Interesting Facts about the Tommys Gone To Hilo
The “Tommys Gone To Hilo” was a halyard shanty usually sang for raise a topsails yards. This song mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from “The Making Of A Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928 1st ed: p 258, 259). Due to the different melody and the theme which “smack of “South Australia,” it is worth reconstructing it.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “The Making Of A Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928 1st ed: p 258).
The lyrics: “The Making Of A Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928 1st ed: p 258, 259).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261).
The Record of the Tommys 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
Tommys Gone To Hilo
Oh, Tommy’s gone, what shall I do?
– A-way, Hilo!
Tommy’s gone and I’ll go too,
– Tommy’s gone to HI-lo!
* 2 *
To Hilo town, we’ll see her through,
For Tommy’s gone with a rulling crew.
* 3 *
Oh, Tommy’s gone from down below,
And up aloft this yard must go.
* 4 *
Oh, Tommy’s gone, we’ll ne’er say nay
Until the mate sing out, “Belay!”
* 5 *
I think I heard the old man say,
We’ll get our grog three times a day.
* 6 *
Oh, one more pull and that will do,
So let her roll and wet us through.
* 7 *
She’ll ship it green again to-day;
The mate is sore and hell’s to pay.
* 8 *
Oh, Tommy’s gone, what shall I do?
The mate is sore and so are you.
* 9 *
Oh, Tommy’s gone and left us, too;
We like the mate – Like hell we do!