capstan shanty

Interesting Facts about the Spanish Ladies B

“Spanish Ladies B” old naval song, only Stan Hugill and Captain Frank Shaw were writers who call this beautiful song the shanty. Hugill tells us it was the homeward-bound song sung at the capstan. This song has two tunes – the livelier and faster one being preferred by the later generation of sailing-ship men. Both versions including this one, Stan Hugill took from his father.
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 386).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 386).

The Record of the Spanish Ladies B

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

And the full lyrics

Spanish Ladies B

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England,
An’ hope very shortly to see you again.

– We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar, like true British sailors,
– We’ll rant an’ we’ll rave across the salt seas,
– Till we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England,
– From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-four leagues.

* 2 *

We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou’west, boys,
We hove our ship to for to take soundings clear.
In fifty-five fathoms with a fine sandy bottom,
We filled our maintops’l, up Channel did steer.

* 3 *

The first land we made was a point called the Deadman,
Next Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight.
We sailed then by Beachie, by Fairlee and Dover,
Then bore straight away for the South Foreland Light.

* 4 *

Now the signal was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
We clewed up our tops’ls, stuck out tacks and sheets.
We stood by our stoppers, we brailed in our spankers,
And anchored ahead of the noblest of fleets.

* 5 *

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,
Let every man here drink up his full bowl,
And let us be jolly and drown melancholy,
Drink a health to each jovial an’ true-hearted soul.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Interesting Facts about the Spanish Ladies A

“Spanish Ladies A” old naval song, only Stan Hugill and Captain Frank Shaw were writers who call this beautiful song the shanty. Hugill tells us it was the homeward-bound song sung at the capstan. This song has two tunes – the livelier and faster one being preferred by the later generation of sailing-ship men. Both versions including this one, Stan Hugill took from his father.
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 385).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 385).

The Record of the Spanish Ladies 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.

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Spanish Ladies A

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England,
An’ hope very shortly to see you again.

– We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar, like true British sailors,
– We’ll rant an’ we’ll rave across the salt seas,
– Till we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England,
– From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-four leagues.

* 2 *

We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou’west, boys,
We hove our ship to for to take soundings clear.
In fifty-five fathoms with a fine sandy bottom,
We filled our maintops’l, up Channel did steer.

* 3 *

The first land we made was a point called the Deadman,
Next Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight.
We sailed then by Beachie, by Fairlee and Dover,
Then bore straight away for the South Foreland Light.

* 4 *

Now the signal was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
We clewed up our tops’ls, stuck out tacks and sheets.
We stood by our stoppers, we brailed in our spankers,
And anchored ahead of the noblest of fleets.

* 5 *

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,
Let every man here drink up his full bowl,
And let us be jolly and drown melancholy,
Drink a health to each jovial an’ true-hearted soul.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Interesting Facts about the Doodle Let Me Go

“Doodle Let Me Go” is the capstan shanty. According to Stan Hugill probably related to “Do Let Me Go Susan”. Terry says that the word “Do” was sometimes sung as “doodle”. This version is version comes from Harding Barbadian, a shipmate of Stan Hugill.
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 380).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 380, 381).

The Record of this 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.

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Doodle Let Me Go

Oh, once I met a dou-dou fair, belonged to Mobile Bay,
– Hooraw, me yaller gels, doodle let me go!
– Doodle let me go, gels,
– Doodle let me go.
– Hooraw, me yaller gels,
– doodle let me go!

* 2 *

She swung her lip, she tripped her feet, she winked her sassy eye,
– Hooraw …

* 3 *

Ah took her in an’ gave her gin, an’ danced her on the floor,
– Hooraw …

* 4 *

The crew is drunk, the mate is drunk, the Old Man’s got a load,
– Hooraw …

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande (F)

Bound for the Rio Grande (R. R. Terry’s Version)

Rio Grande (A. Connan Doyle version)

Interesting Facts about the Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

“Cant Ye Dance The Polka B” was a popular capstan shanty on both American and British ships. This is as Stan Hugill described the normal Packet Rat version – usually sung in a Yankee drawl.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty (used at the Halyard winch).

The source of the Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 372).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 372-373).

The Record of this sea 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.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Cant Ye Dance The Polka B

Tis I walked down the Broadway.
One evenin’ in July,
I met a maid who axed me trade,
an’ a Sailor John, sez I …

– Than away you Santee,
– My dear Annie!
– Ooooh, ye New York gals,
– Can’t ye dance the polka?

* 2 *

To tiffany’s I took her,
I did not mind expense,
I bought her two gold earrings,
An’ they cost me fifteen cents.

* 3 *

Sez she, ‘You Limejuice sailor,
Now see me home you may.’-
But when we reached her cottage door,
She this to me did say.

* 4 *

My flash man he’s a Yankee,
Wid his hair cut short behind,
He wears a pair o’ long sea-boots,
An’ he sails in the Blackball Line.

* 5 *

He’s homeward bound this evening,
An’ wid me he will stay.
So git a move on, sailor-boy,
Git crackin’ on year way.

* 6 *

Si I kissed her hard an’ proper,
Afore her flash man came,
An’ fare-ye-well, me Bowery gel,
I know yer little game.

* 7 *

I wrapped me glad rags round me,
An’ to the docks did steer.
I’ll never court another maid,
I’ll stick to rum an’ beer.

* 8 *

I joined a Yankee blood-boat,
An’ sailed away next morn.
Don’t ever fool around wid gals,
Yer safer off Cape Horn!

Related to this sea shanty

Roller Bowler – Liverpool Version

Good Mornin Ladies All A

Haul The Bowline B