Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C) was sung at the windlass or capstan when raising the anchor. Verses to this version are the ‘Milkmaid’ theme (see ‘Blow the Man Down’ page 210, first edition, of the “Shanties from the Seven Seas”). Is worth mentioning, that Stan Hugill disagreed with collectors and writers who hold a theory that homeward-bound songs were never debased by sailors. This version is an example of an exception from this theory (the “Milkmaid” version was entirely obscene).

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 120). I try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992), with Stormalong John.

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 122).

The Record of the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

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 full lyrics

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

Oh, as I wuz a-rollin’ down Ratcliffe Highway,
– Goodbye, fare-ye-well! goodbye, fare-ye-well!
A pretty young maiden I chanct for to see.
– Horraw, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

* 2 *

Oh, where are ye goin’ to, my pretty maid?
I’m going a milkin’, kind sir, she said.

* 3 *

Oh, have ye a sweatheart, my pretty maid?
‘I’m lookin’ for one, kind sir,’ she said.

* 4 *

Then may I come wid ye, my pretty maid?
‘Well, yes, since ye axed me, sir,’ she said.

* 5 *

‘But I guess yer a bad one, kind sir,’ she said.
‘Ye want for to love me, but yer don’t want ter wed,’

* 6 *

Jack took her in tow, an’ away they did go,
The bulls did a grunt, an’ the cows did a low.

* 7 *

They came to a haystack but the maid she wuz shy,
They backed and they filled an’ heaved many a sigh.

* 8 *

The haystack capsized an’ Jack got all bent,
With hay in his gaff-tops’l, his breeches all rent.

* 9 *

So he left her a-sittin’ a-lookin’ forlorn,
An’ shipped to the south’ard away round Cape Horn.

* 10 *

Now, all ye young sailors that round the Horn sail,
Don’t take a young milkmaid away from her pail.

* 11 *

Or else ye’ll regret it an’ wish ye were dead,
So don’t go a-courtin’ in a haystack for a bed.

Related to this sea shanty

As-Tu-Connu Le Per’ Lanc’lot

Stormalong Lads Stormy

De Runer Von Hamborg

Interesting Facts about the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (B)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (B) was sung at the windlass or capstan when raising the anchor. Verses to this version have been taken from the old forebitter “Homeward Bound”.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 120). I try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992), with Stormalong John.

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 121, 122).

The Record of the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (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 full lyrics

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (B)

Wer’re homeward bound I heard them say,
– Goodbye, fare-ye-well! goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Wer’re homeward bound to Liverpool Bay
– Horraw, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

* 2 *

Wer’re homeward bound to Liverpool Town,
Where them gals they will come down.

* 3 *

An’ when we gits to the Salthouse Dock,
Them pretty young gals on the pierhead will flock.

* 4 *

An’ one to the other ye’ll hear them say,
Here comes Johnny with his tree years’ pay.

* 5 *

Then we haul to the ‘Bull an’ the Bell’,
Where good liquor they do sell.

* 6 *

In comes the landlord with a smile,
Saying, ‘Drink up, lads, while it’s worth yer while!’

* 7 *

But when the money’s all spent an’ gone,
Not even a cent for to call yer own,

* 8 *

In comes the landlord with a hell o’ a frown,
It’s ‘Get up, Jack–let John sit down.’

* 9 *

Then poor ol’ Jack must understand,
There’s ships in port all wanting hands.

* 10 *

An’ he’ll pack up his sea-chest and get under way,
The gals he has left they can take his half-pay.

* 11 *

We’re homeward bound don’t ye hear the Mate say?
We’re homeward bound–the anchor’s aweigh!

Related to this sea shanty

As-Tu-Connu Le Per’ Lanc’lot

Stormalong Lads Stormy

De Runer Von Hamborg

Interesting Facts about the Bound To California

Bound To California is a capstan shanty of the Gold Rush Period which Miss C. F. Smith found and published in her “A Book of Shanties” (1927). She mentions, that Captain J. L. Vivian Millett singer who sang this song to her, remembers, that he heard it sung at Algoa Bay, in the days when anchorage off that port was still crowded with sailing ships.
” …A big vessel was just getting up her anchor. She had a good shanty crowd, and the chorus roared out by a score of voices came over the waters of the open roadstead with an unforgettable effect”.

Unfortunately, Captain Millett could only give Miss Smith the chorus of this shanty.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: Shanties from the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 118).

The lyrics: Shanties from the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 118).

The Record of the Bound To California

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

Bound To California

Good-bye, my lads, good-bye,
No one can tell me why
I am bound to California
To reap the shining gold!

Good-bye, my lads, good-bye,
No one can tell me why
I am bound to California
To reap the shining gold

Related to this sea shanty

Bound for the Rio Grande (Cecil Sharp Version)

Rio Grande (B)

A Long Time Ago (C)