A Blanket of Blue
Westlin Weavers Online Shop
A Blanket of
Blue
The Westlin Weavers
A collection of some of our favorite shanties and songs of the sea -- with a Scottish flavor!
$15 + 3.95 shipping/handling.
OUT OF STOCK -- AVAILABLE AGAIN SOON -- pre-order now!
Liner notes1. Farewell To Nova Scotia -- demo
2. South Australia -- demo
3. Farewell To Tarwathie -- demo
4. Fiddler's Green -- demo
5. Time And Tide -- demo -- lyrics
6. Loch Tay Boat Song -- demo
7. Hieland Laddie -- demo
8. A Land Beyond The Sea -- demo -- lyrics
9. Westering Home -- demo
10. Leave Her, Johnny -- demo
Jeanne McDougall (vocals 1-10, guitar 1, 3-6, 8-10, whistle 8-9); Alex McDougall (vocals 1-10, bodhran 2, 4, 6-9); Pete Connolly (vocals 2, 6-7, 10, bouzouki 6, bodhran 1-2, 7, whistles 1); Jackie Hammack (fiddle 1, 3-6, 8-10); Pete Harrison (guitar 3-4, bass 1, 3-6, 8-10)
Thanks to: Pete and Melissa for continuing to be there for us, no matter how ridiculous the deadlines (and they are); Robyn, Katie, Michael, Jaisan and everyone at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, for their love and support; J. Howard Standing, for designing the California District Tartan and allowing us to use it on this CD; the wild and wooly Scots of San Diego (Cherie, Graham, Dani, Rob, Janette, Jock, Alex, Janet, Kathy, Linda, Katy, the list goes on); Anne and everyone at the U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Boston, for keeping the tradition alive; my dad, for tirelessly telling George Sirian’s story to anyone who would listen to him; and the usual suspects (a.k.a. spouses and sprats) Alex, Joe, Kelci, Meg, and Nora, Reneé, Stan and Tessa.
"Time and Tide” and “A Land Beyond The Sea,” ©2005, Jeanne McDougall. Photo credit: taken at Torrey Pines State Reserve, Jeanne McDougall, April 21, 2004.
Farewell to Nova Scotia -o- The author of this WWI-era ballad is unknown, but the words and music live on in the land of “wooden ships and iron men."
South Australia -o- Also known as “Rolling King,” this popular sea shanty at the capstan and the pumps was one of the great songs of the era of emigration.
Farewell to Tarwathie -o- George Scroggie’s 1850s tribute to his fellow Aberdonians who left their loved ones for the cold coast of Greenland, a-hunting the whale.
Fiddler's Green -o- This enduring Irish song of the sea describes the nearest thing to heaven for a weary sailor, next to a fine handsome ship and a good rolling sea.
Time and Tide -o- Born of a maritime history class and dedicated to the men and women of the Maritime Museum of San Diego and everyone who has ever loved a sailing soul. P.S. extra points to the Burns aficionados who can place the reference – nothing to do with the sea! Click here for the lyrics
Loch Tay Boat Song -o- A traditional tune of unrequited love, set on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Perthshire’s Loch Tay.
Hieland Laddie -o- The great Stan Hugill documented this most famous and popular of the walkaway or capstan shanties, based on a traditional Scottish march and dance.
A Land Beyond The Sea -o- Dedicated to a ten-year-old Greek refugee brought to Boston on July 4, 1828 aboard the U.S.S. Constitution – a boy who was my great-great-grandfather. This is how I like to imagine young George felt after the windbound ship finally cleared Gibraltar and headed out into open water, bound for a strange and wonderful “land beyond the sea." Click here for the lyrics
Westering Home -o- A traditional song of homecoming, made all the more sweet because the destination is Scotland's lovely Isle of Islay.
Leave Her, Johnny -o- A shanty sometimes sung at the pumps but more often used as a way of airing grievances at the end of a voyage – a fitting close for our musical voyage, too.
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All songs traditional except “Time and Tide” and “A Land Beyond The Sea." Enjoy!
Jeanne McDougall
September 2005