Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker (born March 22, 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is a British singer/songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of more than 55 million. His music is of the folk/easy listening genre. In his early career, his trademark was his fantastic whistling ability.
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969, when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20) Read Full BioRoger Whittaker (born March 22, 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is a British singer/songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of more than 55 million. His music is of the folk/easy listening genre. In his early career, his trademark was his fantastic whistling ability.
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969, when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Besides being a professional musician, Whittaker also holds a univeristy degree in both bio-chemistry and zoology.
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969, when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20) Read Full BioRoger Whittaker (born March 22, 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is a British singer/songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of more than 55 million. His music is of the folk/easy listening genre. In his early career, his trademark was his fantastic whistling ability.
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969, when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Besides being a professional musician, Whittaker also holds a univeristy degree in both bio-chemistry and zoology.
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The Last Farewell
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor
Tomorrow for old England she sails
Far away from your land of endless sunshine
To my land full of rainy skies and gales
And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing
And the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising
Their guns on fire as we sail into hell
I have no fear of death, it brings no sorrow
But how bitter will be this last farewell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Though death and darkness gather all about me
My ship be torn apart upon the seas
I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands
And the heaving waves that brought me once to thee
And should I return home safe again to England
I shall watch the English mist roll through the dale
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER WHITTAKER, RONALD ARTHUR WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
sclm55
@Ivan Granger Yes. 1955, South Florida. My father moved there after the war. He loved fishing. Typical summer weekend early mornings: "Hey. Wake up! You want to go fishing!?"
"Yeah"!
UP and DRESSED! OFF WE WENT (my two other brothers, dad and sometimes a friend)! Miles from shore before the sun even rose, heading out into the Gulfstream, beyond the wide mouth of Biscayne Bay (Miami)!
After hours of fishing out in the Gulfstream running after Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Red Snapper, and/or Yellow Tail; and surviving abrupt summer squalls that could scare the life or of you; then finally...FINALLY heading for shore and the seemingly forever snail's pace journey getting back to the docks.
As soon as I'd (we'd brothers) step off the boat onto the pier, I'd go down on hand and knees, literally kiss the ground, and affirm "I'll NEVER go fishing again!"
BUT just two or three weeks later, 4am or 5AM, Saturday and/or Sunday morning; and once again came the shaking from deep sleep be dad and the proverbial question:
"Hey. Wake up! You want to go fishing!?"
And again the answer of "Yeah!"
In similar fashion as a woman who forgets the pain of childbearing once she sees her child. So somehow, I forgot the travail and pain that fishing out in the Gulfstream entailed. Recalling only the fun hit and excitement that it also brought in doing so...being with my father.
The sea was in his blood. So many stories of fishing and other adventures while we had my father in our youth.
Robert Waid
Thank You, Mr Robert Townsend for that walk through Music, History!
Personally I was never aware, or checked into the History, of that Haunting, but very Bueatiful Song.
Coincidentally I think 🤔🤔 on reflection that 1975 was when I was first introduced too it also! If I am to remember correctly it was first on either the AM or FM radio stations?
After first hearing it and Mr Roger Whittaker's, singing voice, & style I went out and bought his current Album that was available, at the time? Thing was I bought the thing in Cassette, form and not in the LP style. Dumb me I only had access to Car Stereo's, & the personal Tape player's, or occasionally a friend's Stereo System.
FYI, I thought Mr Whittaker was a most gifted Individual. ID put him with the Likes of Niel Diamond, Glen Campbell, Harry Chapin, Gordon Lightfoot, Ann Murray, Petula Clark, and oh so many Other Great One's.
I'm not sure if He is still with us or not? But whether or not He is! The World had a very Talented, and Wonderful Human Being, sing them to sleep, or Otherwise for a very Precious Time in our Lives.
Thank You again Mr Townsend.
Wyoming, Robert, 🇨🇦🇺🇲🇨🇦🇺🇲👀👀😭😭👍👍😔😔🌈🌈🙏🙏🗣️🗣️
Aft Thought: I was going too add something more just a question? That question is are You from England, or possibly Canada? Myself I'm a Dual citizen of Canada, and the USA. Thanks Again.
Distant Places
So many memories in this song. I’m smiling and quietly crying at the same time.
john dennis
It's 2022, and I'm still listening to Roger Whittaker. What a voice!
BerenikiRegina
Same here.
dennis marsh
Me too
Harriet Harlow
He has a beautiful voice!
Tyrone Josias
absolutely
Jackie Edwards
Me too . 11 April 2022. Have loved listening to Roger Whittaker since mid 1970's. Especially the whistling song. But enjoy all. Thank you Roger.
Kurt Perkert
Fantastic! What a great story. It actually brings tears to my eyes. I play this song every time I am feeling depressed. It puts me in a better mood as sad as it is. I just don't feel alone in my worse times. Thank-you Roger Whittaker.
I’m Spartacus
@Kurt Perkert the genius of the crowd by bukowski is also a favourite poem of mine . ....Unfortunately “Life is hard and friends are few “ . It seems so many of us are struggling with this existence. Alas after 60 years of searching for answers , I am sadly “none the wiser “ and this will be carved on my headstone ! . I have no idea what it’s all about .Most likely nothing at all ! .
Sandra Landers
@Kurt Perkert maybe I