Songs and Shanties From Cornwall

Basically, this song is a huge, passionate shout-out to Cornwall (or Kernow, as they call it in the Cornish language). It’s all about what makes Cornwall and its people unique.I

It's a pride song that says, "We are the Cornish—strong, free, and shaped by the mines, the sea, and our history. No matter where we go, our heart stays here in Kernow!" 

"Port of Mevagissey" celebrates the village's origins, its lifeblood as a pilchard port, and its feisty spirit, proving that despite facing pirates, smugglers, and storms, its fishermen are fighters who always rebuild and endure.

It explains the town's name came from two local saints, Meva and Issey, combining to make "Meva-hag-Issey" (Mevagissey). It started as two smaller places, Porthhilly and Lamorick.

This song is a classic, honest description of the demanding, non-stop grind of being a commercial fisherman. It's a tribute to the hard work itself.

This is a gritty work song that respects the physical toughness required. It salutes the "calloused hands and weary bone" of the person who earns their living from the ocean, showing that the job is a demanding, endless cycle of labor both at sea and back on land.

This song is all about the legendary (and historically grounded) figure Lady Mary Killigrew, a noblewoman from the Elizabethan era who basically became a sea-going outlaw!

This tale about a true Cornish rogue, who defied social norms and even her own husband, proving to be a ruthless and successful pirate, whose boldness ultimately earned her a pardon from the Queen herself.

This song is a spooky, atmospheric sea ballad about fishing in an area haunted by the ghosts of drowned sailors. It's less about the work and more about the strange, solemn company fishermen keep at sea.

This is a chilling yet deeply respectful song that reminds us of the dangers of the sea. It suggests that when fishermen are working in the dark, they are sharing the ocean with the restless, mournful spirits of those who died doing the same job, finding companionship in the shared history of loss and labour.

This song is an energetic celebration of the infamous smuggling trade that was essential to the history and economy of the fishing village of Polperro.

"Polperro's Shadow" is a cheerful, romanticised ode to the clever, daring smugglers of Polperro. It celebrates their teamwork, their defiance of the law, and the lasting legacy of secrecy and adventure that defined the village's identity.

This song tells the story of the 17th-century wreck of the Merchant Royal, which went down off the coast of Cornwall carrying what is believed to be one of the richest, unrecovered sunken treasures in history.

"The Merchant Royal" is a dramatic tale of fate and immense lost wealth. It immortalizes Captain Limbrey and his crew, who risked everything to bring home a legendary Spanish hoard, only to lose the ship and the treasure forever off the coast of Land's End.

This song is a tribute to the legacy of Cornish fishing and the moment a young man earns his place as a full-fledged fisherman, demonstrating that "Cornish sea blood runs thick in his hand."

"The Cornish Boy" celebrates the hard-won respect in the fishing community. It's an anthem for the young generation, showing that skill, courage, and resilience—tested against the wildness of the Cornish sea—are what turns a boy with "sea blood" into a proper "deep-water man."

This song tells a dramatic, high-stakes story of a fisherman, "Ol' Tom," and his boat, The Doris, fighting not just the sea, but the crippling financial pressure that threatens to destroy his livelihood and home.

"The Doris's Last Stand" is a high-drama fishing tale that captures the financial struggle of independent fishermen today. It shows their incredible determination to risk everything against the odds to save their boat and preserve their way of life, resulting in a last-minute, triumphant victory.

This song serves as the album's emotional and spiritual conclusion. It is a powerful, reflective piece about finding one's ultimate peace and identity by returning to the land of Cornwall (Kernow) at the end of life.

"The Soul of Cornwall" is a profound and moving conclusion that sees death not as an end, but as a perfect, everlasting reunion with the land of Cornwall. It celebrates the deep, almost mystical connection that binds the people to the "granite stone" of Kernow forever.

You can right mouse click this image and download it if you wish, it's 1280 x 1280 so should be good enough for a cd case cover.

The actual album name is "Koth hag Nowydh Keza" which means Old and New Together" It's cecause these are old style songs that coming to you through new technology.

You can right mouse click this image and download it if you wish, it's 1280 x 1280 so should be good enough for a cd case cover.

The QR code in the corner is just a scanable link to this website

You can right mouse click this image and download it if you wish, it's 3980 x 3980 so should be good enough for a cd case cover.