“The American Railway” is the shore version of the shanty ” Paddy Works On The Railway”.Most collectors think it started its life as a music-hall song, however, Richard Runciman Terry disagrees with this opinion. The land version was also sung by the early railroad workers of Young America around the forties and fifties of the nineteenth century. This song will be reconstructed as the shore song.
The source of this song
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 337). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 337).
The Record
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 musical notation
The full lyrics
The American Railway
In eighteen hundred an’ sixty one, The ‘Merican Railway was begun, The ‘Mericun Railway was begun, The Great American Railway,
– Filimi, oree, airee ay, oh, – fillimi. oree, airee ay, – fillimi. oree, airee ay, – Poor Paddy works on the railway.
“The Liverpool Song” is the forebitter from “Capstan Bars” by David William Bone (1931 p 139 – 144). Bone itself calls it “fo’ cas’le ditty”, which he says was popular in 1900, and he says he has not heard it since then. It recites the trials of going to sea again after dubious long-shore living, and the chorus is a merry jingle of the order given in putting a ship about.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Capstan Bars” by David William Bone (1931 p 140). The lyrics: “Capstan Bars” by David William Bone (1931 p 139 – 144). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 324).
The Record of The Liverpool Song
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 musical notation
The full lyrics
The Liverpool Song
‘Twas in th’ cold month of December, When all my money I had spent. I shipped in the Clipper ship ‘Defender’ An’ away to the west-ard I went.
– An’ it is ‘Get ye back.’ Ho! – Take in y’ er slack.’ Ho!’ – Heave-away th’ capstan. Heave a pawl. Heave a pawl! – ‘Bount ship: stations, boys, be handy. – Raise tacks, sheets, an’ mains’l haul!
* 2 *
I joined on the bitter winter’s morning. A-frappin’ of my arms to keep me warm. An’ th’ south cone a-hoisted for a warnin’ To stand by th’ makin, of a storm.
* 3 *
It was then that voice I heard a voice a-callin’ I listened and I heard it again. ‘Twas th’ mate at th’ fo’cas’le door a-bawlin’. ‘Oh, lay aft an’ answer t’ y’er name’.
* 4 *
An’ when I arrived upon th’ quarter-deck, Great Heavens, what a sight was there to see: There were remnants of nearly every nation. An’ I tell you th’ sight did sicken me.
* 5 *
There was Dutchmen an’ Roosians an’ Spanish, An’ Johnny Creepaws straight across from France, An’ most didn’t know a word of English, But answered to the name o’ ‘Month’s Advance’.
* 6 *
Now in my chest I had a bottle. I saw my boarding master put it there. So I slipped off th’ deck t’ wet my throttle, To drown off my sorrow an’ my care.
* 7 *
And there I did suffer disappointment. When I rummaged with my hand among my traps. There was nought but a box of greasy ointment, An’ a bottle ‘o Riga Balsam for the chaps.
It is my great pleasure to present to you this book, it is a gem for all maritime enthusiasts. The full title of the book is “The Young Sea Officer’s Sheet Anchor: Or a Key to the Leading of Rigging and Practical Seamanship”. The length of the title is not unusual for the books from this time of history. As we go from the past into ‘nova days’ time we can observe a shortening of titles, verses in songs, and so on. It seems to be very natural in our current times, to receive just short information to minimize the time cost of gaining knowledge. But this book is not from our time. It is from the past and gives us a snip of the specific knowledge; displayed in every possible small detail. To read this book is like discovering a user guide. Complicated steam machines in the 21st century contain drawings, explanations, and all necessary knowledge.
The language used in Darcy Lever – The Young Sea Officer’s Sheet Anchor
I asked myself: ‘Did you understand everything from this book?’, and the answer was “Hell, no”. The reason is the book contains tones of the specific nautical language. A lot of terms, from the book are forgotten and not used more than 100 years past. But it doesn’t matter. A great number of pictures and drawings inside the book, give us an explanations.
Why this book is so crucial for the shanty singer or shanty enthusiasts?
Well, every time I try to reconstruct some forgotten shanty I have an issue with one thing, imagine himself as a part of the gang heaving or hauling the rope during ship work. And it is not a general issue, I can easily Imagine pulling or pushing activities. There is a huge difference between when imagination is filled with imagining where this halyard ends you can Imagine a sailor shouting the yard “All Clear” from the yard, and you know what he did to be prepared for this shout when you know where belaying pins are; and why some old pictures show raise yard by pulling on board of the ship. This book gives you this information.
Conclusion
Well, every time I try to recreate some forgotten shanties; I have a problem with one thing: imagine myself being part of the crew; heaving or hauling the rope while working on the ship. And that’s not a general problem, it’s easy to imagine pulling or pushing. But it’s a huge difference; when a simple hazy image from our imagination; turns into a picture where you can imagine where that halyard ends; you can imagine a sailor screaming “All Clear” from the yard; and you know what he did to prepare to that scream when you know; where the belaying pins are and why in some old photos you can see halyard pulling from the side of the ship and not from the base of the mast. This book contains all of this information.
This book describes knots, rigging, and elements of all complicated machinery that operates sails on tall ships. It tells you how reef mainsail happens, how to install topmast on main masts, and tons of other information. If you buy it your shanty singing will be much less virtual, at least in your head, and definitely, you will be closer to discovering the true spirit of the sea shanties.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Glyn Davies – Cerddi Huw Puw (1922), is one of the books known by myself when I could see the shanties and sea songs in the Welsh language. The Welsh language (really unique), is used in one of the countries of the land of the United Kingdom. It has a very different accent and vocabulary than the English language.
The book is an experiment for an author’s children. Experiment to increase the popularity of the Welsh language by singing in Welsh schools. Speaking of the authenticity of the songs you can find in the collection, the tunes have been taken at random: Old Welsh and Old English melodies. Also, shanties and sea songs were picked up on Welsh ships. Some thirty years before the book was printed (around 1890). Some of the tunes were made up by an author, some just for an author’s amusement. Overall the book is very unique. I didn’t see any references to other collectors’ books to this one, which can be good or bad.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Joanna Colcord – Songs Of American Sailormen (1938)
Songs Of American Sailormen (1938) by Joanna Carver Colcord is a cornerstone of the American heritage of the sea shanties. The author herself was born at sea. The father of an author Lincoln Colcord was a captain of a merchant fleet ship for over two decades. The edition from 1938 is an enlarged and revised book from 1924. The author of the book “Songs of American Sailormen”; describes a huge amount of shanties not only from the musical point of view; but also from the side of the work for which the described shanties were used. Joanna C Colcord’s book is, next to William Doerflinger’s “Shantymen and Shantyboys” and the works of Frederick Pease Harlow; the most important authentic source of shanties and information on shanties. An interesting fact for Polish fans of shanties is that Joanna C Colchord’s books; were one of the main source texts of the works of one of the two most popular shanty bands; “Cztery Refy”. According to the story of Simon Spalding; in the 1980s, at the request of Jerzy Rogacki; Simon Spalding, using a photocopier (Xero); copied the work of Joanna C Colcord at the Mystic Seaport Museum; one for Jerzy Rogacki and the other for himself. Jerzy Rogacki received a parcel from “America”, containing a valuable photocopy of this wonderful book.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
R. W. Saar & Gilbert Forsyth – Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v2 (1927)
R. W. Saar & Gilbert Forsyth – Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v2 is a collection of twelve shanties; very famous. The book gives us a full range and a selection of rhythms from various types of sea shanties. However, according to the author, who says in the preface, it is worth noting that the songs have been textually and melodically adapted to the stage, so for people looking for original lyrics, this is not a good place.
As important; it should be mentioned that; in addition to the notation; all songs have chords for the ukulele (in a nice simple form of a neck sketch; with marked places where you should press the strings.
Another note for Polish fans: the book contains the song “Blow, Boys, Blow!” it has a melody almost identical to the beautiful song “Brzegi Congo River”; by Janusz Sikorski (an author of the Polish text); one of the members of the band Stare Dzwony. If you follow the f “My Library” – posts on my Fan Page; you probably have a deja-vu; so the description is the same as in the previous item with the same title, except for the cover, the items differ in that in this edition you will find samples of two songs at the end of the book, which is not in the previous position, so now at least you know that you don’t have to get in both positions.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Related to the Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v2
R. W. Saar & Gilbert Forsyth – Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v1 (1927)
R. W. Saar & Gilbert Forsyth – Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v1 (1927) is a collection of twelve shanties. A good selection of very famous sea shanties. The book gives us a full range and a selection of rhythms from various types of sea shanties. However, according to the author, who says in the preface, it is worth noting that the songs have been textually and melodically adapted to the stage, so for people looking for original lyrics, this is not a good place.
As important, it should be mentioned that, in addition to the notation, all songs have chords for the ukulele (in a nice simple form of a neck sketch with marked places where you should press the strings. Another note for Polish fans: the book contains the song “Blow, Boys, Blow!” it has a melody almost identical to the beautiful song “Brzegi Congo River” by Janusz Sikorski (an author of the Polish text), one of the members of the band Stare Dzwony.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Related to the Twelve Sailors Songs or Chanteys v1
The book is a collection of nautical songs and poems, collected by John Ashton. With two hundred woodcut illustrations throughout. Including Sea Fight, Press-gang, Disaster, Ashore, and Love songs. It also contains poems entitled The Battle of Trafalgar, Bold Napier, The Lady’s Love for a Sailor, and many more. This book is a masterpiece for many reasons, the first being a collection of songs, which cannot be found anywhere but in this book.
The earliest source of some of the songs.
Another reason is that in this book we find the first or one of the earliest versions of the song “Flash Frigates” which is the original of the beautiful song “La Pique” and later “Dreadnought”. This song is significant for Polish fans of sea songs. It is because it is the parent of a wonderful song, sung by the group Cztery Refy “Lśniąca Fregata”.
The last reason is the amazingly beautiful, its huge size (it is the largest book in my collection!), Woodcut illustrations, and the fact that the same top-quality paper and printing method were used as used for printing broadsides. The whole thing is so spectacular that the cheapest online copy of this book costs £ 220, I highly recommend it. Of course, as always, for those interested in particular songs, contact me and I can provide photos of the song you are looking for.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Blow The Wind Southerly – Reprinted by W. G. Whittaker (1921).
Here is a single track release “Blow The Wind Southerly” a reprint of this beautiful song from the book “North Countrie Ballads, Songs and Pipe Tunes”, edited and arranged by W. G. Whittaker. I reached this position through Stan Hugill, who mentioned the origins of “The Fishes”, in his book, on page 197 of the first edition (1961). Stan Hugill says that this is the original from which the sea shanties of the same title were made.
As we know, this song is undoubtedly a song by Scottish fishermen. The origin is of course much older. Jim Mageean told me that, It’s a Tyneside song from where He lived, the first time this song appeared in print was in The Bishoprick Garland (Cuthbert Sharp 1834), and the Northumbrian Minstrelsy ( Bruce & Stokoe 1887), then in Songs and Ballads of Northern England (John Stokoe 1892).
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Joanna Colcord – Roll And Go – Songs of American Sailormen
The book by Joanna Colcord – Roll And Go – Songs of American Sailormen is a cornerstone of the American heritage of the sea shanties. The author herself was born at sea. Her father Lincoln Colcord was a captain of a merchant fleet ship for over two decades. Joanna Colcord describes a huge amount of shanties not only from the musical point of view but also from the side of the work for which the shanties were used.
Colcord’s book is, next to William Doerflinger’s “Shantymen and Shantyboys” and the works of Frederick Pease Harlow, the most important authentic source of shanties and information on shanties. An interesting fact for Polish fans of shanties is that Joanna Colcord’s book was one of the main source texts of the works, of one of the two most popular shanty bands in Poland: “Cztery Refy”. According to the story of Simon Spalding, in the 1980s, at the request of Jerzy Rogacki, Simon Spalding, using a photocopier (Xero), copied the work of Joanna C Colcord at the Mystic Seaport Museum, one for Jerzy Rogacki and the other for himself. Jerzy Rogacki received a parcel from “America”, containing a valuable photocopy of this wonderful book.
Do you want to be more involved?
You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.
Related to the Roll And Go – Songs of American Sailormen
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