i always remember reading a letter that my Gran sent to my dad, he had moved us to Auustralia, she wrote " i guess I will never see you again my Billy Boy" that has haunted me since I was about 10.. I am 62 and it still makes me cry.. II couldnt imagine never seeing my kids again
It is my mother Nancy's birthday today, she would have been 85. This song always has me sobbing. My mother was born in the Irish boarder town of Monaghan the year of partisan, died the year of the good Friday agreement. My Irish parents and us 6 kids lived in London in the mid 60's and like Eric we migrated to Australia. My grandmother and one of my Aunts came to the railway station as we boarded the train to take us to the airport to go to Australia for ever. It was a sad day and my mother cried buckets. Life was very busy in Australia for my mother as she had more children and never seemed to have time for herself. Letters from home became less and less and phone calls were expensive so rare. We had been in Australia for 10 or more years and one day my cousin came for a visit, he told my mother her mother had passed away about 18 months earlier. I don't think she ever got over the guilt, This beautiful song sung by a great poet, reminds me so much of that day, and of course my mother Nancy. Thank you Eric for your great understanding of the heartbreak of immigration.
My favourite of Eric's songs, even though it still brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat every time I hear it. Eric and I lived in the same street in Peebles but he was a few years older than me. I remember his mother Nancy very well which is probably why the song has such an effect on me
Always remember a sentence from a letter my dad's mother sent from Wales, after we emigrated to Australia, it read " well I guess I will never see you again my Billy Boy" she never did. I can't imagine never seeing my daughter again.
Who else can be so blatant and stark and get away with it? Wishes were fishes, Reason for it all, Gift of years and Now i'm easy to name a few. No one. Everyone else has to be subtle about it but Eric is like... Fkn take this!
Left my family at 17 to join the Canadian Military and my Moum took me to catch the Bus and this song always reminds me of the awakard moments before the bus arrived. I loved her and my Dad very much rest in peace both I am doing well!!
Simple tune Simple words. But stunning. I think of my mum, gone 10 years now, when I hear this song. Like Eric she emigrated but came back or I'd be American not Scottish.
I can never listen to that song without a tear coming to my eye,My friend Tony and I were on a trip in Germany, and to pass the time away, I tried to teach him to sing it,but to no avail,Tony died of cancer a few months after the trip, and I lost one of the best mates I ever had. (so thanks for the memory).
A brilliant songwriter/ singer. Saw him many times live. Once, in Euroa, l took my two girls to listen to this guy, and they were mesmerized. Definitely one of the best songwriters. Keep on going, Eric.
My mum was Nancy and what a special person she was. I remember when my kids both moved to New Zealand how hard I found it. I had what's app and messanger so I don't know how hard it must have been for you at the time!!! I am Ric Collin's sister and I love your music😀
Dallas Nyberg you are indeed blessed and enriched by his presence, maybe an Aussie on paper, but Eric Bogle is Scottish from the bottom o his feet tae the tap aw his heid, slange.
Never knew till this week that Nancy was my grandmother's friend. I shared a photo asking if anyone could tell me who the other person was. They came from the same area, and both moved to Peebles. I remember my Nan looking out her window and exclaiming Eric's home! I had no idea who Eric was. It would have been mid 70s. Eric now has a copy of the photograph, and everything makes sense. ❤
Wonderful music, strong message, great duo, thank you. When I first heard this I had not heard Eric's explanation of the "inspiration" for this song. I thought he was singing about a soldier going to fight in WW1. When I played the Stoneyfell Winery DVD version I realised he was emigrating , probably on the £10 passage scheme. When I then realised the strong emotions were generated by both acts it makes one wonder on the value of money and the possible sacrifice made in pursuit of it. Sorry about that. I'mm sorry I was not able to see/hear them live. What a powerful creation.
Glasgow Central Station was, in those pre-airflight days, a sea of grieving families, all convinced they were seeing each other for the last time. Nancy did fly to Oz a couple of times &, of course, Eric did a few tours of Scotland.
Oh Eric... How do you sing them without breaking down? I sing in a small choir and would love to do "No Man's Land", but I know what would happen... Thank you for all the beautiful words and music. Phil (Bendigo VIC)
It's funny. He cant really sing at all, but at the same time, he can sing anything. He really carries a tune. Always loved this bloke! Been listening to him my whole life, and never lost interest, i am now almost 18! :)
He hasn't retired but if you want to see him you'll have to go to Australia! He just isn't doing any more long-haul tours. But who knows? Perhaps he could be persuaded to come to the UK just once more!
reminds me of when i left ireland for new zealand ,all the little details' of avoidance .Now i,m back in ireland have sons mokopuna in nz ,it worked out well
So true about British partings. Mother has tough upper lip until the last second and the father with zero emotion. lol. Great song though. Thanks for posting :-)
how do I contact Eric im looking for a album he made for the A.M.S.W.U in the seventy's which was a song about public transport with the lyrics part of was the 20 past 4 doesn't run any more its now the quarter past 5 any 1 help out ???
This song was written by Eric Bogle when he emigrated to Australia in 1969. I very much doubt he was inspired to pen it on his arrival by a 12 year old Portuguese schoolboy. It has travelled the world since then and been sung by many people, from many countries, some more famous than Eric. It's not even that similar anyway.
My daughter my son myself and my brother all love this song❤️ My brother emigrated to Australia in the mid seventies . Our mother is also called Nancy. Such a song 🎶❤️🎶
i always remember reading a letter that my Gran sent to my dad, he had moved us to Auustralia, she wrote " i guess I will never see you again my Billy Boy" that has haunted me since I was about 10.. I am 62 and it still makes me cry.. II couldnt imagine never seeing my kids again
It is my mother Nancy's birthday today, she would have been 85. This song always has me sobbing. My mother was born in the Irish boarder town of Monaghan the year of partisan, died the year of the good Friday agreement. My Irish parents and us 6 kids lived in London in the mid 60's and like Eric we migrated to Australia.
My grandmother and one of my Aunts came to the railway station as we boarded the train to take us to the airport to go to Australia for ever. It was a sad day and my mother cried buckets.
Life was very busy in Australia for my mother as she had more children and never seemed to have time for herself. Letters from home became less and less and phone calls were expensive so rare.
We had been in Australia for 10 or more years and one day my cousin came for a visit, he told my mother her mother had passed away about 18 months earlier. I don't think she ever got over the guilt,
This beautiful song sung by a great poet, reminds me so much of that day, and of course my mother Nancy. Thank you Eric for your great understanding of the heartbreak of immigration.
⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰
Beautiful song words and music.Eric Bogle is great wordsmith a master of his craft.
thankyou for taking the words out of my mouth
My favourite of Eric's songs, even though it still brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat every time I hear it. Eric and I lived in the same street in Peebles but he was a few years older than me. I remember his mother Nancy very well which is probably why the song has such an effect on me
Always remember a sentence from a letter my dad's mother sent from Wales, after we emigrated to Australia, it read " well I guess I will never see you again my Billy Boy" she never did. I can't imagine never seeing my daughter again.
This man is National Treasure, What a song writer, there is not the equal in this country
Who else can be so blatant and stark and get away with it? Wishes were fishes, Reason for it all, Gift of years and Now i'm easy to name a few. No one. Everyone else has to be subtle about it but Eric is like... Fkn take this!
@@timberhouses-ambient7838 ]
Left my family at 17 to join the Canadian Military and my Moum took me to catch the Bus and this song always reminds me of the awakard moments before the bus arrived. I loved her and my Dad very much rest in peace both I am doing well!!
Canˋt hold back my tears listening to this. I‘ m the same age as Eric and wished so much I could hold my mother‘s and father‘s hands....
Eric's songs are marvellous. Memorable tunes and glorious lyrics. Thank you for your gift of song ...
my dad's favourite song to sing, he's 70 now, illl have to get recording of him while he is with us ill treasure listening to him singing this forever
A whole man is kind, he has a soft heart, he cries often, he knows the value of life more than the cost of things.
So poignant.
An underrated legend. without him, there would be a very limited folk scene.
Peebles's loss is Sidney's gain: 'Nae loss what a freen' gets'.
Simple tune Simple words. But stunning. I think of my mum, gone 10 years now, when I hear this song. Like Eric she emigrated but came back or I'd be American not Scottish.
I can never listen to that song without a tear coming to my eye,My friend Tony and I were on a trip in Germany, and to pass the time away, I tried to teach him to sing it,but to no avail,Tony died of cancer a few months after the trip, and I lost one of the best mates I ever had. (so thanks for the memory).
Robert Toner sorry for your loss.... I think eric is NOW retired for good now... But, I am not 100% sure.
Instant tears. What a beautiful song
thankyou for the memories ,,,,i remember you in the west in the 70s and 80s
Such a sad song but full of fond memories of my Mum
A brilliant songwriter/ singer. Saw him many times live. Once, in Euroa, l took my two girls to listen to this guy, and they were mesmerized.
Definitely one of the best songwriters. Keep on going, Eric.
My mum was Nancy and what a special person she was.
I remember when my kids both moved to New Zealand how hard I found it. I had what's app and messanger so I don't know how hard it must have been for you at the time!!!
I am Ric Collin's sister and I love your music😀
Love ye Eric. Bring tears to a glass eye this would. Lang amy yer lum reek!
Have loved every time I have seen him in Scotland. Talented, wonderful and someone who can make the most reticent of us, cry like babies.
I cant believe how many of this mans songs I used to sing!!! holy moly!!! Now living in Oz and still feeling proud and loving them
Best part to me is when the entire crowd joins in - special song.
Amazing songwriter..... love him..... he's an Aussie now.....and we are blessed and enriched by his presence here.......
Dallas Nyberg you are indeed blessed and enriched by his presence, maybe an Aussie on paper, but Eric Bogle is Scottish from the bottom o his feet tae the tap aw his heid, slange.
And yet he has a way of writing about the Aus situation that is poignant and beautiful - he speaks to my heart this young lad from Peebles
My Farther in lay Mr Roy Baron Used to sing this no longer with us so me too i am in tears!
Never knew till this week that Nancy was my grandmother's friend. I shared a photo asking if anyone could tell me who the other person was. They came from the same area, and both moved to Peebles. I remember my Nan looking out her window and exclaiming Eric's home! I had no idea who Eric was. It would have been mid 70s. Eric now has a copy of the photograph, and everything makes sense. ❤
been listening to him my whole life too........sung by other people.......never knowing who wrote these wonderful songs, i do now
Wonderful music, strong message, great duo, thank you. When I first heard this I had not heard Eric's explanation of the "inspiration" for this song. I thought he was singing about a soldier going to fight in WW1. When I played the Stoneyfell Winery DVD version I realised he was emigrating , probably on the £10 passage scheme. When I then realised the strong emotions were generated by both acts it makes one wonder on the value of money and the possible sacrifice made in pursuit of it. Sorry about that. I'mm sorry I was not able to see/hear them live. What a powerful creation.
Listen to Finbar Furey sing this song...they almost sound like 2 different songs...
Glasgow Central Station was, in those pre-airflight days, a sea of grieving families, all convinced they were seeing each other for the last time.
Nancy did fly to Oz a couple of times &, of course, Eric did a few tours of Scotland.
@@sherp2u1 What happened to Eddie?
Im greeting listening to this. Been there done that. My mum is gone know and how i miss her and my wee home.
Beautiful song and beautifully sung.
no matter how often I hear this - it always has the same effect .
Listening from Galway in ireland - beautiful
Kaum einer kann Momente so gut einfangen wie Eric
@killiekentman Thanks for sharing Ray, On the Radio Scotland show it cuts off before the end of the song.
Beautiful music from a real artist.
loved this song from the first time i heard it , thanks for sharing. Ray
one of my favorites...always chokes me up!! I've been playing it on my mandolin and have a tough time getting through it...lol
I love this song... so sad
Oh Eric... How do you sing them without breaking down? I sing in a small choir and would love to do "No Man's Land", but I know what would happen...
Thank you for all the beautiful words and music. Phil (Bendigo VIC)
It's funny. He cant really sing at all, but at the same time, he can sing anything. He really carries a tune. Always loved this bloke! Been listening to him my whole life, and never lost interest, i am now almost 18! :)
He hasn't retired but if you want to see him you'll have to go to Australia! He just isn't doing any more long-haul tours. But who knows? Perhaps he could be persuaded to come to the UK just once more!
reminds me of when i left ireland for new zealand ,all the little details' of avoidance .Now i,m back in ireland have sons mokopuna in nz ,it worked out well
A damn sad song!
Sweet memories ...
it nails it for sure
good for you my friend....
The Dubliners do a good version of this on the "Celebration "album.
So true about British partings. Mother has tough upper lip until the last second and the father with zero emotion. lol. Great song though. Thanks for posting :-)
Oh...and my Mom's name is Nancy :)
MORE: Signe Svendsen sanged that also lovely song named Chuva ... and in a quite good portuguese, for a Danish singer.
how do I contact Eric im looking for a album he made for the A.M.S.W.U in the seventy's which was a song about public transport with the lyrics part of was the 20 past 4 doesn't run any more its now the quarter past 5 any 1 help out ???
You're thinking of John Dengate's song "Train trip to Guildford". ua-cam.com/video/Au4KouCXohE/v-deo.html
I believe Eric's mate's name is Munro
Yes John Munro met him and Eric in Scotland, lovely chaps.
Thank you for agreeing on the spelling. These things matter to me.
No problem.
Yes John Munro, Great Guitar Player.
John, of that ilk.
I have asked wether the author was J. Fernando, cause he composed a song, called "CHUVA" (RAIN), that sounds very close to this "Leaving Nancy".
No
This song was written by Eric Bogle when he emigrated to Australia in 1969. I very much doubt he was inspired to pen it on his arrival by a 12 year old Portuguese schoolboy. It has travelled the world since then and been sung by many people, from many countries, some more famous than Eric. It's not even that similar anyway.
Scotland's loss was Australia's gain
Farewell tour? Has he retired? Hope he's ok!
My daughter my son myself and my brother all love this song❤️ My brother emigrated to Australia in the mid seventies . Our mother is also called Nancy. Such a song 🎶❤️🎶
Well, Eric is 75 now, so he's entitled to take things a bit easier. He is still writing songs, though. He made a new one, just a couple of weeks ago.
@@annejackson6483 Ron P & I will be forming an orderly queue.
A.M.S.W.U. = amalgamated metal workers and shipwrights union
I'll be sure to remember that ...
is the author a portuguese musician named Jorge Fernando ?
No..Eric bogle
Best done in a Furey's accent, beautiful, poetic, tragic song!
H'mmm ....
Ny