Jerzy Brzezinski, Author at Traditional Sea Shanties

Boney

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Boney

“Boney”, is a halyard shanty based fairly accurately on the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte. Stan Hugill also tells us it was used in others ‘short-haul’ or fore-sheet shanty.
I will reconstruct this song as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 442).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 442, 443).

The Record of the Boney

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

Boney

Boney wuz a warrior;
– WAY – aye – YAH!
A warrior, a terrior,
– JOHN-ny FranCOIS!

* 2 *

Boney beat the Prussians,
Osstrians and the Rooshians,

* 3 *

Boney went to school inFrance,
He lent to make the Russians dance.

* 4 *

Oh, Boney marched to Moscow,
Across the Alps through ice an’ snow,

* 5 *

Boney wuz a Frenchyman,
But Boney had a turn agen.

* 6 *

So he retreated back agen,
Moscow wuz in ruins then.

* 7 *

Boney went to Elbow,
There he got his overt’row

* 8 *

He beat the Prussians squarely,
He whacked the English nearly.

* 9 *

We licked him in Trafalgar’s Bay,
Carried his main topm’st away.

* 10 *

‘Twas on the Plains of Waterloo,
He met the boy who put him through

* 11 *

Boney marched to Waterloo,
And there he met his overt’row,

* 12 *

He met the duke of Wellington,
That day his downfall had begun.

* 13 *

Boney went a-crusin’,
Aboard the Billy Ruffian.

* 14 *

Boney went to Saint Helen’,
An’ he never came back agen.

* 15 *

They sent him into exile,
He died on Saint Helena’s isle.

* 16 *

Boney broke his heart an’ died,
In Corsica he wisht he styed.

* 17 *

He wuz a rorty general,
A rorty, snorty general.

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Corner Sally (Terry)

Sister Susan

Miss Lucy Loo

John Browns Body

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the John Browns Body

“John Browns Body” turned by sailors into capstan shanty. Originally shore song came from the American Civil War. Song was also sung on German ships.
I will reconstruct this song as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 442).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 442, 443).

The Record of the John Browns Body

The musical notation

The full lyrics

John Browns Body

John Brown wuz skipper of a Yankee clipper ship.
John Brown wuz skipper of a Yankee clipper ship.
John Brown wuz skipper of a Yankee clipper ship.
– As we go rollin’ home!

– Glory, glory, allelujah!
– Glory, glory, allelujah!
– Glory, glory, allelujah!
– As we go rollin’ home!

* 2 *

John Brown’s daughter is a maiden, so I’m told,
Her finger’s decked with diamonds and her toes in decked with gold,
John Brown’s daughter is a maiden, so I’m told.

* 3 *

John Brown’s daughter got a bunion on her toes,
John Brown’s daughter got a wart upon her nose,
John Brown’s daughter got a bunion on her toes.

* 4 *

John Brown’s daughter is a Yankee-doodle-do,
Her bows is fat, her stern is fat an’ so’s her ankles too,
John Brown’s daughter is a Yankee-doodle-do.

* 5 *

John Brown’s daughter chews terbaccy by the pound,
She’s the roughest, toughest son-o’-a-bitch that ye have ever found,
John Brown’s daughter chews terbaccy by the pound.

* 6 *

There’s my gal with a blue dress on,
Her catheads they would take an anchor weighin’ twenty ton,
There’s my gal with the blue dress on

* 7 *

John Brown’s daughter sat upon a grassy plot,
John Brown’s daughter likes her dinner served up hot,
John Brown’s daughter sat upon a grassy plot.

* 8 *

John Brown’s daughter drinks her whisky neat an’ straight,
John Brown’s daughter’s got a bowline round the mate,
John Brown’s daughter drinks her whisky neat an’ straight.

Related to this sea shanty

Jamboree (Whall)

Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

Abel Brown The Sailor

January 6, 2025January 6, 2025 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Abel Brown The Sailor

“Abel Brown The Sailor” is a halyard shanty used for ‘long drags’ at t’gallant halyards and hand-over-hand hauling. Stan Hugillmarked his version for ‘long drags’. An author of the “Shanties from the Seven Seas” learned this shanty on his first voyage to sea. ‘Abel Brown’ is probably the personification of all sailing ship A.B.’s or Able-Bodies Seamen. This shanty is unique in the way that, was usually sung by two soloists or shantymen in a similar way as “Billy Boy”, one singer for questions and one for the answers.
I will reconstruct this song as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 440).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 440 – 442).

The Record of the Abel Brown The Sailor

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Abel Brown The Sailor

Oh, where am I goin’ to sleep tonight?
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
Oh, where am I goin’ to sleep tonight?
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 2 *

You can sleep up on the mat,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
You can sleep up on the mat,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

* 3 *

Oh, the mat is rough an’ me skin ain’t tough,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
Oh, the mat is rough an’ me skin ain’t tough,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 4 *

You can sleep upon the shelf,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
You can sleep upon the shelf,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

* 5 *

What ‘ave yer got upon the shelf?
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
What ‘ave yer got upon the shelf?
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 6 *

I’ve got some rum upon the shelf,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
I’ve got some rum upon the shelf,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

* 7 *

Me throat is long an’ me thirst is strong,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
Me throat is long an’ me thirst is strong,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 8 *

What if you roll from off the shelf?
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
What if you roll from off the shelf?
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

* 9 *

I’ll bounce on the floor an’ ask for more,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
I’ll bounce on the floor an’ ask for more,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 10 *

What if the police should come to the house?
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
What if the police should come to the house?
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

* 11 *

I’ll take ’em on in two’s and three’s,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!
I’ll take ’em on in two’s and three’s,
– Sez ABEL Brown the Sailor!

* 12 *

Then I’ll let you stay with me,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!
Then I’ll let you stay with me,
– Cried THE FAIR young maiden!

Related to this sea shanty

Do Let Me Lone Susan

Sing Sally O! (version B)

Round The Corner Sally (Harding)

Dan Dan

December 12, 2024December 12, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Dan Dan

“Dan Dan”, in Hugill’s book, is the first song in the category with men’s names as titles. The song is a bit more than chant, according to Harding, one of the most famous shantymen ever met by Stan, the song was one of the work songs used ashore in the Antilles for hauling wooden shanties from one place to another, also for working cargo. The song was later taken to the sea by colored seamen and heard aboard West Indian square riggers at halyards. The pull was on the shouted “HO!”.
I will reconstruct this song as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 440).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 440).

The Record of the Dan Dan

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Dan Dan

Oh, my name is Dan Dan!
– HO!
Oh, my name is Dan Dan!
– HO!
Somebody drink me run,
– HO!
Somebody wares no clothes,
– HO!
Somebody takes me wife,
– HO!
Oh, my name is Dan Dan!
– HO!
Kuku mafalda,
Oh, my name is Dan Dan!
– HO!

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Corner Sally (Terry)

Sister Susan

Miss Lucy Loo

Derby Ram

November 22, 2024November 22, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Derby Ram

“Derby Ram” according to Stan Hugill’s friend Bill Fuller, had it from an old-timer sailor along with information that it was used mainly at the pumps, and from time to time at the capstan. The song refers to the town of Derby and has many folk-song versions, probably older than the original shanty version.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.

The source of the Derby Ram

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 437).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 437, 438).

The Record of this sea shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Derby Ram

Oh, as I wuz goin’ to Derby, ‘Twas on a market day,
I met the finest ram, sir that. Ever wuz fed upon hay,

– That’s a lie sir, that’s a lie, sir,
– Oh, yes, me bullies, yer know yer tellin’ a lie!

* 2 *

This ram an’ I got drunk, sir, as drunk could be,
An’ when we sobered up, sir, we were far away out at sea,

* 3 *

This wnnerful ol’ ram, sir, wuz playful as a kid,
It swollered the cap’n’s spy-glass along wid bosun’s fid.

* 4 *

The night wuz very rough, sir the wind like ice did feel,
He borrowed me suit of oilskins an’ took me trick at the wheel.

* 5 *

He climbed aloft so full of vim to stow the tops’l tight,
But halfway up he lost his nerve, he had an awful fright.

* 6 *

One mornin’ on the poop, sir, afore eight bells wuz struck,
He climbed up to the skys’l yard an’ sat down on the truck.

* 7 *

This wonderful ol’ ram, sir, he tried a silly trick,
He tried to jump a five-barred fence an’ landed in a rick.

* 8 *

This wonnerful ol’ ram, sir, it grew two horns of brass,
One grew out o’ his shoulder blade, t’other turned into a mast.

* 9 *

An’ when this ram wuz killed, sir, the butcher wuz covered in blood,
Fife and twenty butcher boys wuz carried away in the flood.

* 10 *

An’ when this ram wuz dead, sir, they buried it in St. Joan’s,
It took ten men an’ an elephant to carry one of its bones.

* 11 *

The crew of good ship “Toxteth” in handsome, strong an’ brave.
The finest crowd of Jack-srites that ever sailed over the wave.

Related to this sea shanty

Albertina – Glyn Davies

Skonnert Albertina – Sternvall

Poor Paddy Works On The Railway

The Holly Ground Once More

November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Holly Ground Once More

“The Holly Ground Once More” is the version of the famous Welsh Capstan song “Old Swansea Town Once More”. This is the Irish version of this famous song, not only song at the capstan of an Irish ships but also was popular among the dockers of Cork and Cobh. Mentioned “Holly Ground” in the song is a poor quarter of Cobh, inhabitated mainly by fishermen. Song is also known under title “The Cobh Sea Shanty”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the brake windlass shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The source of this sea shanty:
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 436).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 436).

The Record of The Holly Ground Once More

The Holly Ground Once More - Brake Windlass Shanty

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

The Holly Ground Once More

Fare thee well my lovely Dinah, a thousand times farewell,
For I am going to leave you now, The truth to you I’ll tell
And the secrets of my mind
– Fine girls you are!
You’re the girl that I adore,
– And now we live in hopes to see,
– The holy Ground once more,
– Fine girls you are!

* 2 *

And now the storm is raging, and we are far from Cobh,
And the poor old ship she’s sinking fast, and her riggings they are tore,
And the secrets of my mind
– Fine girls you are!
You’re the girl that I adore,
– And now we live in hopes to see,
– The holy Ground once more,
– Fine girls you are!

* 3 *

And now the storm is over, and we are safe in Cobh,
And we’ll drink one toast to the Holly Ground, and the girl that we adore,
And we’ll drink strong ale and porter,
– Fine girls you are!
And we’ll make the tap-room roar,
– And when our money is all spent,
– We’ll go to sea once more,
– Fine girls you are!

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

In Cam’eltoon Once More

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the In Cam’eltoon Once More

“In Cam’eltoon Once More” is the version of the famous Welsh Capstan song “Old Swansea Town Once More”. Fishermen of Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland sang this form of this shanty. The version given to us by Stan Hugill comes from Mr. Peter Gilchrist, along with Mr. William Mitchell of Campbeltown.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the brake windlass shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 434).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 434, 435).

The Record of the In Cam’eltoon Once More

In Cam'eltoon Once More - Brake Windlass Shanty

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

In Cam’eltoon Once More

Fare ye well my Nancy, a thousand times adieu,
Fare ye well my Nancy, but I must part from you,
I must part from you dear one, You’re the lassie I adore,
But we will live in hopes to meet in Cam’-el-toon once more,

– In Cam’-el-toon once more my boys, In Cam’-el-toon once more,
– Yes, we will live in hopes to meet in Cam’-el-toon once more,

* 2 *

Now the storm is raging, we can see it coming on,
The clouds are bent to west’ard, we can scarcely see the moon,
Our goodly ship is tossed about and our rigging’s sadly tore,
But we will live in hope to meet, in Cam’eltoon once more.

* 3 *

Yes, now the storm is raging, the waves are lashing high,
But bravely steams our gallant barque, the salt tear dims my eye,
The salt tear dims my eye, my boys, but we will reach the shore,
And we will live in hope to meet, in Cam’eltoon once more!

* 4 *

Now the storm is ended, and we ware safe at last,
We’ve got the French Point now in view, Davaar Light we have passed,
And soon we’ll get our anchor down, when we get to the shore,
And we are back again, my boys, in Cam’eltoon once more.

* 5 *

Yes, now the storm is over, and we are safe on shore,
We’ll drink success to our sweethearts and wives, and the lassies we adore,
We’ll call for glasses merrily, and we’ll make the tavern roar,
And when our money is all spent, we’ll plough the seas for more.

– We’ll plough the seas for more, my boys, we’ll plough the seas for more,
– And when our money is all spent, we’ll plough the seas for more!

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Old Swansea Town Once More ( B )

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Old Swansea Town Once More ( B )

“Old Swansea Town Once More ( B )” – the famous Welsh Capstan song. This version is ‘toned down’ a lot from sailor singing, but it is the version that is accepted throughout the folk-song world. The song is collected by G. B. Gadiner in Hampshire. Stan Hugill took this version from Mr. Mansell Thomas (Head of Welsh Music, B.B.C., Cardiff).
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 432).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 432, 433).

The Record of the Old Swansea Town Once More ( B )

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

Old Swansea Town Once More ( B )

Oh, farewell to you my Nancy, Ten thousand times adieu,
I’m bound to cross the ocean girl, once more to port with you,
Once more to port from you fine girl,
You’re the girl that I adore,
But still I live in hopes to see, old Swansea Town once more,

– Old Swansea Town once more, fine girl!
– You’re the girl that I adore,
– But still I live in hopes to see,
– Old Swansea Town once more!

* 2 *

Oh, it’s now that I am out at sea, an’ you are far behind,
Kind letters I will write to you, of the secrets of my mind,
Of the secrets of my mind, fine girl!
You’re the girl that I adore,
But still I live in hopes to see, old Swansea Town once more,

* 3 *

Oh, now the storm is rising, I can see it coming on,
The night so dark an anything, we cannot see the moon;
We cannot see the moon, fine girls!
Our rigging is all tore,
But I live in hopes to see, old Swansea Town once more,

* 4 *

Oh, it’s now the storm is over, and we are safe on shore,
We’ll drink strong drinks and brandies too, to the girls that we adore,
To the girls that we adore, fine girls!
We’ll make the tavern roar,
And when our money is all gone, we’ll go to sea for more.

Related to this Forebitter

Oh Susanna

Susannavisan (Stan Hugill Translation)

Roll Alabama Roll! – Forebitter

Old Swansea Town Once More ( A )

October 6, 2024October 6, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Old Swansea Town Once More ( A )

“Old Swansea Town Once More ( A )” – the famous Welsh Capstan song. Mr. Sullivan of Cardiff wrote and said to Stan Hugill that the song was always sung as the homeward bound in the little Welsh barques engaged in the Copper Ore Trade of the seventies and eighties years of the nineteenth century. Stan Hugill also informs us that Scottish and Irish versions of this song exist too.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty (used at the Halyard winch).

The source of the Old Swansea Town Once More ( A )

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 431).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 431, 432).

The Record of this sea shanty

Old Swansea Town Once More ( A ) - Capstan Shanty (Used at the Halyard winch)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Old Swansea Town Once More ( A )

Oh, the Lord made the bees, an’ the bees did make the honney,
But the Divil send the woman for to robus of our money,
On’ around Cape Horn will go!
An’ when me mony’s all spent ol’ gal,
We’ll go’ round Cape Horn for more, ol’ gal, ol’ gal!

– You’re the one I do adore,
– An’ all I’m livin’ in hopes to see,
– Is ol’ Swansea Town once more, ol’ gal, ol’ gal!
– You’re the one I do adore,
– So take me ropes an’ make me fast,
– In ol’ Swansea Town once more!

* 2 *

Now we’re outward bound around Cape Horn,
to Frisco an’ around,
I’ll send you letters when we get there,
an’ you’ll Know I’m homeward bound, old gal, old gal!

* 3 *

Now when we’re homeward bound, my dear,
I’ll bring you silks galore,
I’ll bring you jewels an’ rings an’ things,
An’ ye won’t wear the weeds no more, old gal, old gal!

* 4 *

Now when we’re leavin’ ‘Frisco Town,
Outside of the Golden Gate,
I’ll write my last letter to you, me dear,
Then ye won’t have so long to wait, old gal, old gal!

* 5 *

An’ when we’re leavin’ the old Fallerones,
Bound for my ol’ Swansea,
I know ye’ll pull, gal, on the string,
For to haul me in from sea, old gal, old gal!

* 6 *

An’ then when we’ve rounded old Cape Horn,
Climbin’ the hill for home,
Passed the Western Islands into the Bay,
We’ll have no further for to roam, old gal, old gal!

* 7 *

An’ then when we up Channel to sail,
I’ll pray that you’ll be there,
To wait, me dear, on Swansea pier,
My lovely presents for to share, old gal, old gal!

* 8 *

When Swansea Town we’re off once more,
We’ll see the lights so clear,
I know that’s Megan down on the pier,
In her dimity apron dear, old gal, old gal!

Related to this sea shanty

Paddy Signs On

Paddy Get Back – Dick Maitland

Roller Bowler – Trinidad Version

Sebastopol

September 26, 2024September 26, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Sebastopol

“Sebastopol” is the song given to us, by Mansfield in his “Sailor’s Garland”. Song was popular during the Crimean War and was used by sailors at the capstan. This shanty is broken down of the original march, or rather of hours of the original version. Original march tune named “Loth-to-depart, played by drum and fife bands when a regiment goes abroad”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 429).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 429).

The Record of the Sebastopol

You can also find this record on my YouTube channel here or listen directly 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

Sebastopol

The Crimea Was is over now,
– Sebastopol is taken!
The Crimea Was is over now,
– Sebastopol is taken!

– So sing cheer, boys, cheer,
– Sebastopol is taken!
– And sing cheer, boys, cheer,
– Old England gained the day!

* 2 *

The Russians the’ve bin put to flight,
The Russians the’ve bin put to flight,

* 3 *

Our soliders they are homeward bound,
Our soliders they are homeward bound.

* 4 *

We’ll drink a health to all our men,
We’ll drink a health to all our men.

Related to this sea shanty

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

The New York Gals

Doodle Let Me Go