Interesting Facts about the Blow. Ye Winds (A)
It was some controversies related to Blow. Ye Winds (A), Captain Whall says it was a song of the midshipmen’s berth rather than that of the fo’c’sle. Miss Joanne Colcord gives it as a whalers’ song, but R R Terry has it as a capstan shanty, same give it us, Stan Hugill. Also intriguingly Terry says it is the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty. In the case that this shanty was the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty, Stan Hugill however, pointed out examples of sea songs such as “Rolling Home” or “High Barbary”. They were all popular sea-songs that the end of the day finished as a shanty. Cecil Sharp also gives this song as a shanty probably from the same shantyman as Terry – Mr. Short of Watchet, Somerset.
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 219).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 219, 220).
The Record of the Blow. Ye Winds (A)
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
Blow. Ye Winds (A)
As I walked out one morning fair, to view the meadows round,
‘Tis there I spied a pretty lass come trip-pin’o’er the ground,
– Singin’ blow, ye winds, in the mornin’,
– Blow, ye winds, high-ho!
– See all clear yer runnun’ gear,
– An’ blow, me bully boys, blow!
* 2 *
My father has a milk-white steed an’ he is in his stall,
He is a clever circus horse, he can balance on a ball,
* 3 *
When we goes in the farmer’s yard an’ sees a great big duck,
We catch him an’ we wring his neck, if we have any luck.
* 4 *
As I wuz out a-walkin’, close by the riverside,
‘Tis there I spied a naked lass a-swimmin’ in the tide.
* 5 *
Oh, as I wuz out a-walkin’ all in the pale moonlight,
‘Tis there I spied a yaller gal, her eyes they shone so bright.
* 6 *
As I wuz out a-walkin’ down Paradise’s Street,
It’s there I met a flash chowlah, who said, ‘Will ye stand treat?’
* 7 *
She took me arm an’ I took hers an’ off we rolled away,
We steered into the Dewdrop Inn, where I could blow me pay.