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"GREY FUNNEL LINES"
TRADITIONAL SONG & VERSE OF THE ROYAL NAVY 1900-1970
(Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1987)
MORE THAN JUST A SONG BOOK
No, this isn't one of those song books where you prop it up on the piano and play the accompaniment. You don't even have to be able to read or understand music. You can just as easily take this one to bed. It's full of yarns, photos and interesting background information, not only about the songs, which come from wardrooms as well as messdecks, but about the Senior Service itself. In fact Cyril Tawney reckons he learned more about the Navy putting this book together than he did during the whole of his 12 years service! When it comes to Navy songs you may think you know it all, but GREY FUNNEL LINES is guaranteed to give you a few surprises. For instance, do you know the true story behind "I was walking through the dockyard in a panic", and that it used to have a second verse? Or that matelots were singing a "Fleet Air Arm" song as long ago as 1909, before the Admiralty had even begun to think along those lines? How many songs do you know about the first Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914? And are you sure you know the origins of words like 'buffer', 'pongo' and 'oppo'? Once you've read 'GREY FUNNEL LINES' you're bound to agree it's more than just a song book.
"Apart from Tawney's understanding of the genre, his technical and specialized knowledge of the world of the Royal Navy enables him to comment creatively and interpretatively about many aspects of navy life, and it is these frequent excursions that are the real icing on the cake. This book is a well-rounded, authoritative and important review of the traditional song and verse of the Royal Navy. It stands on its own in respect of research into this area: it can safely take its place among the handful of good research books produced by members of the folk revival over the past thirty years."
"Folk Music Journal"
"Cyril Tawney's admirable commentaries on each song, illuminating and punctuating as they are, should be required reading for some of our modern, so-called 'folk-singers'. His writing, throughout the volume, reaches a very high standard indeed. I can only advise my readers to buy and study this book; sailor or not, it will provide them with endless pleasure."
"English Dance & Song"
"GREY FUNNEL LINES is a singing history, with Cyril Tawney's informed commentary, the photographs and the very necessary glossary making it of interest to readers within or without the orbit of the Royal Naval Association or the folk-song club."
Nottingham Weekend Post
"Almost all the songs are tinged, if not laden, with the ironic humour which characterises the Navy. They have contributed to a slice of nostalgia of immense appeal."
"Navy News"
