Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown B

Shallow Brown B is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. As the age of sails progressed, in the late days this song was usually sung at halyards. Here version of what Stan Hugill has heard from Harding Barbadian. I will reconstruct this song as a halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).

The Record of the Shallow Brown 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

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown B

Oh! Shallow in the mornin’,
– SHALlow, oh, SHALlow Brown!
Just as the day was dawnin’,
– SHALlow, oh, SHALlow Brown!

* 2 *

She is a bright mulatter,
She hails from Cincinatter

* 3 *

Come put me clothes in order,
The packet sails termorrer.

* 4 *

Once ye wuz sweet and cherry,
But now ye are contrary.

* 5 *

For ye are fat an’ lazy,
Ye nearly drive me crazy.

* 6 *

My half-pay ye’ve spent like chaff,
Ye’d like the other half.

* 7 *

Ye boozed me pay away,
But ye’ve had yer last pay-day.

* 8 *

The packet sails termorrer,
I’ll leave yer without sorrer.

* 9 *

Me clothes are all in pawn,
I’m bound around the Horn.

* 10 *

She won’t miss me when I’ve gone,
She’ll hook some other bum.

Related to this sea shanty

Hello Somebody

Blow Boys Blow (A)

Blow Boys Blow (B)

Interesting Facts about the Hello Somebody

“Hello Somebody” is a halyard shanty related to the “Hilo Come Down Below” and “Hilo Boys Hilo”. Stan Hugill’s description of this shanty is quite interesting so first he says, that Captain J. P. Parker it writes a verse of this shanty on his “Log of limejuicer” of the American ship “Tusitalia”, on page 40. Stan Hugill’s version comes from Harding Barbadian who told him that was very popular in ships with “coloured” crews. Also, William Main Doerflinger in his book gives a three-verse example of this song, with an introductory verse chorus from the singing of Capitan Baker, who learned this shanty from American “coloured” seamen called ‘Lemon’ Curtis, aboard the ship “Dovenby Hall”.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 256).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 257).

The Record of the Hilo Boys Hilo

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

Hello Somebody

Somebody’s knockin’at the garden gate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!
It’s dirty Dick an’ his dirty mate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!

* 2 *

Somebody’s knockin’ with a blody stick,
It’s Dirty Dick from New Brunswick,

* 3 *

Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o ‘Hell.
It’s Bully John an’ we knows him well.

* 4 *

Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o’ Heaven,
There wuz eight little nigger boys an’ now there’s seven.

* 5 *

Saint Peter’s knockin’ on the fo’c’sle door,
Guess I ain’t ready for the Golden Shore.

* 6 *

Somebody’s hangin’ on to this ‘ere line,
The blighter oughter rise an’ shine!

* 7 *

Haul away an’ make yer pay,
Haul away for Saccrappa Bay.

* 8 *

She’s knockin’ up the miles, reelin’ off the knots,
When we get to Boston, we’ll drink lots.

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Come Down Below

Blow The Man Down – Terry Version

Ane Madam – Bergen Version (Norwegian)

Interesting Facts about the Hilo Come Down Below

“Hilo Come Down Below” is another shanty with the word “Hilo”. This is a close related shanty to the “Hilo, Johnny Brown”. This is the halyard shanty, and Stan Hugill tells us is an obvious Negro origin. The only different version from this one in print we can find in Frank T Bullen’s book. This song Stan Hugill learned from his shipmate, great shantyman Harding Barbadian.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).

The Record of the Hilo Boys Hilo

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

Hilo Come Down Below

A Black Bird sat in a walnut tree,
– HI-lo, come DOWN below!
A ping-a-pong-in’ on his ol’ banje,
– HI-lo! come DOWN below!

* 2 *

Said the blackbird to the crow,
Come down below wid the whole ‘yer crew,

* 3 *

The crow flew down to Mobile Town,
Met a high yaller gal called Sally Brown.

* 4 *

Said the blacbird to the crow,
Don’t tell them yaller gals all yer know.

* 5 *

The blackbird sang, the crow said ‘caw’,
Gotter set this sail by half pas’ four.

* 6 *

The blackbird flapped his wings an’ crowed,
Why does a chicken cross the road?

* 7 *

If the sun don’ shine, then the hens don’ lay,
If we don’ haul, we git no pay.

* 8 *

One more pull, to ol’ crow cried,
We got to hurry for to catch the tide!

Related to this sea shanty

Blow The Man Down (IV – Doerflinger)

Hilo Boys Hilo

Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)