From the recording Falcon Head
Falcon Head was inspired by a photo of a lighthouse in a seething ocean. A wave crashed into the back, sending spray above the building itself. In the doorway at the front was the lighthouse keeper. He looked tiny against the background of the vast body of water.
Marc Weide and Jim Niven wrote an outline of this song during a workshop with Boo Hewerdine in November 2015. Marc later expanded the lyrics and melody, and added an instrumental intermezzo.
The following musicians contributed to this recording:
Marc Govan: vocals, fiddle
Jack Buckley: guitar, backing vocals
Ruben Cornelissen: bass guitar, backing vocals
Jeremy Miller: backing vocals
Tjebbe Borggreve: drums
William Becuwe: trombone
Tole Emmelot: flute
Leen de Keijzer: accordion
André van den Bunt: mixing and mastering
Lyrics
Falcon Head
A little boat put out to sea
And four days it was gone
It’s eat a fish to catch a fish
Before returning home
Thirst and hunger - always there
And rations of stale bread
But a lighthouse led them back to shore
They called it Falcon Head
It was built of brick on barely a rock
Breaking the waves on the stone
Shining its light, night after night,
Leading them safely back home
(Safely back home)
The freighter sailed out for the East
Four months she was away
Buying cotton, tea and cinnamon
And things they couldn’t say
Months of haggling, speaking in tongues
And never a proper bed
Relief came flooding back when they
Caught sight of Falcon Head
Instrumental
A war ship drafted in the troops
And they were gone four years
With two days’ leave but once a month
Friends fell, and there were tears
Until one day, their tour of duty done
Beneath a sky that looked like lead
The survivors’ spirits lifted when
They saw old Falcon Head
It was built of brick on barely a rock
Breaking the waves on the stone
Shining its light, night after night,
Leading them safely back home
(Safely back home)
It was built of brick on barely a rock
Breaking the waves on the stone
Shining its light, night after night,
Bringing them safely back home
(Safely back home, safely back home, safely back home)