Capstan Shanties Archives - Page 8 of 15 - Traditional Sea Shanties

Knock A Man Down

December 23, 2023April 26, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Knock A Man Down

This is one of the earliest versions of the shanty sang at the capstan or at the pump “Blow The Man Down”, this version comes from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys” (1914). Stan Hugill mentioned is this song was probably the Hoosier version.
“Hoosier” refers to the cotton-Stowers, both black and white, who move cotton bales from docks to the holds of ships, forcing the bales in tightly using jackscrews. A low-status job, it nevertheless is referred to in various sea shanty lyrics. “Shanties from the Seven Seas” includes lyrics that mention Hoosiers.
Cecil Sharp in his book says:
“I have supplemented Mr. Short’s words – he could only remember two stanzas – with lines from other versions.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.

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 200).

The lyrics: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil James Sharp (1914).

The Record of the Knock A Man 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

Knock A Man Down

– Knock a man down, kick a man down;
– way ay knock a man down,
– Knock a man down right down to the ground,
– O give me some time to knock a man down.

The watchman’s dog stood ten foot high;
– way ay kno-ck a man down,
The watchman’s dog stood ten foot high;
– O give me some time to knock a man down.

* 2 *

A livery ship and a lively crew.
A livery ship and a lively crew.

* 3 *

O we are the boys to put her through
O we are the boys to put her through

* 4 *

I wish I was in London Town.
I wish I was in London Town.

* 5 *

It’s there we’d make the girls fly round.
It’s there we’d make the girls fly round.

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento (D)

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version

Sacramento – Version from German barque Gustav

The Fishes B

December 23, 2023April 26, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Fishes B

This is a great shanty, sang usually at the capstan and at the pumps “The Fishes B”. This particular version, popular in the south of England, Stan Hugill had had it from a Devonshire seaman. In the book, Stan Hugill gives us only two first stanzas, due to the other ones were taken from the “Blow The Man Down” shanty, so I took another 3 verses from the mentioned shanty, to make this reconstruction a sensible length, and a bit more entertaining.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.

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 198).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 198).

The Record of The Fishes B

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Fishes B

I’ll sing you a song of the fish of the sea,
An’ I’ll trust that ye’ll join in this chorus with me.

– Wi’a wind-y old weather! Stormy old waether!
– When the wind blows, we’ll all heave together!

* 2 *

O, the first came the herring, the king of the sea,
He jumped on the poop, “I’ll be captain,” said he.

* 3 *

The next was a flat-fish, they call him the skate,
“If you be the captain, why sure, I’m the mate.”

* 4 *

The next came the hake, as black as a rook,
Says he, “I’m no sailor, I’ll ship as the cook.”

* 5 *

The next came the shark, with his two rows of teeth,
“Cook, mind the cabbage and I’ll mind the beef.”

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento (B)

Sacramento (C)

Der Hamborger Veermaster

Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

December 23, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

According to Stan Hugill, both versions of the “Blow The Wind Wester.” song, recorded and documented by Cecil Sharp in the “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914) was a shanty sang at capstan and at the pumps. This version was Sung by Mrs. L. Hoper, Hambridge, Somerset, April 4th, 1904.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).

The Record of the Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

Blow The Wind Wester. (Cecil Sharp Second Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Wind Wester. (Second Version)

Up jumps the salmon,
The largest o’ ’em all;
He jumps on our fore-deck,
Say-ing; Here’s meat for all.

– O blow the wind whistling, O blow the winds all!
– Our ship is still hearted, boys, How steady she go!

* 2 *

Up jumps the shark,
The largest of all;
He jumps on our fore-deck:
You should die all!

* 3 *

Then up jumps the sprat,
The smallest of all ;
He jumps on our fore-deck,
Saying: We shall be drowned all!

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande – Norvegian sailor version

Opsang For Brasiliefareren, Briggen Preciosa (Norwegian)

Sacramento (A)

Blow The Wind Wester. – First Version

December 23, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Blow The Wind Wester. (First Version)

According to Stan Hugill, both version of the “Blow The Wind Wester.” song, recorded and documented by Cecil Sharp in the “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914) was a shanty sang at capstan and at the pumps. This version was Sung by Mr. Wm. Woolley (aged 84), Bincombe, Somerset, January 6th, 1908.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).

The Record of the Blow The Wind Wester. – First Version

Blow The Wind Wester. (Cecil Sharp First Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Wind Wester. (First Version)

It’s up jumps the sprat, the smallest of them all;
She jumped on the foredeck, well done, my lads all…

– So blow the wind wester, blow the wind, blow!
– Our ship she’s in full sail, how steady she goes.

* 2 *

Then up jumps the eel, with his slippery tail;
He jumped on the fore deck and glistened the sail.

* 3 *

Then up jumps the nirl-log, with his pretty spots;
He jumped on the fore deck and looked on the top.

* 4 *

Then up jumps the nirl-log, with his rolling teeth;
He said: “Mr. Captain, shall I cook your beef? “

* 5 *

Then up jumps the roter, the king of the sea;
He jumped on the fore deck and turned the key.

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande (F)

Bound for the Rio Grande (R. R. Terry’s Version)

Rio Grande (A. Connan Doyle version)

The Codfish Shanty

December 23, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Codfish Shanty

One another version of the very popular capstan shanty “South Australia” is a version called “The Codfish Shanty”, and it’s due to on account of the prominence of the codfish in this shanty. The following version is got by Stan Hugill from his shipmate shantymen Harding (American version), and Paddy Delaney old-timer who told Stan Hugill about British alternatives.

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 196).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 196).

The Record of The Codfish Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Codfish Shanty

Down east gals ain’t got no combs,
– Heave away! Heave away!
They comb their hair wi’a whale fish bone,
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!

– Heave-away, me bully, bully boys,
– Heave-away! Heave away!
– Heave away, why don’t ye make some noise?
– An’ we’re bound for South Australia!

* 2 *

Yankee gals don’t sleep on beds,
They go to sleep on codfish’s heads,

* 3 *

Cape Cod gals have got big feet,
Codfish’s rows is nice an’ sweet.

* 4 *

Quaker gals don’t wear no frills,
They’re tight an’ skinny as a halibut’s gills.

* 5 *

Glou’ster gals make damn fine cooks,
They’re good at catching sprats on hooks.

* 6 *

Nantucket gals are very fine,
They know how to bait a codfish line.

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Bay Of Mexico

Rio Grande (D)

Rio Grande (E)

South Australia – L. A. Smith Version

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the South Australia – L. A. Smith Version

South Australia – L. A. Smith Version”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This version comes from L. A. Smith’s “Music Of The Waters” (1888), Stan Hugill claims South Australia – L. A. Smith Version is too sentimental and “Shore-ified” to ring genuine, also he says L. A. Smith makes too much use of the word “main”, word sailors never used for “sea”.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 49, 50).

The lyrics: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 49, 50).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 195).

The Record of South Australia – L. A. SmithVersion

South Australia (L. A. Smith Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia (L. A. Smith Version)

– Heave away, Heave away,
– Heave away, you Ruler King,
– I am bound to South Australia,

* 1 *

South Australia is my native home,
Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is my native home,
I’m bound to south Australia!

– Heave away, Heave away,
– Heave away, you Ruler King,
– I am bound to South Australia,

* 2 *

There ain’t but the one thing grieves my mind,
To leave my dear wife and child behind.

* 3 *

I see my wife standing on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me.

* 4 *

When I am on a foreign shore,
I’ll think of the wife that I adore.

* 5 *

Those crosses you see at the bottom of the lines,
Are only to put me in mind.

* 6 *

As I was standing on the pier,
A fair young maid to me appeared.

* 7 *

As I am standing on a foreign shore,
I’ll drink to girl that I adore.

* 8 *

For I’ll tell you the truth, and I’ll tell you no lie,
If I don’t love that girl I hope I may die.

* 9 *

Liza Lee, she promised me,
When I retured she would marry me.

* 10 *

And now I am on a foreign strand,
With a glass of whisky in my hand,

* 11 *

And I’ll drink a glass to the foreign shore,
And one to the girl that I adore.

* 12 *

When I am homeward bound again,
My name I’ll publish on the main.

* 13 *

With a good captain and a jolly crew,
A good captain and chief mate, too,

* 14 *

Now fare thee well, fare thee well,
For sweet news to my girl I’ll tell.

Related to this sea shanty

The Lowlands Low (A)

The Lowlands Low (B)

Santiana D (Norwegian)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version) was a shanty; it was usually been sung; by the sailors on board the merchant ships; at the capstan (anchor) and pumps. South Australia was probably, created by the emigrant days; when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. Here version from William Main Doerflinger’s book “Shantymen And Shantyboys” (1951). In the Doerflinger’s book; we also can meet another forgotten shantyman for a list of great shantymen from who William Doerflinger has this song: William Laurie of Sailors’ Snug Harbor.
Unfortunately, Doerflinger recorded only one stanza of this beautiful version.

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 195).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 195).

The Record of South Australia (Doerflinger Version)

South Australia (Doerflinger Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia. (Doerflinger Version)

Oh, in South Australia where I was born,
– Heave away! Haul away!
In South Australia round Cape Horn,
– I’m – bound; for south Australia!

– Heave away, you Ruler King
– Heave away! Haul away!
– Heave away, don’t you hear me sing?
– We’re bound; for South Australia!

Related to this sea shanty

South Australia (Harlow version)

The Gals O’ Chile

Larry Marr

South Australia (Harlow version)

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about South Australia (Harlow version)

“South Australia (Harlow version)”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty had a rather poor regulation pattern and all shantymen had to improvise to make it see the job through. This version mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from Frederick Pease Harlow’s “The Making of a Sailor” (1928). According to Harlows shipmate, this version was sung as anchor shanty on the very famous clipper ship Thermopylae. A couple of words about Harlow’s shantyman, I know usually shantymen were anonymous artists, they turned sailors’ life for better, and also made jobs easier by using shanties, this time we don’t know a surname but at least we know the name of the Harlow’s, so we can call him a Shantyman Dave.
Stan Hugill gives us only the original lyrics from “The Making of a Sailor”, but he forgot about the melody, so I took it myself from Harlow’s book.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Making of a Sailor” by Frederick Pease Harlow (1928).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 194, 195).

The Record of South Australia (Harlow version)

South Australia (Harlow's Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

South Australia (Harlow version)

South Australia is my native land,
– Heave away! Heave away!
Mountains rich in quartz and sand,
– I am bound for south Australia!

– He-ave away! Heave away!
– He–ave away, you Ruler King
– I am bound for South Australia!

* 2 *

Gold and wool, brings ships to our shore,
And our coal will load many more.

* 3 *

Here’s a packet anchored off the pier,
There’s a bar ashore with foaming beer.

* 4 *

Heave! Oh heave! and we’ll all go ashore,
Where we will drink with girls galore.

* 5 *

Glasses filled, we’ll touch with a clink,
Heave! bullies, heave! the girls want a drink.

* 6 *

I see Julia, standing on the quay,
With a dame for you and me.

* 7 *

At the head of Sandridge Raiload pier,
Straight to Mother Shilling’s we’ll steer.

* 8 *

Julia slings the sheoak at the bar
And welcomes sailors from afar.

* 9 *

In the dance hall there you’ll pick your girl
With golden hair and teeth of pearl.

* 10 *

She will drink you while at the bar,
And call you, “Dear, my own Jack Tar.”

* 11 *

She’ll waltz you round in a dizzy dance,
While you’re half drunk and in a trance.

* 12 *

Then we’ll drink to Mother Shilling’s name,
And drink again to the lovely dame.

* 13 *

In the arms of girls we’ll dance and sing,
For sheoak will be Ruler King.

* 14 *

Drunk! For sheoak’s gone to our head,
The girls can put us all to bed.

Related to this sea shanty

Magelhan (Orginal)

Mother Carey’s

Rolling King

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Rolling King

“Rolling King” sometimes called “South Australia”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty was probably born on the emigrant days when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. We can find this song in the most significant shanty collections books such as L. A. Smith, Miss Colcord, or William Doerflinger.

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 193).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 193).

The Record of the Rolling King

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rolling King

South Australia is me home,
– Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is me home,
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!

– He-ave away! Heave away!
– He-ave away you Rolling King
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!

* 2 *

My wife is stadin’ on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me,

* 3 *

An’ when I’m on a foreign shore,
I’ll think o’ me darlin’ that I adore.

* 4 *

There ain’t but one thing grieves me mind,
To leave my wife an’ child bechind.

* 5 *

There ain’t but one thing grieves me
An’ that’s me wife an’ dear ba-bee.

* 6 *

An’ as I stand on a foreign shore,
I’ll drink to the wife that I adore.

* 7 *

Now I’m on a foreign strand,
With a glass o’ pisco in me hand.

* 8 *

I’ll drink a glass to my own shore,
I’ll drink to the gal that I adore.

* 9 *

I’ll tell ye now, it ain’t no lie,
I’ll love that gal until I die.

* 10 *

This cross ye see at the bottom of the line,
Is only to keep ye in my mind.

* 11 *

Now we’re homeward bound again,
I’ll soon be seeing Sarah Jane.

* 12 *

Oh, fare-ye-well, now fare-ye-well,
Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well.

Related to this sea shanty

Rolling Home A

Rolling Home B

Magelhan

Mother Carey’s

December 22, 2023April 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Mother Carey’s

Mother Carey’s, is just a small piece that survived from this beautiful capstan shanty, Stan Hugill tells us one of his friends, Scot called Macmillan, a man holding a master’s square-rig ticket, sang to Stan Hugill piece of the shanty. The shanty is related to tune to the British “Rolling Home”. Unfortunately only survived the one verse and chorus, exactly as much as the mentioned MacMillan remembered.

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 192).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 192).

The Record of the Mother Carey’s

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Mother Carey’s

The brave west wind it filled our top-s’ls,
an’ bore us outward bound,
Outward bound across the Western,
outward bound for ‘Frisco Town,

– Sheet it home — that, big main tops’l,
– Sheet it home — boys, good an’ true,
– For we’re bound — to Mot-her Carey’s,
– where she feeds — her chicks at sea.

Related to this sea shanty

Shenandoah – Bullen

Goodnight Ladies

Rolling Home By The Silver Moon