NOEL COUTTS
Noel Coutts
The Lady Sterling under sail
Songwriter · Poet · Sailor

NOEL COUTTS

Songs and Verses from the School of Life

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The Log

Entry the First — kept in a wax-sealed hand
Noel Coutts at the door

I was born on a cray boat somewhere in the Southern Ocean off a coast that has since changed its name. My mother sang to keep time with the tides; my father told me stories of life true and false. None of the above is true, as I actually came to be on this earth in Paekākāriki in December of 1948. What I kept of my birthplace was the wind from the sea and the rhythm of the waves, after which I have spent my life trying to put words to it.

I have crewed on many ships and captained one. The Lady Sterling now carries me between ports where I trade passage for shanties and a hot meal. I have dined with princes and paupers and choose the latter. I have landed in storms and sheltered bays and have 4 fabulous children to carry on. I write what the sea gives me: kept promises, the loneliness of a full moon over empty water, the lure of a calm passage.

I have had love and loss and appreciated both. I have seen some of the world and met some wonderful people. I have journeyed and felt the dawn on my brow and the sunset on my back. I have loved my life.

Some nights, the crew asks for the old songs. Some nights I give them new ones and let them travel with the melodies. Some nights are just for me. Jump aboard; adventure awaits.

— NC, somewhere south of anywhere

Vessel

Lady Sterling — a two-masted schooner, older than she looks and better tempered than her captain.

Instrument

A 6-string bought in a port whose name I traded away in a game of cards. It still owes me a song.

Waters

Presently working the strait between two coasts, where the fog keeps its own schedule.

Terms

Paid in coin, in passage, or in a story I've not heard before. Always in gratitude.

Shanties

Entry the Second — played, not just written
Albums — choose a cover for real recordings and track links
Spotify artist ↗ Apple Music artist ↗ YouTube Music ↗

Spotify’s player is loaded only after you choose an album. Every track also has direct Spotify and Apple Music links below.

Verses

Entry the Third — the ones I only speak
Noel Coutts aboard, in character
The Lady of the Lighthouse
Click to read
The Lady of the Lighthouse
Bully Hayes
Click to read
Bully Hayes
The Legend of James Mackenzie
Click to read
The Legend of James Mackenzie
Te Rauparaha
Click to read
Te Rauparaha
Pohutukawa Blooms Again
Click to read
Pohutukawa Blooms Again
Devil and the Taniwha
Click to read
Devil and the Taniwha

Voyages

Entry the Fourth — reels from the school of life

— an animated watch, kept from the crow's nest —

Reels — kept from the last few ports
Coming Home
Coming Home
YouTube ↗ Pohutukawa
Pohutukawa
YouTube ↗

Stories & Tales

Entry the Fifth — the ones bound in paper
Tales of Aotearoa cover
Tales of Aotearoa
Words and music by Noel Coutts — stories of old New Zealand, CD included.
Signed copies, while they last
The Magic Sailing Ship cover
The Magic Sailing Ship
Story by Poppa Noel, illustrations by Uncle Krzysztof.
Coming soon to a bunk near you

Images

Entry the Sixth — images from life
Holding the newest one
Holding the newest one
Suit, guitar, flute, mountains
Suit, guitar, flute, mountains
Flowers, and someone to give them to
Flowers, and someone to give them to
An old framed photo, kept on the wall
An old framed photo, kept on the wall
Learning to walk under the old tree
Learning to walk under the old tree
Evening drinks by the harbour
Evening drinks by the harbour
A quiet moment with a little one
A quiet moment with a little one
Four across the couch
Four across the couch
Grassy Noel, Dallas Texas
Grassy Noel, Dallas Texas
Mid-song, blue light
Mid-song, blue light
A photo with a fan
A photo with a fan
Surrounded by spaniels
Surrounded by spaniels
Lunch under the tree
Lunch under the tree
The newest addition, unimpressed
The newest addition, unimpressed
On the chairlift
On the chairlift
The crew, drawn from memory
The crew, drawn from memory
Jazzfest, three-part harmony
Jazzfest, three-part harmony
With the grandkids, close up
With the grandkids, close up
Santa duty, two on the lap
Santa duty, two on the lap
Halloween, the whole crew in costume
Halloween, the whole crew in costume
Under the red curtain
Under the red curtain
At the bar, mid-conversation
At the bar, mid-conversation
Caught on someone else’s camera
Caught on someone else’s camera
Rain, an umbrella, and one dry sleeve
Rain, an umbrella, and one dry sleeve
Antrakt Cafe
Antrakt Cafe
Back under the red curtain
Back under the red curtain
Lit up under the trees
Lit up under the trees
Queenstown, younger days
Queenstown, younger days
Camp, a beer, an old shirt
Camp, a beer, an old shirt
The family, before some of them were born
The family, before some of them were born
On board, arm around
On board, arm around
A shoulder ride at dusk
A shoulder ride at dusk
A question from the crew’s youngest
A question from the crew’s youngest
The newest one, sizing him up
The newest one, sizing him up
The guitar, kept close
The guitar, kept close
Playing the deck in the rain
Playing the deck in the rain
Noel and Sussy, morning tea
Noel and Sussy, morning tea
At the table, working on something small
At the table, working on something small
Aerial over the lake
Aerial over the lake
Leaning out the window, younger days
Leaning out the window, younger days
In costume, mostly true
In costume, mostly true
The rope swing
The rope swing
The headstock, and the water beyond
The headstock, and the water beyond
At anchor
At anchor
The accordion duo
The accordion duo
The accordion duo, closer in
The accordion duo, closer in
Before the salt got in
Before the salt got in
Coming about, Remarkables behind
Coming about, Remarkables behind
A living room full of listeners
A living room full of listeners
Digging in, rain or not
Digging in, rain or not
Full house, full band
Full house, full band
Jazzfest, mid-verse
Jazzfest, mid-verse
Handing over a verse
Handing over a verse
Flute and voice
Flute and voice
Amsterdam, off duty
Amsterdam, off duty
Her name, through the ring
Her name, through the ring
Before the sea, a map on the wall
Before the sea, a map on the wall
Solo, green room
Solo, green room
Between ports
Between ports
Weather coming
Weather coming
At the old door
At the old door
A duet
A duet
Teaching the bike repair trade
Teaching the bike repair trade
Joseph Coutts, Kevin Thomas, Noel and Brian Harley
Joseph Coutts, Kevin Thomas, Noel and Brian Harley
A costume, an island, a story
A costume, an island, a story
Under the red lights
Under the red lights
Under sail, close up
Under sail, close up
Him and his best listener
Him and his best listener
Two guitars, one green wall
Two guitars, one green wall
Wide water, small boat
Wide water, small boat
Early days on the water
Early days on the water
On watch, Lake Wakatipu
On watch, Lake Wakatipu
On watch
On watch
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Comments, Opinions and Gossip

Entry the Seventh — Heard on the Coconut Telegraph
Noel and his best listener
What an interesting life you've led Noel. You played at my 21st many years ago in the Five Rivers hall — thank you for that. — Five Rivers Hall, a while ago...
Noel Coutts and the Hetheringtons
Album review — 10.11.2023
Alt Country, West Coast style

Noel Coutts' latest release feels like a lifelong collection of beachcombing on the windy shores of a well-travelled life. The Hetheringtons, Dean, Des and Ricky, with Liam Ryan on keys, keep the boat afloat and wander through the tunes behind Noel's salty vocals and soulful guitar with grace and groove.

Pike River is forever remembered, sad and poignant in 29 Ghosts. Mackenzie is a journey into colonial NZ with its brigands and braggarts, while Big Catfish has a late-night, back-alley groove to tell its tale of a sordid life in the streets of the Angel City.

This is an album of soulful travelling stories, ocean folk, broken country and west coast blues recorded honestly in a purpose-built studio at the Empire Hotel in Ross, on the fabulous and storied West Coast of the Te Wai Pounamu.

Listen loudly. — album review
@MrHRBlack
13 years ago

Wife and I saw him in Queenstown and it was one of the highlights of our visit there. He was awesome! And his wife's flute playing was great too. — YouTube comment

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The rope swing

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