Interesting Facts about the Blow Boys Blow (C)
Blow Boys Blow (C) was a shanty in which the singer often repeated the solo lines, to string out on a long haul.
This shanty has three patterns:
(a) The Guinea Slaver;
(b) The Buck Ship (A Yankee China Clipper);
(c) The Harry Tate Ship (English skit on Yankee Packets);
This version is the The Harry Tate Ship.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 226).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 228, 229).
The Record of the Blow Boys Blow (C)
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, Boys, Blow (C)
Blow,me boys, I long ter hear yer,
– BLOW, boys, BLOW!
Blow,me boys, I can’t git near yer,
– BLOW, me bully boys, BLOW!
* 2 *
Oh, a yankie ship came down the river,
Her masts all bent, her sails a-shiver.
* 3 *
How d’yer know she’s a Yankee clipper?
By the Stars an’ Bars that fly above her.
* 4 *
How d’yer think wuz skipper of her?
Why, Slimey Joe wuz the skipper of her?
* 5 *
An’ who d’yer think wuz chief mate of her?
Why, Boss-eyed Bill the Bowery Bastard.
* 6 *
Who d’yer thinks the second greaser?
Why, Santander Jim the ‘Frisco bludger.
* 7 *
The third wuz Sam the Slippery Dodger,
He’ll ride yiz down like yiz ride a spanker.
* 8 *
The bosun wuz a big buck [nigger] bugger,
His handle wuz Joe the ‘Frisco Digger.
* 9 *
The sails wuz just a jobbin’ tailor,
The chips wuz not a Blackwall sailor.
* 10 *
The cook wuz Jack the Boston Booty,
The steward had to learn his dooty.
* 11 *
Her sides wuz old an’ her sails wuz rotten,
His charts the Old Man had forgotten.
* 12 *
Scotchmen hangin’ in her riggin’.
Oh, can’t yiz her them banjoes pingin’?
* 13 *
The crew wuz anything but frisky,
They’d never crossed the Bay o’ Biscay.
* 14 *
What d’yer think they had for dinner?
Nanny goat’s horns an’ a Chinaman’s liver.
* 15 *
She sailed away for Kingston City,
Never got ther, the more’s the pity.
* 16 *
Blow today an’ blow termorrer,
Blow for that ol’ ship in sorrer.