Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

I Will Set My Ship in Order (2)

(C whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

I Will Set My Ship in Order (2)

I will set my ship in order,
And I will sail upon the sea
I'II gang sailing over to yonder border
And see gin my lovie minds on me.

He sailed east and he sailed west
We sailed up and we sailed down
Until I came to my love's bower window
I rapped loud and would fain be in.

O who is that who raps at my window
At such a late hour o' the nicht
It's me, it's I, it's your ain dear Johnnie
O rise, o rise love and lat me in.

I hae nae lovers here without
And as few lovers hae I within
I hae nae lovers but my ain dear Johnnie
And I'm weel sure that ye're nae him.

Go ask your father if he will let you
And if he'll let you my bride you'll be
But if he denies you return and tell me
It will be the last time I'll visit thee.

My father's in his office writing
He's setting down his merchandise
He has a letter in his coat pocket
That speaks greatly to your dispraise.

To my dispraise love, to my dispraise
To my dispraise love, how could it be
For I never slighted nor denied you
Until this night you've denied me.

Go ask your mother if she will let you
And if she'll let you, you'll my bride be
But if she denies you return and tell me
Twill be the last time I'll visit thee.

My mother's in her chamber sleeping
The sweet notes of love and she will not hear
But you may go love and court another
And whisper gently into her ear.

It's up she rose, put on her clothing
It was to let her true love in
But ere she had the door unlocked
The ship was sailing upon the main.

Come back, come back my true love Johnnie
Come back, come back and speak to me
For I never slighted nor yet denied thee
Until this night you've denied me.

O how could I come back, come back love
For how could I come and speak to thee
For the ship she's sailing, the high winds blowing
And I am bound for America.

The fish may fly, and the seas gang dry
And the rocks may melter down wi' the sun
The crow may turn into a white turtle
Before that I do again return.

From the Grieg-Duncan Folk Song Collection
Collected from Mrs FINNIE
play.exe SHIPORDR.2
play.exe SHIPORDR.3
play.exe SHIPORDR.4
play.exe SHIPORDR.5
play.exe SHIPORDR.6
play.exe SHIPORDR.7
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!