Ferry Cross the Mersey

This article is about the Gerry and the Pacemakers song. For the film, see Ferry Cross the Mersey (film). For the soundtrack album, see Ferry Cross the Mersey (album).
"Ferry Cross the Mersey"
Single by Gerry and the Pacemakers
from the album Ferry Cross the Mersey
B-side "You, You, You" (UK)
"Pretend" (USA)
Released December 1964
Format 7" single
Recorded May 27, 1964, EMI Studios, London[1]
("You, You, You": September 28)
Genre Merseybeat, pop
Length 2:24
Label Columbia (UK)
Laurie 3284 (USA)
Capitol 72216 (Canada)
Writer(s) Gerry Marsden
Producer(s) George Martin
Gerry and the Pacemakers singles chronology
"It's Gonna Be Alright"
(1964)		 "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
(1964)		 "I'll Be There"
(1965)
"Ferry 'Cross the Mersey"
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
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, Mini CD, CD
Length 3:58
Label PWL
Writer(s) Gerry Marsden
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman

"Ferry Cross the Mersey" (sometimes written 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

MV Royal Daffodil at Seacombe Pier

"Mersey" refers to the River Mersey in northwest England, a river that flows into the Irish Sea at Liverpool.

The song is often misspelled as "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey", but according to the song's lyrics, the track is correctly titled "Ferry Cross the Mersey". "Cross" is not a contraction of the preposition "across" but rather an imperative verb - "Ferry, cross the Mersey." The Mersey Ferry runs between Liverpool and Birkenhead and Seacombe on the Wirral.

See article on SS Royal Daffodil which was scrapped in 1938 The MV Royal Iris of the Mersey was named MV Mountwood until 2001

Chart performance

Chart (1965) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 6

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[4] and the Irish chart for two weeks.

Chart performance

Chart (1989) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[4] 1
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5] 45
Austrian Singles Chart[6] 15
Dutch GfK chart[7] 21
Dutch Top 40[8] 20
German Singles Chart[9] 5
Irish Singles Chart[10] 1
Norwegian Singles Chart[11] 4
Swiss Singles Chart[12] 11
Preceded by
"Hand on Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue[13][14]		 UK number-one single
20 May 1989[4]
(3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Sealed With a Kiss" by Jason Donovan[15]
Ireland number-one single
18 May 1989[14]
(2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Heart & Soul" by No Sweat[14]

Other cover versions

References

  1. ↑ "Gerry's Datebook". Britbands.bravepages.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  2. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "Gerry & the Pacemakers > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  3. 1 2 "Chart Stats - Gerry And The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  4. 1 2 3 "Chart Stats - Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson And The Christians - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  5. ↑ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  6. ↑ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  7. ↑ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  8. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 - week 26, 1989". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  9. ↑ "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  10. ↑ "irishcharts.ie search results". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  11. ↑ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  12. ↑ "The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  13. ↑ "Chart Stats - Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  14. 1 2 3 "The Irish Charts - Birthday no.1s". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  15. ↑ "Chart Stats - Jason Donovan - Sealed With A Kiss". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  16. ↑ Catwoman (2002-07-17). "h2g2 - ZTT Records 1983-1988 Part 3: Remixes". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
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