The leaving of Liverpool

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Description

This song covered by Kenny Cunningham at the Bound Brook Library on July 7th, 2010 has an interesting past. "Leaving of Liverpool", (Roud 9435), also known as "Fare Thee Well, My Own True Love", is a folk ballad, a popular and wistful song. The song's narrator laments his long sailing trip to America and the thought of leaving his birthplace and loved ones (especially his "own true love"). Liverpool was the natural point of embarkation because it had the necessary shipping lines and a choice of destinations and infrastructure, including special emigration trains directly to The Prince's Landing Stage (which is mentioned in the song's first line).

It was collected as a sailor's song, but recorded only twice, from the Americans Richard Maitland and Captain Patrick Tayluer. Maitland learned it from a Liverpool man on board the General Knox around 1885.[1] It was collected from him by Bill Doerflinger, an American folk-song collector particularly associated with sea-songs, in New York. [2]

It has been recorded by Ewan MacColl, The Pogues and many others. More recently "Leaving of Liverpool" has been covered by popular Irish singer Tommy Fleming. It was released on his 2003 album The Collection.[3]
[edit] Adaptations

The tune was adapted by Bob Dylan in January 1963, retitled simply as "Farewell", a variation which has never been officially released. Anita Carter recorded her version of the Dylan arrangement for her 1964 album Anita of the Carter Family.[4] Tom Paxton used the tune as a basis for "The Last Thing on My Mind," recorded by many artists.

Many Irish/Celtic bands have released versions of "Leaving of Liverpool", including The Dubliners, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Gaelic Storm and The Pogues. The Seekers recorded it for their 1965 album, A World of Our Own. More recently it was covered by Young Dubliners on the 2007 album With All Due Respect - The Irish Sessions"

This information was taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia