Interesting Facts about Larry Marr
“Larry Marr”, also known as “Five Gallon Jar”, was the shanty used at the capstan and pumps sometimes. In the chorus, it is related to the “short refrain” version of “The Limejuice Ship”. This version was taken by Stan Hugill from Irish Sailor, Paddy Delaney. Paddy Delaney was sure that is of Irish origin.
Shanghaiing or crimping is the practice of kidnapping people to serve as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence. Those engaged in this form of kidnapping were known as crimps.
The verb “shanghai” joined the lexicon with “crimping” and “sailor thieves” in the 1850s, possibly because Shanghai was a common destination for ships with abducted crews. The term has since expanded to mean “kidnapped” or “induced to do something by means of fraud”.
This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 60). I will sing this song as a capstan shanty. And try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Shanties From The Seven Seas” (1962), with The York & Albany Crew.
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 60).
The Record of the Larry Marr
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
Larry Marr
There wuz five or six old drunken shellbacks standin’ before the bar
An’ Larry he wuz servin’ them from a big five-gallon jar
– Then hoist up yer flag, long may it wave
– Long may it lead us to the glory or the grave
– Steady boys steady, we’ll sound this Jubilee
– For Babylon’s a fallen an’ the Diggers are set free!
* 2 *
In Larry’s place way on the coast there lived old Larry Marr
Missus an’ Larry did employ such a big five-gallon jar.
* 3 *
The pair they played the Shanghai game, wuz known both near an’ far’
They never missed a lucky chance to use the five-gallon jar.
* 4 *
A hell-ship she wuz short o’ hands, o’ full red-blooded tars,
Missus an’ Larry would prime the beer in their ol’ five-gallon jar.
* 5 *
Shellbacks an’ farmers jist the same sailed into Larry Marr’s,
And sailed away around the Horn, helped by the five-gallon jar.
* 6 *
In ‘Frisco town their names is known, as is the Cape Horn Bar,
An’ the dope they serve out to ol’ Jack, from the big five-gallon jar.
* 7 *
From the Barbary Coast steer clear, me boys, an’ from ol’ Larry Marr,
Or else damn soon shanghaied ye’ll be by Larry’s five-gallon jar.
* 8 *
Shanghaied away in a skys’l-ship around Cape Horn so far,
Goodbye to all the boys an’ girls an’ Larry’s five-gallon jar.
(Verses 1&7 have the first tune – rest have the second tune)
Not easy to say thank you, me english not so well but these really good. Good read to practice English.
Well yes, Thanks so much for the good word, If you want even more practice English, look at the descriptions of the songs on YouTube, they are always written by me in English, and Polish accordingly.