Interesting Facts about The Codfish Shanty
One another version of the very popular capstan shanty “South Australia” is a version called “The Codfish Shanty”, and it’s due to on account of the prominence of the codfish in this shanty. The following version is got by Stan Hugill from his shipmate shantymen Harding (American version), and Paddy Delaney old-timer who told Stan Hugill about British alternatives.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 196).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 196).
The Record of The Codfish 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
The Codfish Shanty
Down east gals ain’t got no combs,
– Heave away! Heave away!
They comb their hair wi’a whale fish bone,
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!
– Heave-away, me bully, bully boys,
– Heave-away! Heave away!
– Heave away, why don’t ye make some noise?
– An’ we’re bound for South Australia!
* 2 *
Yankee gals don’t sleep on beds,
They go to sleep on codfish’s heads,
* 3 *
Cape Cod gals have got big feet,
Codfish’s rows is nice an’ sweet.
* 4 *
Quaker gals don’t wear no frills,
They’re tight an’ skinny as a halibut’s gills.
* 5 *
Glou’ster gals make damn fine cooks,
They’re good at catching sprats on hooks.
* 6 *
Nantucket gals are very fine,
They know how to bait a codfish line.