Recorded Shanties

Interesting Facts about The Banks O Newfnland – Doerflinger

“The Banks O Newfnland – Doerflinger” – described by Doerflinger in his “Shantymen And Shantyboys” as the Deep-Water Song. According to Stan Hugill, this version is from the singing of Richard Maitland of Sailors’ Snug Harbor, and Doerflinger has given his slightly different way of singing verses 2 and 3 and their choruses. Hugill gives us only the first verse, I will reconstruct this song in full six verses as given to us in Doerflinger’s book.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Forebitter.

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 413).

The Record of The Banks O Newfnland – Doerflinger

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 Banks O Newfnland – Doerflinger

You rambling boys of Liverpool, I’d have you to beware,
When you ship on a Yankee packet ship, no dungarees do wear,
But have a monkey pea jacket all ready at your command,
To protect you from the cold nor’-westers on the banks of Newfoundland.

– We’ll rub her down and scrub her down, with holystones and sand,
– And we’ll bid adieu to the Virgin Rocks and the banks of Newfoundland!

* 2 *

We had one Jimmy Lynch from Ballyna-hinch, Mike Murphy and Jim Moore.
‘Twas in the winter of ‘seventy-two those boys they suffered sore.
They pawned their clothes in Liverpool, then they sold them our of hand,
Never thinking of cold nor”-westers on the banks of Newfoundland.

* 3 *

We had a lady passenger, Bridget Murphy was her name.
From her I’d promised marriage; on me she had a claim.
She tore up her flannel peticoats and made stockin’s for my hands,
For she said she couldn’t see her true love freeze on the banks of Newfoundland.

* 4 *

I had a dream the other night, I dreamt that I was home.
I dreamt that me and my true love where in old Marylebone.
That we were on old England’s shore with a jug of ale in hand,
But when I woke, my heart was broke on the banks of Newfoundland.

* 5 *

It’s now we’re passing the Virgin Rocks and stormy winds do blow,
With a crowd of sailors on the deck a-shoveling off the snow.
We’ll wash her down, we’ll scrub her deck with holystone and sand,
And we’ll bid adieu to the Virgin Rocks on the Banks of Newfounland!

* 5 *

It’s now we’re passing Sandy Hook, and the cold winds they still blow.
With a tug-boat right ahead of us, into New York we’ll go.
We’ll fill our glasses brimming full, with a jug of rum in hand,
For while we’re here, we can’t be there on the Banks of Newfounland!

Related to this Forebitter

Paddy West

Jack All Alone

Paddy Lay Back – Forebitter

Interesting Facts about The Banks O Newfnland – Forebitter

“The Banks O Newfnland” as described by Stan Hugill, is usually capstan shanty, but this version was sung as forebitter. The song was given to Stan Hugill by Mr. D. McDonald of Glasgow.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 412).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 412, 413).

The Record of The Banks O Newfnland – Forebitter

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 Banks O Newfnland – Forebitter

Oh, come, all you roving sailors, and sporting blades, beware,
When you jump on board a packet ship, no dungaree jumpers wear,
But always have good monkey-jackets at your command
Think of the cold nor’westers on the Banks of Newf’n’land.

* 2 *

Now there was one Lynch from Ballynahinch, Jim Kane and Mick O’Moore,
It was in the year of sixty, the mariners suffered sore,
With all their clothes in Liverpool, they’d spent money with either hand,
Not thinking of the cold nor’westers on the Banks of Newf’n’land.

* 3 *

Oh, there was a girl on board that ship, Kate Conner was her name,
I promised I would marry her, for on me she had a claim.
She tore up her flannel petticoat, to make mittens for my hands,
For I won’t see my true love freezing on the Banks of Newf’n’land.

* 4 *

Oh, now we’re off the Hook, me boys, the land all covered with snow,
The towboat is achead and to New York soon we’ll go.
We’ll scrub her deck, we’ll scrub her down with holystones and sand,
So we’ll bid adieu to the Virgin Rocks on the Banks of Newf’n’land.

* 5 *

Oh, I had a dream, a happy dream, I dreamt that I was home,
Alongside of my own true love and she in Marybone,
A jug of ale all on my knee, a glass of ale in my hand,
But when I woke my heart was broke, on the Banks of Newf’n’land.

Related to this Forebitter

Paddy West

Jack All Alone

Paddy Lay Back – Forebitter

Interesting Facts about the Van Diemans Land

“Van Diemans Land” is a song often sung in Liverpool and as a forebitter, and very popular on Liverpool ships. The song was originally a shore ballad, and under the title “The banks of Newf’n’land” a parody of an older forebitter, and was sung as the capstan song. It tells of the suffering of poachers transported to Van Diemen’s Land.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 411).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 411).

The Record of the Van Diemans Land

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

Van Diemans Land – Forebitter

Ye ramblin’ boys of Liverpool, I’ll have ye to be ware,
‘Tis when ye go a huntin’ wid yer dog, yer gun, yer snore,
Watch out boys for the game keepers, keep yer dog at your command,
Just think on all them hard–ships, goin’ to Van Dieman’s Land.

* 2 *

We had two Irish lads on board, Mickey Murphy an’ Paddy Malone,
And they were both the stoutest friends that ever a man could own,
But the gamekeeper he’d caught them, and from ol’ England’s strand,
They were seven years transported for plough Van Dieman’s Land.

* 3 *

We had on board a lady fair, Bridget Reilly wuz her name,
An’ she wuz sent from Liverpool for a-playin’ of the game.
Out captain fell in love wid her and he married her out of hand,
And she gave us all good usage, boys, goin’ to Van Dieman’s Land.

* 4 *

The moment that we landed there, upon that fatal shore,
The planters they inspected us, some fifty score or more,
They marched us off like hosses, an’ they sold us out of hand,
Then yoked us to the plough, me boys, for to plough Van Dieman’s Land.

* 5 *

As I lay in me bunk one night, a-dreamin’ all alone,
I dreamt I wuz in Liverpool, ‘way back in Marybone,
Wid me own true love beside me, an’ a jug o’ ale in me hand,
Then awoke so broken-hearted, lyin’ on Van Dieman’s Land.

Related to this Forebitter

Paddy West

Jack All Alone

Paddy Lay Back – Forebitter

Interesting Facts about the Ten Thousand Miles Away

“Ten Thousand Miles Away” is originally a shore ballad and later a forebitter. Stan Hugill also tells us it was used at times as a capstan shanty. Song was sung first by street singers in Ireland in the early years of the XIX century. Under the name “Botany Bay” was a favorite song of the old London music halls of the 50s and 60s of the XX century. This version is given it comes from the mother’s father (J. Southwood) of Stan Hugill and it was a usual version that was sung as the capstan shanty or forebitter.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Forebitter.

The source of this Forebitter

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 409).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 409,410).

The Record of the Ten Thousand Miles Away

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

Ten Thousand Miles Away

Sing ho! for a brave an’ a gallant ship,
an’ a fair an’ fair’-rin’ breeze,
Wi’ a bully crew an’ a cap’-n too,
to carry me over the seas.
To carry me over the seas me boys,
To me true love for away,
For I’m taking a trip in a Government ship,
Ten thousands miles away!

– Then–blow, ye winds, an’ blow!
– An’ a-rovin’ I will go,
– I’ll stay no more on England’s shore,
– To hear sweet music play, ay, ay, ay,
– For I’m on the move to me own true love,
– Ten thousand miles away!

* 2 *

My true love wuz beautiful,
An’ my true love wuz gay,
But she’s taken a trip on a Government ship,
Bound out to Botany Bay,
Bound out to Botany Bay, m’boys,
An’ though she’s far away,
I’ll never forget me own true love,
Ten thousand miles away!

* 3 *

Oh, it wuz a summer’s mornin’,
When last I seed my Meg,
She’d a Government band around each hand,
An’ another one round her leg,
An’ another one round her leg, m’ boys,
As the big ship left the Bay,
Adieu she sez remember me,
Ten thousand miles away!

* 4 *

I wisht I wuz a bosun bold,
Or a sailor widout fear
I-d man a boat an’ away I’d float,
An’ straight for me true love steer.
An’ straight for me true love steer, m’ boys,
Where the whales an’ dolphins play,
Where the whales an’ sharks are havin’ their larks,
Ten thousand miles away!

* 5 *

Oh, the sun may shine through the London fog,
Or the river run quite clear,
Or the ocean brine turn into wine,
or I forget me beer,
Or I forget me beer, m’ boys,
Or the landlord’s quarter-day,
But I’ll never forget me own true love,
Ten thousand miles away!

Related to this Forebitter

Ratcliffe Highway

Blow Ye Winds in the Morning

Rolling Home – W. B. Whall

Interesting Facts about the Maggie May

“Maggie May” was sung at the capstan in many Liverpool ships. The song tells the story of one of the most famous Liverpool ‘judy’ called Maggie May. We don’t know if it is a historical or fictitious character. According to stan Hugill, no other collector has mentioned this song, which was probably forebitter as well as a sea shanty. Words given by Stan Hugill are modified slightly, possibly due to bawdyness here and there.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this Forebitter

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 404).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 404,405).

The Record of the Maggie May

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

Come all ye sailors bold, an’ when me tale is told,
I know ye all will sadly pity me,
For I was a god damn fool in the port o’ Liverpool,
an the voyage when I first paid off from sea.

– Ooh, Maggie, Maggie May,
– They have taken you away,
– For to slave upon Van Dieman’s cruel shore,
– Oh, you robbed many a whaler an’ many a drunken sailor,
– But you’ll never cruise round Liverpool no more!

* 2 *

I paid off at the Home, after a voyage from Sierre Leone,
Two pound ten a month had been my pay;
As I jingled in me tin, I wuz sadly taken in,
By a lady of the name of Mggie may,

* 3 *

When I steered into her, I hadn’t got a care,
I wuz cruisin’ up an’ down ol’ Canning Place;
She wuz dressed in a gown so fine, like a frigate of the line,
An’ I bein’ a sailorman gave chase.

* 4 *

She gave me a saucy nod, an’ I like a farmer’s clod,
Let her take me line abreast in tow;
An’ under all plain sail, we ran before the gale,
An’ to the Crow’s Nest Tavern Tavern we did go.

* 5 *

Next mornin’ when I woke, I found that I wuz broke,
I hadn’t got a penny to me nyme;
So I had to pop me suit, me John L’s an’ me boots,
Down in the Park Lane pawn shop Number Nine.

* 6 *

Oh, you thievin’ Maggie May, ye robbed me of me pay,
When I slept wid you last night ashore,
Oh, guilty the jury found her, for robbin’ a homeward-bounder,
An’ she’ll never roll down Park Lane no more.

* 7 *

She wuz chained and sent away, from Liverpool one day,
The lads they cheered as she sailed down the Bay,
An’ every sailor lad, he only wuz too glad,
They’d sent the ol’ whore out to Botany Bay.

Related to this Forebitter

Ratcliffe Highway

Blow Ye Winds in the Morning

Rolling Home – W. B. Whall