Interesting Facts about The Liverpool Packet A
“The Liverpool Packet A”, the song was given with different titles and versions, Stan Hugill tells us:
“As early Naval ballad it was called “La Pique” or “The Flash Frigate”, as a sailor John’s forebitter it was named “The Dreadnaught”, and as a capstan shanty its title, usually, was “The Liverpool Packet” or “Bound Away!” but quite often the last three titles were used indiscriminately.”
I will reconstruct this song as a capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 466).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 466,468).
The Record of The Liverpool Packet A
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
And the full lyrics
The Liverpool Packet A
At the Liverpool docks at the break o’ the day.
I saw a flash packet bound west’ard away,
She was bound to the west’-ard where the wild waters flow,
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
– Bound away! Bound away!
– Through the ice, sleet an’ snow,
– She’s a Liverpool packet,
– Oh, Lord let ‘er go!
* 2 *
Oh, the time of her sailin’ is now drawin’ night,
Stand by all ye lubbers we’ll wish ye goodbye;
A pair o’ clean heels to ye now we will show,
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
* 3 *
An’ now we are leavin’ the sweet Salthouse Docks,
All the boys an’ the gals on the pierhead do flock;
All the boys an’ the gals are all shoutin’ hurro!
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
* 4 *
An’ now we are waitin’ in the Mersey so free,
Awaitin’ the tugboat to tow us to sea;
An’ we’ll round the Rock Light where the salt tides do flow,
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
* 5 *
Sheet home yer big tops’ls, haul aft yer jib sheets,
Sheet home fore ‘n’ aft, boys, ye’ll git no darn sleep;
Come aft now, God damn yets, come aft one an’ all,
– For over yer heads flies the bonnie BlackBall!
* 6 *
An’ now we are howlin’ down the wild Irish Sea,
Our passangers are merry, an’ their hearts full of glee;
Our sailors like tigers they walk to an’ fro,
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
* 7 *
An’ now we are sailin’ the Atlantic so wide,
An’ the hands are now ordered to scrub the ship’s side;
Now then, holystones boyos, the bosun do bawl,
– For Kickin’ Jack Williams commands this Blackball!
* 8 *
An’ now we are off the Banks o’ Newf’n’land,
Where the bottom’s all fishes an’ fine yeller sand;
An’ the fishes they sing at they swim to n’ fro’
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!
* 9 *
An’ now we’re arrivin’ in old New York town,
We’re bound for the Bovery, an, let sorrow drown;
With our gals an’ our beer, boys, oh let the song flow,
– She’s a Liverpool packet, oh Lord let ‘er go!