Lyr Req: Too Far from She (Ian Bruce)

Subject: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: synbyn
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 02:00 PM

Cornish Bo and I are trying to trace a set of lyrics for a song we used to hear the late Ron Spicer sing in Kent & sussex clubs which had ( we think) the chorus line .....so far at sea/that's not the way I meant it to be/ So far from home and so far from she....we think. Any help gratefully appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: asirovedout
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 02:21 PM

Lovely song. If I remember rightly, Ron learned the song from an Ian Bruce album 'The Naked Truth', and I'm pretty sure Ian wrote it.

These are the words I used to sing (perhaps some Ian Bruce fan can confirm them?) ...

TOO FAR FROM SHE

We lost it all in one fierce affray.
I stood not to fight and just walked away.
And now I regret I did not delay.
I acted on feelings I felt for a day.

CHORUS: Fancy me so fancy free
I'm far from home
I'm way out at sea
That's not the way I want it to be
I'm so far from home and too far from she.

We sailed with a crew of a hundred or more.
So many good men, good humour in store.
We drink in a crowd when we go ashore.
But I've never felt so lonely before.

Six months have gone since I let her go.
Time will not stand and wind shall not still blow.
The seas must forever fa-all and grow.
My world will still turn - but ever so slow.

Living this lie, it's a foolish game.
I've written to say she's not to blame.
It crossed in the post with a letter that came:
She's written to say she feels the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 02:51 PM

Yes, it's by Ian Bruce. It's also been recorded by Johnny Collins, on his "Now and Then" CD. The words posted above seem accurate. I think I heard the end of the first verse as "acting on feelings" butI may have heard wrong!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: asirovedout
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 03:32 PM

I'll go with that, Kitty. It's probably a case of lyric drift (to coin an excuse) on my part.

Reading my post again, I spotted a typo:- the second line of the chorus should be 'I'm so far from home' not just 'I'm far from home'.

@

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: Dita
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:31 PM

It is indeed by Ian Bruce. He recorded it first on his 1988 album "Too Far From She."

Lyrics as above with the exception of the following:-

V1 L4 "Acting on feelings I held for a day"

Ch L2 "I'm so far from home"

V2 L1 "We sail with a crew"

V3 L2 "But time will not stand, and the wind shall still blow"

V4 L1 "Living this lie is a foolish game"

V4 l4 "She's written to say she feels the same way"

All these changes are part of the oral tradition and at least in the case of the last one, an improvement, Ian choosing to change the rhyming pattern.

Ian might well have made some of the changes himself as "The Naked Truth" is an "Unplugged" style recording.

Ian and I go back a long way, from the days his brother Fraser made him get up on stage with him. I remember Ian beeing realy upset at people havig a go at his grammer in the title. "Nobody has a go at Archie Fisher when he sings "Farewell She", so why do I get stick for this song."

If you haven't heard of Ian he's worth checking out, one of many great Scottish talents of the 70's onward, lost in the shadows of the 50/60's revival performers. (the "I kent his faither syndrome")

Cheers, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: synbyn
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 02:28 PM

Thanks to all of you- yes, that was the song we were looking for, and I'll go & search out Ian Bruce's material- Ron used to pick his songs up from everywhere! Ray (The Bears) Styles went over to record him one day, and Ron came out with a repetoire of 30s standards all played on the electric organ- nothing we'd ever heard him perform- so he knew all of those as well as his Dad's material. He was great to have at singarounds and is sadly missed, not least for his Sussex accent.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: Moses
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 08:31 AM

Last year at one of the British festivals (Bromyard?)Ian hosted a song-writing workshop. Afterwards,in conversation, he seemed genuinely surprised to learn how many people were out there singing this lovely song.

Breezy does a good version and so does Johnny Collins as Kitty has already mentioned.

Try to get to see Ian if you can, Synbyn, he has a rich voice and a way of making you want just one more, please, long after the evening is supposed to be over.

Christine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 07:37 PM

Ian Bruce - great lad. Always makes me think of Alex Campbell.

Subject: Lyr Add: TOO FAR FROM SHE (Ian Bruce)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 01:25 PM

Here are the lyrics and chords from Ian Bruce's website: (There is also a sound sample there.)

TOO FAR FROM SHE
(Ian M. Bruce, 1986)
Key of 'E' (Play in 'D' shapes, capo on second fret)

D.............A7...G................D...
We lost it all in one fierce affray.
...G................D..........G..................D....
I stood not to fight and just walked away.
D...........A7.....G.............D..
Now I regret, I did not delay
G............D............Bm..A7....D..
Acting on feelings I held for a day.

CHORUS: Fancy me, so fancy free.
I'm so far from home, I'm way out at sea.
That's not the way I want it to be.
I'm so far from home and Too Far From She.

We sail with a crew of a hundred and more.
So mamy good men, good humour in store.
We drink in a crowd when we go ashore,
But I've never felt so lonely before.

Six months have gone since I let her go.
Time will not stand the wind shall still blow.
The seas must ever fall and grow.
My world will still turn but ever so slow.

Living this lie is a foolish game.
I've written to say she's not to blame.
It crossed in the post with a letter that came.
She's written to say she feels the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Farewell To She? Ron Spicer
From: breezy
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 04:24 PM

gee Moses, you shouldnt say things like that, I get all of a thingy

It was MCP who was my initial source.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Too Far from She (Ian Bruce)
From: GUEST,Ian Bruce
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:07 PM

Well well. I came on here to look for other songs and I thought I'd just see if anyone knew me at all. I was pleasantly surprised to find this favourable discussion. Thanks all.
You've found the lyrics on my website. Great! I've noticed, though, that one of the chords is wrong. The last chord on the second line should read 'A' instead of 'D'. I'll need to go and sort that on the site.
Please keep looking at some of my other songs folks. If you like this one I think you'll find others to your liking.

Suggest maybe 'Child on The Green', 'Gone for The Day', 'Sweet Fallen Angels', 'Then The Rain Came', 'Brown Eyed Baby'......There are loads. I hope some of you find them. www.ianbruce.org

Thanks
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Too Far from She (Ian Bruce)
From: Scotus
Date: 21 May 06 - 09:17 PM

Ian,

Great to see you posting here!

Jack (Beck)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Too Far from She (Ian Bruce)
From: breezy
Date: 22 May 06 - 09:07 AM

oops, caught again!!

we could always negotiate a gig in St Albans !!

www.windwardfc.org.uk or search wandering windward folksong club St Albans

sign up for pm status ian