Sea Songs

The Leaving of Liverpool

I don't know exactly when I first heard "The Leaving of Liverpool" but it was probably from a Dubliners recording in the 1970's. The version I sing was learned from Brian Kelly, himself a Liverpudlian, and it's a great song to belt out, too. I think it is best sung slowly and deliberately with very great strength in the choruses.
Brian would go into ecstatics when rolling off the litany of Liverpool place names in his final verse i.e. "....Frederick Street, 'Ansom Terrace (sic) and Park Lane" as well as the opener "Farewell to Princess (sic) landing stage, River Mersey .......". I sing this song fairly often myself and stick religiously to Brian's version.
The Clancy Brothers give a somewhat different, brief three-verse version in their The Irish Songbook.
"The Leaving of Liverpool" has been recorded by:
 The Dubliners on "Songs From Ireland: Greatest Hits" RealAudio
 The Clancy Brothers on "Greatest Hits" RealAudio
 The Clancy Brothers on "Greatest Hits" RealAudio
 The Clancy Brothers on "Reunion" 
 The Dubliners on "Wild Rover" 
 Gaelic Storm on "Gaelic Storm" 
 Various Artists on "I Love Sing-Along Irish Pub Favourites" 
 Various Artists on "The Ultimate Non-Stop Irish Party Album" 
 The Dubliners on "Definitive Transatlantic Collection" 
 Various Artists on "Party 3-Pack Drinking Songs" 
 The Dubliners on "Complete Dubliners Vol.1" 
 The Dubliners on "Milestones" 
 Various Artists on "Green Velvet"