The Girl in Portland Street

Interesting Facts about The Girl in Portland Street

Another shanty from “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill, is named “The Girl in Portland Street”. Curious shanty related in theme to “A-rovin'”. Harlow gives us this chantey under the title: “Fal-de-all-day”. This song is called Whistling Chantey from the fact that the first refrain was sometimes whistled. According to Stan Hugill in sailors’ version was always sung at pumps, and in this tempo, I will sing this song (however Harlow states this shanty was often sung at the windlass while heaving up the anchor).

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 53).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 53, 54).

The Record of The Girl in Portland Street

Below is the text of the version, I will try to recreate: Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill pages 54 and 55.

You also can find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Girl in Portland Street

I met a gal in Portland Street,
– Fol-de-lol, fol-de-lol, fol-de-lol, lol day, (or else repeat solo with wistle)
I met a gal in Portland Street,
– With a fol-de-lol-day, fol-de-lol-day, fol-de-lol-lol-de, lol-de, lol-day!

* 2 *

This gal I met in Portland Street,
Was the sweetest gal I ever did meet.

* 3 *

Sez I, ‘Me gal, ,Ow do ye do?’
Sez she, ,The worse for seein’ of you.’

* 4 *

‘Now, miss,’ sez I, ‘I like yer style.’
Sez she, ‘Young man, just wait a while.’

* 5 *

‘Just wait until you try an’ play,
And then I’ll send ye on yer way.’

* 6 *

I took her hand into my own,
And we headed soon for her old home.

* 7 *

And in her room, not far away,
We drank until the break o’ day.

* 8 *

I pulled her down on my lap,
Sez she, ‘Young man, your face I’ll slap.’

* 9 *

On her ankle next I placed my hand,
Says she, for this, I will not stand.’

* 10 *

I pulled her dress above her knee,
Sez she, ‘Young man, please let me be.’

* 11 *

‘And why did I no further go?
Alas! her leg was cork, you know!’

Related to this sea shanty

A -Rovin’ (B)

A- Rovin’ (C)

Go Roving (Capstan Song for the Christiania Packet)