Interesting Facts about Timber Drogher’s Shanty
Timber Drogher’s Shanty was one of the most unclear cases for me to investigate, this piece of musical notation and text Stan Hugill gives us this description: “Whall gives a short variant of this shanty with a different tune. He calls his version a “timber drogher’s shanty” (by “this shanty” Stan Hugill means “Highland Laddie” or “Donkey Riding”).
So I did go to my shelf where I have a copy of W. B. Whall’s “Ships. Sea Songs and Shanties, unfortunately, searched page by page and did not find this song, my copy is a 3rd edition from 1913. What’s going on then? Maybe Stan Hugill gives the wrong reference? Doing research I found in the description only one existing record of this song by Gibb Shreffler, who wrote in the description of his performance, that he saw this song in the 4th edition of Walls book, so my track directs me to buy a higher edition than mine. Fortunately, I have been lucky to buy the 6th edition of Walls book from 1927, and eventually, I Found It! On page 115 I found this:
"Timber droghers would sing-
Was you ever in Quebec,
a launchin' timber on the deck?
Because she was a young thing,
lately left her mammy O!…end of the story.
To be honest, I didn’t find what I hope, means in the whole song two or three full stanzas, I found the same piece that prints Stan Hugill. Of course, now I know for sure there is not more than we can find in “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, in fact, W. B. Whall’s 6th edition really contains more content than the 3rd edition, so is a win-win anyway.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 150).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 150).
The Record of the Timber Drogher’s Shanty
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
Timber Drogher’s Shanty
Was you ever in Quebec,
a launchin’ timber on the deck?
Because she was a young thing,
lately left her mammy O!
Related to this song
Roll The Woodpile Down – Shore Song