Interesting Facts about The Gal With The Blue Dress
This is another great song we have from the Harding Barbadian, a shipmate of Stan Hugill, he mentions in his book that Harding considered this song as one of the best in his repertoire for halyards. It is the Negro origin song, probably one used by cotton hosiers.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267, 268).
The Record of The Gal With The Blue Dress
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
The Gal With The Blue Dress (Harding)
A gal asleep wid a blue dress on,
– SHAKE her, Johnny, SHAKE her!
She’s waitin’ there for yer Uncle Tom,
– SHAKE ‘er, an’ we’ll WAKE ‘er!
* 2 *
This gal she did look good to me,
‘Cos I had bin ten months at sea’
* 3 *
She’s Down East gal wid a Down East style,
For a dollar a time it’s worth while.
* 4 *
Roust an’ shake her is the cry,
The bloody topmast sheave is dry!
* 5 *
A big wind comes from the Wes’-nor’-west,
This gal ain’t gonner git no rest.
* 6 *
Shake ‘er, bullies, oh, helm’s a-lee,
She’ll git washed out wid a big green sea.
* 7 *
Her oilskins they are all in pawn,
It’s wet an’ draughty round Cape Horn.
* 8 *
So roust ‘er from down below,
An’ haul away for yer Uncle Joe.
* 9 *
This gal she is a high-brown lass,
High-brown lass in a flash blue dress.
* 10 *
So roust ‘er be quick I say,
An’ make yer port an’ take yer pay.
* 11 *
Soon we’ll be down Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton for to git our pay.