Here list of the Susannavisan – Forebitters Family
Interesting Facts about the Susannavisan – Forebitters Family
In the case of Susannavisan song, Stan Hugill again mentioned the source: “Sang under Segel”, Sigurd’s Sternwall’s Swedish shanty book (Reference to its being sung at the capstan is to be found in the Preface, page 12). From this book, Stan Hugill gives us two verses and a melody to this beautiful song, the construction of the verses is really close to Stephen Foster’s version of “Oh Susanna”.
Forebitters are the type of songs that was sung by the sailors on the sailing ship in their leisure time. Of course, we have to say for sure, to be honest, leisure time didn’t much exist in days of sails. Sailor Jack never sleeps enough due to four hours and four hours off shifts.
In port ‘daywork’ was the rule – roughly 6 am to 6 pm. The sea watches from 8 pm one day to 4 pm the next was four hours duration, but the watch from 4 pm to 8 pm was divided into two, and these sections were known as the ‘dog watches‘. In the first two, some work was done, it was also a period for eating, but the second dog watch was, apart from there some occasional pulley-Hauley, one of leisure.
Running the easting down – that is sailing with the square yards; running before the ‘brave west wind;’ down in the high latitudes between Cape of Good Hope and Leeuwin in Australia – was a good time for singing forebitters.
Short story of the Susannavisan – Forebitters Family
The Merchant Shipping Act came out in the year 1894. The document laid down the amount of food, water, etc. sailor was allowed when on shipboard. This doling out of rations was known to him as “Pound and Pint”. The Act also covered fines and punishments for delinquent mariners, such as “For concealing Knuckledusters, Slung-shot, sword-stick, etc. 5s. for each day of concealment’, and many commandments and regulations in a similar strain. According to Stan Hugill, the item around which the sarcastic song was built; has the Yanks’ origin. And this is because American sailors call English sailors “Limejuicers”, It was due to the daily issuing of lime juice to British crews when they had been at a certain number of days at sea.
My private collection of books
Shantyman library – you will see descriptions and recommendations of positions worth diving into, true sources of knowledge about sea shanties. To gain knowledge about sea shanties is the main ultimate purpose of this library, every book in this library is somehow related to sea shanties and before mast songs.
More involvement in Traditional Sea Shanties
You can find this record here or directly listen below. If you want to discuss the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here.