Ives, Burl - The Eddystone Light Lyrics






My father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light
And he slept with a mermaid one fine night
From this union there came three
A porpoise and a porgy and the other was me

Yo, ho, ho, the wind blows free, oh, for a life on the rolling sea

One night while I was a-trimmin' of the glim
A-singin' a verse from the evening hymn
A voice from the starboard shouted, "Ahoy!"
And there was my mother a-sittin' on a buoy

Yo, ho, ho, the wind blows free, oh, for a life on the rolling sea

"Oh, what has become of my children three?"
My mother then she asked of me
"One was exhibited as a talking fish
And the other was served in a chafing dish"

Yo, ho, ho, the wind blows free, oh, for a life on the rolling sea

Then the phosphorus flashed in her seaweed hair
I looked again, and my mother wasn't there
A voice come a-echoing out through the night:
"To Hell with the keeper of the Eddystone Light!"
Yo, ho, ho, the wind blows free, oh, for a life on the rolling sea





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Ives, Burl The Eddystone Light Comments
  1. C.... A....

    This is effectively the story of Aquaman.

    C.... A....

    I think of this song every time I see the Aquaman trailer.

  2. R.... H....

    Somewhat R-rated lyrics for the time. lol

  3. c.... ....

    Eddystone is in DEVON not Cornwall

    c.... ....

    Although closest to Rame Head in Cornwall.

  4. c.... ....

    This is a Cornish song.

  5. T.... ....

    I have to ask - where is your "new republic of Kent"? I always thought Dover was in Kent...but then again Hull and Middlesbrough aren't in Yorkshire these days! I knew The White Cliffs was written by an American, hence the reference to birds that don't even live on our fair shores, but hey ho, a fine tune anyway. I've never heard the Blur song (I'll youtube it now!), but I doubt it includes canibalism!!

  6. T.... ....

    There'll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover?? .... (not that we have blue birds in England!) It's a much happier song than Ilkley Moor, which is a bit of a dirge!

  7. T.... ....

    Isn't Cornwall in England? Right I'm off to search the national anthem - On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At. Dave from Yorkshire.

  8. O.... ....

    Its a Cornish Folk Song not an English one! I am guessing you don't live in the UK, else you should have known better ;)

    O.... ....

    Cornwall is most definitely in England. I'm guessing *you* don't live here...

  9. K.... ....

    This is the version I remember the most. Thanks for posting.