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 sleepDm 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 seaRepeat first verse
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