Just five years after print second part of his most known book “The Shanty Book part 2”, Richard Runciman Terry publish this book “Salt Sea Ballads”. Fore worded by Morley Roberts, book give to us a really great collection of the Salt Sea songs. They not only great selection of songs, (verry common to the author), and they all authentic, comes from real tradition and (as usually for this collector) collected from real seamen. Each song have really great description, which gives us a bit knowledge of the song.
Interesting Facts
The collection contain 30 songs with music notation and pianoforte accompaniment, each song contains fair amount of verses.
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.
Folk Review Magazine (December 1976) – Stan Hugill – Tall Ships Race
We know Stan Hugill from his cornerstone great books about sea shanties such as “Shanties From The Seven Seas”, “Shanties and Sailors’ Songs”, or “Sailortown”. They are absolutely priceless for sea shanty enthusiasts. All those books are widely known, but not too many people, even those who can say about themselves are knowledgable about shanties know about this article.
So here it is, a very rare article written by The Last Surviving British Shantyman, an article is about the author’s part in the Tall Ships Race 1976. A great article about the person who can once again be part of the tall ship crew, you will be not disappointed, it contains also interesting couple sentences about the sea shanties, and a picture of Stan Hugill stand on halyard footrope!
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 Folk Review Magazine (December 1976) – Stan Hugill – Tall Ships Race
Aside from “Old Sea Wings” and “A Waterbiography”, “A Sea-Painter’s Log” is another really great book that comes from this author, written in very descriptive and simple language, so the pleasure of reading is really great. The book is about all aspects of fishing on small boats in the Thames area, however, it would not be in my library if it doesn’t contain any shanties. So yes, the book has one chapter about the deep-sea voyage of an author as a passenger. In this chapter, an author gives us a few shanties with a very unique set of lyrics. So for people who want to get a lot of knowledge about the sea shanties, this book is not essential. However, I had a great pleasure reading this book which I strongly recommend to people who want to look closer at the shore life of those times.
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.
“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
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
