Other Hauling Shanty Archives - Traditional Sea Shanties

Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger (short drag)

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger

The “Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger” mentioned by Stan Hugill on page 341 of his “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, comes actually from the “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951). In Doerflinger’s book, it is in Halyard Shanties’ chapter. He mentions that:
“A lusty Negro halyard shanty follows. It was sung with strong emphasis, a quick attack in the chorus, and a decided swing. The shantyman, William Laurie, whose rendition I give, recalled the circumstances under which he first heard “Gimme de Banjo” sung at sea. He picked up the shanty in 1877 on board the American full-rigger Kit Carson”.
This song will be reconstructed as the short drag (t’gallants yards), shanty.

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 341).

The Record of the Gimme De Banjo – 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

Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger

Oh, dis is de day we pick on de banjo,
– Dance, gal, gimme de banjo,

* 2 *

Oh, dat banjo, dat tal-la tal-la wan-go,

* 3 *

Oh, dat banjo, dat seben-string banjo,

* 4 *

Ah was only one an’ twenty.

* 5 *

Ah was sent to school fer to be a scholar!

* 6 *

Mah collar was stiff, an’ Ah could not swaller.

* 7 *

Oh, dere’s mah book, down on de table,

* 8 *

An’ you kin read it if you’re able!

Related to this sea shanty

Donkey Riding (Stamp-n-go)

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Gimme De Banjo – Harding (short drag)

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Gimme De Banjo – Harding

The “Gimme De Banjo – Harding” version was given to Stan Hugill by Harding Barbadian, who said it was a very popular Hauling song aboard ships in the West Indian and Honduras Logwood Trade. This song will be reconstructed as the short drag (t’gallants yards), shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 341).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 341).

The Record of the Gimme De Banjo – Harding

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Gimme De Banjo – Harding

This is the day we make our pay day,
– Dance, gal, gimme de banjo!
Oh, that banjo, that seven string banjo,
– Dance, gal, gimme de banjo!

* 2 *

Haul away for Campeachy Bay,
Oh, haul away an’ sretch out for yer pay-ay,

* 3 *

A dollar a day is a buckera’s pay,
Oh, bend yer high shoes an’ lavender breeks, boys.

* 4 *

There’s my Sal, she’s the gal for me, boys,
Oh, I know that she’ll be, a-waitin’ for me-e.

* 5 *

I’ll bang on the banjo — that ping-a, pong-a banjo!
Oh, that banjo — that ping-a, pong-a banjo!

Related to this sea shanty

Donkey Riding (Stamp-n-go)

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Paddy Doyles Boots C

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Paddy Doyles Boots C

In Stan Hugill’s book “Paddy Doyles Boots C”, it is the song that opening family of the songs is with the word “Paddy”. This song is dedicated to one and only one job, namely: that of getting the mass of sodden, bellying canvas rolled up to the yard, also called “Tossing the bunt”. When singing this chant the haul usually came on the word “BOOTS!” Usually, there was no need for more than two or three verses at most. Probably this is only one type of shanty that is sung whole by all-hands (no shantymen or crew part only).
Stan Hugill tells us that are three patterns in this song this is the third one: Pull on three words.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 333).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 333).

The Record of the Paddy Doyles Boots C

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Paddy Doyles Boots C

To me WAY!
An’ we’ll FURL!
An’ we’ll pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 2 *

We’ll sing, WAY!
An’ we’ll HEAVE!
An’ we’ll pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 3 *

So we’ll HEAVE!
With a SWING!
An’ we’ll pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

Related to this sea shanty

Paddy Doyles Boots A

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Paddy Doyles Boots B

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Paddy Doyles Boots B

In Stan Hugill’s book “Paddy Doyles Boots B”, it is the song that opening family of the songs is with the word “Paddy”. This song is dedicated to one and only one job, namely: that of getting the mass of sodden, bellying canvas rolled up to the yard, also called “Tossing the bunt”. When singing this chant the haul usually came on the word “BOOTS!” Usually, there was no need for more than two or three verses at most. Probably this is only one type of shanty that is sung whole by all-hands (no shantymen or crew part only).
Stan Hugill tells us that are three patterns in this song this is the second one: The solos are varied with the same chorus throughout, the pull coming on “BOOTS!”.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 333).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 333).

The Record of the Paddy Doyles Boots B

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Paddy Doyles Boots B

Yeo aye – an’ we’ll haul aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 2 *

Yeo aye – an’ we’ll sing aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 3 *

We’ll bunt up the sail with a fling aye!
To pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 4 *

We’ll tauten the bunt an’ we’ll furl aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 5 *

We’ll skin the ol’ rabbit an’ haul eye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

Related to this sea shanty

Paddy Doyles Boots A

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Paddy Doyles Boots A

April 30, 2023April 27, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Paddy Doyles Boots A

In Stan Hugill’s book “Paddy Doyles Boots A”, it is the song that opening family of the songs is with the word “Paddy”. This song is dedicated to one and only one job, namely: that of getting the mass of sodden, bellying canvas rolled up to the yard, also called “Tossing the bunt”. When singing this chant the haul usually came on the word “BOOTS!” Usually, there was no need for more than two or three verses at most. Probably this is only one type of shanty that is sung whole by all-hands (no shantymen or crew part only).
Stan Hugill tells us that are three patterns in this song this is the first one: A wild “way-ay-ay” followed by “We’ll pay Paddy Doyle”, etc …, the haul coming on either the final grounted-out YA!, on BOOTS!, or on both.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 331).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 331 – 333).

The Record of the Paddy Doyles Boots A

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Paddy Doyles Boots A

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll pay Paddy Doyle for his BOOTS!

* 2 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll all throw muck at the COOK!

* 3 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll all drink whisky an’ GIN!

* 4 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll all shave under the CHIN!

* 5 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
Who stole poor Paddy Doyle’s BOOTS!

* 6 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll bouse her up an’ be DONE!

* 7 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
We’ll bouse her up an’ be DONE!

* 8 *

Timme way ay-ay-ay high YA!
The dirty ol, man’s on the POOP!

Related to this sea shanty

Donkey Riding (Stamp-n-go)

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Cheerily Man – Catting the anchor shanty

March 17, 2023February 9, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Cheerily Man – Catting the anchor shanty

“Cheerily Man” is probably the most primitive, and one of the oldest of all these heaving and hauling songs of the sea. This song was really obscene, so most of the verses were camouflaged. This particular version is described by Stan Hugill in the description of the “Cheerily Man”, but the description tells us that this song can be used for more jobs than only halyards, namely can be also used for cutting the anchor.
Cutting an anchor is the job that happened when the anchor was about the water line beside the board, so sailors connected a line (tackle blocks) between the ring on the head of the anchor and the cat head, and catting started when they start pulling the rope, and at the same time loose bit the anchor chain used for raise anchor up to the board.
This heavy job required long steady pulls, so this shanty is a perfect fit for this job. The word “cheerily” means “quickly” and was often used at capstan and halyards when exhorting the men to harder efforts. “Cheerily” when used in shanties has to mean that heave or haul is slow and steady.
This song will be reconstructed as the “Catting the anchor shanty” (this work is definitely a long-haul shanty). For this reconstruction, I will use only additional six verses from page 314 of the “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, which according to Stan Hugill sang specifically only for catting the anchor.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 313).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 314).

The Record of the Cheerily Man – Catting the anchor shanty

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Cheerily Man – Catting the anchor Shanty

Haul all together, aye yeo,
– Cheerily man!
Haul for good weather, aye yeo – o,
– Cheerily man!
She’s light as a feather, aye yeo – o,
– Cheerily man!
Oh, hauley aye yeo!
– Cheerily man!

* 2 *

To the cathead,
We’ll shift the dead,
She’s heavy as lead.
Oh, hauley …

* 3 *

We’ll haul again,
With might an’ main,
Pay out more chain.

* 4 *

Chain stopper bring,
Pass through the ring,
Oh, haul an’ sing.

* 5 *

She’s up to the sheave,
At the cathead we’ll leave,
Soon the tackle unreeve,

* 6 *

Pull one an’ all,
On the ol’ catfall,
An’ then belay all!

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Rise Me Up From Down Below

Johnny Come-A-Long

Johnny Bawker (Sweating-up)

March 17, 2023November 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Johnny Bawker

“Johnny Bawker” is another shanty from Stan Hugill’s “Johnny” shanties family. It was the shanty used for sheets. It was used for ‘sweating up’, i.e. to give a final drag on a halyard to gain the last inch, at tacks and sheets. Stan Hugill also mentions that this song was used for bunting sails, quite a unique theory because this job was considered the prerogative of “Paddy Doyle” shanty (we don’t know if Stan Hugill saw this song in action when sails were bunting or if this is only the theory). Another interesting fact is that the final “DO” was grunted out staccato, or rather the word was sung to its correct note and then a rising, gasped-out ‘UGH” would follow as the pull came.

And in end due to the specifics of the “sweetening up” job (final pulls), would not take more than three or four verses at the most. For my reconstruction, I select five verses which are more than enough for the described job.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289, 290).

The Record of the Johnny Bawker

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Johnny Bawker

Ooh! do, me Johnny Bowker, Come rock ‘n’ roll me over,
– Oh do me Johnny Bowker do!

* 2 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, Come roll me down to Dover,

* 3 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, lets’ all go on a Jamboree.

* 4 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the watches are cala-la-shee.

* 5 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chief mate he’s a croaker.

* 6 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the Old Man he’s a soaker.

* 7 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the bosun’s never sober.

* 8 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, I bet ye are a rover.

* 9 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the he is a tailor.

* 10 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chips he ain’t no sailor.

* 11 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come roll me in the clover.

* 12 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come rock an’ roll ‘er over.

* 13 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, from Calais down to Dover.

* 14 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, in London lives yer lover.

* 15 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, the packet she is rollin’.

* 16 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, come haul away the bowline.

* 17 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll either break or bend it.

* 18 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’re men enough to mend it.

* 19 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, get round the corner, Sally.

* 20 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, let me an’ you live tally.

* 21 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll haul away an’ bend ‘er.

* 22 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, me sweethart’s young an’ tender.

* 23 *

O do, me Johnny Bowker, one more pull then choke ‘er.

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

Johnny Come-A-Long

March 17, 2023November 9, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Johnny Come-A-Long

“Johnny Come-A-Long”, a stamp-‘n’-go shanty popular in German ships. Stan Hugill took this shanty from “Knurrhahn” Seemannslieder und Shanties (Zweiter Band) by Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936). In comparison, Stan Hugill’s version is slightly different in text and almost identical in music to the “Knurrhahn” version, also title “Knurrhahn” is different (The title from “Knurrhahn” is “Johnny” you can find on page 90 and 91).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 286).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 273).

The Record of the Johnny Come-A-Long

My reconstruction will imitate “stamp-n-go” shanty.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Johnny Come-A-Long

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Come along, come along,
Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John, come along,
Dont stand there like a silly ol’ fool,
don’t stand there a lookin’ so cool,
Dont be shy of the ladies,
an’ the teeth in his mouth want bang-bang!

– Down by the sea, Where the watermelon grow,
– Back to my home, I shall not go,
– And shall I dream of love’s sweet song,
– Who can be happier than a sailor tonight?

* 2 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Was a sailorman,
He’d bin around all day,
Jolin’ with the ladies, playin’ hide’n’seek,
Not a penny to pay for to have a little peek,
Happy as the day went high-diddle-dee,
An’ the girls all shouted bang-bang!

* 3 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
In the garden with his gun,
Monkey’s been a-playin’ all the day,
Johnny takes his gun and the gun was loaded,
Johnny took his gun and the gun exploded,
High-diddle-dee, high-diddle-bum,
An’ he never let it go bang-bang!

* 4 *

Oh, Johnny, Johnny, John,
Git along, git along,
Leave little ladies on the shore,
Keep off, John, leave the girls alone,
Say goodbye an’ sail away for home,
Don’t hang round any more,
An’ his ol’ knees went bang-bang!

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

March 17, 2023October 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

“Rise Me Up From Down Below”, stamp-‘n’-go shanty. Doerflinger took this song from “Lemon” Curtis, and says it is one of his favored songs. Negro origin shanty which combined the functions of a regular halyard shanty and a “walk away (stamp-‘n’-go)” song. In hoisting topgallants to this shanty, the men would first take two “drags” on the rope and then “walk away” with it. The pulls came on “WHISKEY Oh, JOHNny Oh,” while the rest of the chorus was sung as the men stamped along the deck gripping the halyard.

The source of this sea shanty

The Record of the Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

Oh, I come from the world below.
That is where the cocks do crow.

– Whisky O, Johnny O!
– Oh, Rise me up from down below,
– Down below, Oh Oh Oh Oh!
– Up aloft this yard must go, John.
– Rise me up from down below.

* 2 *

I come from the world below!
That is where the fires do roar.

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (A)

Donkey Riding

Roll The Old Chariot (Stamp-n-go)

Rise Me Up From Down Below

March 17, 2023October 24, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Rise Me Up From Down Below

Here is another great stamp-‘n’-go shanty, “Rise Me Up From Down Below”. According to Harding Barbarian, Stan Hugill’s shipmate this song was very popular on Yankee ships with Coloured crews. Harding also said that the tune is the Jamaican work song taken to sea by West Indian seamen and modify it to their needs.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 281).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 281).

The Record of the Rise Me Up From Down Below

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Rise Me Up From Down Below

I’m just up from the world below,
That is where the cocks do crow,

– Whisky O, Johnny O!
– Rise me up from down below,
– Down below, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!
– Rise me up from down below, boys
– Rise me up from down below!

* 2 *

I an the ghost of the Bertie Binns,
Cut down wuz I for me ‘orrible sins.

* 3 *

Me only home is down below,
They’ve let me out for an hour or so.

* 4 *

An’ when the cocks begin to crow,
‘Tis time for me to roll ‘n’ go.

* 5 *

Back in a hurry to the southern shore,
That is where the fires do roar.

* 6 *

I’ll tell yuh, boys ’tis hot in hell,
An’ I should know the place damn well.

* 7 *

An’ now the bleedin’ sail is set,
Back to me hole I’ll have ter get.

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (A)

Donkey Riding

Roll The Old Chariot (Stamp-n-go)