Roll Northumbria

Written by Nicholas Smyth for Canadian Cider Punk band The Dreadnoughts for their 2019 album *Into the North*, "Roll Northumbria" is a modern folk song in a traditional shanty style. It pays homage to the creation, launch, and retirement of the titular ship after a little over a decade of service.

Andy began covering the song during his solo livestreams with banjo accompaniment, and the band released an a cappella YouTube cover on 10 May 2023.

### Factoids

The £6.5 million *Esso Northumbria* was christened by Princess Anne and launched in May 1969. Not only did the size of the vessel require cutting away a significant portion of the river bank opposite the launch berth, it had to be launched on a particular day in May when the spring tide would be highest or risk scraping the bottom.

The Dreadnoughts reference "Wallsea Yard" as the place where the ESSO *Northumbria* was built, but it was in fact constructed by Hunter Swan at Wallsend on Tyne, North Tyneside, England.

The closing of the Red Sea referenced in the song is a direct reference to the Suez Crisis, which was in no small part a motivator for the *Northumbria's* construction.

There is no Port of Hulal; it was likely just a name that the Dreadnoughts slotted in place to keep the rhyme.

Though the song references the Mersey river, *Northumbria* never travelled it; it was launched on the river Tyne.

*Carpathia*, *Vengeance*, and *Celestial* are all oil tankers registered at one time or another to a variety of oil companies.

The ESSO *Northumbria* did not actually suffer an oil spill, though it was plagued by repeated technical and mechanical issues. Concerns were raised over the ship's single hull design and due to the potential risk of a major spill if the hull were punctured, *Northumbria* was decommissioned in 1982 after just 12 years of service. At no time did the vessel, in fact, limp away through an ocean of flame.

## Lyrics

Lyrics as performed in the Youtube video. The original Dreadnoughts lyrics are available here.

>
> 'Twas late '65 at the old Wallsea Yard
>
> She was commissioned to haul the black tar
>
> We built the Northumbria there on the bar
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> For when the Egyptians, they closed the Red Sea
>
> A call came on high from the powers that be
>
> To build the royal monster right down on the quay
>
> Roll Northumbria roll, me boys
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> And it's one for the hot sun above
>
> Two for the empire we love
>
> And it's three for the fire that burns down below
>
> Roll on Northumbria
>
>
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> Carpathia, Vengeance, Celestial call
>
> She was the tanker to outsize 'em all
>
> From the banks of the Mersey to the Port of Hulal
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> And fair Princess Anne threw a bottle of wine
>
> And watched as the giant set down in the Tyne
>
> What lay ahead could no mortal divine
>
> Roll Northumbria roll, me boys
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> So come all you good workmen, beware the command
>
> That comes down on high from the desk of a man
>
> Who's never held steel or torch in his hands
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> For atop a wild breaker the cracks in her frame
>
> Spilled 'er black guts all across the wild main
>
> She limped away through an ocean of flame
>
> Roll Northumbria roll, me boys
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
> {Chorus x2}
>
>
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
> Roll on Northumbria
>
> Roll Northumbria roll
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Chill Streams

* Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 04/04/2020
* We all get songs in Chillbury Town! With Andy and JD - 06/04/2020
* Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 10/04/2020
* Roll on UP to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 13/04/2020
* It's a glorious morning in Chillbury Town! With Andy - 17/04/2020
* Won't you come down to Chillbury Town - 24/04/2020
* Welcome to Chillville! Population: Andy - 01/05/2020
* It's a beautiful morning in Chillbury Town - 08/05/2020
* Welcome to Chillville. Drive safe! Playing mostly folk music... - 15/05/2020
* Look out i'm doing a music! - 22/05/2020
* Enter the Chilldome! Playing mostly folk music... - 05/06/2020
* Misty morning song time with Andy. - 12/06/2020
* Friday morning super folk music time with Andy! - 19/06/2020
* Can you survive the chilldome? Playing mostly folk music... - 26/06/2020
* Super Friday Morning Folk Music Time with Andy - 03/07/2020
* Are you a chill enough dude to defeat the Chilldome? - 10/07/2020
* Pack your bags! We're moving to Chillbury Town. - 14/08/2020
* Look out! It's a music! Playing mostly folk... - 21/08/2020
* Hold my herbal tea! I'm doing a music! - 04/09/2020
* (bangs table) music music music music! - 11/09/2020
* Shut the front door! It's a music! - 18/09/2020
* Music? Music! - 25/09/2020
* Super Friday Morning Folk Music Time! - 23/10/2020
* Bonus music time! GO! - 23/12/2020
* Playing some tunes, having a chill. - 1/01/2021
* Just one tired man and a banjo... - 17/01/2021
* He do be banjin doe - 07/02/2022

#### Gaming Streams

* Sing & Sail & Kegs me Skellyboys! - 15/06/2020