Interesting Facts about Lowlands Low (Halyards)
Another shanty from the Lowlands family, but this time is a halyard one. Stan Hugill had Lowlands Low (Halyards), from Old Smith of Tobago, a fine old colored shantyman who gave to Stan a lot of little-known shanties, it was happening in the 30s of the XX century. It is a West-Indian song, according to Sharp, it comes from West Indian Trade (Sugar and Rum).
At this time I did a little presentation with yard pull, as this is a halyard chantey. According to Stan Hugill, it was two hard pulls, and after every pull, the yard goes up a couple of inches. Three sails have been hoisted (those with raising up yards) to be raised in a single mast: Upper Topsail, Upper Topgallant, and Royal, in those sails, were hoisted to the singing of “Halyard Shanties”. It was one of the hardest work on the ship.
This song will be reconstructed as the halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 70).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 71, 72).
The Record of the Lowlands Low (Halyards)
“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 70,71).
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
Lowlands Low (Halyards)
Our packet is the Island Lass,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
There’s a nigger howlin’ at the main top-mast,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
* 1 *
The Ol’ Man hails from Barbadoes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
He’s got the name Ol’ Hammertoes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
* 2 *
He gives us bread as hard as brass,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Our junk’s as salt as Balaam’s ass.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
* 3 *
The monkey’s rigged in the sijer’s clo’es,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Where he gottem from God ‘lone knows.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
* 4 *
We’ll haul ’em high an’ let ’em dry,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
We’ll rtice ’em up into de sky.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
* 5 *
Lowland, me boys, an’ up she goes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Git changed, me boys, to her shore-goin’ clo’es.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!