Interesting Facts about the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard
Here is “Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard” a very unique variant of “Sally Brown”, which Has been picked up by Stan Hugill in the West Indies. This shanty was used on halyards, but only for quick light pulls on the royal halyard – one pull in each refrain. Stan Hugill also heard that it was also used for tack and sheets. On page 166, we can find an alternative final refrain, which I will try to utilize in this reconstruction.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).
The Record of the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard
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
Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard
There was a ship she sailed for Spain,
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
There was a ship she sailed for Spain
– TOM-my’s on the tops’l yard!
* 2 *
There wuz a ship came home again,
There wuz a ship came home again,
* 3 *
An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?
An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?
* 4 *
She had diamonds, she had gold.
She had diamonds, she had gold.
* 5 *
An, what wuz in her lazareet?
An, what wuz in her lazareet?
* 6 *
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.
* 7 *
An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?
An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?
* 8 *
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.
* 9 *
An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!