Johnny Come-A-Long

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.

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.

Johnny Come-A-Long - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

Johnny Come-A-Long - music 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

Rise Me Up From Down Below – Doerflinger

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 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 281, 282).

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

Rise Me Up From Down Below (Doerflinger) - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

Rise Me Up From Down Below - Doerflinger - music 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

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

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.

Rise Me Up From Down Below - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

Rise Me Up From Down Below - music 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)

John Dameray (Harding)

Interesting Facts about the John Dameray (Harding)

This shanty is known as “Johnny, Come Down the Backstay” or “John Dameray”. Stan Hugill claims it was a stamp-‘n’-go shanty, and a favorite in Yankee ships according to his shipmate Harding Barbadian, the Barbarian. This song was sung at the braces.

The source of this sea shanty

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

The Record of the John Dameray (Harding)

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

John Dameray (Harding) - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

John Dameray (Harding) - music description

The full lyrics

John Dameray (Harding)

Around Cape Horn we go – o,
– Johnny, come-down the backstay,
Trough wind an’ rain an’ snow – o,
Johnny, come-down the backstay,

– Johny, come down the backstay, John Damaray-ay
Johnny, come down the backstay, John Damaray-ay,
Johny, come down the backstay, John Damaray-ay,

* 2 *

Hoist her from down below,
Through wind an’ rain an’ sno-ow,

* 3 *

Oh, shake her as she ro-olls,
For John’s a bully so-oul.

* 4 *

“Tis time now for our smoko,
The Ol’ Man he’s gone loco.

* 5 *

When I gits me feet ashore,
From sea I won’t go mo-ore.

* 6 *

From sea I will steer cle-ear,
An’ stick to drinkin’ beer.

Related to this sea shanty

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Interesting Facts about the John Dameray (Silsbee)

This shanty is known as “Johnny, Come Down the Backstay” or “John Dameray”. Stan Hugill claims it was a stamp-‘n’-go shanty, and a favorite in Yankee ships according to his shipmate Harding Barbadian, the Barbarian. This particular version comes from William Main Doerflinger in his “Shantymen And Shantyboys” (1951). William Doerflinger mentioned this song was sung at the braces, on American vessels, according to a manuscript by the late Nathaniel Silsbee of Cohasset, Massachusetts. Mr. Silsbee learned this shanty at sea in the 1880s and set down the words in 1893. Song refers to the sailor stunt of sliding down the backstays – a quick way of getting on deck from high aloft.

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 272).

The Record of the John Dameray (Silsbee)

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

John Dameray (Silsbee) - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

John Dameray (Silsbee) - music notation

The full lyrics

John Dameray (Silsbee)

Aloft we all must go-oh,
– John come down the backstay,
In hail and frost and snow-oh,
– John come down the backstay,
John Dameray!

– John-Dameray! – John come down the backstay,
John-Dameray! – John come down the backstay,
John-Dameray!

– John-Dameray! – John come down the backstay,
John-Dameray! – John come down the backstay,
John
Dameray!

* 2 *

My ma she wrote to me,
“My son, come home from sea.”

* 3 *

Got no monay and no clo’es,
Am knocking out of doors.

* 4 *

My home I soon will be in,
And then we’ll have some gin.

* 5 *

From sea I will keep clear,
And live by selling beer.

Related to this sea shanty

Donkey Riding (Stamp-n-go)

Cant Ye Hilo? (short drag)

Young Girls Cant You Hilo? (short drag)

Roll The Old Chariot (Stamp-n-go)

Interesting Facts about Roll The Old Chariot

Roll The Old Chariot is one of the most popular “stamp-n-go” shanties. William Main Doerflinger in his “Shantymen and Shantyboys” (1951), says that it is based on the words of a Salvation Army revivalist hymn and that the tune is a Scottish reel. It seems without any doubt that the shanty is of Negro origin.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the stamp-n-go shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 151 ).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 151 ).

The Record of the Roll The Old Chariot

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 The Old Chariot - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

roll-the-old-chariot music notation

The full lyrics

Roll The Old Chariot

0h, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
0h, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
And we’ll all hang on behind!


– So we’ll … ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
– And we’ll roll the golden chariot along!
– Oh, we’ll ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
– An’ we’ll all hang on behind!

* 2 *

0h, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
0h, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
And we’ll all…

* 3 *

Oh, a nice fat cook wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 4 *

Oh, roll in the clover wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 5 *

Oh, a long spell in goal wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 6 *

Oh, a nice watch below wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 7 *

Oh, a night with the gals wouldn’t do us any harm.

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (A)

Donkey Riding

Donkey Riding (Stamp-n-go)

Interesting Facts about the Donkey Riding

Donkey Riding song is similar to “Hieland Laddie” and the almost identical tune is that known as “Donkey Riding”. This song was also very popular among the timber droghers both in Liverpool and Canadian ports, and by sailors was used as a capstan or “stamp-n-go” shanty when working with cargo. This version Stan Hugill took from his old shipmate called Spike Sennit, who said it was just as popular at sea as in port.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the stamp-n-go shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 147).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 147, 148).

The Record of the Donkey Riding

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

Donkey Riding - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

donkey-riding music notation

The full lyrics

Donkey Riding

Wuz ye ever in Quebec,
Launchin’ timber on the deck,
Where ye’d break yer bleed-in neck,
– Riding on a donkey?

– Way, hay an’ away we go!
– Donkey riding, donkey riding!
– Way, hay an’ away we go!
– Oh riding on a donkey?

* 2 *

Wuz ye ever in Timbucktoo,
Where the gals are black an’ blue,
An’ they waggle their bustles too,
– Riding…

* 3 *

Wuz ye ever in Vallipo,
Where the gals put on a show,
Waggle an’ dance with a roll ‘n’ go?
Riding…

* 4 *

Wuz ye ever down Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton all the day,
A dollar a day is a white man’s pay?
Riding…

* 5 *

Wuz ye ever in Canton,
Where the men wear pigtails long,
And the gals play hong-ki-kong?
Riding…

* 6 *

Wuz you ever in London town,
Where the gals they do come down,
See the king in a golden crown?
Riding…

* 7 *

Wuz ye ever in Miramashee,
Where ye tie up to a tree,
An’ the skeeters do bite we?
Riding…

* 8 *

Wuz ye ever on the Broomielaw,
Where the Yanks are all the go,
An’ the boys dance hell an’ toe?
Riding…

* 9 *

Wuz ye ever down ‘Frisco Bay,
Where the gals all shoun, hooray,
Here comes Johnny with his three years’ pay!
Riding…

* 10 *

Wuz ye ever off Cape Horn,
Where the weather’s niver warm,
When ye wish to hell ye’d niver bin born?
Riding…

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (B)

Roll The Old Chariot

Drunken Sailor B (Stamp-n-go)

Interesting Facts about the Drunken Sailor (B)

Drunken Sailor (B) is a very well-known shanty, a typical example of the stamp-‘n’-go song or walkaway or runaway shanty, and was the only type of work song allowed in the King’s Navee. In latter days, in bigger ships with smaller crews, it was mainly used at braces when ‘going about’ or to hand aloft a light sail such as stays’l – in this latter case, it would then be used as a hand-over-hand song.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Stamp-n-go shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 135).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 134, 135).

The Record of the Interesting Facts about  Drunken Sailor (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.

Drunken Sailor ( B ) - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

drunken-sailor-b music notation

The full lyrics

Drunken Sailor B

What shall we do with’a drunken sailor? x3
– Earleye in the mornin!
– Way, hay ‘n’ up she rises! x3
– Earlye in the mornin!

* 2 *

Put him in the long-boat till he gets sober.

* 3 *

Keep him there an’ make him bale her.

* 4 *

Trice him up in a runnin’ bowline.

* 5 *

Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under.

* 6 *

Put him in the scuppers with a hose-pipe on him.

* 7 *

Take him an’ shake ‘im, an’ try an’ wake ‘im.

* 8 *

Give him a dose o’ salt an’ water.

* 9 *

Give him a taste o’ the bosun’s rope-end.

* 10 *

Stick on his back a mustard plaster.

* 11 *

What’ll we do with a Limejuice Skipper?

* 12 *

Soak him in oil till he sprouts a flipper.

* 13 *

Scrape the hair off his chest with a hoop-iron razor.

* 14 *

What shall we do with a drunken solider?

* 15 *

Put him in the guard room till he gets sober.

* 16 *

What shall we do with the Queen o’ Sheba?

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (A)

Donkey Riding

Roll The Old Chariot

Drunken Sailor A (Stamp-n-go)

Interesting Facts about the Drunken Sailor (A)

Drunken Sailor (A) is a very well-known shanty, a typical example of the stamp-‘n’-go song or walkaway or runaway shanty, and was the only type of work song allowed in the King’s Navee. This shanty was very popular in ships with big crews when at halyards; the crowd would seize the fall and stamp the sail up.

It is a very old shanty, having been sung in the Indiamen of the John Company. Olmstead gives a version with its tune in his book “Incidents of a Whaling Voyage”(1839) differing very little from the modern accepted one.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Stamp-n-go shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 134, 135).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 134, 135).

The Record of the Drunken Sailor (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.

Drunken Sailor (A) - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

drunken-sailor-a musical notation

The full lyrics

Drunken Sailor (A)

– Way, hay an’ up she rises!
– Patent blocks o’ diff’rent sizes,
– Way, hay ‘n’ up she rises!
– Earlye in the mornin!

What shall we do wi’a drunken sailor? x3
– Earlye in the mornin!

* 2 *

Put him in the long-boat till he gets sober.

* 3 *

Keep him there an’ make him bale her.

* 4 *

Trice him up in a runnin’ bowline.

* 5 *

Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under.

* 6 *

Put him in the scuppers with a hose-pipe on him.

* 7 *

Take him an’ shake ‘im, an’ try an’ wake ‘im.

* 8 *

Give him a dose o’ salt an’ water.

* 9 *

Give him a taste o’ the bosun’s rope-end.

* 10 *

Stick on his back a mustard plaster.

* 11 *

What’ll we do with a Limejuice Skipper?

* 12 *

Soak him in oil till he sprouts a flipper.

* 13 *

Scrape the hair off his chest with a hoop-iron razor.

* 14 *

What shall we do with a drunken solider?

* 15 *

Put him in the guard room till he gets sober.

* 16 *

What shall we do with the Queen o’ Sheba?

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (B)

Donkey Riding

Roll The Old Chariot