"Blow the Wind Southerly" by Cheryl Shantz

A Piano and Instrumental arrangement of the traditional English folksong "Blow The Wind Southerly" by composer Cheryl Shantz. The lyrics to "Blow The Wind Southerly" were first published in England in an 1834 collection of songs, ballads, and various other writings called The Bishoprick Garland compiled by Sir Cuthbert Sharpe. It is a sad song about a woman whose lover has not returned from the sea. She returns over and over to the offing (land near the sea) but sees no sign of him. While the lyrics do not make it clear that her lover has died, it is often concluded that his life was claimed by the sea. "Blow the Wind Southerly" originates from Northumberland and was made famous by singer Kathleen Ferrier. This beautiful folksong has been embedded in Cheryl's memory since she first heard it performed by the great Canadian contralto, Maureen Forrester. Cheryl also heard it sung by one of her mother's talented singing students, Colleen Morrison- Robinson, who later studied with Maureen Forrester, and included the folksong as part of her song recital programmes. Later, all of Cheryl's fond feelings for "Blow The Wind Southerly" inspired her to write this arrangement. To see a listing of other folksong arrangements by Cheryl Shantz, visit the following website: http://cshantz.blogspot.com/ To see a listing of her original song compositions, visit the following website: http://cmshantz.blogspot.com/ For a listing of Cheryl Shantz's compositions for full orchestra visit: http://www.cherylshantz.blogspot.com/

Below are the lyrics to "Blow The Wind Southerly." Blow The Wind Southerly

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow the wind south o'er the bonny blue sea;
Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow bonny breeze my lover to me.
They told me last night there were ships in the offing,
And I hurried down to the deep rolling sea;
But my eye could not see it, wherever might be it,
The barque that is bearing my lover to me.

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow the wind south that my lover may come;
Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow bonny breeze and bring him safe home.
I stood by the lighthouse the last time we parted,
Till darkness came down o'er the deep rolling sea,
And no longer I saw the bright barque of my lover.
Blow, bonny breeze and bring him to me.

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow the wind south o'er the bonny blue sea.
Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly,
Blow bonny breeze my lover to me.
Is it not sweet to hear the breeze singing
As lightly it comes o'er the deep rolling sea?
But sweeter and dearer by far when 'tis bringing
The barque of my true love in safety to me.