Just five years after print second part of his most known book “The Shanty Book part 2”, Richard Runciman Terry publish this book “Salt Sea Ballads”. Fore worded by Morley Roberts, book give to us a really great collection of the Salt Sea songs. They not only great selection of songs, (verry common to the author), and they all authentic, comes from real tradition and (as usually for this collector) collected from real seamen. Each song have really great description, which gives us a bit knowledge of the song.
Interesting Facts
The collection contain 30 songs with music notation and pianoforte accompaniment, each song contains fair amount of verses.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Folk Review Magazine (December 1976) – Stan Hugill – Tall Ships Race
We know Stan Hugill from his cornerstone great books about sea shanties such as “Shanties From The Seven Seas”, “Shanties and Sailors’ Songs”, or “Sailortown”. They are absolutely priceless for sea shanty enthusiasts. All those books are widely known, but not too many people, even those who can say about themselves are knowledgable about shanties know about this article.
So here it is, a very rare article written by The Last Surviving British Shantyman, an article is about the author’s part in the Tall Ships Race 1976. A great article about the person who can once again be part of the tall ship crew, you will be not disappointed, it contains also interesting couple sentences about the sea shanties, and a picture of Stan Hugill stand on halyard footrope!
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Related to the Folk Review Magazine (December 1976) – Stan Hugill – Tall Ships Race
Aside from “Old Sea Wings” and “A Waterbiography”, “A Sea-Painter’s Log” is another really great book that comes from this author, written in very descriptive and simple language, so the pleasure of reading is really great. The book is about all aspects of fishing on small boats in the Thames area, however, it would not be in my library if it doesn’t contain any shanties. So yes, the book has one chapter about the deep-sea voyage of an author as a passenger. In this chapter, an author gives us a few shanties with a very unique set of lyrics. So for people who want to get a lot of knowledge about the sea shanties, this book is not essential. However, I had a great pleasure reading this book which I strongly recommend to people who want to look closer at the shore life of those times.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
“The Ebenezer” – is according to Paddy Delaney, fine old seamen from who Stan Hugill tooks this song, was often sang at the pumps. it sounds like an Irish fiddle tune. it is a typical product of the Irish Packet seamen. One or two parts have had to be altered to meet the demands of the censor. It has many Liverpool ‘trimmings’! I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.
The source of The Ebenezer
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 476). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 476, 477).
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 Ebenezer
I shipped on board of the “Ebenezer”, Ev’ry day ’twas scrub an’ grease’er, Send us aloft to scrape’er down, An’ if we growled they’d blow us down,
– Oh, git along, boys, git along do, – Handy, me boys, so handy! – Git along, boys, git along do, – Handy, me boys, so handy!
* 2 *
The Old Man euz a drunken greezer, Couldn’t sail the “Ebenezer”, Learn his trade on a Chinese Junk, He spent mos’ time, sir, in his bunk.
* 3 *
The Chief Mate’s name wuz Dickie Green, sir, The dirties beggar ye’ve ever seen, sir, Walkin’ his poop wid a bucko roll, May the sharks have his body an’ the devil have his soul!
* 4 *
A Boston buck wuz second greeser, He used to ship in Limejuice ships, sir, The Limey packet got to hot, He jumped ’em an’ he cursed the lot.
* 5 *
The Bosun came from Tennesse, sir, He always wore a Blackball cheeser, He had a gal in every port, At least that’s what his missus thought.
* 6 *
The “Ebenezer” wuz so old, sir, She knew Columbus as a boy, sir, “Twas pump her, bullies, night an’ day, To help her git to Liverpool Bay.
* 7 *
Wet hash is wuz our only grub, sir, For breakf’st, dinner, an’ for supper, Our bread wuz thought as any brass, an’ the meat wuz as salt as Lot’s wife’s ass.
* 8 *
We sailed away before a breezer, Bound away for Vallaparaiser, Off the Horn she lost her sticks, The molly-hawks picked up the bits.
“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.
“Aboard The Kangaroo” – capstan shanty, very rare according Stan Hugill, title refering to the ship “Kangaroo”. It appeared in the “Port of Bristol Guide and Sailing List” (August 1949), and later in “Sea Breezers” (September 1949), both vesrsions being those of Mr. Stanley Slade, a Bristol seaman, then in his seventees, who stated that he had heard it sung as a boy in ships out of Bristol.
Stan Hugills friend Mr. Elwell of the Isle of Man also knew this shanty and he informed Stan Hugillthat it was often sung in Liverpool, in the “free’n’easies” of the last century, along with two other ditties: “The Cruise of the ‘Calabar'” and “Across the Western Ocean”. 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 474). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 474).
The Record of the Aboard 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
Aboard The Kangaroo
Once I wuz a waterman an’ lived at home at sea, But now I am a mariner ploughing the angry Seas, – I never thought she would be false, – or ever prove untrue, – As we sailed away from Bristol quay, – On board of the “Kangaroo”
* 2 *
I thought I’d like seafarin’ life, so I bid my love adieu, And sailed away as bosun’s mate, aboard of the “Kangaroo”
* 3 *
You would not say it was her wealth that stole me heart away, She was starcher at a launderer’s for eighteen-pence a day.
* 4 *
My love she was no foolish girl, her age it was two-score, My love she was no spinster, she’d been married twice before.
* 5 *
Paid off I sought her dwelling ‘way on Bristol Down, Where an ancient dame upon a line was hangin’ out her grown.
* 6 *
‘Where is my love?’ ‘She’s married, sir, about six months ago, To a smart young man who’s commander of a barge that trades in coal,’
* 7 *
Farewell to dreams of married life, to soapsuds and the blue, Farewell to all the Bristol gals, they’re fickle-minded too.
* 8 *
I,ll seek some distant foreign clime, no longer will I stay, An’ on some Chinese Hottentot I’ll throw this life away!
“The Gumtree Canoe” – Stan Hugill have this song from old shipmate, Paddy Griffiths, a seamen well versed in the old songs and shanties. Paddy Griffiths says to Stan Hugill, that in his yuth he had often sung this ditty at the capstan in the “Hill” Line of wind-jammers. Stan Hugill claims that song is obviously based on a “Negro” song, and in his book is first time in print as a shanty. Griffiths not remember more verses, so we have what we have. 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 473). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 473).
The Record of The Gumtree Canoe
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 Gumtree Canoe
Oh, on Tom Big Bee River so bright I was born, In a hut made of husks from the tall yaller corn, An’ twas there that I met with me Julia so true, An’ I sailed her a-‘way in me Gumtree Canoe.
– Then away-ay-ay, ay-yah! – Cross the waters so blue, – We’re bound to the south’ and in me Gumtree Canoe! – Then away-ay-ay, ay-yah! – Cross the waters so blue, – We’re bound to the south’ and in me Gumtree Canoe!
* 2 *
All day in the fields of soft cotton I hoe, An’ I think of me Julia an’ sing as I go, Oh, I cotched her a fish with a fin o’ deep blue, An’ at night sail around in me Gumtree Canoe.
* 3 *
Now we’re bound away to the south’ard we go, An’ soon I’ll be back in them fields I love so, With a shipmate so fair, an’ a shipmate so true, An’ we’ll haul on the bowline in me Gumtree Canoe.
“The Handy Bandy Barque” – is the very popular song at the pumps and capstan, very popular on the South American Saltpetre Trade. Stan Hugill’s version comes from McArty, who served many years in this trade. Song was well known to Liverpool seamen and lasted until the end of sail. McArty, whose last ship was the “Falls of Garry”, told to Stan Hugill, that it was a fine song for getting out the anchors after having laid in some West Coast port for two or more months, and that there were many more verses, but these were all could remember. I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.
The source of The Handy Bandy Barque
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 471). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 471,472).
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 Handy Bandy Barque
Oh, this story I’d take to tell – about a voy’ge to hell – In that handy, bandy barque the Campanayro,
– ‘Tween the skipper, bosun an’ th’ pump – – They nearly druv me off me chump, – In that handy, bandy barque the Campanayro, – An’ if ever I go to sea, no more West Coast Packets for me, – Like that handy, bandy barque the “Campanayro”!
* 1 *
Now I’ll have ye all to know that where-ever ye may go If ye see this name a-runnin’ fore an’ aft-O, Don’t join her or ye’ll pay ‘Cos ye’ll never forgit th’ day In that handy, bandy barque th’ “Campanayro”!
* 2 *
I wuz not very long ashore in a place called Baltimore, When I shipped away to Rio de Janeiro, This packet oh I jined, I wuz sorry that I’d signed Ch. In that handy bandy barque the Campanayro!
* 3 *
Oh, she had a shanghaied crew from Hell an’ Timbucktoo, An’ the bullies in six lingoes they did swear-O! Her skipper wuz a dandy-O, far too fond o’ brandy-O, Ch. In that handy bandy barque the Campanayro!
* 4 *
In the roundin’ of Cape Stiff, we had a little tiff, With the snifters of Tierra del Fuaygo, It blew like hell all day, carried our tops’le all away, Ch. In that handy bandy barque the Campanayro!
* 5 *
In Cally-o we lay, just inside the Bay, When the wind it blew up so bloomin’ rare-O, It blew like Barney’s Bull, an’ it nearly wrecked our hull, Ch. In that handy bandy, etc.
* 6 *
A dose of Yeller Jack put the bullies on their back, An’ it even made the Old Man share his grog-O, A Jonah’s bitch wuz she, not meant for you or me, Ch. Oh, that handy bandy, etc.
* 7 *
I skinned out in the port, by the jaunties I wuz caught, But their hoosegow wuz a pleasant place to stay-O, It wuz a home from home, better far than havin’ to roam, Ch. In that handy bandy, etc.
* 8 *
Ye may sail the whole world round, but never I’ll be bound, Will ye find a worser barque that this’n ‘ere-O, If ye’ll take my advice, ye’ll never jine her twice, Ch. Oh, that handy bandy, etc.
“Skeppet Bernadotte” Swedish capstan song. Comes from great collection of “Sang Under Segel” by Sigurd Sternvall (1935). Captain Sternvall wote the note: “Fragment of a well-liked capstan shanty of Norwegian origin. Sung aboard the ship “Arcadia” in Larvik, 1904-5.” The last couplet of each stanza was repeated as chorus. 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 469). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 469, 470).
The Record of the Skeppet Bernadotte
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
Skeppet Bernadotte
Med skeppet “Bernadotte” till Cardif vi gick, Å därrifrein vi skulle till Bahia gå. Å vår käraste kapten vi I Cardiff hade mist, Å Småbrö-Hans vi hade fått, fått, fått.
– Å vår käraste kapten vi I Cardiff hade mist, – Å Småbrö-Hans vi hade fått – .
* 2 *
Vi styrte ut roveret å en föjlig vind vi fick, de dröjde inte länge förr än bramsejla gick, de braka å de knaka å de blev ett faslight spark uti detta gamla plunderverk, verk, verk.
– de braka å de knaka å de blev ett faslight spark – uti detta gamla plunderverk.
* 3 *
Vindipumpen akten ut den ä som den kan, Ja, för att den skall gä, ja den giver inte vann, ja, för att den skall gå må det blåsa en orkan, å då länsar hon på atten tommer vann, vann, vann.
– ja, för att den skall gå må det blåsa en orkan, – å då länsar hon på atten tommer vann.
* 4 *
A åtta dagar efter sen vi va gångna ut, kom Småbrö-Hans å mälte att brödet tagit slut. Tolv påsar där blev sydda, ja en till varje man, för att brödet skulle hålla ut till lann, lann, lann.
– Tolv påsar där blev sydda, ja en till varje man, – för att brödet skulle hålla ut till lann.
“The Liverpool Packet B”, 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.” This more popular version in the later day of the sails is the version close allied to the shore song “Villikins and his Dinah”. 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 469). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 468).
The Record of The Liverpool Packet B
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 B
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 lubbera 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!
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