Originally written by fellow Bristolian Ian "Nobby" Dye of the Harry Browns of Bristol, the Corncrake pays homage to a General Steam Navigation of London vessel which frequently brought brandy, port, and wines to the city docks of Bristol in the 1960s.
Factoids[]
The Corncrake, or landrail, is a bird of the "rail" family whose sound is reportedly so loud and monotone that it is compared to "two cheese-graters rubbed together." Despite their name they do not, in fact, nest in corn fields.
Lyrics[]
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their Youtube video, the nearest source to the original lyrics (a transcription shared with a mudcatter by Ian himself) can be found here.
The summer sky, the setting sun
The Corncrake steams on the Bristol run
Brandy for the waiter's tray
The sailors, they have earned their pay
{Chorus}
O'er the sea to Bristol Town
Loaded down the brandy-o
O'er the sea to Bristol Town
Loaded down the brandy-o, the brandy-o
Rolling in the deep green lay
Towards the hills of the Redcliffe Bay
The Corncrake steams on her way
Through the moonlit night 'til the break of day
{Chorus}
Then the captain I heard tell
"That's the sound of the King's Road Bell"
Down the reach to the Harbourside
Safe and sound from the Severn Tide
{Chorus}
We then made fast both fore and aft
For the Corncrake, she's a pleasant craft
Now ashore to have some fun
Drinking from a bottle of rum
{Chorus in a round 'til finish}
Recordings[]
YouTube Videos[]
Gig Videos[]
- Kings Square Gloucester Shanty Festival, 27 May 2017)
- In the Crimson Moon - Chow Time & Bristol Town
Full Band Streams[]
- The Longest Johns and Friends, April. w/Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 Apr 2019)
- The Longest Johns Early Octobermas (2 Oct 2019)
- The Longest Johns In Quarantine (after failed intro + love to @El Pony Pisador )
- Boulevard of Broken Streams (17 Feb 2021)
- Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021)
- Blue Stream of Death! (29 Jun 2022)
- In Space No One Can Hear You Stream (19 Oct 2022)
- Ghost in the Mastream (30 Aug 2023)
- Big Announcment Stream (22 Nov 2023)
- It Was Christmas Stream Babe (20 Dec 2023)
- Streamboat Willie (17 Jan 2024)