April 2022 - Page 2 of 8 - Traditional Sea Shanties

The Codfish Shanty

December 23, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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.

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Bay Of Mexico

Rio Grande (D)

Rio Grande (E)

South Australia – L. A. Smith Version

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the South Australia – L. A. Smith Version

South Australia – L. A. Smith Version”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This version comes from L. A. Smith’s “Music Of The Waters” (1888), Stan Hugill claims South Australia – L. A. Smith Version is too sentimental and “Shore-ified” to ring genuine, also he says L. A. Smith makes too much use of the word “main”, word sailors never used for “sea”.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 49, 50).

The lyrics: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 49, 50).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 195).

The Record of South Australia – L. A. SmithVersion

South Australia (L. A. Smith Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia (L. A. Smith Version)

– Heave away, Heave away,
– Heave away, you Ruler King,
– I am bound to South Australia,

* 1 *

South Australia is my native home,
Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is my native home,
I’m bound to south Australia!

– Heave away, Heave away,
– Heave away, you Ruler King,
– I am bound to South Australia,

* 2 *

There ain’t but the one thing grieves my mind,
To leave my dear wife and child behind.

* 3 *

I see my wife standing on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me.

* 4 *

When I am on a foreign shore,
I’ll think of the wife that I adore.

* 5 *

Those crosses you see at the bottom of the lines,
Are only to put me in mind.

* 6 *

As I was standing on the pier,
A fair young maid to me appeared.

* 7 *

As I am standing on a foreign shore,
I’ll drink to girl that I adore.

* 8 *

For I’ll tell you the truth, and I’ll tell you no lie,
If I don’t love that girl I hope I may die.

* 9 *

Liza Lee, she promised me,
When I retured she would marry me.

* 10 *

And now I am on a foreign strand,
With a glass of whisky in my hand,

* 11 *

And I’ll drink a glass to the foreign shore,
And one to the girl that I adore.

* 12 *

When I am homeward bound again,
My name I’ll publish on the main.

* 13 *

With a good captain and a jolly crew,
A good captain and chief mate, too,

* 14 *

Now fare thee well, fare thee well,
For sweet news to my girl I’ll tell.

Related to this sea shanty

The Lowlands Low (A)

The Lowlands Low (B)

Santiana D (Norwegian)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version) was a shanty; it was usually been sung; by the sailors on board the merchant ships; at the capstan (anchor) and pumps. South Australia was probably, created by the emigrant days; when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. Here version from William Main Doerflinger’s book “Shantymen And Shantyboys” (1951). In the Doerflinger’s book; we also can meet another forgotten shantyman for a list of great shantymen from who William Doerflinger has this song: William Laurie of Sailors’ Snug Harbor.
Unfortunately, Doerflinger recorded only one stanza of this beautiful version.

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 195).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 195).

The Record of South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia. (Doerflinger Version)

Oh, in South Australia where I was born,
– Heave away! Haul away!
In South Australia round Cape Horn,
– I’m – bound; for south Australia!

– Heave away, you Ruler King
– Heave away! Haul away!
– Heave away, don’t you hear me sing?
– We’re bound; for South Australia!

Related to this sea shanty

South Australia (Harlow version)

The Gals O’ Chile

Larry Marr

South Australia (Harlow version)

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about South Australia (Harlow version)

“South Australia (Harlow version)”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty had a rather poor regulation pattern and all shantymen had to improvise to make it see the job through. This version mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from Frederick Pease Harlow’s “The Making of a Sailor” (1928). According to Harlows shipmate, this version was sung as anchor shanty on the very famous clipper ship Thermopylae. A couple of words about Harlow’s shantyman, I know usually shantymen were anonymous artists, they turned sailors’ life for better, and also made jobs easier by using shanties, this time we don’t know a surname but at least we know the name of the Harlow’s, so we can call him a Shantyman Dave.
Stan Hugill gives us only the original lyrics from “The Making of a Sailor”, but he forgot about the melody, so I took it myself from Harlow’s book.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Making of a Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 194, 195).

The Record of South Australia (Harlow version)

South Australia (Harlow's Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia (Harlow version)

South Australia is my native land,
– Heave away! Heave away!
Mountains rich in quartz and sand,
– I am bound for south Australia!

– He-ave away! Heave away!
– He–ave away, you Ruler King
– I am bound for South Australia!

* 2 *

Gold and wool, brings ships to our shore,
And our coal will load many more.

* 3 *

Here’s a packet anchored off the pier,
There’s a bar ashore with foaming beer.

* 4 *

Heave! Oh heave! and we’ll all go ashore,
Where we will drink with girls galore.

* 5 *

Glasses filled, we’ll touch with a clink,
Heave! bullies, heave! the girls want a drink.

* 6 *

I see Julia, standing on the quay,
With a dame for you and me.

* 7 *

At the head of Sandridge Raiload pier,
Straight to Mother Shilling’s we’ll steer.

* 8 *

Julia slings the sheoak at the bar
And welcomes sailors from afar.

* 9 *

In the dance hall there you’ll pick your girl
With golden hair and teeth of pearl.

* 10 *

She will drink you while at the bar,
And call you, “Dear, my own Jack Tar.”

* 11 *

She’ll waltz you round in a dizzy dance,
While you’re half drunk and in a trance.

* 12 *

Then we’ll drink to Mother Shilling’s name,
And drink again to the lovely dame.

* 13 *

In the arms of girls we’ll dance and sing,
For sheoak will be Ruler King.

* 14 *

Drunk! For sheoak’s gone to our head,
The girls can put us all to bed.

Related to this sea shanty

Magelhan (Orginal)

Mother Carey’s

Rolling King

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Rolling King

“Rolling King” sometimes called “South Australia”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty was probably born on the emigrant days when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. We can find this song in the most significant shanty collections books such as L. A. Smith, Miss Colcord, or William Doerflinger.

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 193).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 193).

The Record of the Rolling King

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rolling King

South Australia is me home,
– Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is me home,
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!

– He-ave away! Heave away!
– He-ave away you Rolling King
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!

* 2 *

My wife is stadin’ on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me,

* 3 *

An’ when I’m on a foreign shore,
I’ll think o’ me darlin’ that I adore.

* 4 *

There ain’t but one thing grieves me mind,
To leave my wife an’ child bechind.

* 5 *

There ain’t but one thing grieves me
An’ that’s me wife an’ dear ba-bee.

* 6 *

An’ as I stand on a foreign shore,
I’ll drink to the wife that I adore.

* 7 *

Now I’m on a foreign strand,
With a glass o’ pisco in me hand.

* 8 *

I’ll drink a glass to my own shore,
I’ll drink to the gal that I adore.

* 9 *

I’ll tell ye now, it ain’t no lie,
I’ll love that gal until I die.

* 10 *

This cross ye see at the bottom of the line,
Is only to keep ye in my mind.

* 11 *

Now we’re homeward bound again,
I’ll soon be seeing Sarah Jane.

* 12 *

Oh, fare-ye-well, now fare-ye-well,
Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well.

Related to this sea shanty

Rolling Home A

Rolling Home B

Magelhan

Mother Carey’s

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Mother Carey’s

Mother Carey’s, is just a small piece that survived from this beautiful capstan shanty, Stan Hugill tells us one of his friends, Scot called Macmillan, a man holding a master’s square-rig ticket, sang to Stan Hugill piece of the shanty. The shanty is related to tune to the British “Rolling Home”. Unfortunately only survived the one verse and chorus, exactly as much as the mentioned MacMillan remembered.

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 192).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 192).

The Record of the Mother Carey’s

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Mother Carey’s

The brave west wind it filled our top-s’ls,
an’ bore us outward bound,
Outward bound across the Western,
outward bound for ‘Frisco Town,

– Sheet it home — that, big main tops’l,
– Sheet it home — boys, good an’ true,
– For we’re bound — to Mot-her Carey’s,
– where she feeds — her chicks at sea.

Related to this sea shanty

Shenandoah – Bullen

Goodnight Ladies

Rolling Home By The Silver Moon

Magelhan Orginal (German)

December 21, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Magelhan (Orginal)

Magelhan (Orginal), is the oryginal “Magelhahn” comes from the book “Knurrhahn – Seemannslieder und Shanties” Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936).This song is the original (older) version. This is also a capstan shanty which is in german “gangspill” shanty. I want to add a couple of comments from myself, first – Stan Hugill gives us only the first three verses because He thinks is sufficient to show how verses are accommodated in the “Magelhahn – Rolling Home” version, which is fair enough, however, I think is a great idea to reconstruct this shanty in full.

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 191).

The lyrics: “Knurrhahn – Seemannslieder und Shanties” Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936). all text has been taken from original “Knurrhahn – Seemannslieder und Shanties” book, however, the chorus remained intact.

The Record of the Magelhan (Orginal)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Magelhan (Orginal)

Dor weer eenmal een ohlen Kasten,
een Klipper namens Magelhan,
dor weer bi Dag dor keen Tid tom Brassen,
[: det Abends denn wor allens dahn :]

Bi Dag kunn dat weihn un Blasen,
dor wör noch lang keen Hand anleght,
doch slög de Klock man erst acht Glasen,
denn wör de ganze Plunnkram streckt.

– Sing’ val-le-ral-le-ral-le-ral-le-ra-la, ra-la, ra-la
– Sing’ val-le-ral-le-ral-le-ral-le-ra-la,
– val-le-ri, val-le-ri, val-le-ra!

* 2 *

Dat weer so recht den Ohln sien Fraten,
Dat gung em över Danz un Ball,
Har Janmaat graad een Pip ansteeken,
[: Dann grohl he: Pull in’t Grotmastfall :]

Dat kunn de Kerl verduvelt ropen,
He jög uns rüm von Fall to Fall.
Dor kun man pullen, riten, trecken
Un kreeg gewohnlich keenen Toll.

* 3 *

Un up den heil’gen, stillen Fridag
Gevt middgas gäle Arfenjuch,
Un ok eenemal up’n Buß- un Beddag.
[: Dor sä de Kerl, den kennt wi nich :]

He har sick aber bos verrakent,
De Lud de säd’n, wie arbeit’ nich.
Dar schral de Wind ok noch fünf Streeken,
Wat weer de Kerl dunn gnatterich.

* 4 *

Un ok den “Groot” nich to vergeten,
Dat weer en richt’gen ohlen Klass.
Den kunn de Ohl wie’n Burjung necken,
[: He leckt em dorum doch in’n M… :]

An Land dor kunn he dat net blasen,
Dor prahlt de Kerl, ick weet nich wie,
Doch fung’t up See mal an to asen,
Kreg he vör Angst de sch ………

* 5 *

Doch nu mal erst bi Licht bikeeken,
War Kaptein Wortmann lang nich slecht,
Har Smutje mal en Swein afsteken,
[: Transcheer he solber dat torecht :]

Denn kreg’n de Lud, dat lat man lopen,
Se freiten sick all up de Ti,
Se kregen de snuten un de Poten,
Un gäle Arfensupp dorbi.

* 6 *

Drum Magelhan, du olle Kasten,
Dit Leed sall di een Denkmal sien.
Wenn’t regent schrapt de Lud de Masten.
[: De Poten kriegt se vun dat Swien :]

All Dag dor worn de Ends terreten,
Wie kunn dat denn ok anners gahn,
De helle Seefahrt de ‘s besch …..
Toerst de Klipper Magelhan.

Related to this sea shanty

Shenandoah C

Shenandoah D

River Shenandore – L. A. Smith Version

Magelhan (German)

December 21, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Magelhan

Magelhan is the german version of the most famous homeward-bound ever “Rolling Home”, a capstan shanty. Version comes from the book “Knurrhahn – Seemannslieder und Shanties” Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936). The title of the song from the Knurrhahn is Magelhan, which is really the title of an older song from which the German words of the shanty were taken. Capstan shanty which is in german “gangspill” shanty.

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 188).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 188, 189).

The Record of the Magelhan

Magelhan (Rolling Home) - Gangspill Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Magelhan

Dor fohr von Hamburg mol so’n ohlen Kassen,
mit Namen heet he Magelhan,
dor weer bi Dag Leen Tid tom Brassen,
dat leet man all bit Obends stohn.

– Rol-ling home, rolling home
– Rolling home across the sea,
– Rol-ling home to dear old Hamborg,
– Rolling home for ten and three.

* 2 *

Bi Dag dor kunn dat weihn un blasen,
Dor wor noch lang keen Hand anglegt,
Doch So an’n bend eben no veer Glasen,
Denn wor de ganze Plunnkrom streckt.

* 3 *

Dat weer so recht den Ohln sien Freeten,
Dat gung em over Danz un Ball,
Har Janmaat sik grad de Pip ansteeken,
Denn rop de Ohl: Pull de Grotmarsfall.

* 4 *

Dat kunn de Kerl verdeubelt ropen,
Dat weer em just so na den Strich,
Man schral de Wind denn noch 6 Streeken,
Wat weer de Kerl denn gnatterich.

* 5 *

Un unsen heil’gen, stillen Freedag,
Wat doch uns hochste Festdag is,
Un unsen heil’gen Bus- un Betdag,
Dor segt de Ohl: dat givt dat nich.

* 6 *

Man so recht bi Licht bekeeken,
Dor weer uns Ohl noch lang nicht slecht,
Har Smutje mol een Swein avsteeken,
Trangscheer he sulben dat torecht.

* 7 *

De lud de kreeg’n so recht dat Lopen,
Se freiten sik, ick weet nich wie,
Se kreegen von dat Swein de Poten,
Un geele Arfensupp’ dorbi.

* 8 *

O magelhan, du holder Kasten,
Dit Leed sall di een Denkmal sien.
Bi Snee un Reg’n wascht Janmaat de Masten,
Un achtern supt se unsen Kom.

Related to this sea shanty

Randy Dandy O!

Shenandoah A

Shenandoah B

Rolling Home – W. B. Whall

December 21, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Rolling Home – W. B. Whall

Rolling Home – W. B. Whall, this time the forebitter version of the “Rolling Home”, this manner this forebitter has been sung. The version mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from Sea “Songs and Shanties” – Collected by W. B. Whall (1927), which is the sixth edition of this book. For more curious shanty lovers is worth noting that I have owned the second edition of the mentioned book, and by comparing I can say both descriptions and text are identical. Here is what Capitan Whall wrote about Rolling Home – W. B. Whall:
“There are numerous versions both on words and music: I have one such in an American book of sea songs dated 1876; Mr. Mansfield gives another version in his “Garland”; two other versions appeared some time back in the “Shipping Gazette”, and I have still another. I have legitimately, I think — chosen from all these the lines common to all, and for the rest have taken those that seemed to be the best. The tune I give–out of several variants–is the one familiar to me, though, as I have said, there are others”.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Songs and Shanties” Collected by William Boultbee Whall (1927) 6th edition.

The lyrics: “Songs and Shanties” Collected by William Boultbee Whall (1927) 6th edition.

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 187).

The Record of the Rolling Home – W. B. Whall

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rolling Home (W. B. Whall)

Call all hands to man the capstan,
See the cable run down clear,
Heave away, and with the will, boys,
For old England, we will steer,

And We’ll sing in joyful chorus,
In the watches of the night,
And we,ll sight the shores of England,
When the grey dawn breaks the light.

– Rol-ling home, rolling home
– Rol–ling home across the sea,
– Rolling home to dear Old England,
– Rolling home, dear land, to thee.

* 2 *

Up aloft amid the rigging,
Blows the loud exulting gale;
Like a bird’s wide out-stretched pinions
Spreads on high each swelling sail;

And the wild waves cleft behind us,
Seem to murmur as they flow
There are loving hearts that wait you
In the land to which you go.

* 3 *

Many thousand miles behind us,
Many thousand miles before,
Ancient ocean heave to waft us
To the well-remembered shore.

Cheer up, Jack, bright smiles await you
From the fairest of the fair,
And her loving eyes will greet you
With kind welcomes everywhere.

Related to this Forebitter

The Limejuice Ship (Short Chorus)

Oh Susanna

Susannavisan (Stan Hugill Translation)

Rolling Home B

December 21, 2023April 23, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Rolling Home B

Rolling Home B is the most famous homeward-bound ever “Rolling Home”, a capstan shanty, but worth noting is that some of the collectors give this song as a forebitter. This song was popular in English and American ships. This version has been given to Stan Hugill by an Australian sailmaker. This version is very similar to Doerflinger one, but it is forebitter fashion. This reconstruction will be sung using alternative bars 4 and 12 described by Stan Hugill on page 187.

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 182).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 184, 185).

The Record of the Rolling Home B

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rolling Home B

Call all hands to man the capstan,
See yer cable flaked down clear,
Now we’re saili’n homeward bound, boys,
For the Channel we will steer,

– Rol-lin’ home–rollin’ home–
– Rol-lin’ home across the sea,
– Rollin’ home to dear Old England,
– Rollin’ home, fair land, to thee.

* 2 *

See yer tack an’ sheets all clear, boys,
Lead down now yer buntlines all,
Clear all gear upon the sheerpoles,
Stand by to haul on the catfall.

* 3 *

Now Australia we are leavin’,
For Old England give a cheer,
Fare-ye-well, ye dark-eyed damsels,
Give three cheers for English beer.

* 4 *

Goodbye, Heads, we’re bound to leave you,
Haul the towrope all in-board.
We will leave Old Aussie sternwards,
Clap all sail we can afford.

* 5 *

A west wind now does blow behind us,
Fills our sails so full and free,
Not for the Cape we’re steering this time,
But the Horn far easterly.

* 6 *

Mister, set yer stuns’ls quickly,
Set all flyin’ kites yer can,
Mollyhawks and chickens meet us,
Souls of long-drowned sailormen.

* 7 *

Round Cape Horn on a winter’s mornin’
Now among the ice an’ snow,
Ye will hear our shellbacks singin’,
Sheet her home, boys, let ‘er go!’

* 8 *

Bullies, sweat yer weather braces,
For the wind is strength’ning now,
Now we’re roundin’ Digger Ramrees,
To the North our ship will plough.

* 9 *

Eighteen months away from England,
Only fifty days, no more,
On salt horse an’ cracker-hash, boys,
Boston beans that make us sore.

* 10 *

Now we’re in the ol’ Atlantic,
With the royals no longer stowed,
With our lee cathead a-divin’,
To the land–Lord let ‘er go!

* 11 *

Now we’re close to the Western Islands,
The lee riggin’s hangin’ slack,
She’s a-rollin’ off her knots, boys,
Hear the main t’gallant crack.

* 12 *

Now the Lizard Light’s a-shinin’,
And we’re bound up to the Nore,
With the canvas full an’ drawin’,
Soon we’ll be on England’s shore.

* 13 *

We’ll pass the Start in dandy fashion,
Eddystone and grim Portland,
By the Bill we’ll roll along, boys,
Sing the song, oh, every hand.

* 14 *

Now we’re passin’ Dover Point, boys,
Bullies, get yer cable clear,
Give her thirty on the windlass,
For the tugboat next we’ll steer.

Related to this sea shanty

Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)

Sally Brown (C)

Roll And Go