Interesting Facts about The Dreadnaught A
“The Dreadnaught A”, the song was given with different titles and versions, Stan Hugill tells us:
“As early Naval ballad it was called “La Pique” or “The Flash Frigate”, as a sailor John’s forebitter it was named “The Dreadnaught”, and as a capstan shanty its title, usually, was “The Liverpool Packet” or “Bound Away!” but quite often the last three titles were used indiscriminately.”
Two collectors Sampson and Patterson give it as a capstan shanty, other collectors as a forebitter.
This particular version is the Merchant Jack’s forebitter, which obviously stemmed from the “The Flash Frigate” navial song. Version comes from Kipling in his “Captains Courageous” gives a version.
I will reconstruct this song as a forebitter.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 462).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 464,465).
The Record of The Dreadnaught A
You can also 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 Dreadnaught A
There’s a saucy wild packet, a packet o’fame,
She belongs to New York, an’ the Dreadnought’s her name;
She’s bound to the west’ard where the wide waters flow,
Bound away to the west’ard in the Dreadnought we’ll go!
* 2 *
The time of her sailin’ is now drawin’ night,
Farewell, pretty maids, we must bid ye goodbye;
Farewell to ol’ England an’ all we hold dear,
Bound away in the Dreadnaught, to the west’ard we’ll steer.
* 3 *
An ‘now we are haulin’ out o’ Waterloo Dock,
The boys an’ the gals on the pierhead do flock;
They’ll give us three cheers while their tears freely flow,
Sayin’ ‘God bless the Dreadnaught where ‘ ere she may go!’
* 4 *
Oh! the Dreadnaught’s awaitin’ in the Mersey so free
For the old ‘Independence’ to toer at sea
For to round the Rock Light where Mersey does flow;
Bound away in the Dreadnaught, to the west’ard we’ll go!
* 5 *
Now the Dreadnaught’s a-howlin’ down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passangers are merry, an’ their hearts full o’ glee;
Her sailors like tigers they walk to an’ fro,
She’s saucy flash packet, O lord let her go!
* 6 *
Now the Dreadnaught’s a-sailin’ the Atlantic so wide,
Where the roarin’ seas roll along her black side;
With her topsails set taut for the Red Cross to show,
Bound away to the west’ard — O Lord let her go!
* 7 *
Now the Dreadnaught’s becalmed on the Banks o’ Newf’n’land,
Where the water’s so green an’ the bottom’s all sand;
Where the fish o’ the ocean do swim to an’ fro,
Bound away in the Dreadnaught to the west’ard we’ll go!
* 8 *
Now the Dreadnaught’s a-lyin’ off the Long Island shore,
Awaitin’ the pilot as we’ve waited oft before;
‘Fill away yer maintops’, board yer main-tack also!’
Bound away to the west’ard in the Dreadnaught we’ll go!
* 9 *
Now the Dreadnaught’s arrived in New York once more,
So go ashore, shipmates, to the land we adore;
With wives an’ wi’ sweethearts so merry we’ll be,
An drink to the Dreadnaught where’re she may be.
* 10 *
Then a health to the Dreadnaught and all her brave crew,
To bold Cap’n Samuels an’ his officer too;
But the Dreadnaught’s the flier that can beat ’em all!
Talk about yer flash packets Swallow-tail an’ Blackball!
* 11 *
Now me story is ended and my tale she is told,
Forgive me old shipmates if ye think that I’m bold;
For this song was composed while the watch was below,
Bound away to the west’ard in the Dreadnaught we’ll go!
