Widows & Bairns from The Waterline by Andy Nixon
I wrote this song after trip up the Northumbrian Coast and into Scotland in 2021. In Eyemouth we came across a beautiful in sculpture by artist Jill Watson. The sculpture and the story behind it struck deep:
On October14, 1881, A great storm battered the East Coast of the UK. The small community in Eyemouth, Scotland, was hit particularly hard during what’s said to be the worst fishing disaster in Scottish history. Fishing boats were overcome by the fierce weather and stormy seas. A total of 129 men from Eyemouth perished, leaving 78 widows and 182 fatherless children behind.
Many of the fishermen drowned just offshore within sight of the families anxiously awaiting their safe return. Because of the rough seas, the women and children could do nothing but watch as their loved ones’ boats were smashed by the waves. It’s said some of the onlookers could even hear the men screaming as their vessels succumbed to the storm.
The sculpture honours the tragedy, which is locally referred to as “Black Friday.” Tiny figures of women and children line a roughly 16-foot-long wall on the Eyemouth promenade. The artwork depicts the exact number of women and children the drowned men left behind. They all stare out toward the harbour in anguish, just as the real families did.
A total of 189 fishermen perished that fateful day. Though most came from Eyemouth, men were also lost from nearby St. Abbs, Cove, and Burnmouth. These small fishing villages have similar commemorative sculptures by the same artist, each depicting the number of women and children left brokenhearted by the disaster. [from atlasobscura.com]
Tracklist
| 10. | Widows & Bairns | 3:09 |
Videos
Lyrics
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WIDOWS & BAIRNS
The north water was calm but the weather glass low
They’d not sailed for a week and felt sure they should go
After all that was said
There were mouths to be fed
The Kingfisher warned there’d trouble ahead
Desperation turned blind eyes to all that he said
Risk was part of their work
No thanks to the Kirk
Though their fighting was done
Their war was yet to be won
As it came in from the West it fell black as the night
The shear might of the storm turning blue into white
They would fight their way home
Or be sunk like a stone
Close to two hundred men
Leaving widows and bairns
Credits
Written and produced by Andy Nixon
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Andy Nixon is a British musician, composer & songwriter. He is Lead Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter, lyricist, producer and founding member of Freedom To Glide as well as being a member of the reformed legendary Badfinger since 2015. Andy released his first solo album “The Waterline” Summer 2024.