Interesting Facts about the Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down
“Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)” halyard shanty which Stan Hugill called real “Cape Horner”, very popular in Liverpool ships, and yet overlooked by most collectors. The “Blood red roses” are related to Napoleon and the British soldiers – “Redcoats” or “Blood-red Roses” as they were called on account of the red jackets they invariably wore. This version comes from Hugill’s shipmate Harding Barbadian.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
The lyrics: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 367).
The Record of the Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down
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
Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down
Oh, yes, my lads, we’ll roll alee,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
We’ll soon be far away from sea,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
– Oh, you pinks an’ poses,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
– Oh, you pinks an’ poses,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
* 2 *
Oh, what do yer s’pose we had for supper?
Black-eyed beans and bread and butter.
* 3 *
Oh, Poll’s in the garden picking peas,
She’s got fine hair way down to her knees.
* 4 *
I went downstairs and peeked through a crack,
And saw her stealing a kiss from Jack.
* 5 *
I grabbed right hold of a piece of plank,
And ran out quick and gave her a spank.