Interesting Facts about the Hilo Come Down Below
“Hilo Come Down Below” is another shanty with the word “Hilo”. This is a close related shanty to the “Hilo, Johnny Brown”. This is the halyard shanty, and Stan Hugill tells us is an obvious Negro origin. The only different version from this one in print we can find in Frank T Bullen’s book. This song Stan Hugill learned from his shipmate, great shantyman Harding Barbadian.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).
The Record of the Hilo Boys Hilo
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
Hilo Come Down Below
A Black Bird sat in a walnut tree,
– HI-lo, come DOWN below!
A ping-a-pong-in’ on his ol’ banje,
– HI-lo! come DOWN below!
* 2 *
Said the blackbird to the crow,
Come down below wid the whole ‘yer crew,
* 3 *
The crow flew down to Mobile Town,
Met a high yaller gal called Sally Brown.
* 4 *
Said the blacbird to the crow,
Don’t tell them yaller gals all yer know.
* 5 *
The blackbird sang, the crow said ‘caw’,
Gotter set this sail by half pas’ four.
* 6 *
The blackbird flapped his wings an’ crowed,
Why does a chicken cross the road?
* 7 *
If the sun don’ shine, then the hens don’ lay,
If we don’ haul, we git no pay.
* 8 *
One more pull, to ol’ crow cried,
We got to hurry for to catch the tide!