Ewan McColl's "Sweet Thames Flow Softly"
The Nature Boy
and/or guitar music/chord progression for the beautiful "Sweet Thames
Flow Softly".
In case this information is posted elsewhere on the web (I looked hard
to no avail), I'd appreciate the address to it.
Thanks so much!
Ryan
Pete Fletcher
(Ewan MacColl)
I met my girl at Woolwich Pier
Beneath the big cranes standing
And oh, the love I felt for her
It passed all understanding
Took her sailing on the river
Flow sweet river, flow
London town was mine to give her
Sweet Thames flow softly
Made the Thames into a crown
Flow sweet river, flow
Made a brooch of Silver town
Sweet Thames flow softly
At London Yard I held her hand
At Blackwall Point I faced her
At the Isle of Dogs I kissed her mouth
And tenderly embraced her
Heard the bells of Greenwich ringing, Flow . . .
All the time I had was singing, Sweet Thames . . .
Lighthouse Reach I gave her there, Flow . . .
As a ribbon for her hair, Sweet Thames . . .
From Putney Bridge to Nine Elms Reach
We cheek to cheek were dancing
Her necklace made of London Bridge
Her beauty was enhancing
Kissed her once again at Wapping, Flow . . .
After that there was no stopping, Sweet Thames . . .
Gave her Hampton Court to twist, Flow . . .
Into a bracelet for her wrist, Sweet Thames . . .
But now alas the tide has changed
My love she has gone from me
And winter's frost has touched my heart
And put a blight upon me
Creeping fog is on the river, Flow . . .
Sun and moon and stars gone with her, Sweet Thames . . .
Swift the Thames runs to the sea, Flow . . .
Bearing ships and part of me, Sweet Thames . . .
(From the Mudcat Cafe)
The Nature Boy wrote in message <36B8DC...@upei.ca>...
Pete Fletcher
David Harley
: Flow sweet river, flow
: Made a brooch of Silver town
: Sweet Thames flow softly
Silvertown, FWIW.
: Lighthouse Reach I gave her there, Flow . . .
: As a ribbon for her hair, Sweet Thames . . .
Limehouse Reach. Not many lighthouses between Hampton Court
and Woolwich. ;-)
Actually, it's pretty close considering it was probably transcribed
by an American who didn't know the river well. The sudden jump to
Putney Bridge and back to Wapping seems a bit odd, but perhaps that was
on the way back. Or just poetic licence.......
--
David Harley
D_Ha...@iname.com
http://webworlds.co.uk/dharley/
"Opinions are free: advice is free: consultancy costs...."
Ryan O'Connor
this beauty of a tune?
Thanks.
George Hawes
>Thanks to everyone for the lyrics. Now, does anyone know the chords for
>this beauty of a tune?
No, but I trust you are aware of MacColl's account of the
origins of the song - a youthful tendency to take a river boat
with Jazz band on board for a trip on the Thames.
It also happens to be the song which got me 'hooked' onto folk
music, hearing Ewan & Peggy perform it live at Ipswich Folk Club
when I was 17 . . We were on a school sailing trip nearby, and
went to the Folk Club only because it was in a pub and we
thought (despite the teachers telling us othewise) we might be
able to get a drink . . Truely an evening which changed my
life.
G.
Abby Sale
wrote:
>Hi everyone, I'm just curious if anyone could provide me with the lyrics
>and/or guitar music/chord progression for the beautiful "Sweet Thames
>Flow Softly".
>
You'll find it, together with _every other folkish song in the world_
(well...) at Digital Tradition folk song database
http://www.mudcat.org/folksearch.html
("Don't look for songs without it.")
Search for: SWTHAMES
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---
I am Abby Sale - abby...@orlinter.com (That's in Orlando)
Chris Atkinson
writes
>Hi everyone, I'm just curious if anyone could provide me with the lyrics
>and/or guitar music/chord progression for the beautiful "Sweet Thames
>Flow Softly".
>
I met my girl at Woolwich Pier beneath a big crane standing
D A7 D A7 D
And oh, the love I felt for her it passed all understanding
D Em G A
Took her sailing on the river. Flow sweet river, flow.
D Em A7 D
London town was mine to give her. Sweet Thames flow softly
A G D A
Made the Thames into a crown. Flow sweet river, flow
D A G D A D
Made a brooch of Silvertown. Sweet Thames flow softly
At London Yard I held her hand, At Blackwall Point I faced her
At the Isle of Dogs I kissed her mouth, and tenderly embraced her.
Heard the bells of Greenwich ringing, Flow . . .
All the time my heart was singing, Sweet Thames . . .
^^^^^^^^
These chords seem to work for me
HTH
Chris A.
--
Chris Atkinson
ch...@cgautc.demon.co.uk UTC Computer Services
Honesty may be the best policy - but insanity's the better defence.