The Week Your Man's Awa' Or Fisherman's Wife
Ewan MacColl - This is a song that I found by accident while looking for another one called the Fisherman's Wife (the one by Andy Stewart).  I was struck by the emotion it contains.  Having been a Navy wife at one time, and having a husband who had to work long hours only to come home and sleep until the next day's work, I understood exactly what the song is saying...  This can be a very powerful song to perform, for both the singer and the audience.  Practice the words so you can deliver it in good Scots form.

Dm                         C       Am
A' the week your man's awa’
Dm                               Gm  A7    Dm
And a' the week you bide your lane                  bide your lane = be alone
Dm                           C       Am
A' the time you're waiting for
Dm                              GmA7    Dm
The minute that he's comin' hame
Dm                          Am
Ye ken whit why he has tae work                        ken whit = understand
Dm                             Am
Ye ken the hours he has tae keep
Dm                                   Am
And yet it's making you angry when
Dm             Gm            A7             Dm
Ye see him just come hame tae sleep

Dm                                      C                 Am
Through the months and through the years
Dm                              Gm  A7    Dm
While you're bringing up the bairns                   bairns = children
Dm                                C            Am
Your man's awa' tae here and there
Dm                                GmA7Dm
Followin' the shoals of herring
Dm                                           Am
And when he's back there's nets tae mend
Dm                              Am
You've maybe got a score or twa                          twa = two
Dm                                          Am
And when they're done he'll rise and say
Dm        Gm      A7    Dm
Wife it's time I was awa'

Dm                              C             Am
Work and wait and dree your weird                  dree your weird = do laundry (I think)
Dm                  Gm  A7   Dm
Pin yer faith in herrin' sales
Dm                            C        Am
And oftimes lie awake at nicht                             nicht = night
Dm                            GmA7   Dm
In fear and dread of winter gales
Dm                                    Am
But men maun work tae earn their breid             maun = must           breid = bread
Dm                                     Am
And men maun sweat to gain their fee                 gain their fee = get paid
Dm                           Am
And fishermen will aye gang oot
Dm            Gm            A7     Dm
As long as fish swim in the sea

Repeat first verse
 

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