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Ferry Cross the Mersey

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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" (US)
ReleasedDecember 1964
Recorded27 May 1964
("You, You, You": 28 September)
StudioEMI Studios, London[1]
GenreMerseybeat, pop
Length2:24
LabelColumbia (UK)
Laurie 3284 (USA)
Capitol 72216 (Canada)
Songwriter(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
Released8 May 1989
Length3:58
LabelPWL
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

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 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]

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
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 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 COVID-19.

Other cover versions

References

  1. ^ "Gerry's Datebook". Britbands.bravepages.com. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Gerry & the Pacemakers > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  3. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Gerry And The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  4. ^ UK Official Charts, December 23, 1964
  5. ^ WLS Silver Dollar Survey, March 12, 1965
  6. ^ UK Official Charts, December 23, 1964
  7. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 20, 1965
  8. ^ The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1965
  9. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  10. ^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1965
  11. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson And The Christians - Ferry Cross The Mersey". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 - week 26, 1989". Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  16. ^ "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  17. ^ "irishcharts.ie search results". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ Catwoman (17 July 2002). "h2g2 - ZTT Records 1983-1988 Part 3: Remixes". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
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