Recorded Shanties

Skonnert Albertina – Sternvall

The Sailors Way

January 1, 2024January 1, 2024 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Sailors Way

“The Sailors Way” it was capstan both outward and homeward bound song. According to J. Reed – Stan Hugill’s informant, this song also was sung at the pumps. Doerflinger is the only other collector who gives this song, but his version was as the “main-hatch song” – what British seamen would call a “forebitter”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.

The source of The Sailors Way

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 387).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 387, 388).

The Record of this sea shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Sailors Way

We’ve courted gay Peruvian gals,
French gals an’ Chinee
Spanish gals an’ Dutch gals too,
an’ dainty Japanee.
To far Australia, Honolulu,
where th’ Hawaian maidens play
Just a diff’rent gal in ev’ry port,
– An’ that’s the Sailor’s way.

– Then it’s goodbye, mavourneen
– We’re off to see again
– Sailor Jack always comes back
– To the gal he’s left behind!

* 2 *

In calm or storm, in rain or shine,
The shellback doesn’t mind,
When on the ocean swell, he’ll work like hell,
For the gal he’s left behind.
He beats in north, he runs far south,
He doesn’t get much pay,
– An’ that’s the Sailor’s way.

* 3 *

Oh, shinin’ is the North Star,
As it hangs on our stabbud bow.
We’re homeward bound for Liverpool town,
An’ our hearts are in it now.
We’ve crossed the Line and the Gulf Stream,
Bin round by Table Bay,
We’ve rounded Cape Horn, we’re home again,
– An’ that’s the Sailor’s way.

* 4 *

We’ll get paid off inLiverpool,
An’ blow our money free,
We’ll eat an’ drink an’ have our fun;
An’ forget the ruddy sea,
Oh, Johnny’ll go to his sweet Marie,
An’ Pat with his ‘cushla play,
But I’ll get drunk an’ turn in me bunk,
– An’ that’s the Sailor’s way.

Related to this sea shanty

Albertina – Glyn Davies

Poor Paddy Works On The Railway

Spanish Ladies B

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Spanish Ladies B

“Spanish Ladies B” old naval song, only Stan Hugill and Captain Frank Shaw were writers who call this beautiful song the shanty. Hugill tells us it was the homeward-bound song sung at the capstan. This song has two tunes – the livelier and faster one being preferred by the later generation of sailing-ship men. Both versions including this one, Stan Hugill took from his father.
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 386).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 386).

The Record of the Spanish Ladies B

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Spanish Ladies B

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England,
An’ hope very shortly to see you again.

– We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar, like true British sailors,
– We’ll rant an’ we’ll rave across the salt seas,
– Till we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England,
– From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-four leagues.

* 2 *

We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou’west, boys,
We hove our ship to for to take soundings clear.
In fifty-five fathoms with a fine sandy bottom,
We filled our maintops’l, up Channel did steer.

* 3 *

The first land we made was a point called the Deadman,
Next Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight.
We sailed then by Beachie, by Fairlee and Dover,
Then bore straight away for the South Foreland Light.

* 4 *

Now the signal was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
We clewed up our tops’ls, stuck out tacks and sheets.
We stood by our stoppers, we brailed in our spankers,
And anchored ahead of the noblest of fleets.

* 5 *

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,
Let every man here drink up his full bowl,
And let us be jolly and drown melancholy,
Drink a health to each jovial an’ true-hearted soul.

Related to this sea shanty

Spanish Ladies A

November 25, 2023November 25, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Spanish Ladies A

“Spanish Ladies A” old naval song, only Stan Hugill and Captain Frank Shaw were writers who call this beautiful song the shanty. Hugill tells us it was the homeward-bound song sung at the capstan. This song has two tunes – the livelier and faster one being preferred by the later generation of sailing-ship men. Both versions including this one, Stan Hugill took from his father.
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 385).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 385).

The Record of the Spanish Ladies A

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Spanish Ladies A

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England,
An’ hope very shortly to see you again.

* 2 *

* 3 *

* 4 *

* 5 *

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,
Let every man here drink up his full bowl,
And let us be jolly and drown melancholy,
Drink a health to each jovial an’ true-hearted soul.

Related to this sea shanty

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

November 19, 2023November 19, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

“Whip Jamboree (Sharp)” is the capstan shanty. This version comes from ““English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10). According to Sharp:
“there are no other versions of this chantey except one, in the major mode, given me by Mr. George Conway. The tune which is Eolian mode is a variant of Santy Anna (No I).In this construction, and to some extent in the character of its words, the chantey is asking to ‘Spanish Ladies’ (Folk Songs from Somerset, No. 124). The words of the chorus show negro influence. The Rock Light is in Cheshire, at the mouth of the Mersey. “Old Dan Lowerie’s,” Mr. Short said, was a popular playhouse in Paradise Street, Liverpool, near the Waterloo Dock, much frequent by sailors.”
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10).
The lyrics: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 384).

The Record of the Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

Now, Cape Clear it is in … sight,
We’ll be off Holyhead by tomorrow night,
And we’ll shape our course for the Rock Light;
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

– Whip jamboree, Whip jamboree,
– Oh you longtailed black man, poke it up behind me.
– Whip jamboree, Whip jamboree,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 2 *

Now, my lads, we’re round the Rock,
All hammocks lashed and chests all locked,
We’ll haul her into the Waterloo Dock,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 3 *

Now, my lads, we’re all in dock
We’ll be off to Dan Lowrie’s on the spot;
And now we’ll have a good roundabout.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

Related to this sea shanty

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Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

“Whoop Jamboree (Terry)” is the capstan shanty. This version comes from “The Shanty Book Part II” (1926) by Richard Runciman Terry. Terry heard this song from the shantyman known as – Mr. Short of Watchet, Somerset. Terry in the description of the song gives us a hint about how to sing the word “whoop”, he says: “The word as ‘coughed up’ by Mr. Short (with a shock of the glottis) sounded more like ‘Whup'”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.
The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 383, 384).

The Record of the Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

Now, my lads, be of good cheer,
For the Irish land will soon draw near.
In a few days more we’ll sight Cape Clear.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

– Whoop jamboree, whoop jamboree,
– Oh you longtailed black man, poke it up behind.
– Whoop jamboree, whoop jamboree,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 2 *

Now Cape Clear it is in sight,
We’ll be off Holyhead by to-morrow night;
And we’ll shape our course for the Rock Light,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 3 *

Now, my lads, we’re round the Rock,
All hammocks lashed and chests all locked.
We’ll haul her into the Waterloo dock.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 4 *

Now, my lads, we’re all in dock,
We’ll be off to Dan Lowries’s on the spot;
And now we’ll have a good roundabout.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

Related to this sea shanty