Interesting Facts about the Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
“Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo” version was given to Stan Hugill by Harding Barbadian, who said it was sung at the capstan. Cecil Sharp gives one verse of this song, and he believes this is the variant of the Irish Folk Song “Shule Agra”. The word “too-rer-loo” in the chorus indicates an Irish connection. This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 340).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 340).
The Record of the Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
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
Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
He bang, she bang, daddy shot a bear,
Shot it in the stem me boys, an’ niver turned a hair,
– We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo,
– Oh, the ol’ moke pickin’ on the banjo.
– Hooraw! What the hell’s the row?
– We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo,
– We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo,
– oooh! The ol’ moke pickin’ on the banjo!
* 2 *
Pat, get back, take in yer slack, heave away, me boys,
Heave away, me bully boys, why don’t ye make some noise?
* 3 *
Roll her, boys, bowl her, boys, give ‘er flamin’ gip,
Drag the anchor off the mud, an’ let the bastard rip!
* 4 *
Rock-a-block, chock-a-block, heave the caps’n round,
Fish the flamin’ anchor up, for we are outward bound.
* 5 *
Out chocks, two blocks, heave away or bust,
Bend yer backs, me bully boys, kick up some flamin’ dust.
* 6 *
Whisky-o, Johnny-O, the mudhook is a slight,
‘Tis a hell-ov-a-way to the gals that wait, an’ the ol’ Nantucket Light.