Halyard Shanties

Interesting Facts about the Essequibo River

“Essequibo River” – is a halyard shanty, picked by Stan Hugill from his friend Harding Barbadian. West Indian or Guyana origin, the song is challenging for the shantyman because it is full of yells and hitches. Hugill claims it was the first time in print in his “Shanties from the Seven Seas”. Stan also tells us that this song is the same as many West Indian shanties that were picked from ashore and were used for jobs where pulling was involved.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 416).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 416, 417).

The Record of the Essequibo River

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

Essequibo River

Essequibo River is the Queen o’ Rivers all!
– BUDdy tanna na we are SOMEbody O!
Essequibo River is the Queen o’ Rivers all!
– BUDdy tanna na we are SOMEbody O!
Somebody O, Johnny, somebody O!
– BUDdy tanna na we are SOMEbody O!

* 2 *

Essequibo Capen is the King o’ Capens aaall!
– Buddy …
Essequibo Capen is the King o’ Capens aaall!
– Buddy …
Somebody …
– Buddy …

* 3 *

Essequibo Bosun is the King o’ Bosuns aaall!

* 4 *

Essequibo sailors is the Chief o’ Sailors aaall!

* 5 *

Essequibo Sallies is the Queen o’ Saillies aaall!

* 6 *

Essequibo maidens is the Queen o’ Maidens aaall!

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Corner Sally (Terry)

Sister Susan

Miss Lucy Loo

Interesting Facts about the Serafina

“Serafina” the halyard shanty bearing a Spanish lady’s name. Very popular song for raising t’gallant yards in ships on the West Coast of South America Saltpetre Trade. Stan Hugill get this song from an Irish sailor called Jack Connolly. Meny’s verses, according to Stan Hugill, were unprintable, and he claims the song never was in print before.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 397).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 397,398).

The Record of the Serafina

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

Serafina

In Callyo there lives a gal whose name is Serafina,
– SE-rafina! SE–rafina!
She sleeps all day an’ works all night, on the ol’ Cally marina,
– SE-rafina, oh, SE–rafina!

* 2 *

She’s the Queen, me boys, of all the gals that live in the ol’ Casino,
She used to kiss for monkey nuts but now she works for vino,

* 3 *

At robbin’ silly sailors, boys, no gal was ever keener,
She’ll make ye pay right through the nose, that lovely Serafina.

* 4 *

She’ll guzzle pisco, beer, an’ gin, on rum her mum did wean ‘er.
She smokes just like a chimney stack, or P.S.N.C. steamer.

* 5 *

Serafina’s got no shoes, I’ve bin ashore an’ seen ‘er,
She’s got no time to put ’em on, that hard-worked Serafina.

* 6 *

When I wuz young an’ in me prime, I first met Serafina,
In Callyo we saw the sights an’ then went up to Lima.

* 7 *

But the finest sight I ever saw wuz little Serafina,
But the very next day as we sailed away I wisht I’d never bin there.

* 8 *

For I wuz skint, me clothes wuz gone, an’ so wuz Serafina,
She’d done me brown, she’d sunk me down, that dirty she-hyena!

Related to this sea shanty

Do Let Me Lone Susan

Sing Sally O! (version B)

Round The Corner Sally (Harding)

Interesting Facts about the Miss Lucy Loo

“Miss Lucy Loo”, the hauling song usually used for halyards. Stan Hugill picked up this song in Trinidad. Hugill’s informant told him that: “song was used by West Indian seamen both ashore on the wharves and at sea at halyards”. Also worth mentioning is that the phrase “rock ‘n’ roll” in verse seven was a very common cry among shantymen – a shout of encouragement when hauling or heaving.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 397).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 397).

The Record of the Miss Lucy Loo

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

Miss Lucy Loo

Rock a block, chock a block, roler bowler sailor,
– To me WAY, hay, hay, ho, HU!
Oooh! rock a block, chock a block, roler bowler sailor,
– We’re ROLLin’ down to Trinidad to SEE Miss Lucy Loo!

* 2 *

Bend yer backs, take in the slack, roll me over, Lucy,
Oh, bend yer backs, take in the slack, roll me over, Lucy,

* 3 *

The ship’s all right, the crew is tight, the Ol’ Man’s never sober,
Oh, the ship’s all right, the crew is tight, the Ol’ Man’s never sober,

* 4 *

O sing a song, O blow along, turn the blanket over,
Oh, o sing a song, O blow along, turn the blanket over,

* 5 *

O haul away an’ get yer pay, O Lucy’s on the towline.
Oh, o haul away an’ get yer pay, O Lucy’s on the towline.

* 6 *

Hoist her high, an’ hoist her dry, come rock ‘n’ roll me over.
Oh, hoist her high, an’ hoist her dry, come rock ‘n’ roll me over.

* 7 *

Now stretch her luff, she’s high enough, the end is just in sight, boys.
Oh, now stretch her luff, she’s high enough, the end is just in sight, boys.

Related to this sea shanty

Do Let Me Lone Susan

Sing Sally O! (version B)

Round The Corner Sally (Harding)

Interesting Facts about the Sister Susan

“Sister Susan” also known as the “Shibone Al”, is used as the hauling shanty. According to Stan Hugill is a typical West Indian or Southern States’ work-song taken to sea and turned into a shanty. The song Stan Hugill learned from shantyman, “Harry Lauder” of St. Lucia, B.W.I.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 391).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 391).

The Record of the Sister Susan

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

Sister Susan

Sister Susan an’ my gal Sal,
– GWINE ter git a-home by’n’BY!
All a gwine ter live down Shibone Al,
– GWINE ter git a-home by’n’BY!
We’re all gonne live down Shibone Al ley,
– GWINE ter git a-home by’n’BY!

* 2 *

Portugee Joe came down aour Al,
Portugee Joe he got my Sal,
He went an’ ran off with my Sally,

* 3 *

So I thought I’d take a trip to sea,
So I shipped aboard o’ a big Yankee,
I went an’ shipped out of Nantucket.

* 4 *

A whaler’s life is no life for me,
I jumped her an’ I left the sea,
I ran right back to Shinbone Alley.

Related to this sea shanty

As-Tu-Connu Le Per’ Lanc’lot

Stormalong Lads Stormy

De Runer Von Hamborg

Interesting Facts about the Sing Sally O! (version B)

“Sing Sally O! (version B)” is a song which has two versions, capstan and halyard. Both versions Stan Hugill have from Harding Barbadian, who declared they were both used ‘ashore’ in the West Indies for any job where a work-song was needed.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 389).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 389).

The Record of the Sing Sally O! (version B)

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

Sing Sally O! (version B)

Oh, good mornin’ Mudder Dinah, What is the matter?
– SING, Sally-O! FOL-lol-de-day!
Oh, hurrah! hurrah! my Mudder Dinah,
– SING, Sally-O! FOL-lol-de-day!

* 2 *

The news is goin’ round, the packet’s homeward bound,
O kiss yer gals an’ drinks all round, boys,

* 3 *

We’ll drink hot rum an’ let’s all have some fun,
We’ll soon be headin’ for the homeward run.

* 4 *

Goodbye to Mudder Dinah, there ain’t no gal finer,
Goodbye, goodbye to all the gals.

Related to this sea shanty

Coal Black Rose

Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

Interesting Facts about the Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

“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: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 365, 366).

The Record of the Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

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

Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

Me Bonnie bunch o’ roses, o!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
Time for us to roll ‘n’ go!
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!
– Oooh, ye pinks an’ poses,
– COME down ye bunch o’ roses, COME down!

* 2 *

We’re bound out to Iquique Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,

* 3 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter hell we’d niver bin born.

* 4 *

Around Cape Stiff we all must go,
Around Cape Sriff through the ice an’ snow.

* 5 *

Me boots an’ clothes are all in pawn,
An’ it’s bleedin’ draughty around Cape Horn.

* 6 *

‘Tis growl ye may but go ye must,
If ye growl too hard yer head they’ll bust.

* 7 *

The gals are waitin’ right ahead,
A long strong pull should shift the dead.

* 8 *

Them Spanish gals are pullin’ strong,
Hang down, me boys, it won’t take long.

* 9 *

Oh, rock an’ shake ‘er is the cry,
The bleedin’ topm’st sheave is dry.

* 10 *

Just one more pull an’ that’ll do,
We’re the bullies for ter kick ‘er through.

Related to this sea shanty

Blow The Man Down (B2 – second method)

Blow The Man Down (E)

Walk him along Johnny