Month: August 2022

Interesting Facts about the Toms Gone Away

This is the Toms Gone Away halyard shanty. Apart from Stan Hugill, we can find this song in the collection of Richard Runciman Terry. This version of the tune Stan Hugill has from a South Wales seamen who had served in the Bristol Channel copper ore trade. The words are the same as in Bill Dowling’s „Thoms Gone To Hilo”.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 264).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 264).

The Record of the Toms Gone Away

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

Toms Gone Away

Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– My Tommy’s gone away!
Oh, Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– My Tommy’s gone away!

* 2 *

Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,

* 3 *

Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,

* 4 *

Tom’s gone, what shall I do?
Oh, Tom’s gone, what shall I do?

* 5 *

Tommy fought at Trafalgar.
Oh, Tommy fought at Trafalgar.

* 6 *

The old Victory led the way.
The brave old Victory led the way.

* 7 *

Tommy’s gone for evermore.
Oh, Tommy’s gone for evermore.

Related to this sea shanty

Toms Gone To Hilo – Bill Dowling

Ranzo Ray C

Hilo Johnny Brown

Interesting Facts about the Toms Gone To Hilo

The “Thoms Gone To Hilo” was a halyard shanty usually sang for raise a topsails yards, and one that was never liked by mats because sung by a good shantyman slowed down the pulls, due to the lethargic nature in which the shanties are sung. Difficult song for shantymen, however very popular with the crowd, especially for heavy yard lifts.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261, 262).

The Record of the Toms Gone To 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

Toms Gone To Hilo

Tommy’s gone, what shall I do?
– A-WAY you HELO-o-o!
Ooh! Tommy’s gone an’ I’ll go too,
– TOM’s gone to HI-lo!

* 2 *

Tommy’s gone to Hilo town,
Where all them gals they do come down.

* 3 *

Hilo town is in Peru,
It’s just the place for me an’ you.

* 4 *

Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,
To Liverpool, that packet school.

* 5 *

Yankee shellbacks ye’ll see there,
Wid red-topped boots an’ short cut hair.

* 6 *

He signed for two pound ten a month,
No more than two pound ten a month,

* 7 *

Tommy’s gone to Baltimore,
To dance upon a sandy floor.

* 8 *

Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,
A-screwin’ cotton all the day.

* 9 *

Tommy’s gone to fair Quebec,
A-stowin’ timber on the deck.

* 10 *

Tommy’s gone to Cally-o,
He won’t come back from there, I know.

* 11 *

Tommy’s gone to Vallipo,
He’ll dance them Spanish gals, y’know.

* 12 *

Tommy’s gone to ‘Frisco Bay
In a Cape Horner the other day.

* 13 *

Tommy’s gone to Pernambuck,
He’s gone to get a nip an’ tuck.

* 14 *

Tommy’s gone to Montreal,
In a packet ship wid sky’ls tall.

* 15 *

Tommy’s gone to Rye-o Grand,
He’s rollin’ in the yeller sand.

* 16 *

Tommy’s gone to to Singapore,
Oh, Tommy’s gone for evermore.

* 17 *

Oh, haul away, me bully boys.
Oh, haul away, kick up some noise.

* 18 *

Now hoist ‘er up an’ show ‘er clew,
Oh, we’re the bastards to kick ‘er though!

* 19 *

One more pull, lads, then belay,
Ooh! One more pull an’ then belay.

Related to this sea shanty

Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

Shiloh Brown

Reuben Ranzo – Hugills version

July 31, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown D

Shallow Brown D is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. As the age of sails progressed, in the late days this song was usually sung at halyards. This version comes from English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 60). In the description of this shanty Cecil Sharp mentioned song was sung to him by Mr. Robert Ellison, at Belvedere, Woolwich, and also mentioned these words have a Negro flavor. Cecil Sharp placed this song into the “Pulling Chanteys” chapter. I will reconstruct this song as a halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 259).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 259).

The Record of the Shallow Brown D

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

Shallow Brown D

O I’m going to leave her,
– SHALlow, O SHALlow Brown!
O I’m going to leave her,
– SHALlow, O SHALlow Brown!

* 2 *

Ship on board a whaler,
Ship on board a whaler,

* 3 *

Bound away to St. George’s.
Bound away to St. George’s.

* 4 *

Love you well, Julianna.
Love you well, Julianna.

* 5 *

Massa going to sell me.
Massa going to sell me.

* 6 *

Sell me to a Yankee.
Sell me to a Yankee.

* 7 *

Sell me for the dollar.
Sell me for the dollar.

* 8 *

Great big Spanish dollar.
Great big Spanish dollar.

Related to this sea shanty

Hello Somebody

Shallow Brown B

Blow Boys Blow (C)