Interesting Facts about the Saucy Sailor Boy
“The Saucy Sailor Boy” is a pump shanty, came to life at eighteen century was given to us by Davis and Tozer “Sailors’ songs or “chanties” (3rd edition 1906) as a shanty, and only Davis and Tozer give this song to us as the pump shanty, the other always tells us that was a forebitter.
Worth mention that Davis and Tozer published this song in 3rd edition of their book, is not appear in first edition (cannot confirm that appear in second edition due to I not have access to it). Stan Hugill states that:
“The Davis and Tozer version however could never have been sung as a shanty, since there is no refrain, not even the repeat of the last line — so common in Scandinavian and Frenmch shanties — that I and other collectors give.”
Also Stan hugill tells us that he heard this song was sung by manny windjammer men, and definitely was used at pumps, but it was never sung at capstan or elsewhere.
I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.
The source of the Saucy Sailor Boy
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 461).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 461,462).
The Record of this sea shanty
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 Saucy Sailor Boy
Come all my fair ones, come all my fond ones. Come an’ listen unto, me.
Could ye fancy a bully sailor lad, That has just come home from sea?
– Could ye fancy a bully sailor lad, That just has come home from sea?
* 2 *
‘No indeed I’ll wed no sailor, for they smell too much of tar.
You are ragged, you are sassy, get you gone, you Jackie Tar,
– You are ragged, you are sassy, get you gone, you Jackie Tar!’
* 3 *
‘I have ships all on the ocean, I have gold in great galore,
Me clothes they may be all in rags, but coin can buy me more,
– Me clothes they may be all in rags, but coin can buy me more!’
* 4 *
‘If I,m sassy, it may be of tar I smell,
Yet I’ve silver in my pocket, more than you can ever tell,
– Yet I’ve silver in my pocket, more than you can ever tell!’
* 5 *
When she heard him, that distress her, down upon her knees she fell,
Sayin’, regged, dirty sailor boy, I love more than words can tell,
– Sayin’, regged, dirty sailor boy, I love more than words can tell!’
* 6 *
‘Do you think that I am foolish, do you think that I am mad,
That I’d wed the likes of you, Miss, when there’s others to be had,
– That I’d wed the likes of you, Miss, when there’s others to be had!’
* 7 *
‘No indeed I’ll cross the ocean, an’ my ships shall spread her wings,
You refused me, ragged, dirty, not for you the wedding ring,
– You refused me, ragged, dirty, not for you the wedding ring!’