Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann
Liner notes
Friend Miles -- as in, a friend called Miles, not some weird rewards scheme -- posted a picture of an exhibit in Ullapool Town Museum about a strike by 'Herring Girls' in Lowestoft, which is about as far away from Ullapool as you can go on this island. This sent me down a rabbit hole, and I wanted to make it into a song. I wanted there to be Gaelic names involved, so I borrowed his partner's -- it's pronounced 'Kirsty'. 'Catriona' is pronounced 'Katrina'.Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sitting at the quay
Knitting up a gansey *A kind of jumper for her Angus out at sea
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sending home her pay
So Carol-Ann's Catriona never has to live this way
From Stornoway in springtime, and working round the coast
The trawlers trail the herring and the women trail the boats
Yet another milk train, yet another port
Yet another fishing boat and all the fish it caught
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sitting at the quay
Knitting up a gansey for her Angus out at sea
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sending home her pay
So Carol-Ann's Catriona never has to live this way
Reverend Gilfillan turn the hall into the kirk*Church.
It's good to hear the Gaelic in her worship and her work
She almost smells the sulphur as he preaches to the crowd
Hellfire and damnation and we're all the sinners now
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann drops onto her knees
And offers up a prayer for her Angus out at sea
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sending home her pay
So Carol-Ann's Catriona never has to live this way
She softens up her accent so the landlady understands
She needs a water-basin for her cracked and swollen hands
She hums herself a lullaby and tries to wash away
The oils and sweat and odours of a 15-hour day
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann dreams of Loch Maree
Dreams about a Christmas-time with Angus home from sea
Ciorstaidh's Carol-Ann is sending home her pay
So Carol-Ann's Catriona never has to live this way