Recorded Shanties Archives - Page 28 of 41

Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

December 20, 2023April 18, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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

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!

December 20, 2023April 18, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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!

High O, Come Roll Me Over! - Halyard Shanty

The musical 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!

December 20, 2023April 18, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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!

The musical 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

December 20, 2023April 18, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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

The musical 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

December 20, 2023April 18, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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

What is in the Pot A-boiling - Halyard Shanty

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

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

December 20, 2023April 17, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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

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

The 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)

December 18, 2023April 17, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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)

The 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)

Sally Brown (B) – Robbins version

December 18, 2023April 17, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (B)

This I another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. This particular version of Sally Brown (B), from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys” is a 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! Robbins, Cecil Sharp’s shantyman, sang the following tune. He said he always used it at halyards.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk-Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914).

The lyrics: “English Folk-Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 165).

The Record of the Sally Brown (B)

Sally Brown B (Robbins version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (B) – Robbins version

I shipped on board of a Liverpool liner,
– WAY, ho, a ROLling go!
And I shipped on board of a Liverpool liner,
– For I SPEND my money ‘long with SALly Brown!

* 2 *

O Sally Brown was a Creole Lady
O Sally Brown was a Creole Lady

* 3 *

O Sally Brown was a bright mulatto
O Sally Brown was a bright mulatto

* 4 *

O seven years I courted Sally.
O seven years I courted Sally.

* 5 *

And now we’re married and we’re living nice and comfor’ble.
And now we’re married and we’re living nice and comfor’ble

Related to this sea shanty

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Walk Me Along Johnny

Walk him along Johnny

Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)

December 18, 2023April 7, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)

This Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version), was sung by Dick Maitland, a shantyman whose shanties were the core of the collection of William Main Doerflinger. Here is how this shanty was commented by Doerflinger: Favorite heroine of shanty lore was the beguiling, rum-drinking, fickle Sally Brown. “Some people might think Sally Brown was rather immoral,” Dick Maitland philosophized, “but it was the way of the world in the days!” This I another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. This is a capstan 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!

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan 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 164).

The Record of the Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)

Sally Brown A (Dick Maitland version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)

Saly Brown was a gay old lady,
– Way-ay, Roll and go!
Oh, Saly Brown was a Creole lady,
– Spend my money on Sally Brown!

* 2 *

She had a farm in the isle of Jamaica,
Where she raised sugarcane, rum an, terbacker.

* 3 *

Also she had a fine young daughter,
And that’s the gal that I was after,

* 4 *

Seven long years I courted the daughter,
And when I asked her if she’d marry,

* 5 *

She would not have a tarry sailor!
She would not have a tarry sailor!

* 6 *

“Those lily-white hands and slender waist?
A tarry sailor I’ll ne’er embrace!”

* 7 *

But now my troubles they’re almost over,
Sally got married to a creol solider.

* 8 *

He beat and abused her and stole her money,
And left her with creol baby.

* 9 *

One night she was taken with a pain in her belly,
And they sent for a doctor and his name was kelly.

* 10 *

He rode a horse with a ropeyarn bridle,
And he laid young Sally on the table

* 11 *

And from her took a little tar baby.
Oh, Sally dear, why didn’t you have me?

Related to this sea shanty

Bound for the Rio Grande (Cecil Sharp Version)

Rio Grande (B)

A Long Time Ago (C)

Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)

December 18, 2023April 7, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)

This I another “roll” shanty the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”, this particular version is called, Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade). This is a capstan 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 mentions that, with this version of the melody, the word was always added to make the text match the notes. A very famous shantyman from Bristol, Stanley Slade always sang in this fashion.

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 163).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163, 164).

The Record of the ut Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)

Sally Brown A (Stanley Slade version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)

Ooh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulatter,
– Way-hay, Roll an’ go!
She drinks rum and ALWAYS chaws terbacker,
– Spend my money on Sally Brown!

* 2 *

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

* 3 *

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

* 4 *

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

* 5 *

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

* 6 *

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

Related to this sea shanty

Bound for the Rio Grande (Cecil Sharp Version)

Rio Grande (B)

A Long Time Ago (C)