Interesting Facts about the A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version
This version A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version, is a Cecil Sharp version from the book “English Folk-Chanteys” – 1914. Unfortunately, it has only three verses. The last five bars make it possible to capstan shanty. This song was very popular on English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the German and Scandinavians popularized versions in their own tongues. This song was sung as halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 49).
The lyrics: English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 49).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 103).
The Record of the A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version
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
A Long Time Ago (Cecil Sharp Version)
Away down south where I was born,
– To my WAY – ay – DAY, ha!
Away down south where I was born,
– A LONG time a-GO
– twas a long, long time and a very long time,
– A LONG time a-GO
* 2 *
O! early on a summer’s morn.
O! early on a summer’s morn.
* 3 *
I Made up my mind to go the sea.
I Made up my mind to go the sea.