Can anyone help with Merchant Navy music??

[Karen Owen]

Hello,

I am arranging the funeral of my father-in-law who was a merchant seaman for over 30 years. I am trying to find some traditional/appropriate music to play at the crematorium and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you


Karen Owen

[John Albert Evans]

The oldest known Sailors Hymn is found in the 107th Psalm vss 23 -30.

They that go down to the sea in ships..............

Also Rock of Ages and Amazing Grace.

Yours Sincerely,

John Albert Evans

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hello,

I am arranging the funeral of my father-in-law who was a merchant seaman for over 30 years. I am trying to find some traditional/appropriate music to play at the crematorium and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Karen Owen

"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" sometimes recalled by the last line of its first verse, "For Those in Peril on the Sea."

The original words are:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Certain verses have been changed in modern hymnals for various reasons:

LINK: Unreleased "Titanic" Soundtrack - Eternal Father - YouTube

Michael Bublé - Beyond The Sea

LINK: Michael Bublé - Beyond The Sea - YouTube

Over the Seas and Far Away:

LINK: http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Images/...FAR%20AWAY.pdf

I have attempted to seek our own Merchant Navy Song, in the end asked for help and together we came up with Over the Seas and Far Away.

To the tune off: LINK - Sharpe - Over the Hills and far away - YouTube

The well known historic tune lends itself to the cause and the words can be arranged to suit.

Personally, would also consider the Lifeboat song: "Home from the Sea"

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoO4WfSMOpg

I offer suggestions only and hope all helps.

All other suggestions would be welcomed to assist Karen and that we may find the best suited also for MN Remembrance / Memorial.

The only real MN Song encountered is:

Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime

You have seen him on the Street,
Rolling round on drunken feet,
You have seen him clutch the lamp-post for support,
You have shuddered in disgust,
When he’s grovelled in the dust,
‘Cause he’s just a Merchant Seaman back in port.

You have seen his ship in port,
When to his sweetheart paying court,
You have seen him, when his ship is on the spree,
But you have not seen the clip,
Of that lonely ‘blacked out’ ship,
Ploughing furrows through the mine infested sea.

He has brought your wounded home, through the “ Sub “, congested zone,
He has carried your troops across the sea by night,
He’s a hero and a sport,
And when he is not in port,
He is always in the thickest of the fight.

He has fought your wicked ‘Hun’,
With just a 4: 7 inch gun,
He has ruined Hitler’s Atllantic Ocean plan,
But when he is back in port,
He’s no hero, he’s no sport,
He is nothing……..but a drunken Sailor man.

Not the best for a funeral perhaps and we still struggle for a tune.

K.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Karen

Agree with Keith, I don't think there is a seaman alive who would not like "Eternal Father Strong to Save" played on their final voyage, it says everything that needs to be said about the men and the profession

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Karen,

I cannot really disagree with most of the suggestions and comments made by other members thus far. Apart from 'Eternal Father' which I always think of as the Sailor's Hymn, I also liked the suggestion by Keith that 'Beyond the Sea' (La Mer) would be an apt choice although I would recommend you listen to the Bobby Darin version before making a final decision. I've yet to hear anybody sing it better. If you find that particular version too upbeat then I would suggest you also listen to the original recording by Charles Trenet, who wrote the song 'La Mer' in 1943. Although sung in French, the superb orchestral accompaniment is such that only the coldest heart could fail to appreciate the emotion of the song. In this day and age it seems that funerals are much less formal than they once were and with that in mind I think 'Trenet's' version would be most appropriate music. It is one of several pieces of music I would like played when it's my turn to depart this mortal coil. Anyway, I wish you well with whatever music you decide upon.


.......regards, Roger

P.S. As you may know, the above-mentioned music can be heard on Youtube.

[Evan Lewis]

Hello! Karen.
Hope this finds you well.
Tried replying earlier .then suddenly we had a six hr. outage..no electricity.
To respond to your enquiry .Would like to suggest you Google .David Partridge .Heroes.

Think you may find it most appropiate.
Also ."i'm sure theuy would not mind. ,via this Forum .You may find Des ,'Taff Jenkins..also Vernon . .David is a member of theb N>S.W. branch of the Vindicatrix associatiion. And i was readng somewhere Quite recently ,s still at sea ,aboard .I believe the Sydney Harbour Pilot vessel. Most likely Des or Vernon Mcdonald.could give you Dave's E, address. I,m sure he woullbe pleased to assist ,should you require any help.
Condolences
Sincerely
E. Lewis

[Keith at Tregenna]

The idea for "Over the Seas and Far Away" began a few years ago and was from a similar kind of request, Over the Seas and Far Away is sung by the Barry Ladies Choir at the Annual Service every year. The concept was to have some form of MN song that would not replace Eternal Father etc. But, although not a musician or writer myself involve others in a good well known tune that we could virtually borrow and adapt.

Both Dusty Miller, Joe Earl came up trumps with this version and the ladies choir do it justice.

LINK: http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Images/...FAR%20AWAY.pdf

Requests have come from others in other countries to change the words to a local suitability and hopefully, it will catch on. You are most welcome to do similar.

We still search for a more definitive song to remember all.

Meanwhile hold much in the way of Nautical poetry that may be suitable for readings etc.

Would love to help in anyway if I can.

One thought would be any favourite of your father-in-law, friends and / or loved ones ?

Best wishes.

Keith.

Death is nothing at all

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away
into the next room.

I am I,
and you are you;
whatever we were to each other,
that, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name,
speak to me in the easy way
which you always used,
put no difference in your tone,
wear no forced air
of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be
the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,
without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all
that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you,
for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just around the corner.

All is well.


Henry Scott Holland
1847 -1918

[Keith at Tregenna]

PETULA CLARK - SAILOR (U.K.NO1.1961) ?

LINK: PETULA CLARK - SAILOR (U.K.NO1.1961) - YouTube

?

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Please just let us know:

If we have helped at all.

which route you may take:

If we can attempt to help further ?

It is only from reply, that we can improve all for next time.

K.

What is dying?

A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon, and someone says, "she is gone".

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all; she is just as large as when I saw her...

The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone says "she is gone", there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout, "there she comes!"...

and that is dying.

All credit to Bishop Brent

What is Dying

What Is Dying - Bishop Brent - A Popular Funeral Reading

I am standing upon that foreshore, a ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "there! she's gone!"

"Gone where?" "Gone from my sight, that's all", she is just as large in mast and spar and hull as ever she was when she left my side; just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at that moment when someone at my side says, "there! she's gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "here she comes!"

And that is dying.

Bishop Brent
This poem or a very similar one is often attributed to Victor Hugo or Henry Van Dyke


A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone
at my side says She is gone.

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large now as
when I last saw her. Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in
me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says she is gone there are
others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take
up a glad shout There she comes!

That is what dying is. An horizon and just the limit of our sight.
Lift us up, Oh Lord, that we may see further

Bishop Brent

[Red Lead Ted]

Can i ask what part of the uk do you live just the area no address Regards and condolences Terry.