Over the Seas and Far Away

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Over the Seas and Far Away

Lynne Craggs-Morris Beautiful Barry
28 June
Do you enjoy singing all kinds of songs? Are you free on Wednesday evenings? Why not consider joining our merry little band?! We are 7 adults of mixed ages and musical ability who play and sing a mixture of genres. We formed in February and are aiming to be performance ready, for local open mic nights, in the next few weeks. Sadly, one of the band’s 3 female vocalists is moving out of the area, leaving us with a gap to fill. We meet for 2 hours on Wednesdays starting around 7:15pm and contribute £12 every 4-6 weeks to cover hall costs. If you fancy coming along and checking us out to see if you fancy joining us then please message directly or comment below. A warm welcome is guaranteed!

Made contact:

Hi Keith I'm with Big Barry's Band. What exactly are you looking for, regarding this song? We only have female vocalist.

ME:

There are few songs actually about the Merchant Navy, although I was living away, did arrange for the Barry ladies choir to perform an arrangement at the Barry branch Merchant Navy day at the Memo years ago, but, could not attend myself and would love to hear it sung in tribute and pos a copy of a recording for members etc.

Over the Seas and Far Away
Convoys formed – brave men aboard,
Battened down to go abroad.
Sailing out from Barry port,
Leaving wives and all distraught.
CHORUS
O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”
Britain needed us they said,
The seagulls’ cries they onwards led.
Out there we earned each crust of bread,
Though now many are the honoured dead.
CHORUS
O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”
We strived with all our might and main,
To bring our cargoes home again.
Food and weaponry supplied,
Laid down our lives, so many died.
CHORUS
O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”
So here we lie in watery grave,
Not all returned – though many saved.
Remember us – remember well,
We are the ones who gave our all.
CHORUS
O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”
Dusty Miller, Joe Earl, Barry Ladies Choir
In Memory of Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice..

Trad tune: LINK

[Admin]

THEN: Jun 13, 2010.
Early thoughts on lyrics

Our countries lifelines under threat, let those who come after not forget we sail and face the Hun today - Over the Seas and far away.

O'er the horizon and o'er the main, through the cruel sea we sail again. The Captain commands and we obey – ‘Over the sea and far away’.

When duty calls me I must go, to stand and face another foe
but part of me will always stray - Over the waves and far away
O'er the crest and o'er the main, In Oceans deep some remain
The Master commands and we obey – ‘Over the cruel sea and far away.

If I should fall to sail no more, as many comrades did before
then ask the ships padre to pray - Over the sea and far away.
O'er the ocean and o'er the wave, through mighty tempests we do brave.
Our Mariner commands and we obey – ‘Over the sea and far away’

The cabin boy beats the drum. With the ensign blazing like the sun.
over the sea to come what may - Over the seas and far away
O'er the waters and o'er the main, our red ensign will remain
The Skippper commands and we obey – ‘Over the sea and far away’.

"On all the oceans white caps flow, you do not see crosses row on row,
but those that sleep beneath the sea, rest in peace for your country is free".
O'er the deep and more of the same, our red ensign will remain
The Chief commands and we obey – ‘Over the sea and far away’

Eternal Father, strong to save whose arm hath bound the restless wave.
Oh hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea.
O'er Davie;s and o'er the main, our red ensign will surely remain
The Master rules and we obey – ‘Home from the sea and back again’.

Very raw but, working on it.
KG.

[Admin]

OVER THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY

Chorus:- " Over the seas and far away

The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - " Remember Me "
Britain needed us they said
The seagulls cries they on us led
Out there we earned each crust of bread
And now we are your Honoured Dead.
Over the seas and far away
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - " Remember Me "
We strived with all our might and main
To bring our cargoes home again
Food and weaponry supplied
Laid down our lives, so many died.
Over the seas and far away
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - " Remember Me "
So here we lie in a watery grave
" Not all returned " - though many saved
Remember us - Remember well
We are the ones who gave our all.
Over the seas and far away
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - " Remember Me ".

Charles "Dusty" Miller
MNA
Immingham Branch

[Admin]

OVER THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY
The missing verses to the seafaring ditty.....

Over the seas and far away
in Davey’s locker here we stay
We'll never see the Sun nor Sky
All so alone and left to die.
I only ask remember me
Over the sea and far away
CHORUS
"Over the seas and far away”
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - "Remember Me"
Over the seas and far away
we're Neptune's citizens below
and Tides will Ebb and Tides will Flow
No ports of call, nowhere to go.
I only ask remember me
Over the seas and far away.
CHORUS
"Over the seas and far away”
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - "Remember Me"
Over the seas and far away
Enjoy your future - while you may
We won’t meet you at Fiddlers Green
We've crossed the bar - no in between
I only ask remember me
“Over the sea and far away”.
FINAL CHORUS............
"Over the seas and far away”
The call of the sea caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask - "Remember Me"

Charles "Dusty" Miller
MNA
Immingham Branch

[Admin]

OVER THE SEA AND FAR AWAY
(To the tune of “Over The Hills And Far Away”)

Joe Earl

Convoys formed - brave men aboard, battened down to go abroad,
Sailing out from friendly bay, over the sea and far away,
Perils faced from bomber’s run, torpedoes, mines or raider’s gu

Keeping lifelines going strong, through a voyage fraught and long,
Storms and fog and icy spray, over the sea and far away,
Vital cargoes must get through, past a wolf-pack`s hostile view,
Under threatening clouds of grey, over the sea and far away.

Freighters ventured young and old, many die in ocean cold,
Liners, tankers, all were prey, over the sea and far away,
Day and night every crew, feared a bombshell from the blue,
Still they went to earn their pay, over the sea and far away.

Violent times whereupon, steadfast men and ships rolled on,
Duty called and had its say, over the sea and far away,
Remember well a seaman’s war, lest we forget on freedom’s shore,
Their Red Ensign flies today, over the sea and far away.

Joe Earl 16th. June 2010

[Admin]

Barry Ladies Choir version

Over the Seas and Far Away.

Convoys formed – brave men aboard,
Battened down to go abroad.
Sailing out from Barry port,
Leaving wives and all distraught.

CHORUS

O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”

Britain needed us they said,
The seagulls’ cries they onwards led.
Out there we earned each crust of bread,
Though now many are the honoured dead.

CHORUS

O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”

We strived with all our might and main,
To bring our cargoes home again.
Food and weaponry supplied,
Laid down our lives, so many died.

CHORUS

O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”

So here we lie in watery grave,
Not all returned – though many saved.
Remember us – remember well,
We are the ones who gave our all.

CHORUS

O’er the seas and far away
The call of seas caused me to stray
So far from home and family
I only ask “Remember me!”

Dusty Miller, Joe Earl, Barry Ladies Choir.

In Memory of Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Following requests to pen the words to “Over the Seas and Far Away” both Charles “Dusty” Miller and Captain Joe Earl have provided the necessary versions towards a wonderful remembrance. An arrangement has been adapted by the Barry Ladies Choir for an inaugural version to be performed at the Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry Branch Annual Seafarers’ Service in September 2010.

I would personally like to thank Dusty, Joe and the Barry Ladies for making this possible. The arrangement was decided upon by the choir themselves and may still be altered slightly.

KG