Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version

Interesting Facts about Shanandar – Cecil Sharp

Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version, of Shenandoah, is given to us, by Cecil Sharp, which was sung to him by sailor Mr. James Thomas of Cambourne. Mr. Thomas said this was often used aboard the “City of Washington”, a ship that he sailed to America in 1870, as a halyard shanty. In Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk Chanteys” (1914) there are two versions of Shanadar, I will only reconstruct the one mentioned by Stan Hugill.

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 178).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 178).

The Record of the Shanandar – Cecil Sharp

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.

Shanandar (Cecil Sharp version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Shanandar - Cecil Sharp music notation

The full lyrics

Shanandar (C. Sharp version) – Halyard Shanty

Shanadar is a rolin river,
E – o… I – o… E – o… I – o…

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye My Love Goodbye

Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Singurd Sternvall version)

Shenandoah – Bullen

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah – Bullen

Shenandoah – Bullen, is another capstan shanty with the name “Shenandoah”, a song given by F.T. Bullen “Songs Of Sea Labour” (1914). Stan Hugill mention is that Bullen says, about the first four shanties from his collection, where “Shenandoah” was fourth:
“They are negro Chanties all right enough, but they were not in common use onboard ship. If however, it has demurred that the time is long since I learned them and memory may fail me, I can only reply I heard them every day for about a month, that I have never forgotten a tune I once learned, no matter how long ago it may have been, and consequently the correctness of these airs may be thoroughly relied on.”

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 177).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 177).

The Record of the Shenandoah – Bullen

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 (F. T. Bullen) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Shenandoah - Bullen music notation

The full lyrics

Shenandoah (F. T. Bullen)

Oh, Shenandoah, my bully boy, I long to hear you holler,
Way ay, ay ay ay, Shenandoh,
I lub ter bring er tot er rum en see ye make a swoller,
Way ay, ay ay, Shenandoh.

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Norwegian)

Horraw For The Blackball Line

Horraw For The Blackball Line (Liverpool Jacks Tune)

River Shenandore – L. A. Smith Version

Interesting Facts about the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version

This is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version. 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 version when crossed Sally Brown.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 51).

The lyrics:  “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 51).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 177).

The Record of the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version

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.

River Shenandore (Laura Alexandrine Smith Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

River Shenandore - Laura Alexandrine Smith music notation

The full lyrics

River Shenandore (Laura A Smith Version)

You Shanandore, I long to hear you,
– Hurrah, you rollin’ river!
You Shanandore, I long to hear you,
– Ah, ha, you Shanandore.

Related to this sea shanty

Heisevise (Norvegian Wergland version)

Bound To California

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (odd verses collection)

Shenandoah D

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah D

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 version when crossed Sally Brown.

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 176, 177).

The Record of the Shenandoah D

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 D - Capstan Shanty

The full lyrics

Shenandoah D

O Sally Brown, I love your daughter,
Away, ye rollin’ river!
For her I sail across the water,
Away we’re bound to go
;
‘Crosst the wide Missourah!

* 2 *

O Shenandoah’s a big plantation,
I’m shantyman of the Wild Goose Nation.

* 3 *

O Sally’s gal just took me fancy,
She’s clipper built;
her name is Nancy.

* 4 *

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

* 5 *

She lives alone in Kingston City,
It can’t be helped; oh more’s the pity,

* 6 *

I bought her coral beads and laces,
Often call her ‘Queen o’ Faces’.

* 7 *

Seven long years I courted Sally,
The sweetest flower in the valley.

* 8 *

Farewell, me dear; I’m bound; ter leave yer
I’m bound away; but won’t; deceive yer.

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento – Version from German barque Gustav

Der Hamborger Veermaster

Sacramento – Norvegian English worded version

Shenandoah C

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah C

Shenandoah C 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 version comes from Captain Frank H. Shaw’s “Splendour Of The Seas” (1953), Captan Shaw wrote:
“Perhaps the best known, certainly the favourite amongst windjammer men was ‘Shenandoah’. To hear these sweet strains floating over a placed anchorage as a crowd of half-sober men walk around the back-breaking capstan is to get the real poetry and splendour of the seas.

Even as a concert ditty the song has infinite charm. It seems to have a Negro origin because the Shenandoah river flowed through the slave-states below the Mason and Dixon Line, and whoever first sang it was obviously pinning for the delights of that considerable stream. Its composition throws an interesting sidelight on the conditions of life aboard the hard-case Yankee packets if even the slavery so poignantly described by Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe was preferable to existence aboard these hell-and-be-damned vessels!”

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 176).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 176).

The Record of the Shenandoah 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.

Shenandoah C - Capstan Shanty

The full lyrics

Shenandoah C

Oh Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer,
– Away, ye rollin’ river!
Oh Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer,
– Away we’re bound to go,
– ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!

* 2 *

O Shenandoah, I took a notion,
To sail across the stormy ocean.

* 3 *

O Shenandoah, I’m bound ter leave yer,
O Shenandoah, I’ll not deceive yer.

* 4 *

O Shenandoah, I love yer daughters,
I love the music of yer waters.

* 5 *

‘Tis seven long years since last I seed yer,
But, Shenandoah, I’ll never grieve yer,

* 6 *

O Shenandoah’s my native valley,
Beside her waters I love to dally.

* 7 *

O Shenandoah she’s a lovely river,
An’ I shall never forget you ever.

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (D)

Ved Ankerhioning

Shenandoah B

Interesting Facts about the Shenandoah B

Shenandoah B, 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 was a very popular version about an Indian chief.

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 175).

The Record of the Shenandoah 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.

Shenandoah B - Capstan Shanty

The full lyrics

Shenandoah B

Oh Missourah she’s a mighty water,
– Away, ye rollin’ river!
The red skin camp lies on her border,
– Away we’re bound to go,
– ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!.

* 2 *

O Shenandoah wuz a redskin maiden,
And a white man loved that redskin maiden,

* 3 *

Oh, the white man loved the Indian maiden,
With trade-goods his canoe was laden.

* 4 *

The chief refused the trader’s dollars
My daughter ye shall never follow

* 5 *

At last there came a Yankee skipper
Who winked his eye and flipped his flipper

* 6 *

He sold the chief some fire-water,
And stole the gal across the water.

* 7 *

O Shenandoah, I love yer daughter,
I’ll take her sailing cross yon rollin’ water,

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento (C)

Sacramento (D)

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye (Alan Lomax) -River Song

Interesting Facts about The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

This is one of the origins, of the “Shenandoah”, the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties. Mentioned origin is the “The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye”, given by J. A. Lomax & Alan Lomax “American Ballads & Folk Songs” (1934), his version is ‘cavalry version’. It seems to be nothing more than a river song–one of the songs used by boatmen of the great American rivers (like Ohio). The story from Lomax’s book is this:
“The cavalry jealously claims this song for its very own, having acquired it, no doubt, during for frontier days. Sometimes the ‘would not have me for a lover’ stanza is followed by one beginning, ‘Because I was a wagon solider’, but the cavalry claims this to be a field artillery intrusion and an attempt to steal its song.”

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the river song.

The source of this river song

The music: “American Ballads & Folk Songs” by John Avery Lomax & Alan Lomax (1934).

The lyrics:  “American Ballads & Folk Songs” by John Avery Lomax & Alan Lomax (1934).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 173).

The Record of The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

This song will be performed as an average song, not even in intention is to recreate this song by me as a shanty.

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 Wild Miz-Zou-Rye (Alan Lomax) -River Song

The musical notation

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye music notation

The full lyrics

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

For seven long years I courted Nancy,
– Hi! Ho! the rolling river!
For seven long years I courted Nancy,
– Ha! Ha! I’m bound away
– for the wild Miz-zou-rye!

* 2 *

She would not have me for a lover–
She would not have me for a lover–

* 3 *

And so she took my fifteen dollars–
And so she took my fifteen dollars–

* 4 *

And then she went to Kansas City–
And then she went to Kansas City–

* 5 *

And there she had a little sh-sh-baby–
And there she had a little sh-sh-baby–

* 6 *

She must have had another lover–
She must have had another lover–

* 7 *

He must have been a ——th Cavalry Solider–
He must have been a ——th Cavalry Solider–

* 8 *

I’m drinkin’ of rum and chawin’ tobacco–
I’m drinkin’ of rum and chawin’ tobacco–

* 9 *

I learned this song from Tommy Tompkins–
I learned this song from Tommy Tompkins–

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Timber Drogher’s Shanty

The Powder Monkey – Shore Sea-Song

Roll The Wood-pile Down – Shore Song

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)