Old Forgotten Tales

With its origins in the 13th century, Hull experienced 700 years of growth and prosperity, establishing itself as an important seafaring city, vital to the country from both a military and a trading perspective. More famously, the 18th and 19th centuries saw it become one of the world’s most important whaling ports and, when that industry declined, the void was more than filled by the development of a massive fleet of deep-sea fishing vessels. However, as the middle of the 20th century approached, Hull was to suffer a downturn; firstly, the city was ravaged by the German air raids of World War II, then then came the decimation of that fishing fleet, hastened by the Icelandic Cod Wars of the 1970s. Recent years have seen some remarkable urban regeneration taking place, but the latter half of the 20th century will long be remembered as a dark era for this proud city, and this song serves as a reminder of those harsh times and acknowledges those who rode them out, including Sid Baines, Martin’s grandfather, who worked in the trawling industry himself and to whom the song is dedicated.

Set foot off shore, on moving floors, like ancestors who’ve gone before
They were all-knowing
Raise the sails and set for sea, like heralds of our ancestry
The storm’s a-blowing.
While others stayed upon the land, industrial and fish dock hand
High spirits flowing
A time it seems of better days, a city that once ruled the waves,
A time it seems forgotten

What is left in this old town, the factories near all closed down
Old forgotten trades
Remember them if you can, we’re grandchildren of the fishermen
Old forgotten tales

It wasn’t long before the war came knocking upon their door
Times were a-changing
Sent overseas with gun in hand, to distant and to foreign land
Unwilling lives were taken
Families were torn apart, broken bones and broken hearts
Letters sent of sadness
At home they fought a different fight, the bombs that fell right through the night
Communities were shaken

What is left in this old town, the factories near all closed down
Old forgotten trades
Remember them if you can, we’re grandchildren of the fishermen
Old forgotten tales

So I will sing about their tale, of heroes, of the lives they gave
To live our life of freedom
Seems worlds away from this fishing town, burnt to the ground then turned around
With bittersweet nostalgia
Our landscapes changed our morals too, wish I could still depend on you
Your guidance would inspire
The spirit that we’ve seen before, still lives through us and those before
I just want to thank you

What is left in this old town, the factories near all closed down
Old forgotten trades
Remember them if you can, we’re grandchildren of the fishermen
Old forgotten tales