Interesting Facts about the Donkey Riding
Donkey Riding song is similar to “Hieland Laddie” and the almost identical tune is that known as “Donkey Riding”. This song was also very popular among the timber droghers both in Liverpool and Canadian ports, and by sailors was used as a capstan or “stamp-n-go” shanty when working with cargo. This version Stan Hugill took from his old shipmate called Spike Sennit, who said it was just as popular at sea as in port.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the stamp-n-go shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 147).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 147, 148).
The Record of the Donkey Riding
My reconstruction will imitate “stamp-n-go” 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
Donkey Riding
Wuz ye ever in Quebec,
Launchin’ timber on the deck,
Where ye’d break yer bleed-in neck,
– Riding on a donkey?
– Way, hay an’ away we go!
– Donkey riding, donkey riding!
– Way, hay an’ away we go!
– Oh riding on a donkey?
* 2 *
Wuz ye ever in Timbucktoo,
Where the gals are black an’ blue,
An’ they waggle their bustles too,
– Riding…
* 3 *
Wuz ye ever in Vallipo,
Where the gals put on a show,
Waggle an’ dance with a roll ‘n’ go?
Riding…
* 4 *
Wuz ye ever down Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton all the day,
A dollar a day is a white man’s pay?
Riding…
* 5 *
Wuz ye ever in Canton,
Where the men wear pigtails long,
And the gals play hong-ki-kong?
Riding…
* 6 *
Wuz you ever in London town,
Where the gals they do come down,
See the king in a golden crown?
Riding…
* 7 *
Wuz ye ever in Miramashee,
Where ye tie up to a tree,
An’ the skeeters do bite we?
Riding…
* 8 *
Wuz ye ever on the Broomielaw,
Where the Yanks are all the go,
An’ the boys dance hell an’ toe?
Riding…
* 9 *
Wuz ye ever down ‘Frisco Bay,
Where the gals all shoun, hooray,
Here comes Johnny with his three years’ pay!
Riding…
* 10 *
Wuz ye ever off Cape Horn,
Where the weather’s niver warm,
When ye wish to hell ye’d niver bin born?
Riding…
