Digital Tradition Mirror

Three Score and Ten

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Three Score and Ten

Methinks I see a host of craft
Spreading their sails alee
Down the Humber they do glide
All bound for the Northern Sea
Me thinks I see on each small craft
A crew with hearts so brave
Going out to earn their daily bread
Upon the restless wave

  And it's three score and ten
  Boys and men were lost from Grimsby town
  From Yarmouth down to Scarboro
  Many hundreds more were drowned
  Our herring craft, our trawlers
  Our fishing smacks, as well
  They long defied that bitter night
  And battled with the swell

Methinks I see them yet again
As they leave this land behind
Casting their nets into the sea
The herring shoals to find
Me thinks I see them yet again
They're all on board all right
With their nets rolled up and their decks cleaned off
And the side lights burning bright

Me thinks I've heard the captain say
"Me lads we'll shorten sail"
With the sky to all appearances
Looks like an approaching gale
Me thinks I see them yet again
Midnight hour is past
The little craft abattling there
Against the icy blast

October's night brought such a sight
Twas never seen before
There were mast and yards and broken spars
A washing on the shore
There were many a heart in sorrow
Many a heart so brave
There were many a fine and hearty lad
That met a watery grave

recorded on Clancy Bros Songs of the Sea and Bok et al on
  Turning toward the Morning
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!