Capstan Shanties

Interesting Facts about On Board Of The Kangaroo

“On Board Of The Kangaroo” – capstan shanty, very rare according Stan Hugill, title refering to the ship “Kangaroo”. Although this shanty bore title “Bristol Sea Shanty” (in ‘Sea Breezers’) alone, since stan Hugills friend Seamus Ennis, the well-known folk-song collector (B.B.C.), found the following version in Ireland.

As will be seen it gives Milford Bay (South Wales) as the port concerned, but tune is definately Irish. Seamus had it from Mrs. Elizabeth Cronin of Macroon, Country Cork.
I will reconstruct this song as a capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 475).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 475, 476).

The Record of the On Board Of The Kangaroo

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

On Board Of The Kangaroo

At first I was a waiter man that lived at home at ease,
But now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas
I always liked seafaring life and bid my love adieu
I shipped as steward and Cook, my boys, on board of the “Kangaroo”.

– Oh, I never thought she would prove false,
– Or either prove untrue,
– Til we sailed away through Milford Bay,
– On board o’ the ‘Kangaroo’

* 2 *

‘Oh, think of me, oh, think of me.’ she mournfully did say,
‘When you are in a foreign land and I am far away.
Take this lucky threepenny bit, ’twill make you bear in mind
Of a loving, trusting faithful heart you have left in tears behind.’

* 3 *

‘Cheer up, cheer up, my own true love, don’t weep so bitterly,’
She sobbed, she sighed, she choked, she cried, and could not say goodbye.
‘Oh, I won’t be gone so very long, just but a month or two,
And when I will return again, of course I’ll marry you.’

* 4 *

our vessel she was homeward bound from many a foreign shore,
And many a foreign present unto my love I bore.
I bought tortoises from Teneriffe and ties from Timbuctoo,
A china rat, a Bengal cat, and a Bombay cockatoo.

* 5 *

Paid off I sought her dwelling in a suburb of the town,
Where an ancient dame upon a line was hanging out her gown.
‘Where is my love?”She’s married, sir, about six months ago,
To a smart young man that drives the van for Chapping, Son and Co.’

* 6 *

Here’s health to dreams of married life, to soap, to suds, and blue,
Hearts, true lovers, patent starch and washing soda too.
I will go unto some distant shore, no longer can I stay,
Andon some China Hottentot I’ll throw myself away.

* 7 *

My true love she’s not a foolish girl, her age it is two score,
My love she’s not a spinster, she was married twice before.
I cannot say it was her wealth that stole me heart away,
She’s a starcher and a laundress for eighteen-pence a day.

Related to this sea shanty

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

The New York Gals

Doodle Let Me Go

Interesting Facts about the Aboard The Kangaroo

“Aboard The Kangaroo” – capstan shanty, very rare according Stan Hugill, title refering to the ship “Kangaroo”. It appeared in the “Port of Bristol Guide and Sailing List” (August 1949), and later in “Sea Breezers” (September 1949), both vesrsions being those of Mr. Stanley Slade, a Bristol seaman, then in his seventees, who stated that he had heard it sung as a boy in ships out of Bristol.

Stan Hugills friend Mr. Elwell of the Isle of Man also knew this shanty and he informed Stan Hugillthat it was often sung in Liverpool, in the “free’n’easies” of the last century, along with two other ditties: “The Cruise of the ‘Calabar'” and “Across the Western Ocean”.
I will reconstruct this song as a capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 474).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 474).

The Record of the Aboard The Kangaroo

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

Aboard The Kangaroo

Once I wuz a waterman an’ lived at home at sea,
But now I am a mariner ploughing the angry Seas,
– I never thought she would be false,
– or ever prove untrue,
– As we sailed away from Bristol quay,
– On board of the “Kangaroo”

* 2 *

I thought I’d like seafarin’ life, so I bid my love adieu,
And sailed away as bosun’s mate, aboard of the “Kangaroo”

* 3 *

You would not say it was her wealth that stole me heart away,
She was starcher at a launderer’s for eighteen-pence a day.

* 4 *

My love she was no foolish girl, her age it was two-score,
My love she was no spinster, she’d been married twice before.

* 5 *

Paid off I sought her dwelling ‘way on Bristol Down,
Where an ancient dame upon a line was hangin’ out her grown.

* 6 *

‘Where is my love?’ ‘She’s married, sir, about six months ago,
To a smart young man who’s commander of a barge that trades in coal,’

* 7 *

Farewell to dreams of married life, to soapsuds and the blue,
Farewell to all the Bristol gals, they’re fickle-minded too.

* 8 *

I,ll seek some distant foreign clime, no longer will I stay,
An’ on some Chinese Hottentot I’ll throw this life away!

Related to this sea shanty

Cant You Dance The Polka (C F Smith version)

The New York Gals

Doodle Let Me Go

Interesting Facts about the De Sandy Boy

“De Sandy Boy” is a capstan shanty with pure “Negro” origin. The song comes from Sigurd Sternvall’s book, “Sang Under Segel” (1935). Stan Hugill tells us that the song was probably only heard on ships with chequer-board crews, and was originally a riverman’s song.
I will reconstruct this song as a capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 459).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 459).

The Record of the De Sandy Boy

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

De Sandy Boy

When I went down de river in the ole tobacco boat,
De boat upset away we went, right down the Old shark’s throat.

– Do come along, my sandy boy,
– Do come along, oh, do!
– What will Uncle Gabriel say?
– Oh, Sally, can’t you too?

* 2 *

When I went down to Amiack to her de people pray,
I laid my head on a white girl’s lap and my black girl fainted away.

* 3 *

When I went down to New Orleans to see de boatman row,
I set myself down on a rock an’ played the old banjo.

* 4 *

Then I went down to Alo, to buy a little goat,
The ole shark came behind us and swallowed down de boat.

* 5 *

Sally swam an’ so did I an’ thus to me did say,
‘You have lost my uncle’s boat, an’ for it you must pay.’

* 6 *

I lub de black gals an’ de white, an’ I lub all de rest,
I lub my black gal very well, but I lub myself de best.

* 7 *

Then I went down to New Virgie, to buy another boat,
An ole shark came before us an’ de boat run down his throat.

* 8 *

When I went to Uncle Gabriel, he asked me for de boat,
I said, ‘Ole nigger, it’s all right, it’s down de ole shark’s throat.’

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Interesting Facts about the Billy Boy A

“Billy Boy A”, according to Richard Runciman Terry, is a Northumbrian capstan shanty. But for Stan Hugill, it had a wider field than Northumberland. He tells us that he met seamen from London, Liverpool, and South Wales who also knew about this shanty. The song has two main versions; the most popular one is in a minor key. Both versions come from shore songs. The song in is tipe usually used two shantyman, one for the questions and one for an answers.
I will reconstruct this song as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 450).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 450, 451).

The Record of the Billy Boy A

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

Billy Boy A

Where have ye bin all the day, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Where have ye bin all the day, me Billy Boy?
I’ve bin walkin’ on the quay, With me charmin’ Nancy Lee,
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 2 *

Is she fit to be yer wife, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Is she fit to be yer wife, me Billy Boy?
Aye, she’s fit to be me wife as the fork is to the knife.
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 3 *

Can she cook a bit o’ steak, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Can she cook a bit o’ steak, me Billy Boy?
She can cook a bit o’ steak aye an’ make a gridle cake,
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 4 *

Can she make an Irish stew, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Can she make an Irish stew, me Billy Boy?
She can make an Irish stew, aye, an’ singin’ hinnies too,
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 5 *

Does she sleep close unto thee, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Does she sleep close unto thee, me Billy Boy?
Aye, she sleeps close unt me, like the bark is to the tree,
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 6 *

Can she make a feather bed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
– Can she make a feather bed, me Billy Boy?
She can make a feather bed, fit for any sailor’s head,
– An’ sweet Nancy tickled me fancy, oh, me charmin’ Billy Boy!

* 7 *

Can she have the dipsy lead, etc.

* 8 *

Can she strop a block, etc.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C