Harbottle and Jonas at EFEx sing of Scott of the Antarctic

In the midst of the delegate’s dinner at the English Folk Expo (EFEx), the duo of Harbottle and Jonas bravely presented a few songs. I say bravely, because diverting people from food, wine and business schmoozing is a challenging task, and odds of success are low. But after the first few chords, the room quieted somewhat - partly out of respect for the musicians but also for the dignity of the song. I was not aware of the back story of the ballad and getting the full lyric was hard, and so at first I thought that the refrain “Was it You” indicated a love song. But there was something about the soulfulness of it that made me want to hear it again, to get into it and understand it. So I was delighted to hear them sing it again in the after hours bar where I was actually set up to shoot. (Thanks to Tom Stanier for the board mix!) And so I learned about Scott of the Antarctic, the man who is the subject of the song. He was an accomplished explorer who met his end alone, frozen to death in a tent in the South Pole. When his body was found, so was his diary, in which he recorded what had happened there, and his final thoughts. Over the years, he has become a part of English history, and a hero. I recommend research on the subject to get the full story which is indeed filled with bravery and self-sacrifice.
Beyond a great melody, songwriting at its best, is poetry. So it is worth the time to look at the lyric of “Was it You,” written by Ewen Carruthers, and to appreciate his craft; the compression of thought into carefully chosen words and the impact of a first person narrator:
The signs were bad the sailors said, before we reached the land
But I dismissed their omens with a wave of my hand
And as I write this letter and consider where we stand
The times that fortune smiled on us were few
And in adversity no man could ask for more than to face it with a loyal crew
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?
And when at last we reached the Pole and found that simple note
I cried “Three cheers for Amundson” but the words stuck in my throat
And turning back as in a dream, unspoken we all knew
With the burden of our broken hearts we’d never make it through
And if we’d lived I’d surely have a tale to tell of companions loyal, brave, and true.
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?
My comrades have departed on a journey with no end
I wait alone; a captain with no crew
But the ship of hope has run aground and never will set sail
There is no more I can do.
Snuff out the candle flame for I can write no more - and sleep is beckoning anew
And in the dark I swear somebody softly called my name; was it you, was it you, was it you?
To compare renditions of the same song, here is Carruthers singing the song at what seems to be a folk club or a house concert:
• Ewen Carruthers - 'Was...
(I like the unselfconscious sing-along here. Support house concerts!!)
The songs that retell the tales of those long past only survive if they are durable. Time is their proof, and they serve to make history human. Kudos to Harbottle and Jonas in deciding to cover this one; it deserves to be passed down, and I hope you enjoy it and maybe think hard on that man alone in his tent, resigned to his death as the candle winks out.

[@StoryTellerMusicLTD]

Thrilled to come by this. I am Ewen's son. Dad wrote this in the early eighties. One of our favourite songs. And this is such a lovely and heartfelt rendition. Thank you. Much appreciate Harbottle and Jonas! Beautiful X

[@MichalShapiro1949]

I am personally delighted to read this comment. I will pass it on to the musicians.

[@HarbottleAndJonas]

So good to hear! I hope the CD arrived okay? x