Three Score and Ten
Johnny McEvoy Lyrics

And it’s three score and ten boys and men
Seventy-three men were lost at sea

Were lost from Grimsby town
These men were from Grimsby town

From Yarmouth down to Scarborough
The loss of life was not confined to Grimsby only, but also affected other fishing towns along the east coast of England

Many hundreds more were drowned
The exact number of lives lost is not known, but it was certainly more than seventy-three

Their herring craft their trawlers
The boats that were lost were fishing vessels, some used specifically for catching herring, and others for trawling

Their fishing smacks as well
Some of the lost vessels were traditional fishing smacks

They long to fight that bitter night
The fishermen knew the risks of going out to sea in harsh conditions, but they were determined to earn their living regardless

And battle with the swell
The fishermen were up against strong waves, trying to keep their boats steady and avoid capsizing

Methinks I see a host of craft
The artist imagines a fleet of fishing boats leaving the Humber estuary to head to sea

Spreading their sails alee
The boats have their sails set, pushed out to one side by the wind

As down the Humber they do glide
The boats are moving smoothly down the river

Bound for the cold North Sea
The fishermen are heading towards the area of the North Sea where fish are most plentiful, regardless of the potentially dangerous conditions

Methinks I see on each small craft
The singer can make out the details of the boats, even from a distance

A crew with hearts so brave
The fishermen are courageous, knowing the risks they face in their line of work

Going out to earn their daily bread
The fishermen are simply trying to earn a living

Upon the restless weave
The sea is unpredictable, constantly throwing up new challenges for the men on the boats

October’s night brought such a sight
The loss of life took place during a particularly harsh night in October

T’was never seen before
The scale of the tragedy was unprecedented in the history of these fishing towns

There were masts and yards and broken spars
The debris that washed up on shore afterwards included the remains of the lost boats

Washed up upon the shore
The items that were recovered from the sea were pushed onto the beach

There was many a heart of sorrow
The loss of life affected many families and friends of the lost fishermen

There was many a heart so brave
The fishermen who lost their lives were courageous in their work, but also in their final moments

There was many a true and noble lad
The victims were young men, still full of potential

To find a watery grave
The men who were lost were buried at sea, leaving no trace of their final resting place