Day 8: The Black and Bitter Night
Song Information
Arguably Peter's magnum opus, The Transports was a folk opera that he wrote telling the tale of Henry Cable and Susannah Holmes, who were part of the First Fleet that was transported to New South Wales. This is the song that Henry Cable sings after his love Susannah and their baby has been taken to be transported - in Peter's words written for Cabell to sing, when, not being clairvoyant, he doesn’t know he’s in for a happy ending
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Peter apparently wrote each of the songs with a specific person in mind. The Black And Bitter Night was sung by Mike Waterson, and Peter took advantage of the incredible range that Mike had.
On Second Wind, Peter joked in the liner notes My only regret about [The Transports] was that I blundered into giving all the best bits to other people and singing all the boring bits myself, so this seems like a good opportunity to have a go at my favourite song in the set
I have no idea when I first heard this. I remember listening to Cockersdale singing it on Doin' the Manch', but I don't know if I'll have heard that before or after the 40th Anniversary production in 2017.
Listen to the Song
Lyrics
It is cold, sad, and lonely in this dismal cell;
No solace comes up with the day.
My heart knows an anguish that no tongue can tell
Since they’ve taken my true love away
Oh, the black and bitter night and oh, the weary day
My love has been snatched far, far from my sight
And the transports will bear her away
When first in this prison so deep was my pain
Then she came and she banished dismay
But now in despondence I’m drowning again
For they’ve taken my true love away
Though surrounded by horrors yet we found delight,
For where love is, no sorrow can stay.
But misery and squalor swim back to my sight
Now they’ve taken my true love away
Why, the grasses still grow and the streams still down flow
And the blackbird still sings on the spray
But in dank, deary dungeons there’s nothing but woe
Since they’ve taken my true love away
Well, if I were a seagull, I’d fly to her side,
And it’s there that I wish I could stay.
But soon the cruel prison ships leave with the tide
And they’ve bearing my true love away
If I were a herring I’d wait by the slip
Though I waited a year and a day.
Then through the wide ocean I’d follow the ship
That is bearing my true love away
So lovers, cling fast to each pleasure you find
And cherish each moment of play
For all you will have is what stays in your mind
Once they’ve taken my true love away