Interesting Facts about The New York Gals
“The New York Gals” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This is the last version described by Stan Hugill in his “Shanties from the Seven Seas”. Stan Hugill claims this version is “probably” the oldest one, and he dated it before the thirties of the nineteen century. The version has been taken from Irish seamen by the name of Spike Sennit, a man who had sailed for years in Yankee windbags. Also worth mention a note from stan Hugill’s description that the place name Shanghai used in the song is pronounced in the way old-time seamen used to say it – “Shanghee”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 374).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 374-375).
The Record of The New York Gals
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 New York Gals
As I rolled down ol’ South Street,
A fair maid I did meet,
Who axed me then to see her home,
She lived down Fourteenth Street,
– An’ away, you Johnny
– My dear honey.
– Oh, you New York gals,
– Ye love us for our money.
* 2 *
Sez I, ‘My dear young lady,
I’m a stranger here in town,
I left me ship only yesterday,
From China I am bound,’
* 3 *
‘Now come wid me, me dearie,
An’ I will stand ye treat,
I’ll buy ye rum an’ brandy, dear,
An’ tabnabs for to eat.’
* 4 *
‘My friend she has a brother,
Just now away at sea,
The last time that she heard from him,
His ship was in Shanghee.’
* 5 *
When we got down to Fourteenth Street,
We stopped at Number Four,
Her mother and her sister came
To meet us at the door.
* 6 *
An’ when we got inside the house,
The drinks wuz handed round.
The liquor wuz so awful strong,
Me head went round an’ round.
* 7 *
Before we all sat down to eat,
We had another drink.
THe liquor wuz so very strong,
Deep sleep came in a wink.
* 8 *
When I awoke next morning,
I had an achin’ head,
An’ there wuz I Jack-all-alone,
Stark naked on the bed.
* 9 *
My gold watch an’ me pocket-book
An’ lady friend wuz gone.
An’ there wuz I with nary a stich,
All left there on me own.
* 10 *
On lookin’ all around the room,
Oh, nothing could I see,
But a lady’s shift an’ pantaloons,
Not worth a damn to me.
* 11 *
With a flour for a suit,
I wisht I’d ne’er bin born.
A boarding master then I met,
Who shipped me round the Horn.
* 12 *
Now all ye bully sailormen,
Take warnin’ when ashore,
Or else ye’ll meet some charmin’ gal,
Who’s nothing but a whore.
* 13 *
Yer hard-earned cash will disappear,
Your rig an’ boots as well,
For Yankee gals are tougher than
The other side o’ Hell!