This is a song by Mike Heron, half the Incredible String Band. It’s off his second solo album and luckily available for all to appreciate on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Ux1GvNym4).
The correct line in the first verse is “And we're bound for Norway” not 'nowhere', which helps get into the song meaning. It reinforces the wintry feeling of the song, and drives home the hope element of the line when he assures his fellow seaman Joseph that the mud will give way to coral.
I am reminded of The Band song “Rockin’ Chair” penned I think by Levon Helm, not sure
I think The Dolphin is the name of the craft in which they sail.
The life of the seaman is extreme, addictive, a vocation with little reward. The hope of finding peace at sea is so beautifully expressed by Mike that I find this song one of my favourites ever.
Backing vocals by Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention’s other half
@kevin10369 This is very cool to learn! I have been listening to Manfred Mann's version for 40+ years, but don't remember ever knowing the Heron background. "Norway" indeed rhymes with "gray". How much coral is there in Norway though? I will have to research this ...
@kevin10369 This is very cool to learn! I have been listening to Manfred Mann's version for 40+ years, but don't remember ever knowing the Heron background. "Norway" indeed rhymes with "gray". How much coral is there in Norway though? I will have to research this ...
This is a song by Mike Heron, half the Incredible String Band. It’s off his second solo album and luckily available for all to appreciate on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Ux1GvNym4). The correct line in the first verse is “And we're bound for Norway” not 'nowhere', which helps get into the song meaning. It reinforces the wintry feeling of the song, and drives home the hope element of the line when he assures his fellow seaman Joseph that the mud will give way to coral. I am reminded of The Band song “Rockin’ Chair” penned I think by Levon Helm, not sure I think The Dolphin is the name of the craft in which they sail. The life of the seaman is extreme, addictive, a vocation with little reward. The hope of finding peace at sea is so beautifully expressed by Mike that I find this song one of my favourites ever. Backing vocals by Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention’s other half
@kevin10369 This is very cool to learn! I have been listening to Manfred Mann's version for 40+ years, but don't remember ever knowing the Heron background. "Norway" indeed rhymes with "gray". How much coral is there in Norway though? I will have to research this ...
@kevin10369 This is very cool to learn! I have been listening to Manfred Mann's version for 40+ years, but don't remember ever knowing the Heron background. "Norway" indeed rhymes with "gray". How much coral is there in Norway though? I will have to research this ...
@kevin10369 Just discovered this link! Reading it it seems the discovery is to recent for Mike to have known about it but, having said that, music is magic afterall https://www.lophelia.org/case-studies/the-north-atlantic-ocean/reefs-of-norway#:~:text=Norway%20has%20the%20highest%20known,as%20Belize%2C%20Mozambique%20or%20Seychelles.
@kevin10369 Just discovered this link! Reading it it seems the discovery is to recent for Mike to have known about it but, having said that, music is magic afterall https://www.lophelia.org/case-studies/the-north-atlantic-ocean/reefs-of-norway#:~:text=Norway%20has%20the%20highest%20known,as%20Belize%2C%20Mozambique%20or%20Seychelles.