TOWARDS THE SUNSET

Listen:
“Towards the Sunset”
Lomond Sound

From the album Lomond Sound Live, 2012, orderable from Soundbone.

Person list

Words and tune:

  • Pat & Joe Byrne

Locations associated with this song:

Background Info:

Composed by Pat Byrne and recorded by Pat and Joe Byrne with Baxter Wareham on the album Towards the Sunset (Pigeon Inlet, 1983 and SingSong , 2003).
Eric West, Come Big Ones and Small Ones...Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador –Volume 5
© Vinland Music. Reproduced with permission

Lyrics:

TOWARDS THE SUNSET – By Pat Byrne

Chorus: Swing her head 'round, we're heading for the wester',
Swing her head 'round, we're heading off the bay;
Oh, swing her head 'round, we're heading t'wards the sunset,
Towards the sunset, in search of yesterday.

All cares will vanish as soon as we clear Bordeaux,
And the seven combers that roll there day by day;
We're joined again with those who sail before us,
T'wards Chapeau Rouge or out to Golden Bay.

Our thoughts go back now to those trim yankee bankers,
Taking bait on for Georges or the Briar;
And the song-sung men like those who sailed from Brulee
Bound for St. Peter’s in the springtime of the year.

Lost in the mists are the ghosts of sturdy hunters,
From Rose au Rue still searching for the whale;
And the ghostly fleet forever beating win'ard,
Forever riding that fabled August gale.

And the ghosts of those who forever are returning,
From far Oporto or the Indies with their charms;
Driving bows under to make it home for Christmas,
To kitchen fires and women's waiting arms.

The islands stand now like silent grey reminders,
Of times gone by when Nat was in his prime;
They hold the secret for all who wish to find it,
Forever flowing in blood like yours and mine.

from Come Big Ones and Small Ones...Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador –Volume 5

See lyrics on a page by themselves