Interesting Facts about The Flash Frigate
“The Flash Frigate”, 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.”
Two collectors Sampson and Patterson give it as a capstan shanty, other collectors as a forebitter.
This particular version, Stan Hugill had from his father’s ditty-box song-book, the type of thing all seamen kept in the days of sail.
I will reconstruct this song as a forebitter.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 462).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 462,463).
The Record of The Flash Frigate
You can also 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 Flash Frigate
Oh. ’tis of a flash frigate, La Pique was her name.
All in’ the West Indies she bore a great name.
For cruel bad usage, of ev’ry degree,
Like slaves in a galley we ploughed the salt sea.
* 2 *
At four in the morning our work do begin,
In ‘tween-decks an’ cokpit a bucket might swim;
Our fore- an’ main-topmen so loudly do bawl,
For sand an’ for holystones, some large an’ some small.
* 3 *
Our decks bein’ washed down and scrubbed up quite dry,
‘Tis ‘Lash up yer hammocks!’ our bosun does cry;
Our hammocks are lashed, black clews an’ black shows,
‘Tis ‘All the world over an’ over she goes!’
* 4 *
Now Mister MacTavish, ye knows him quite well,
He comes up on deck an’ he cuts a great swell;
‘Tis damn yer eyes here, an’ ’tis damn yer eyes there,
An’ straight for the gangway he takes a broad sheer.
* 5 *
Our Divisions Officer now makes his rounds,
Not a hole nor a mark in yer clothes must be found;
For an hour or more in this way we must be,
Our ropes flemished down both in port an’ at sea.
* 6 *
Divisions being over the next thing comes on,
Jack-o’-clubs now is a callin’ for swabs in his song;
Three of four dry swabs then each cook he must find,
An’ the bright cooper hoops on our mess-kids must shine.
* 7 *
Our pikes an’ our cutlasses are bright as the sun,
Our shot-racks are cooper, boys, yes, yes, every one;
Our pommelins an’ handspikes, belayin’-pins also,
With our bright iron stanchions we cut a fine show.
* 8 *
An’ now look aloft, oh, me boys, every one,
All hands to make sail, goin’ large is the song;
From under two reefs in our topsails we lie,
Like a cloud all our canvas in a moment must fly.
* 9 *
An’ now me brave boys comes the best o’ the fun,
‘Tis hands ‘About ship an’ reef tops’ls on one!’
So ’tis ‘Lay aloft, topmen!’ as the hellum goes down,
An’ ‘Haul down yer tops’ls!’ as the mainyard swings round.
* 10 *
Trice up an’ lay out an’ take two reefs in one,
In a moment of time all this work must be done;
So ’tis ‘Man yer head braces, yer halyards an’ all!’
An’ ‘Hoist away tops’ls! at ‘Let go an’ haul!’
* 11*
Now yer quids o’ terbaccy I’d have ye to mind,
If yer spits on the deck ’tis your death-warrant signed!
If yer spits over bow, over gangway or starn,
Yer sure o’ three dozen just by way of no harm.
* 12 *
So now, brother sailors, whenever ye may be,
From all fancy frigates, I’ll have ye steer free;
For they’ll haze ye, an’ work ye, ’till ye ain’t worth a damn,
Then they’ll ship ye half-dead to yer dear native land.