The Mary Rose has been an inspiration for musicians and songwriters for many decades. In that time, there have been several recordings both on vinyl and CD.
Below is just a small selection, and their stories can be seen as part of a temporary exhibition in the foyer of the Mary Rose Museum this spring.
The first recording was a song called “Mary Rose”, released in 1979 and performed by The National Youth Jazz Orchestra. All their royalties went to towards the raising of the Mary Rose.
The next “Mary Rose” song was written by Jim Birmingham and performed by Arnold Gutbucket and Humphrey Camelfoot. Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in 1982 the song has a gentle melody and a sound reminiscent of The Beatles.
The song was later reinterpreted and rereleased in 2011 ahead of the opening of the new Mary Rose Museum. The lyrics capture the conflicting views that surrounded the recovery of the Mary Rose in 1982 – “leave it there – why should we bother, raise it up – shouts out another”. The 2011 version resolves the clash of opinions – “it turned out to be a really great idea… and good for Portsmouth going forward”.
In October 1982, just after the raising, “The Mary Rose Love Song”, written by Alison Hedger and sung by Chris Winter, was released. Proceeds of this record went to the South Atlantic Fund following the Falklands’ conflict earlier that year.
The lyrics are emotional and touching and this is highlighted by the quote on the reverse of the sleeve “Whilst the love song was undoubtedly inspired by the raising of the Tudor warship from the Solent during the Autumn of 1982, Alison has written a real “LOVE SONG” from which anyone who has fallen in love may feel his or her own personal interpretation”. The record was rereleased two years later and titled “Mary Rose – A Modern Love Song” and was sold in support of the Mary Rose Project.
In 1984 “The Ballad of the Mary Rose” by The Mike Sammes Singers was released. The group was made up of a choir of professional studio vocalists led by Michael William Sammes.
They had a string of musical successes between 1950s and 1980s including recognisable TV themes like Stingray and even performed backing vocals on The Beatles “I am the Walrus”.
On the reverse of the Mary Rose vinyl sleeve, the writers note “The making of this record was an education in itself; not only from a historical point of view but also from a musical one as well”.
One of the more recent musical interpretations was by London based Punk band the Seaside Rebels. All the band’s members were born about a decade after the raising of the Mary Rose. Their album “When their World Ended, Our Story Begun” came out in 2015 and delivers a powerful sound with potent lyrics.
Accompanying their album was an enamel pin badge which was based on the Mary Rose logo.
