Скачать или смотреть Da Sang o' da Papamen (Rowin Foula Doon)

Words by the Shetland poet "Vagaland", melody by TMY Manson, arrangement by Peter Davies.
From the May Day concert performance by Shetland Community Choir, 2024.
The Horn of Papa Stour was a natural rock arch which has since collapsed. The island of Foula is about 20 miles away. The song describes the trip to the West of Foula, an arduous and dangerous voyage of many days to catch cod, saithe and haddock which was traded for sugar, tea and other essentials, lorded over by the landowners in a system known as “Truck” where crofters were beholden to the church and lairds.
Here is a rough translation:
Out west of the Horn of Papa
Rowing down beyond Foula
Over a hidden stretch of water
Rowing down beyond Foula

Around the boats is a high tide swell
Sunlight is breaking through the clouds
We must go to where the fish are taking bait
Rowing down beyond Foula

(Fishy knots) where boats have truly
Known no misfortune
We have (towes and bowes and cappies)
Lead shot for ballast
Peat in the kettle for fire
Potato for the pot

Like a laughing, boisterous girl
Courted be her wooers
Papa sometimes lies in summer
Veiled with mist and showers
There upon the wild water
Comes the scent of flowers

We can bide ashore no longer
We must go and try
We'll win back boys if we cannot
See clearly through the murk
For the scent of flowers in Papa
Leads us all the way