Jerzy Brzezinski, Author at Traditional Sea Shanties

Across The Rockies

March 17, 2023December 1, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Across The Rockies

Here is probably one of the development stages for the very famous shanty “Leave her, Johnny, Leave here”, the “Across The Rockies”. The places where this shanty can be sung were various depending on time, so in the beginning was serve as the hauling shanty, mainly for halyards, and when the grand chorus was added later used mainly at the pumps and even capstan. Stan Hugill partially learned it from his mother’s father and partially from an Irish sailor, both used the final chorus. His suppositions carry over the theory that the song came to life about the time of the Irish potato famine, in the forties of the nineteenth century. This reconstruction will be sung as a pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 292).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 292).

The Record of the Across The Rockies

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

Across The Rockies

Oh, a young girl said to me one day,
– A YOUNG gal goes a-WEEPin’,
I’ve got no money an’ I can’t get home,
– ACROSS the Rocky MOUNtains!

* 2 *

Oh, what shall we poor shellbacks do?
We’ve got no money and we can’t get home,

* 3 *

I thought I heard the Ol’ Man say,
If ye git no money, oh, ye’ll niver git home.

* 4 *

Oh, my poor ol’ mother she wrote to me,
She wrote to me to come home from sea.

* 5 *

Oh, I’ve got no money an’ I’ve got no clothes,
I’ve joined a bunch of though hoboes.

Related to this sea shanty

John come tell us as we haul away

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

Shallow Brown C

Hooker John (Harding)

May 13, 2023November 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Hooker John (Harding)

“Hoker John” is the capstan shanty, which comes from Harding Barbadian, probably the most recognizable source of the shanties that Stan Hugill when sailed with on merchant ships service. Harding Barbadian tells to Stan Hugill, that this song was still popular in the West Indies (1931). It probably originated as a cotton Stower’s song.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 291).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 291).

The Record of the Hooker John (Harding)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Hooker John (Harding)

Oh! me Mary she’s a sailor’s lass,
– To me Hooker John, me Hoojohn!
Oh, we courted all day on the grass,
– to me Hooker John, me Hoojohn!

– ‘Way Susanna–oh, way, hay, high, high ya!
– Johnny’s on the foreyard,
– Yonder, way up yonder.

* 2 *

Oh, my Susie she’s a nigger’s gal,
She’s nine foot high–that gal’s so taall.

* 3 *

Oh, my Flora she’s a hoosier’s frien’,
She’s beamy round the ol’ beam-end.

* 4 *

Oh, Sally Brown she’s the gal for me,
She courts a bit when her man’s at sea.

Related to this sea shanty

Ooker John

Supen Ut En Dram På Man

O Whos Been Here – Cecil Sharp

Ooker John

March 17, 2023November 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Ooker John

“Ooker John” is the shanty mentioned by Stan Hugill in his biggest book, when he describes the shanty with the title “Hooker John”. A couple of issues that this shanty has are that fact is, that was never directly told for what work was used this shanty for, however, was mentioned is similar to other capstan shanties, so by this and by the construction of verse and chorus with good probability we can say it is capstan shanty.
Another issue is that Captain Whall in his book “Sea Songs Ships & Shanties” (4th enlarged edition 1913 page 101), which Stan Hugill refers to, doesn’t even give to us the title of this song, so actually, the title comes from Stan Hugill. Harding Barbadian tells to Stan Hugill, it was still popular in the West Indies (1931). It probably originated as a cotton Stower’s song.

The source of this sea shanty

The lyrics: “Sea Songs Ships & Shanties” by W. B. Whall (4th enlarged edition 1913 page 101).
The lyrics: “Sea Songs Ships & Shanties” by W. B. Whall (4th enlarged edition 1913 page 101).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 290).

The Record of the Ooker John

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Ooker John

O my Mary she’s a blooming lass,
– To my Ooker John, my Oo-John,
O my Mary she’s a blooming lass,
– To my Ooker John, my Oo-John,

– Way, fair lady, O way-ay-ay-ay-ay,
– My Mary’s on the highland,
– O yonder’s Mary–yonder….

Related to this sea shanty

O Johnny Come To Hilo – Cecil Sharp

The Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton)

O Whos Been Here – Cecil Sharp

Johnny Bawker (Sweating-up)

March 17, 2023November 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Johnny Bawker

“Johnny Bawker” is another shanty from Stan Hugill’s “Johnny” shanties family. It was the shanty used for sheets. It was used for ‘sweating up’, i.e. to give a final drag on a halyard to gain the last inch, at tacks and sheets. Stan Hugill also mentions that this song was used for bunting sails, quite a unique theory because this job was considered the prerogative of “Paddy Doyle” shanty (we don’t know if Stan Hugill saw this song in action when sails were bunting or if this is only the theory). Another interesting fact is that the final “DO” was grunted out staccato, or rather the word was sung to its correct note and then a rising, gasped-out ‘UGH” would follow as the pull came.

And in end due to the specifics of the “sweetening up” job (final pulls), would not take more than three or four verses at the most. For my reconstruction, I select five verses which are more than enough for the described job.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289, 290).

The Record of the Johnny Bawker

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Johnny Bawker

Ooh! do, me Johnny Bowker, Come rock ‘n’ roll me over,
– Oh do me Johnny Bowker do!

* 2 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, Come roll me down to Dover,

* 3 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, lets’ all go on a Jamboree.

* 4 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the watches are cala-la-shee.

* 5 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chief mate he’s a croaker.

* 6 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the Old Man he’s a soaker.

* 7 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the bosun’s never sober.

* 8 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, I bet ye are a rover.

* 9 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the he is a tailor.

* 10 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chips he ain’t no sailor.

* 11 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come roll me in the clover.

* 12 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come rock an’ roll ‘er over.

* 13 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, from Calais down to Dover.

* 14 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, in London lives yer lover.

* 15 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the packet she is rollin’.

* 16 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come haul away the bowline.

* 17 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll either break or bend it.

* 18 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’re men enough to mend it.

* 19 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, get round the corner, Sally.

* 20 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, let me an’ you live tally.

* 21 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll haul away an’ bend ‘er.

* 22 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, me sweethart’s young an’ tender.

* 23 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, one more pull then choke ‘er.

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

John Kanaka

November 5, 2023November 17, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the John Kanaka

“John Kanaka” is a halyard shanty closely related to “Mobile Bay”. Stan Hugill informs us in his book, that this shanty is the first time it has been in print. This is one of the songs from a collection of wonderful shantymen, Harding of Barbados. “The last Shantyman,” says, that Harding sang it with many falsetto yelps and hitches almost impossible to imitate. Polynesian in origin chorus and the word “Tulai-ē” were Samoan. Also very unique for this halyard shanty are three solos and three refrains.
Because I always prefer the origin audio record (which rarely exists), to using music notation, I will try to reconstruct this fantastic halyard shanty base from an album by Stan Hugill with Stormalong John’s band “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288, 289).

The Record of the John Kanaka

The musical notation

The full lyrics

John Kanaka

I heard, I heard the Old Man say,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Today, today is a holiday,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!

* 2 *

We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 3 *

We’re bound away for ‘Frisco Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 4 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter Christ we’d niver bin born,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 5 *

Oh, haul, O haul, oh haul away,
Oh, haul away an’ make yer pay,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Johnny Brown

Blow The Man Down (E)

Blow The Man Down (F)

John come tell us as we haul away

March 17, 2023November 13, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about John come tell us as we haul away

“John come tell us as we haul away” is another shanty with “Johnny” in text, often sung at pumps. Stan Hugill tells us a bit more about what kind of pump he talks about it:
“when the word ‘pump’ would be substituted for the word ‘haul’, although in the more modern flywheel type of pump where a bell-rope was used both words were equally appropriate.”

Also, Stan Hugill tells us that this is one of not too many shanties that had two singers for the solo lines.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 287).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 287, 288).

The Record of the John come tell us as we haul away

John come tell us as we haul away - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

John come tell us as we haul away

From Liverpool Town we sailed away,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!
Outward bound at the break of day,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!

* 2 * – First Shantyman:

Wuz ye never down in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
A-screwin’ cotton all the day,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 3 * – Second Shantyman:

Oh, yes, I’ve bin down Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
A-screwin’ cotton all the day,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 4 * – First Shantyman:

What did yer see down in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Were the gals all free an’ gay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 5 * – Second Shantyman:

Oh this I saw in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
A spankin’ gal in a hammock lay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 6 * – First Shantyman:

An’ this flash gal wuz Saucy May,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
She wuz tall an’ fine an’ had lots to say.
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 7 * – Second Shantyman:

An’ what did yer do in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Did yiz give that flash tart all yer pay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 8 * – First Shantyman:

Oh, this I did in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
I courted this gal whose name was May,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 9 * – Second Shantyman:

I married her in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
An’ lived there happy many a day,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

Related to this sea shanty

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer)

Shallow Brown C

Johnny Come-A-Long

March 17, 2023November 9, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Johnny Come-A-Long

“Johnny Come-A-Long”, a stamp-‘n’-go shanty popular in German ships. Stan Hugill took this shanty from “Knurrhahn” Seemannslieder und Shanties (Zweiter Band) by Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936). In comparison, Stan Hugill’s version is slightly different in text and almost identical in music to the “Knurrhahn” version, also title “Knurrhahn” is different (The title from “Knurrhahn” is “Johnny” you can find on page 90 and 91).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 286).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 273).

The Record of the Johnny Come-A-Long

My reconstruction will imitate “stamp-n-go” shanty.

Johnny Come-A-Long - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Johnny Come-A-Long

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Come along, come along,
Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John, come along,
Dont stand there like a silly ol’ fool,
don’t stand there a lookin’ so cool,
Dont be shy of the ladies,
an’ the teeth in his mouth want bang-bang!

– Down by the sea, Where the watermelon grow,
– Back to my home, I shall not go,
– And shall I dream of love’s sweet song,
– Who can be happier than a sailor tonight?

* 2 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Was a sailorman,
He’d bin around all day,
Jolin’ with the ladies, playin’ hide’n’seek,
Not a penny to pay for to have a little peek,
Happy as the day went high-diddle-dee,
An’ the girls all shouted bang-bang!

* 3 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
In the garden with his gun,
Monkey’s been a-playin’ all the day,
Johnny takes his gun and the gun was loaded,
Johnny took his gun and the gun exploded,
High-diddle-dee, high-diddle-bum,
An’ he never let it go bang-bang!

* 4 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Git along, git along,
Leave little ladies on the shore,
Keep off, John, leave the girls alone,
Say goodbye an’ sail away for home,
Don’t hang round any more,
An’ his ol’ knees went bang-bang!

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

Hanging Johnny

March 17, 2023November 6, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Hanging Johnny

This is one of the most famous shanties of all “Hanging Johnny”. According to Stan Hugill’s Hanging Johnny, it can be legendary hangman Jack Ketch, but obviously, nobody can confirm this information, so we have to get it as a legend. Probably melancholy tune and macabre lyrics and rhythm length itself made this song one of the best halyard shanties ever.
Here the description of how Stan Hugill described the use of this shanty:
“The word ‘Hang’ was often used when ‘swinging’. In this maneuver (when a buntline or clewline or light halyard had to be given a few final strong pulls), one man took a part turn with the line around the portion of the belayin’-pin beneath the pin rail, while two or three other seamen with their hands as high as they could place them gripped the line and fell backward heavily, then ‘giving in’ the resultant slack to the chap at the pin.”
Usually was used at t’gallant halyards.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 284).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 283, 284, 285).

The Record of the Blow the Hanging Johnny

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 203, 204).

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Hanging Johnny

Oh, they calls me Hangin’ Johnny,
– AWAY, boys, AWAY!
They sez I hangs for money,
– So HANG, boy-oys, HANG!

* 2 *

They sez I hang for money,
But hangin’ is so funny,

* 3 *

At first I hanged me daddy,
An’ then I hanged me mammy.

* 4 *

Oh, yes, I hanged me mother,
Me sister, an’ me brudder.

* 5 *

I hanged me sister Sally,
I hanged the whole damn family.

* 6 *

An’ then I hanged me granny,
I hanged her up quite canny.

* 7 *

I’d hang the mate and skipper,
I’d hang ’em by their flippers.

* 8 *

I’d hang a ruddy copper,
I’d give him the long dropper.

* 9 *

I’d hang a rotten liar,
I’d hang a bloomin’ frair.

* 10 *

I’d hang to make things jolly,
I’d hang Jill, Jane, an’ Polly.

* 11 *

A rope, a beam, a ladder,
I’d hang yiz all tergether.

* 12 *

We’ll hang an’ haul tergether,
We’ll hang for better weather.

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Come Down Below

Whisky Johnny C

Whisky Johnny D

Supen Ut En Dram På Man

June 11, 2023November 3, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Supen Ut En Dram På Man

The “Supen Ut, En Dram Pa Man”, a fantastic Swedish Capstan shanty from “Sang Under Segel” by Sigurd Sternvall (1935) (1st ed p 322, 323). is the shanty which also we can include in the Hugill family of shanties with the words “Whisky Johnny” in the theme. It comes from recollections of sailmaker Oskar Johansosson of Masthugget in Gothenburg. According to the footnotes from the original book it was very popular among all the Scandinavian vessels lying in Delagoa Bay, Portuguese East Africa, in the year 1904.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 282).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 282, 283).

The Record of the Supen Ut En Dram På Man

Supen Ut, En Dram På Man - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Supen Ut, En Dtam På Man - music notation

The full lyrics

Supen Ut, En Dram På Man

Å, supen ut, en dr–am på man!
Väl klarar skutan sig från land.
om blott I hugger i med kläm.
– En dram för oss Johnnies!

– Kom hör, kom hör, kom hör oss nu!
– Ur djupa strupar kallas du.
– En tår som går från lår till lår,
– en dram för oss Johnnies!

* 2 *

Du stewart, fram med flaska grann!
Fyll i en peg till varje man!
De ä långt till Rio som ni vet.

* 3 *

Slå pall i spelet, vinda hem!
Nu går det med en väldans kläm,
slik olja nyttar som I ser.

* 4 *

Den stewart kommer snart igen,
så fort vårt ankar vindats hem.
Ligg an på spaken, alle man!

* 5 *

Fast heaven, gubbar, klart vid fall!
Nu alla segel sättas skall,
stolt skutan faller av för vind.

Related to this sea shanty

O Johnny Come To Hilo – Cecil Sharp

The Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton)

O Whos Been Here – Cecil Sharp

The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns (Victorian Ditty)

March 17, 2023October 30, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns

This is the beautiful Victorian ditty “The Ghost of John James Benjamin Christopher Binns” by Harry Randall (1888), no doubt, the original predecessor of the “Rise Me Up From Down Below”, stamp-‘n’-go shanty. Fortunately, I found a musical score for this surely forgotten poem, which had a great time on broadsides of the 19th century.
I did not find any publication of this song mentioned, fortunately, Stan Hugill mention it, so this is probably my only opportunity to reconstruct this song and bring it back to life, and show this beautiful ballad to all who want to listen to sound of the past.

The source of this victorian ditty

The music: “The Ghost of John James Benjamin Christopher Binns” by Harry Randall (1888).
The lyrics: “The Ghost of John James Benjamin Christopher Binns” by Harry Randall (1888).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 281).

The Record of this victorian ditty

The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns - Victorian Ditty

The musical notation

The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns - music notation 1

The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns - music notation 2

The full lyrics

The Ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns – Victorian Ditty

Hear my song, gentle folks, and dont be afraid,
I’m only a ghost, a poor harmless shade,
I would not hurt any one here if I could;
And you couldn’t do me much harm if you would;

Knives will not stab me nor shots thro’ me fly,
But oh! the experiment please do not try;
It’s not for my self that I care, not at all,
I’m only afraid you might damage the wall.

||   For:   ||

– I’m the ghost of John James Christopher Ben-jamin Binns,
– I was cut down right in the midst of my sins;
– For my home is down below, I’m let out for an hour or so;
– When the cock begins to crow, Fare well Benjamins Binns.

* 2 *

My wife she would say when I liv’d on this earth,
If I should die first, she’d never get wed;
To night I call’d on her, through key holes I crept,
If ghost could have tears, I am sure I’d have wept;

A man held my wife in his tender embrace,
She call’d him her hubby, hed taken my place;
To make matters worse, and to crown all my woes,
The fellow was wearing my best Sunday clothes.

||   The gass full on _ she could not see me _     ||
||   but I was determined she should hear me,      ||
||   So I said -"Hold mortal piece of flesh" _     ||
||   She shrieked and "held" the "mantel piece" _  ||
||   Then I in Sephulcral tones said,              ||
   - (chorus)

* 3 *

On the day that I died I left up on earth,
A fam’ly large and a boy of good birth,
Whom I taught to be honest and ever upright,
And hold on to money securely and tight;

But a short time thereafter imagine my woe,
When I heard that to canada off he did go;
“And just like his father” the people now say,
“Good riddins, bad rubbish, he’s out of the way!”

||   But I manage to get even with the rascally lad, ||
||   for each night when he lies in restless sleep,  ||
||   I crawl up from below and say:                  ||
   - (chorus)

Related to this victorian ditty

Cialoma Di Li Tunnari

Brindisi Di Marinai

Blow The Wind Southerly – Shore Song