“Poor Lucy Anna” shanty, was used to the pumps or capstan of “Negro” origin. This song as Stan Hugill informs us is taken from the “Songs Of Sea Labour” by F.T. Bullen & W.F. Arnold (1914) (1st ed: p 14). This is what Bullen tells us about this song: “is so mournful that one suspects it of being the lament of some just sold slaves sent from one State to another without reference to any human ties they may have possessed”. This shanty was very seldom used except where “Negros” formed a considerable portion of the crew. The song will be reconstructed by myself as the windlass shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The source of this sea shanty:
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 379). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 379).
The Record of the Lucy Anna
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
Poor Lucy Anna
Oh, ‘the mounten’s so high, an’ de riber’s so wide, Poor Lucy Anna! De mounten’s so high, an’ de riber’s so wide, Ise just gwine o-ber de mountens!
“Way Me Susiana!” a hauling shanty, another fantastic song comes from Harding Barbadian. According to Stan Hugill, it has definitely Negro origin. From Harding, we know that this song was also used for pumping and cargo work. A very interesting part of Hugill’s description is that word “heave” suggests pumping, although some Negro hauling songs had the word “Heave” in their refrains, thus indicating that very possible they had one time or another been used at the jack-screws aboard cotton-ships. The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.
The source of the Way Me Susiana!
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 378). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 378).
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
Way Me Susiana!
We’ll heave him up an away we’ll go, – ‘WAY, me SusiANA! We’ll heave him up an away we’ll go, – We’re ALL bound over the MOUNten!
* 2 *
We’ll heave him up from down below, That is where the cocks do crow,
* 3 *
An’ if we drown while we are young, It’s better to drown, than to wait to be hung.
* 4 *
Oh, growl ye may but go ye must, If ye growl too hard yer head they’ll bust.
* 5 *
Up sox, you cocks, hand her two blocks, An’ go below to yer ol’ ditty box.
* 6 *
Oh, rock an’ shake ‘er, one more drag, Oh, bend yer duds an’ pack yer bag.
“Jack All Alone” forebitter mentioned by Stan Hugill on occasion to describe the “The New York Gals” shanty. The words of this song were well known in Liverpool, and occasionally some bits of lyrics were adapted to fit various shanties and forebitters. The traditional and origin name of this song was “The Shirt and the Apron”. The lyrics given by Stan Hugill come from Paddy Cunningham. Of course, the biggest issue with this song is that Stan Hugill doesn’t give us any music score, so after long research and with the huge help of one of my mentors Gibb Schreffler, I found the music notation in the “Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia” by Helen Creighton (1932). On the mentioned book song was under the title “Barrack Street”. The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Forebitter.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia” by Helen Creighton (1932). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 376-377).
The Record of the Jack All Alone
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
Jack All Alone
Ye ‘prentice lads and seamen bold, come listen to me song, An’ I’ll tell ye how I met me fate, when I was very young; ‘Twas on the day I came from sea, a flash gal I did meet. She kindly axed me to a dance, ’twas up on Peter Street.
* 2 *
Sez I, ‘My charmin’ fair one, I can’t dance very well, For Wigan town this night I’m bound, where all my friends do dwell; Today I’ve just come in from sea, an’ I’ve saved eighty pound, My parents are expectin’ me tonight in Wigan town.’
* 3 *
Sez she, ‘If you dance too well, ye still can have a treat, I’ll give you rum and brandyhot an’ something nice to eat; At ten o’click this very night I’ll meet you at the train, If ye’ll consent, give me a call when ye come in town again.’
* 4 *
So finding her quite friendly, I then did hail a car, To take us to a bar-room, boys, the distance warn’t too far; Some gals passed by the other side, these words to me did say, ‘Oh, you young chap, ye’ll lose yer cap if you steer that way.’
* 5 *
And when we reached the bar-room, boys, the loquor was brought in, And every man waltzed round the room as the dancing did begin; Me and my love danced round the room, danced to a merry tune, Sez she, ‘My dear, now we’ll repair to a chamber all alone.’
* 6 *
When the dancing it was over, we straight to bed did go. ‘Twas little did I ever think she’d prove my overthrow; My watch and clothes and eighty pound with me fancy one they fleed, And she left me there, Jack-all-alone, stark naked on the bed.
* 7 *
When I came to me senses, oh, nothing could I spy, But a woman’s shirt an’ apron there upon the bed did lie; I wrung me hands, I tore me hair, I yelled, ‘What shall I do?’ And said, ‘Farewell, O Wigan town, I’ll never more see yo.’
* 8 *
Oh, everything was silent, the hour was twelve o’clock, I put the shirt and apron on and hauled for the dock; My shipmate saw me come aboard, these words to me did say, ‘Well, well ol’ chap, you’ve lost yer cap, since last ye went away.
* 9 *
‘Is this the new spring fashion the ladies wear on shore, Where is the shop that’s sellin’ it, have they got any more?’ The Ol’ Man cried, ‘Why, Jack me boy, to Wigan I thought ye’d gone, A better suit I sure could buy than that for eighty pun.’
* 10 *
Sure I could buy a better suit if I’d only had the chance, But I met a gal on Peter Street and she took me to a dance; I danced to my destruction, got stripped from head to feet, So I swore an oath I’d go no more to a dance on Peter Street.
* 11 *
Come, all ye lads an’ seamen bold, a warn’ take by me: Be sure ye choose good company when you goes on the spree; Beware of a dance on Peter Street, ye’ll surely rue a day, With a woman’s shirt and apron, boys, they’ll fit ye out for sea!
“The New York Gals” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This is the last version described by Stan Hugill in his “Shanties from the Seven Seas”. Stan Hugill claims this version is “probably” the oldest one, and he dated it before the thirties of the nineteen century. The version has been taken from Irish seamen by the name of Spike Sennit, a man who had sailed for years in Yankee windbags. Also worth mention a note from stan Hugill’s description that the place name Shanghai used in the song is pronounced in the way old-time seamen used to say it – “Shanghee”. 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 374). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 374-375).
The Record of The New York Gals
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 New York Gals
As I rolled down ol’ South Street, A fair maid I did meet, Who axed me then to see her home, She lived down Fourteenth Street,
– An’ away, you Johnny – My dear honey. – Oh, you New York gals, – Ye love us for our money.
* 2 *
Sez I, ‘My dear young lady, I’m a stranger here in town, I left me ship only yesterday, From China I am bound,’
* 3 *
‘Now come wid me, me dearie, An’ I will stand ye treat, I’ll buy ye rum an’ brandy, dear, An’ tabnabs for to eat.’
* 4 *
‘My friend she has a brother, Just now away at sea, The last time that she heard from him, His ship was in Shanghee.’
* 5 *
When we got down to Fourteenth Street, We stopped at Number Four, Her mother and her sister came To meet us at the door.
* 6 *
An’ when we got inside the house, The drinks wuz handed round. The liquor wuz so awful strong, Me head went round an’ round.
* 7 *
Before we all sat down to eat, We had another drink. THe liquor wuz so very strong, Deep sleep came in a wink.
* 8 *
When I awoke next morning, I had an achin’ head, An’ there wuz I Jack-all-alone, Stark naked on the bed.
* 9 *
My gold watch an’ me pocket-book An’ lady friend wuz gone. An’ there wuz I with nary a stich, All left there on me own.
* 10 *
On lookin’ all around the room, Oh, nothing could I see, But a lady’s shift an’ pantaloons, Not worth a damn to me.
* 11 *
With a flour for a suit, I wisht I’d ne’er bin born. A boarding master then I met, Who shipped me round the Horn.
* 12 *
Now all ye bully sailormen, Take warnin’ when ashore, Or else ye’ll meet some charmin’ gal, Who’s nothing but a whore.
* 13 *
Yer hard-earned cash will disappear, Your rig an’ boots as well, For Yankee gals are tougher than The other side o’ Hell!
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.
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!
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
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
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!
“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
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
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.
“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
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
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”.
“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!
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
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!
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
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
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 roses, 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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