A Sailor's Life
Encyclopedia
"A Sailor’s Life" is an English language
folk song which describes the attempt of a young woman to find her lover, a sailor. Eventually she hears that he has drowned and mourns him.
. It was published in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs and recorded in 1960 by A. L. Lloyd
for the album A Selection from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. It was subsequently recorded by Judy Collins
on her album A Maid of Constant Sorrow
in 1961 and Martin Carthy
for his Second Album in 1966 with his then playing partner violinist Dave Swarbrick
.
It is probably from one of these sources it was learnt by Sandy Denny
who sang it in her solo career and then brought it to Fairport Convention
, who with Dave Swarbrick on violin, released it on the Unhalfbricking
album in 1969. The eleven minute version was recorded in one take. It was a recording which marked the beginning of English electric folk
, leading to the seminal album Liege & Lief
later that year.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
folk song which describes the attempt of a young woman to find her lover, a sailor. Eventually she hears that he has drowned and mourns him.
History
The song was printed in eighteenth-century broadsides and collected by W. P. Merrick in 1899 from Henry Hills of Lodswroth, SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. It was published in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs and recorded in 1960 by A. L. Lloyd
A. L. Lloyd
Albert Lancaster Lloyd , usually known as A. L. Lloyd or Bert Lloyd, was an English folk singer and collector of folk songs, and as such was a key figure in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s....
for the album A Selection from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. It was subsequently recorded by Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
on her album A Maid of Constant Sorrow
A Maid of Constant Sorrow
A Maid of Constant Sorrow is a 1961 album, the debut of Judy Collins, released by Elektra Records and featuring traditional folk songs. Collins' voice and guitar are sparsely accompanied by Fred Hellerman and Walter Raim on second guitar, Erik Darling on banjo, and Bill Lee on bass...
in 1961 and Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
for his Second Album in 1966 with his then playing partner violinist Dave Swarbrick
Dave Swarbrick
Dave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
.
It is probably from one of these sources it was learnt by Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
who sang it in her solo career and then brought it to Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, who with Dave Swarbrick on violin, released it on the Unhalfbricking
Unhalfbricking
The band's male vocalist Iain Matthews left during the recordings for Unhalfbricking to make his own album Matthews' Southern Comfort, after recording just one track, "Percy's Song". Sandy Denny sang lead vocals on all the other songs, including her own compositions, "Autopsy", and "Who Knows Where...
album in 1969. The eleven minute version was recorded in one take. It was a recording which marked the beginning of English electric folk
Electric folk
Electric folk is the name given to the form of folk rock pioneered in England from the late 1960s, and most significant in the 1970s, which then was taken up and developed in the surrounding Celtic cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, to produce Celtic rock and its...
, leading to the seminal album Liege & Lief
Liege & Lief
Liege & Lief is the fourth album by the English rock band Fairport Convention. It is the third and final album the group released in the UK in 1969, all of which prominently feature Sandy Denny as lead female vocalist...
later that year.
Variants
The following can be seen as variants of the song:- "Sailor Boy" (America)
- "Black, Black, Was The Color Of My True Love's Hair" (America)
- "The Lost Sailor" (Australian)
- "The Pinery Boy"
- "Willie the Bold Sailor Boy"
- "Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea" (America)
- "Sweet William"
- "Willie Boy" (America)
Discography
- A. L. LloydA. L. LloydAlbert Lancaster Lloyd , usually known as A. L. Lloyd or Bert Lloyd, was an English folk singer and collector of folk songs, and as such was a key figure in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s....
, A Selection from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (Collector, 1960) - Judy CollinsJudy CollinsJudith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
, A Maid of Constant SorrowA Maid of Constant SorrowA Maid of Constant Sorrow is a 1961 album, the debut of Judy Collins, released by Elektra Records and featuring traditional folk songs. Collins' voice and guitar are sparsely accompanied by Fred Hellerman and Walter Raim on second guitar, Erik Darling on banjo, and Bill Lee on bass...
(Electra, 1961). - Martin CarthyMartin CarthyMartin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, Second Album (Fontana, 1966) - Fairport ConventionFairport ConventionFairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, UnhalfbrickingUnhalfbrickingThe band's male vocalist Iain Matthews left during the recordings for Unhalfbricking to make his own album Matthews' Southern Comfort, after recording just one track, "Percy's Song". Sandy Denny sang lead vocals on all the other songs, including her own compositions, "Autopsy", and "Who Knows Where...
(Island, 1969) - Ashley HutchingsAshley HutchingsAshley Stephen Hutchings is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founder member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band...
, The Guv'norThe Guv'norThe Guv'nor may refer to:*The Guv'nor , a 1935 film starring George Arliss*"the Guv'nor", nickname of cricketer Bobby Abel*"the Guv'nor", nickname of former footballer and manager Paul Ince...
vol 1, (HTD, 1994)