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Bohus

Bohus - sung by Freda Leask, with the band Shoormal; from their CD Migrant.

Migrant CD artwork Migrant CD artwork The influences on local band Shoormal are varied  -  country, gospel and folk can all be detected in their distinctive style.  They've included dialect songs in all their recordings, including the CD from which this track is taken, Migrant, on the Greentrax label, CDTRAX 247. 

Bohus was written by singer Freda Leask and band guitarist Trevor Smith.  This song is based on the eye witness account of the grounding of the Bohus.  Leslie Johnson, the story teller in the introduction,  saw the German ship run aground in 1924, off the Ness of Queyon in East Yell.  34 of the crew of 39 were saved. 


Hear du da saft nots o Horeb whisper
Lullin wis tae a sleepin soond,
Facin mist an uncan waaters
Let wis come noo an lay wis doon.

An dere sho stood
Da prood masts high.
Nae man wis watchin
Dis faersome moder-dy;
Nae man wis lippenin
Dis storm athin da calm;
Black wis da skerry as
Broadside sho'd faan.

Runnin doon ower da banks tae see dem
Families cam fae aboot da doors,
Hearin voices yall oot fur freedom,
Uncan voices on uncan shores.

A rop med fast
Tae fecht dir wye,
Bit nae wye tae slip bit tae rocks fae da sky
An nae wye tae grip bit da airms o strong Yell men.
If da swell racked dere afore dem
Dey wir gone.

Shooder high dey kerried dem as da music rang
'How can we sing the Lord's song in this foreign land?'

Men and weemin oot at a gaddery
Waedin in tae tak dir faa;
Darkened water has shared its manna
Faest wi swaabies an wi maas.

Noo dere sho stands
Her heed held high;
A warnin angel
Wi her face tae da sky.
Da wird at her heart
An sho's claed in white;
Sho's a mindful meid
Fur wir deepest night.

Hear du da saft nots o Horeb whisper
Lullin wis tae a sleepin soond;
Facin mist an uncan waaters
Let wis come noo an lay wis doon.


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