Interesting Facts about On Board Of The Kangaroo
“On Board Of The Kangaroo” – capstan shanty, very rare according Stan Hugill, title refering to the ship “Kangaroo”. Although this shanty bore title “Bristol Sea Shanty” (in ‘Sea Breezers’) alone, since stan Hugills friend Seamus Ennis, the well-known folk-song collector (B.B.C.), found the following version in Ireland.
As will be seen it gives Milford Bay (South Wales) as the port concerned, but tune is definately Irish. Seamus had it from Mrs. Elizabeth Cronin of Macroon, Country Cork.
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 475).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 475, 476).
The Record of the On Board Of The Kangaroo
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
On Board Of The Kangaroo
At first I was a waiter man that lived at home at ease,
But now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas
I always liked seafaring life and bid my love adieu
I shipped as steward and Cook, my boys, on board of the “Kangaroo”.
– Oh, I never thought she would prove false,
– Or either prove untrue,
– Til we sailed away through Milford Bay,
– On board o’ the ‘Kangaroo’
* 2 *
‘Oh, think of me, oh, think of me.’ she mournfully did say,
‘When you are in a foreign land and I am far away.
Take this lucky threepenny bit, ’twill make you bear in mind
Of a loving, trusting faithful heart you have left in tears behind.’
* 3 *
‘Cheer up, cheer up, my own true love, don’t weep so bitterly,’
She sobbed, she sighed, she choked, she cried, and could not say goodbye.
‘Oh, I won’t be gone so very long, just but a month or two,
And when I will return again, of course I’ll marry you.’
* 4 *
our vessel she was homeward bound from many a foreign shore,
And many a foreign present unto my love I bore.
I bought tortoises from Teneriffe and ties from Timbuctoo,
A china rat, a Bengal cat, and a Bombay cockatoo.
* 5 *
Paid off I sought her dwelling in a suburb of the town,
Where an ancient dame upon a line was hanging out her gown.
‘Where is my love?”She’s married, sir, about six months ago,
To a smart young man that drives the van for Chapping, Son and Co.’
* 6 *
Here’s health to dreams of married life, to soap, to suds, and blue,
Hearts, true lovers, patent starch and washing soda too.
I will go unto some distant shore, no longer can I stay,
Andon some China Hottentot I’ll throw myself away.
* 7 *
My true love she’s not a foolish girl, her age it is two score,
My love she’s not a spinster, she was married twice before.
I cannot say it was her wealth that stole me heart away,
She’s a starcher and a laundress for eighteen-pence a day.