“The Rocks of Scilly”

Description

The singer leaves his new wife to go to sea. Lonely, he fears a disaster -- and meets one when a storm runs his ship onto the Rocks of Scilly. Another singer tells how only four sailors survive, not including the first singer. His wife dies of sorrow

Notes

"The Isles of Scilly -- 40 miles off the extreme western tip of England -- are a beautiful, sometimes wild, place where more ships have been wrecked than anywhere else in the world." (Source: _Tresco Times--The Last Piece of England_ quoted at the Tresco Isles of Scilly site) - BS

Cross references

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Harding B 28(83), "Rocks of Scilly," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Firth c.12(118), Harding B 17(261a), Harding B 16(231a), Harding B 11(3303), "[The] Rocks of Scilly"

References

  1. Laws K8, "The Rocks of Scilly"
  2. Creighton/Senior, pp. 200-201, "Rocks of Scilly" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Creighton-SNewBrunswick 62, "The Rocks of Scilly" (1 text, 1 tune)
  4. Mackenzie 50, "The Rocks of Scilly" (1 text)
  5. DT 400, SCILLRCK
  6. Roud #388
  7. BI, LK08

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: before 1825 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 28(83))
Keywords: sailor storm wife death
Found in: Canada(Mar) Britain(England(West))