Ferry Cross the Mersey
"Ferry Cross the Mersey" | ||||
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Single by Gerry and the Pacemakers | ||||
from the album Ferry Cross the Mersey | ||||
B-side |
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Released | December 1964 | |||
Recorded | 27 May 1964 ("You, You, You": 28 September) | |||
Studio | EMI Studios, London[1] | |||
Genre | Merseybeat, pop | |||
Length | 2:24 | |||
Label | Columbia (UK) Laurie 3284 (USA) Capitol 72216 (Canada) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Gerry Marsden | |||
Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
Gerry and the Pacemakers singles chronology | ||||
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"Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" | |
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Single by The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman | |
B-side | "Abide with Me" by Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir |
Released | 8 May 1989 |
Length | 3:58 |
Label | PWL |
Songwriter(s) | Gerry Marsden |
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman |
"Ferry Cross the Mersey" is a song written by Gerry Marsden. It was first recorded by his band Gerry and the Pacemakers and released in late 1964 in the UK and in 1965 in the United States. It was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number six in the United States[2] and number eight in the UK.[3] The song is from the film of the same name and was released on its soundtrack album. In the mid-1990s a musical theatre production also titled Ferry Cross the Mersey related Gerry Marsden's Merseybeat days; it premiered in Liverpool and played in the UK, Australia, and Canada.
Song title and lyrics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Ferry_cross_the_Mersey_113.jpg/240px-Ferry_cross_the_Mersey_113.jpg)
"Mersey" refers to the River Mersey in northwest England, a river that flows into the Irish Sea at Liverpool. The Mersey Ferry runs between Liverpool and Birkenhead and Seacombe on the Wirral.
Chart performance
"Ferry Cross the Mersey" became a Top 10 hit in the UK[4] and also in the U.S., where it was a bigger hit. It did best in Chicago, where it reached #1 on WLS-AM.[5]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Charity record for The Hillsborough Disaster Fund
In May 1989, a charity version of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was released in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 95 Liverpool fans the previous month (a 96th, Tony Bland, died in 1993 as a consequence of that disaster). The song was recorded by Liverpool artists The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman. The single held the #1 spot in the UK chart for three weeks[11] and the Irish chart for two weeks.
Chart performance
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
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UK Singles Chart[11] | 1 |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[12] | 45 |
Austrian Singles Chart[13] | 15 |
Dutch GfK chart[14] | 21 |
Dutch Top 40[15] | 20 |
German Singles Chart[16] | 5 |
Irish Singles Chart[17] | 1 |
Norwegian Singles Chart[18] | 4 |
Swiss Singles Chart[19] | 11 |
Charity Record for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In 2020, a re-released charity version of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was renamed "Ferry Cross Covid-19" which features artists include Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, Little Mix, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Charli XCX, Joel Corry, Stormzy, Aitch, Sam Smith, Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, Tom Walker, Becky Hill, Ellie Goulding, Conor Maynard, Jorja Smith, Ella Henderson, Westlife, James Arthur, Craig David, Jess Glynne, Coldplay, Raye, Cliff Richard, Anne-Marie, Mabel, Zara Larsson, Bastille, Rudimental, Rick Astley and the legendary Paul McCartney, the recording which starts at London's Abbey Road Studios on 20th April 2020 and all proceeds will go to NHS Hospital Charities for people who suffer from Coronavirus during the COVID-19 outbreak around the world.
Other cover versions
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood recorded a cover of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" for the B-side of the 12-inch single "Relax", released in October 1983.[20] This was subsequently included on their album Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984) and later compilations Bang!... The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1993) and Maximum Joy (2000).
- Canadian popular musician Burton Cummings (of The Guess Who) recorded a solo version on his 1996 live album "Up Close and Alone."
- In 2003, Pat Metheny included an instrumental cover of this song on his acoustic album One Quiet Night.
References
- ^ "Gerry's Datebook". Britbands.bravepages.com. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Gerry & the Pacemakers > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company - Gerry And The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ UK Official Charts, December 23, 1964
- ^ WLS Silver Dollar Survey, March 12, 1965
- ^ UK Official Charts, December 23, 1964
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 20, 1965
- ^ The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1965
- ^ Musicoutfitters.com
- ^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1965
- ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson And The Christians - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 - week 26, 1989". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ^ "irishcharts.ie search results". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". norwegiancharts.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ Catwoman (17 July 2002). "h2g2 - ZTT Records 1983-1988 Part 3: Remixes". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- 1964 singles
- 1989 singles
- Gerry and the Pacemakers songs
- Paul McCartney songs
- The Christians (band) songs
- Holly Johnson songs
- Charity singles
- All-star recordings
- Song recordings produced by George Martin
- Song recordings produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Songs about Liverpool
- Capitol Records singles
- Laurie Records singles
- 1964 songs
- Songs written by Gerry Marsden
- Columbia Graphophone Company singles
- Pete Waterman Entertainment singles