Recorded Shanties

Shenandoah A

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah A

This is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the “Shenandoah”. The interesting fact according to Stan Hugill is that no two shantymen ever sang the same pronunciation of the word “Shenandoah”. Shenandoar, Shannandore, Shanandar, and Shanidah were all used. This is the first version — of Negro — origin, what Stan Hugill obtained from coloured cook (doctor) of the “Birkdale”, which had sailed for many years in the “Dales”, and in the “Invers” of the Milne Line of sailing ship.

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 175).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 173, 175).

The Record of the Shenandoah A

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.

Shenandoah A - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Shenandoah A music notation

The full lyrics

Shenandoah A

Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer,
Hooray, you rollin’ river!
O Shenandoah, I cain’t git near yer,
High-ya! I’m bound away,
On the wide Missouri.

* 2 *

Shenan-doah, me daddy’s ner yer
O Shenan–doah, I seem ter hear yer.

* 3 *

Shenan-doah, me mudder’s near ye.
O Shenan-doah, for ye I’m weary.

* 4 *

Can the piccanninies hear ye?
O Shenan-doah, me heart’s a-dreary.

* 5 *

Shenan-doah, again I’ll hear ye.
O Shenan-doah, in dreams I’m near ye.

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande – Norvegian sailor version

Opsang For Brasiliefareren, Briggen Preciosa (Norwegian)

Sacramento (B)

The Fire Ship

Interesting Facts about The Fire Ship

This is another “Roll” shanty sang at pumps, the Old English Ballad “The Fire Ship”. The ballad is potentially much older, than her shanty version and is dated to the XVII century. As a shanty, many of the verses are unprintable!
I will try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Sailing Days” (1991), with “Stormalong John” as a crew.
Last note, this song was recorded two years ago and at the time I recorded it I didn’t have as much knowledge about shanties as I have now so pronunciation can be not perfect. The text I sang differed from this one from the book, below you can find the original text from “Shanties from the Seven Seas”.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 171, 172).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 171, 172).

The Record of The Fire Ship

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 Fireship - Pump Shanty

The full lyrics

The Fire Ship

Oh, as I strolled out one evening, out for a night’s career,
I spied a lofty clipper ship an’ arter her I steer.
I hoisted up her sig-a-nals, which she so quickly knew,
An’ when she seed me bunting fly, she immediately hove to.

– Oh, she’d a dark an’ a rolling eye,
– An’ her hair hung downs in ring-a-lets.
– She wuz a nice gal–a decent gal, but…
– one of the rakish kind.

* 2 *

Kind sir, ye must excuse me, for being out so late,
For if me parents knew o’ it, then sad would be my fate.
Me father, he’s a minister, a true and honest man,
My mother she’s a Methodist, an’ I do the best I can.

* 3 *

I eyed that wench full warily, for talk like this I knew,
She seemed a little owerbold, she lied for all I knew,
But still she was a comely wench, her lips a ruby red,
Her bosom full, her hips so slim, she coyly hung her head.

* 4 *

I took her to a tav-er-in and treated her to wine.
Little did I think that she belong to the the rakish kind.
I handled her, I dandled her, an’ found to my surprise,
She wuz nothin’ but a fire ship, rigged up in a disguise.

* 5 *

And so I deemed her company for a sailorman like me.
I kissed her once, I kissed her twice, said she, ‘Be nice to me’
I fondled her, I cuddled her, I bounced her on me knee.
She wept, she sighed an’ then she cried, ‘Jack, will ye sleep wi’ me?’

(Two verses omitted.)

* 8 *

Now all ye jolly sailorman that sail the Western Sea,
An’ all ye jolly ‘prentice lads a warnin’ take from me,
Steer clear o’ lofty fire ships, for me they left well-spent.
For one burnt all me money up, an’ left me broke an’ bent.

Related to this sea shanty

The Girl in Portland Street

So Early In The Morning (B)

The Lowlands Low (C)

Roll Boys Roll!

Interesting Facts about Roll Boys Roll!

This is another “Roll” halyard shanty that comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, “Roll, Boys, Roll!”. According to Stan Hugill, when Harding Barbadian from Barbados sang it had its full complement of grace notes and yells, this song has the first time in print in Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas”.

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 170).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 170).

The Record of the Roll Boys Roll!

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.

Roll, Boys, Roll! - halyard shanty

The full lyrics

Roll Boys Roll!

Oh! Sally Brown she’s the gal for me, boys,
– ROLL, boys, ROOLL boys, roll!
Sally Brown she’s the gal for me, boys,
– WAY, high, Miss SALLY Brown!

* 2 *

We’re bound away — ‘way down south, boys,
We’re bound away — ‘way down south, boys,

* 3 *

We’re rollin’ down to Trinidad to see Miss Sally Brown
We’re rollin’ down to Trinidad to see Miss Sally Brown

* 4 *

Oh, she’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below.
Oh, she’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below.

* 5 *

She’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below,
She’s lovely ‘cos she loves me, boys, that’s all I want ter know.

* 6 *

Ol’ Capen Baker, how do yer stow yer cargo?
Some I stow for’ard, boys, an’ some I stow arter.

* 7 *

Forty fathoms or more below, boys,
There’s forty fathom or more below, boys,

* 8 *

Oh, way high ya, an’ up she rises,
O way high ya, an’ the blocks is different sizes.

* 9 *

One more pull–don’t yer hear the mate a-bawlin’?
One more pull, dat’s the end of all our haulin’.

Related to this shanty

A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version

The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

Interesting Facts about Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

This is another “Roll” halyard shanty that comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, “Where Am I To Go, M’ Johnnies?”. According to Stan Hugill, Harding Barbadian from Barbados sang this shanty with many wild yelps and “hitches”, this song has been the first time in print in Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas”.
It is also worth mentioning, that the only exceptional great use of Harding’s wild yelps and “hitches”, you can find in the CD record attached to Jim Mageean’s great book “Haul Away – A Collection of Hauling Shanties Compiled by Jim Mageean”.
Like many shanties, it mentions the Black Ball Line of Trans-Atlantic sailing packets which operated from 1818 until 1878.

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 169).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 169, 170).

The Record of the Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

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.

Where Am I To Go, M' Johnnies? - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Where Am I To Go M' Johnnies? music notation

The full lyrics

Where Am I To Go, M’ Johnnies?

Where am I to go, me Johnnies? O, where am I to go?
– To me WAY hay, hay, high, ROLL an’ go!
O, where am I to go, me Johnnies? O, where am I to go?
– For I’M a young sailor boy, an’ WHERE am I to go?

* 2 *

‘Way up on that t’gallant yard, that’s where yer bound to go,
‘Way up on that t’gallant yard, that’s where yer bound to go,

* 3 *

‘Way up on that t’gallant yard an’ take that gans’l in.
‘Way up on that t’gallant yard an’ take that gans’l in.

* 4 *

Yer bound away around Cape Horn, that’s where yer that gans’l in,
Yer bound away around Cape Horn, that’s where yer that gans’l in.

* 5 *

Yer bound away through ice an’ snow, that’s where yer bound to go.
Yer bound away through ice an’ snow, that’s where yer bound to go.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago (G)

A Long Time Ago – Harding Barbadian melody version

De Hoffnung – English Translation

High O Come Roll Me Over!

Interesting Facts about the High O Come Roll Me Over!

High O Come Roll Me Over! shanty, was given as a halyard shanty, and in this way, I will try to recreate it, but Stan Hugill claims it more likely can be used for tack and sheets. This song comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, who declared still being sung (in 1932) for rolling logs in the West Indies – the roll coming on the word, where the drag would be on the rope.

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 169).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 169).

The Record of the High O Come Roll Me Over!

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.

High O, Come Roll Me Over! - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

High O Come Roll Me Over! music notation

The full lyrics

High O, Come Roll Me Over!

Oho, why don’t you blow?
– HIGH-O! Come Roll me over!
Oho, why don’t you blow?
– HIGH-O! Come Roll me over!

* 2 *

One man to strike the bell,
One man to strike the bell,

* 3 *

To men to man the wheel.
To men to man the wheel.

* 4 *

Three men, to’gallant braces.
Three men, to’gallant braces.

* 5 *

Four men to board the tack.
Four men to board the tack.

* 6 *

Five men to have the lead.
Five men to have the lead.

* 7 *

Six men, to furl t’g’ns’ls.
Six men, to furl t’g’ns’ls.

* 8 *

Seven men to bunt-a-bo.
Seven men to bunt-a-bo.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago (D)

Roll The Cotton Down (E)

A Long Time Ago (E)

Randy Dandy O!

Interesting Facts about Randy Dandy O!

Another representative of “roll and go” is “Randy Dandy O!”, a capstan and pumps song heard mainly aboard the old Cape Horners. This song comes from my favored shantyman Harding Barbadian, who declared to Stan Hugill, that it was popular on one of the small Nova Scotian barque he was once shipped in.

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 168).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 168).

The Record of the Randy Dandy O!

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.

Randy Dandy O! - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Randy Dandy O! music notation

And the full lyrics

Randy Dandy O!

Now we are ready to head for the Horn,
– Way, ay, roll an, go!
Our boots an, our clothes, boys, are all in the pawn,
– Timme rollockin’ randy dandy O!

– Heave a pawl, O heave away!
– Way ay, roll an, go!
– The anchor’s on board an’ the cable’s all stored,
– Timme rollockin’ randy dandy O!

* 2 *

Soon we’ll be warping out through the locks,
Where the pretty young gals all come down in their flocks,

* 3 *

Come breast the bars, bullies, an’ heave her away,
Soon we’ll be rollin’ her ‘way down the Bay,

* 4 *

Sing goodbye to Sally an’ goodbye to Sue,
For we are the boy-os who can kick ‘er through.

* 5 *

Oh, man the stout caps’n an’ heave with a will,
Soon we’ll be drivin’ her ‘way down the hill.

* 6 *

Heave away, bullies, ye parish-rigged bums,
Take yer hands from yer pockets and don’t suck yer thumbs.

* 7 *

Roust ‘er up, the wind’s drawin’ free,
Let’s get the glad-rags on an’ drive ‘er to sea.

* 8 *

We’re outward bound for Vallipo Bay,
Get crackin’, m’ lads, ’tis a hell o’ a way!

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande (F)

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

Rio Grande (A. Connan Doyle version)

Roll And Go

Interesting Facts about the Roll And Go

This is another shanty with “Roll and Go!”. This song is another diamond found by Cecil Sharp, which has been sung by a very famous shantyman called Short of Watchet, Somerset, who said it was used at the capstan. This song is a combination of “Sally Brown” and “A Long Time Ago”.

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 167).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 167).

The Record of the Roll And Go

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.

Roll And Go - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Roll And Go music notation

And the full lyrics

Roll And Go

O Sally Brown she promised me,
– A long time ago.
She promised for to mary me.
– Way-ay roll and go,
O she promised for to mary me.
– A long time ago!

* 2 *

O Sally Brown’s the girl for me,
– A long time ago.
O Sally Brown she slighted me,
– Way-ay roll and go,
O Sally Brown she slighted me,
– A long time ago!

* 3 *

As I walked out one morning fair,
– A long time ago.
It’s then I met her I do declare,
– Way-ay roll and go,
It’s then I met her I do declare,
– A long time ago!

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Bay Of Mexico

Rio Grande (D)

Rio Grande (E)

What is in the Pot A-boiling

Interesting Facts about the What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the Pot A-boiling, in my opinion, definitely is the pulling shanty, the construction verses, and choruses clearly show it, however, Stan Hugill did not specify this clearly, but he left underscored words on choruses in music notation. According to this notation, we can be sure this song is a halyard shanty. Stan Hugill took this song from Cecil J. Sharp’s “Folk Song Society Journal (England Folk Song and Dance Society)” 1916: Vol 5 Iss 20. From Cecil Sharp’s description, this song was sung by Mr. H. C. Alison (Of Perth Scotland), at Stratford-On-Avon, on Aug. 29th, 1914.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard 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 166).

The Record of the What is in the Pot A-boiling

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.

What is in the Pot A-boiling - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation of the What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the Pot A-boiling music notation

The full lyrics

What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the pot a-boiling?
– O row, HEAVE and go!
Two sheep’s spunks and an apple dumpling,
– O row, HEAVE and go!

Related to this sea shanty

Walk Me Along Johnny

Yankee John Stormalong

A Long Time Ago (B)

Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

Interesting Facts about the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

Here is “Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard” a very unique variant of “Sally Brown”, which Has been picked up by Stan Hugill in the West Indies. This shanty was used on halyards, but only for quick light pulls on the royal halyard – one pull in each refrain. Stan Hugill also heard that it was also used for tack and sheets. On page 166, we can find an alternative final refrain, which I will try to utilize in this reconstruction.

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 166).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).

The Record of the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

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.

Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard musical notation

The full lyrics

Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

There was a ship she sailed for Spain,
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
There was a ship she sailed for Spain
– TOM-my’s on the tops’l yard!

* 2 *

There wuz a ship came home again,
There wuz a ship came home again,

* 3 *

An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?
An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?

* 4 *

She had diamonds, she had gold.
She had diamonds, she had gold.

* 5 *

An, what wuz in her lazareet?
An, what wuz in her lazareet?

* 6 *

Good split peas an, bad bull meat.
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.

* 7 *

An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?
An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?

* 8 *

Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.

* 9 *

An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!

Related to this sea shanty

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Walk Me Along Johnny

Walk him along Johnny

Sally Brown (C)

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (C)

This is another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. Sally Brown (C) is the halyard shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Stan Hugill heard this version, very popular on halyards, from Old Smith of Tobago, a great West Indian shantyman.

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 165).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163).

The Record of the Sally Brown (C)

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.

Sally Brown C - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Sally Brown C - musical notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (C)

Oh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulato,
– WAY-ay, ay, ay, YAH!
Oh, She drinks rum an’ chaws terbacco,
– Oh, WALK along you SALly Brown!

* 2 *

Sally lives on the old plantation,
She is daughter of the Wild Goose Nation.

* 3 *

Seven long years I courted Sally,
But all she did was dilly-dally,

* 4 *

Sally Brown’s a big buck creole,
Her bow is big, but her starn is bigger.

* 5 *

I brought her growns an’ I bought ‘er laces,
Took her out to all the places.

* 6 *

Sally’s teeth are white an’ pearly,
Her eyes are black an’ her hair is curly.

* 7 *

Sally lives in ol’ Jamaica,
Sellin’ rum an’ grown’ terbacker

* 8 *

I call her my ol, Queen of Faces,
Bought her coral beads an’ laces.

* 9 *

The sweetest flower in the valley,
Is my own my pretty Sally.

* 10 *

Sally Brown, what is the matter?
Pretty gal, but can’t git at her.

* 11 *

Sally Brown, I love ye dearly,
Ye had me heart, or very nearly.

Related to this sea shanty

The Gals O’ Chile

Larry Marr

The Lowlands Low (A)