Jerzy Brzezinski, Author at Traditional Sea Shanties

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

September 19, 2023September 19, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

“Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This version comes from “A Book Of Shanties” by Cicely Fox Smith (1927), Stan Hugill mention this version because he recognized different melodies in the verse. Her description of this beautiful song given by Cicely Fox Smith:
“This is, of course, a song of the Liverpool emigrant days. Mr. Tapscott, whose name occurs in several shanties, was the Liverpool agent for some of the American packet companies. The name of the ship varies according to the singer’s fancy–sometimes the “Henry Clay” is given, sometimes another–and the name of the dock, too, is not always the same.”
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of the Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

The music: “A Book Of Shanties” by Cicely Fox Smith (1927) (1st ed p 68).
The lyrics: “A Book Of Shanties” by Cicely Fox Smith (1927) (1st ed p 67 – 69).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 373).

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.

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

One day as I went walking
Down by the Clarence Dock,
It was there I spied an Irish girl
Conversing with Tapscott!

– And away, you santy,
– My dear honey,
– Oh! you New York girls,
– Can’t you dance the polka!

* 2 *

“Good morning, Mr. Tapscott!
Good morning, Sir,” said she,
“And have you got a packet ship
To carry me across the sea?”

* 3 *

“Oh yes,” said Mr. Tapscott,
“I have ships of mighty fame,
And one now in the Waterloo Dock,
And the ‘Dreadnought’ is her name.”

* 4 *

Oh my flash man is a packet rat,
He sails in the Black Ball Line,
And he’s a saucy son of a gun
That will hurt that man of mine.

* 5 *

I went to the Fulton ferry
But I couldn’t get acress,
So I jumped on the back of a ferryboat man
And rode him like a hoss!

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Paddy Signs On

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Roller Bowler – Trinidad Version

Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

September 17, 2023September 17, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

“Cant Ye Dance The Polka B” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This is as Stan Hugill described the normal Packet Rat version – usually sung in a Yankee drawl.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty (used at the Halyard winch).

The source of the Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 372).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 372-373).

The Record of this sea shanty

Cant Ye Dance The Polka B - Capstan Shanty (used at halyard winch)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

Tis I walked down the Broadway.
One evenin’ in July,
I met a maid who axed me trade,
an’ a Sailor John, sez I …

– Than away you Santee,
– My dear Annie!
– Ooooh, ye New York gals,
– Can’t ye dance the polka?

* 2 *

To tiffany’s I took her,
I did not mind expense,
I bought her two gold earrings,
An’ they cost me fifteen cents.

* 3 *

Sez she, ‘You Limejuice sailor,
Now see me home you may.’-
But when we reached her cottage door,
She this to me did say.

* 4 *

My flash man he’s a Yankee,
Wid his hair cut short behind,
He wears a pair o’ long sea-boots,
An’ he sails in the Blackball Line.

* 5 *

He’s homeward bound this evening,
An’ wid me he will stay.
So git a move on, sailor-boy,
Git crackin’ on year way.

* 6 *

Si I kissed her hard an’ proper,
Afore her flash man came,
An’ fare-ye-well, me Bowery gel,
I know yer little game.

* 7 *

I wrapped me glad rags round me,
An’ to the docks did steer.
I’ll never court another maid,
I’ll stick to rum an’ beer.

* 8 *

I joined a Yankee blood-boat,
An’ sailed away next morn.
Don’t ever fool around wid gals,
Yer safer off Cape Horn!

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Roller Bowler – Liverpool Version

Good Mornin Ladies All A

Haul The Bowline B

Away Susanna!

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Away Susanna!

“Away, Susanna” or ” Can’t Ye Dance the Polka” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This is the first Stan Hugill’s version that was invariably sung to the “shanghaied in San Francisco” theme. Charlie Evans, Arthur Spence, Bosun Chenoworth, “Artie”, an A. B. of the New Zeland brigantine “Aratapu”, and many other Stan Hugill shipmates all sang these words.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of the Away Susanna!

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 369).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 369-371).

The Record of this sea shanty

Away Susanna! - Capstan Shanty (used at halyard winch)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Away Susanna!

Shanghaied in San Francisco,
We fetched up in Bombay,
They set us afloat in an old lease boat,
that steered like a bale of hay

– Than away, Susanna,
– My fair maid!
– Oho! ye New York gals,
– Can’t ye dance the polka?

* 2 *

We panted in the tropics,
Whilst the pitch boiled’up on deck,
We’ve saved our hides little else besides,
From an ice-cold North Sea wreck.

* 3 *

We drank our rum in Portland,
We’ve thrashed through the Behring Straits,
An’ we toed the mark on a Yankee barque,
With a hard-case Down-east mate.

* 4 *

We know the quays of Glasgow,
An’ the boom of the lone Azores,
We’ve had our grub from a salt-horse tube,
Condemned by the Navy stores.

* 5 *

We know the track to auckland,
An’ the light of Kinsale Head,
An’ we crept close-hauled while the landsman called,
The depth of the Channel bed.

* 6 *

We know the streets of Santos,
The river at Saigon,
We’ve had our glass with a Chinee lass,
In Ship Street in Hong Kong.

* 7 *

They,ll pay us off in London,
Then it’s oh for a spell ashore,
Then again we’ll ship for a southern trip,
In a week or hardly more.

* 8 *

‘Tis goodbye, Sal an’ Lucy,
‘Tis time we were afloat,
With a straw-stuffed bed, an achin’ head,
A knife an’ an oilskin coat.

* 9 *

Sing ‘Time for us to leave ‘er’,
Sing ‘Bound for the Rio Grande,’
An’ when the tug turns back, we’ll follow her track,
For a last long look at the land.

* 10 *

An’ when the purple disappears,
An’ only the blue is seen,
That’ll take our bones to Davy Jones,
An’ our souls to Fiddler’s Green.

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Seafarers

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Haul The Seafarers

“Seafarers” is the capstan shanty that comes from “Sang Under Segel” by Sigurd Sternvall (1935) (1st ed p 367 – 368). Stan Hugill mentioned this song on the occasion of the description of shanties family incorporating girls’ names. The first section of this family, represented by “Away, Susanna” or ” Can’t Ye Dance the Polka” is a popular shanty on both American and British ships. Sternvall comments on this song as: “The most popular sailor song of the turn of the century. A capstan shanty”. Stan Hugill gives us only one stanza of this song so I will use the full nine stanzas song from Sternvall’s book.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of the Haul The Seafarers

The music: “Sang Under Segel” by Sigurd Sternvall (1935) (1st ed p 367 – 368).
The lyrics: “Sang Under Segel” by Sigurd Sternvall (1935 (1st ed p 367 – 368).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 369).

The Record of this sea shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Seafarers

Shanghaied in San Francisco,
we fetched up in Bombay.
They set us afloat in an old Leith-boat,
that steered like a stack of hay.

* 2 *

We have sweltered in the tropics,
when the pitch boiled up on deck,
and we saved our hides, with little besides,
form so ice-cold Northsea wreck.

* 3 *

We know the tracks to Auckland,
and the lights on Sidney Head.
We kept close-hauled, while the leadsman called,
the depths of the channels bed.

* 4 *

We know the quais of Glasgow,
and the loom of the lone azores,
we have found our grub in a salt horse tub,
condemned from Navy stores.

* 5 *

We know the streets of Santos,
and the river at Saigon.
we work have drunk our glass with a Chinese lass
in a houseboat at Canton.

* 6 *

They pay us off in london,
and it’s off for a spell ashore.
And again we ship on a southern trip
in a week or hardly more.

* 7 *

It’s good-bye, sally and sue,
for it’s time to go afloat.
With an aching head and a straw-stuffed bed,
a knife and a oilskin coat.

* 8 *

Sing “Time to leave her, Johnny”,
Sing “Bound for Rio Grand!”
When the tug turns back, we follow her track
for a last long look at land.

* 9 *

Then at last that disappears,
and only the blue is seen,
That will send our bones to “Davy Jones”
and our souls to “Fiddlers Green”.

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O Mary Come Down!

September 4, 2023September 4, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the O Mary Come Down!

“O Mary Come Down!” is a very intriguing case. Stan Hugill took this shanty from “The Making of a Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928). The title is not given by Harlow so must be just made up by Stan Hugill, also noted the type of this shanty we can derive from the description of the sailors work described by Harlow, wrote:

“Taking a turn under the belaying-pin, O’Rourke and “Handsome Charlie” began swaying off. The halliards led down to the starboard side of the five-rail around the main-mast. Bracing their feet below and grasping the halliards above their heads these two men swayed away from the bitts, throwing their bodies backward for all the weight they had. This brought the halliards down until their bodies stood at right angles from the fife-rail, then bending their knees and holding all they had gained, they rendered the rope under the pin while I pulled in the slack ready for another pull.
The sing-out for this kind of work varies in call from “Yo-ho, he-oh!” or “A-hoy, boys!” with the pull coming on the last word, to a semi-chantey. “Handsome Charlie” broke out in the latter, – one of negro origin”

… and here given to us music notation of this like he described “semi- chantey”, after he added:

“Here, the pull for the sway-off comes on the accented notes, In the same measure a hold or pause is necessary while the rope is being rendered under the belaying-pin, giving time for men to regain their feet and secure a fresh hold on the halliards above.”
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the sweating-up shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Making of a Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928).
The lyrics: “The Making of a Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 368).

The Record of the O Mary Come Down!

The musical notation

The full lyrics

O Mary Come Down!

Oh Ma – RY!
Come down with you bunch of ro – SES!
Come down when I call, oh Ma – RY!
Oh Mary, come DOWN!

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Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down

August 27, 2023August 27, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down

“Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)” halyard shanty which Stan Hugill called real “Cape Horner”, very popular in Liverpool ships, and yet overlooked by most collectors. The “Blood red roses” are related to Napoleon and the British soldiers – “Redcoats” or “Blood-red Roses” as they were called on account of the red jackets they invariably wore. This version comes from Hugill’s shipmate Harding Barbadian.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
The lyrics: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 367).

The Record of the Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down

Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Come Down You Bunch Of Roses Come Down

Oh, yes, my lads, we’ll roll alee,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
We’ll soon be far away from sea,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,

– Oh, you pinks an’ poses,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,
– Oh, you pinks an’ poses,
– COME down, you bunch of ro ses, COME down,

* 2 *

Oh, what do yer s’pose we had for supper?
Black-eyed beans and bread and butter.

* 3 *

Oh, Poll’s in the garden picking peas,
She’s got fine hair way down to her knees.

* 4 *

I went downstairs and peeked through a crack,
And saw her stealing a kiss from Jack.

* 5 *

I grabbed right hold of a piece of plank,
And ran out quick and gave her a spank.

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Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

August 21, 2023August 21, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365, 366).

The Record of the Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

Bunch O Roses (tune version 2) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

Me Bonnie bunch o’ roses, o!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
Time for us to roll ‘n’ go!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

* 2 *

We’re bound out to Iquique Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,

* 3 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter hell we’d niver bin born.

* 4 *

Around Cape Stiff we all must go,
Around Cape Sriff through the ice an’ snow.

* 5 *

Me boots an’ clothes are all in pawn,
An’ it’s bleedin’ draughty around Cape Horn.

* 6 *

‘Tis growl ye may but go ye must,
If ye growl too hard yer head they’ll bust.

* 7 *

The gals are waitin’ right ahead,
A long strong pull should shift the dead.

* 8 *

Them Spanish gals are pullin’ strong,
Hang down, me boys, it won’t take long.

* 9 *

Oh, rock an’ shake ‘er is the cry,
The bleedin’ topm’st sheave is dry.

* 10 *

Just one more pull an’ that’ll do,
We’re the bullies for ter kick ‘er through.

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Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

August 19, 2023August 19, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

“Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)” halyard shanty which Stan Hugill called real “Cape Horner”, very popular in Liverpool ships, and yet overlooked by most collectors. The “Blood red roses” are related to Napoleon and the British soldiers – “Redcoats” or “Blood-red Roses” as they were called on account of the red jackets they invariably wore. This version comes from Hugill’s shipmate Harding Barbadian.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365, 366).

The Record of the Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

Bunch O Roses (tune version 1) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

Me Bonnie bunch o’ roses, o!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
Time for us to roll ‘n’ go!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

* 2 *

We’re bound out to Iquique Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,

* 3 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter hell we’d niver bin born.

* 4 *

Around Cape Stiff we all must go,
Around Cape Sriff through the ice an’ snow.

* 5 *

Me boots an’ clothes are all in pawn,
An’ it’s bleedin’ draughty around Cape Horn.

* 6 *

‘Tis growl ye may but go ye must,
If ye growl too hard yer head they’ll bust.

* 7 *

The gals are waitin’ right ahead,
A long strong pull should shift the dead.

* 8 *

Them Spanish gals are pullin’ strong,
Hang down, me boys, it won’t take long.

* 9 *

Oh, rock an’ shake ‘er is the cry,
The bleedin’ topm’st sheave is dry.

* 10 *

Just one more pull an’ that’ll do,
We’re the bullies for ter kick ‘er through.

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Blow The Man Down (B2 – second method)

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Walk him along Johnny

Coal Black Rose

August 16, 2023August 16, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Coal Black Rose

“Coal Black Rose” is another halyard shanty, also given by Frank T. Bullen. According to Stan Hugill, it definitely has Negro origin. Hugill tells us that his informant Harding Barbadian said that the final line was the only chorus and the only place where the pull came.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 364).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 364).

The Record of the Coal Black Rose

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Coal Black Rose

Oh, me Rosie, Coal Black Roose,
Don’t ye hear the banjo,
ping-a-pong a-pong!
– Oh, me Rosie, COAL Black Roose!

* 2 *

Oh, me Rosie, Coal Black Roose,
Strung up like a banjo,
Allus taut an’ long,
– Oh, me Rosie, COAL Black Roose!

* 3 *

Oh, me Rosie, Coal Black Roose,
The yard is now a-movin’,
Hauley-hauley ho!
– Oh, me Rosie, COAL Black Roose!

* 4 *

The Mate he comes around, boys,
Dining an’ a dang.
Hauley-hauley ho!
– Oh, me Rosie, COAL Black Roose!

* 5 *

Give her one more pull, boys,
Rock an’ roll ‘er high.
Hauley-hauley ho!
– Oh, me Rosie, COAL Black Roose!

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Walkalong My Rosie

August 13, 2023August 13, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Walkalong My Rosie

“Walkalong My Rosie” is another halyard shanty singing about the “Rosy”. Frank T. Bullen also gave us this shanty and classify it as a capstan shanty. But Stan Hugill’s friend Harding Barbadian declared that he had never heard it at any other job than the halyards. It is pure Negro orygin shanty.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 363).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 363).

The Record of the Walkalong My Rosie

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

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Walkalong My Rosie

Oh, I am here, an’ Rosie there.
– AWAY you Rosie – WALK along!
Oh, I am here, an’ Rosie there.
– WALKalong my ROSIE!

* 2 *

Oh, Rosie! she’m the gal fer me,
She hangs around the big levee,

* 3 *

My Rosie’s a young, my Rosie’s kind,
A better gal you’ll niver find.

* 4 *

So haul me up and hang me off,
The mate he says we’ve hauled enough.

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Haul Er Away! A

Haul Er Away! B

So Heave Away