Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down (C)
Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down (C)”. This version is the famous one about the “flying-fish sailor” who was mistaken for a Blackball seaman. A “flying-fish sailor” was a John Tar who preferred the lands of the East and the warmth of the Trade Winds to the cold and misery of the Western Ocean.
Stan Hugill left a record on his album: “Chants des Marins Anglais (1992)” where singing with Stormalong John, and this is a version with melody and tempo, I try to replicate.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.
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 203).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 208).
The Record of the Blow The Man Down (C)
“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 203, 204).
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 full lyrics
Blow The Man Down (C)
I’m a deepwater sailor just home from Hong Kong,
– Timme WAY, hay, BLOW the man down!
If ye give me some whisky I’ll sing ye a song,
– Ooh! GIMME us some time to BLOW the man down!
* 2 *
As I was a-walkin’ down Paradise Street,
A handsome fat policeman I happened to meet.
* 3 *
Sez he, Yer a Blackballer by the cut o’ yer hair,
An’ the long, red-topped seabots that I see yer wear.
* 4 *
‘Ye’ve sailed in some packet that flies the Blackball,
Ye’ve robbed some poor Dutchman o’ boots, clothes an’ all.’
* 5 *
‘O mister, ye do me great wrong,
I’m a flyin’-fish sailor, just home from Hong Kong.’
* 6 *
So I spat in his face, an’ I stove in his jaw.
Sez he, ‘Here, young feller, yer breakin’ the law!’
* 7 *
They gave me six months, boys, in ol’ Walton town.
For bootin’ an’ kickin’ an’ blowin’ him down.
* 8 *
Now all ye young fellers what follow the sea,
Put yer vents on the wind an’ just listen to me.
* 9 *
I’ll give ye a warnin’ afore we belay,
Steer clear o’ fat policemen, ye’ll find it’ll pay.