Interesting Facts about Mister Stormalong (A1)
A fine old shanty was Mister Stormalong (A1). The same as in “Lowlands Away”, this shanty was originally used at the pumps and later as a capstan. There are stories about that who believe it was built around John Willis- the owner of “Cutty Sark”. But true it is negro origin and of much older vintage the “Cutty Sark” period.
Stan Hugill’s book describes 6 versions of this shanty. In this particular version are two patterns:
- Praising the dead seamen,
- Praising the benevolent son of the dead seamen.
Worth noting, that the second pattern was usually added after the dirge-like regulation stanzas run out. The reason why the stanzas run out was: that the work at pumps was a constant job, especially on wooden ships. Each change to the course or trims of the sails caused the leakage literally “everywhere”. I do separate these 2 patterns because, in the second version, I plan to do a little “presentation” of work at the leaver “Jiggity-Jig” (older type) pump.
This song will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72, 74).
The Record of the Mister Stormalong (A1)
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
Mister Stormalong (A1)
Old Stormy he is dead and gone,
– To me way you Stormalong!
Old Stormy he is dead and gone,
– Aay! Ay.! Ay! Mister Stormalong!
* 2 *
Of all ol’ skippers he was best,
But now he’s dead an’ gone to rest.
* 3 *
He slipped his cable off Cape Horn,
Close by the place where he was born.
* 4 *
Oh, off Cape Horn where he was born,
Our sails wuz torn an’ our mainmast gorn.
* 5 *
We’ll dig his grave with a silver spade,
His shroud of finest silk was made.
* 6 *
We lowered him down with a golden chain,
Our eyes all dim with more than rain.
* 7 *
He lies low in his salt-sea [earthen] bed,
Our hearts are sore, our eyes were red.
* 8 *
An able seaman bold an’ true,
A good ol’ skipper [bosun] to his crew.
* 9 *
He’s moored at last an’ furled his sail,
No danger now from wreck or gale.
* 10 *
Old Stormy heard the Angel call,
So sing his dirge now one an’ all.
* 11 *
Oh, now we’ll sing his funeral song,
Oh, roll her over, long an’ strong.
* 12 *
Old Stormy loved a sailors’ song,
Hes voice wuz tough an’ rough an’ strong.
* 13 *
His heart wuz good an’ kind an’ soft,
But now he’s gone ‘way up aloft.
* 14 *
For fifty years he sailed the seas,
In winter gale and summer breeze.
* 15 *
But now Ol’ Stormy’s day is done;
We marked the spot where he is gone.
* 16 *
So we sunk him under with a long, long roll,
Where the sharks’ll have his body an’ the divil have his soul.
* 17 *
An’ so Ol’ Stormy’s day wuz done,
South fifity six, west fifty one.
* 18 *
Ol’ Stormy wuz a seaman bold,
A Grand Ol’ Man o’ the days of old.