Interesting Facts about the Reuben Ranzo – Patterson version
Now, Reuben Ranzo – Patterson version is a shanty built around the dirtiest “sailor” who ever shipped – Reuben Ranzo. This Halyard shanty was one of the most rousing of all of the halyard shanties. This shanty due to the some of the themes was very popular amongst whalers.
Again as Stan Hugill mentioned, if we talk about the most unusual version of any shanty we know that will be usually Patterson’s version, the refrains of his shanties in the main being longer than those normally used, and he also has a trick of putting short refrains where normally they don’t exist. So yes, reconstructing this shanty will be a really difficult task, and for one hundred percent I’m sure from the time of the published Patterson book, there is no record of this shanty surviving. During the reconstruction of this sea shanty, first of all, I will follow the most faithful reconstruction of this shanty in terms of its usefulness as a halyard shanty.
This version is given to us by J. E. Patterson in “The Sea’s Anthology” 1913, labeled this song as ‘hoisting’.
The source of the Reuben Ranzo – Patterson version
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 240).
The lyrics: “The Sea’s Anthology” by J. E. Patterson (1913).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 242).
The Record of the Reuben Ranzo – Patterson version
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
Reuben Ranzo
Sing a song of Ranzo, boys, sing—
– RANZO, boys, RANZO!
Sing a song of Ranzo, boys, sing—
– SING a song of RANZO!
* 2 *
O-o, you know my Ruben Ranzo—
O-o, you know my Ruben Ranzo—
* 3 *
Ranzo took a notion to sail upon the ocean —
Ranzo took a notion to sail upon the ocean —
* 4 *
He was a New York tailor, thought he’d be a sailor —
He was a New York tailor, thought he’d be a sailor —
* 5 *
So he shipped himself on a Yankee whaler—
So he shipped himself on a Yankee whaler—
* 6 *
She sailed away in a whistling breeze—
She sailed away in a whistling breeze—
* 7 *
She was bound high up on the northern seas —
She was bound high up on the northern seas —
* 8 *
O poor Ranzo, thought he’d be a sailor—
O poor Ranzo, thought he’d be a sailor—