Interesting Facts about the Hello Somebody
“Hello Somebody” is a halyard shanty related to the “Hilo Come Down Below” and “Hilo Boys Hilo”. Stan Hugill’s description of this shanty is quite interesting so first he says, that Captain J. P. Parker it writes a verse of this shanty on his “Log of limejuicer” of the American ship “Tusitalia”, on page 40. Stan Hugill’s version comes from Harding Barbadian who told him that was very popular in ships with “coloured” crews. Also, William Main Doerflinger in his book gives a three-verse example of this song, with an introductory verse chorus from the singing of Capitan Baker, who learned this shanty from American “coloured” seamen called ‘Lemon’ Curtis, aboard the ship “Dovenby Hall”.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 256).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 257).
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
Hello Somebody
Somebody’s knockin’at the garden gate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!
It’s dirty Dick an’ his dirty mate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!
* 2 *
Somebody’s knockin’ with a blody stick,
It’s Dirty Dick from New Brunswick,
* 3 *
Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o ‘Hell.
It’s Bully John an’ we knows him well.
* 4 *
Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o’ Heaven,
There wuz eight little nigger boys an’ now there’s seven.
* 5 *
Saint Peter’s knockin’ on the fo’c’sle door,
Guess I ain’t ready for the Golden Shore.
* 6 *
Somebody’s hangin’ on to this ‘ere line,
The blighter oughter rise an’ shine!
* 7 *
Haul away an’ make yer pay,
Haul away for Saccrappa Bay.
* 8 *
She’s knockin’ up the miles, reelin’ off the knots,
When we get to Boston, we’ll drink lots.