Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down (E)
Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down (E)”. This version is based on the old folk song “Where are ye going to, my pretty maid?”, Stan Hugill calls it “The Milkmaid” version.
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). 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.
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 210, 211).
The Record of the Blow The Man Down (E)
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 (E)
Oh, where are ye goin’ to, my pretty maid?
– Timme WAY, hay, BLOW the man down!
I’m going a milkin’, kind sir, she said.
– Ooh! GIMME us some time to BLOW the man down!
* 2 *
Oh, have ye a sweatheart, my pretty maid?
‘I’m lookin’ for one, kind sir,’ she said.
* 3 *
Then may I come wid ye, my pretty maid?
‘Well, yes, since ye axed me, sir,’ she said.
* 4 *
‘But I guess yer a bad one, kind sir,’ she said.
‘Ye want for to love me, but yer dont’t want ter wed,’
* 5 *
Jack took her in tow, an’ away they did go,
The bulls did a grunt, an’ the cows did a low.
* 6 *
They came to a haystack but the maid she wuz shy,
They backed and they filled an’ heaved many a sigh.
* 7 *
The haystack capsized an’ Jack got all bent,
With hay in his gaff-tops’l, his breeches all rent.
* 8 *
So he left her a-sittin’ a-lookin’ forlorn,
An’ shipped ro the south’ard away round Cape Horn.
* 9 *
Now, all ye young sailors that round the Horn sail,
Don’t take a young milkmaid away from her pail.
* 10 *
Or else ye’ll regret it an’ wish ye were dead,
So don’t go a-courtin’ in a haystack for a bed.