know he is too young.” “Oh daughter, dearest daughter, if you'd wait a little while, A lady you shall be, while he's growing.” “We'll send your love to college, all for a year or two, And then perhaps in time the boy will do for you. I'll buy you white ribbons to tie about his waist To let the ladies know that he's married.” And so early in the morning at the dawning of the day, They went out into the hay-field to have some sport and play, And what they did there she never would declare, But she never more complained of his growing. And at the age of sixteen he was a married man, And at the age of seventeen she brought to him a son, And at the age of eighteen the grass grew over him, And that soon put an end to his growing.
11.
Adieu to Old England, adieu, And adieu to some hundreds of pounds. If the world had been ended when I had been young, My sorrows I'd never have known. Once I could drink of the best, The very best brandy and rum. Now I am glad of a cup of spring water That flows from town to town. Once I could eat of good bread, Good bread that was made of good wheat. Now I am glad with a hard mouldy crust And glad that I got it to eat. Once I could lie on a good bed, A good bed that was made of soft down. Now I am glad of a clot of clean straw To keep myself from the cold ground. Once I could ride in my carriage, With servants to drive me along. Now I'm in prison, in prison so strong Not knowing which way I can turn.
12.
One night we were fishing Happisburgh* Light, Fishing and trawling, all through the night Chorus (repeated after each verse): In this windy old weather, stormy old weather, stormy old weather, When the wind blow, we'll all pull together. Up jumped the herring, the queen of the sea, He sang out, “Old Skipper, O you can't catch me!” Up jumped the mackerel, with spots on his back, He sang out, “Old Skipper, come square your main tack!” Up jumped the crab, with his great long claws, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you'll run her ashore!” Up jumped the rooker, his back hard and tough, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you will burn the duff!” Up jumped the sprat, the smallest of all, He sang out, “Old Skipper, you will loose your trawl!” Up jumped the whiting, with silvery eyes Said, “You haven't gt long on the sea for to ride!” Up spoke the skipper, “The saying is right, We'll haul up our trawl and we'll go home tonight!”

about

'When Conditions Were Right' by Andrew Paine was released in October 2005.

It was a privately released CDR, which was given out to friends and sold on the Volcanic Tongue website.

credits

released October 19, 2017

Andrew Paine - Voice

Mixed by Richard Youngs

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Andrew Paine UK

Andrew Paine is a Glasgow based musician: his work ranging from solo voice, through layered howling guitars, gentle piano interludes, oblique electronics and wherever he likes in between.

contact / help

Contact Andrew Paine

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Andrew Paine, you may also like: