“O Whos Been Here” is a shanty mentioned by Stan Hugill when He described the “Hog-eye Man” shanty. This song (unfortunately not even a bit of the verse more), we can find in the “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January 1914 page 42). Song was noted by Cecil J. Sharp, sung by Mr. John Allen (aged 67), 183, Adelaide Road, Feb, 18th, 1909. Cecil Sharp tells us that this song is evidently a version of the “Hog-eyed” or “Hawk’s-eyed Man”. The words of this shanty (a favorite when the ship was being hauled into the dock), refers to life ashore, and this verse may belong to other printed fragments. A reference to the Yankee sailor’s sea boots (as contrasted with the pumps or bare feet of English sailors) occurs also in a version of “John’s gone to Hilo”.
The source of the O Whos Been Here
The music: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January, 1914 page 42). The lyrics: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January, 1914 page 42). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 272).
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
O Whos Been Here
O who’s been here since I’ve been gone, A Yankee boy with his sea boots on,
“The Hawks-Eye Man” mentioned by Stan Hugill in “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, comes from “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248, 249). In the Journal, the author mentions the sung as the capstan shanty in Southport, January 1906, sung by Mr. W. Bolton. In the description, we can find that this curious tune has, like “Shangadore” (probably a version of Shanandore), a decided Negro flavor. We also can find that a very similar version of this song was taken down on board ship in 1862-4; and was printed in “Yachting Monthly” magazine in the article “The Sea Shanty” (issue October 1906). Also, the “Hog-eye Man” (given under the heading “Hauling into Blackwall Dock, 1862”), the writer of the article says: “This shanty was not allowed so long as any passengers were aboard; directly they were landed this was the only shanty that would suit sailor John. The words cannot be given, but the tune is characteristic. It is of Negro origin, from the slave states”.
The source of The Hawks-Eye Man
The music: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248). The lyrics: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248, 249). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 271).
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
The Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton)
Oh! the ‘awk’s-eye man is the man for me, And when he comes ashore he has a jolly spree,
– And the ‘awk’s-eye – – Roll the boat ashore, And the ‘awk’s-eye – Roll the boat ashore, And the ‘awk’s-eye, Ho! – She wants the ‘awk’s-eye man.
* 2 *
Sally in the garden sifting sand. And Jenny in House with the hawk’s-eye man.
“The Hog-eye Man”, this version comes from “Songs Of Sea Labour” by F.T. Bullen & W.F. Arnold (1914) (1st ed: p 19). The usual place of use for this shanty was the capstan. Also, in Bullen’s book this song, is settled in the chapter: “Windlass and Capstan Chanteys”. Some of the shanties in Bullen’s book are well described, unfortunately not in this case. The only we can get in this case is the description of five shanties together. One of those songs is “The Hog-eye Man” this what says Bullen’s description: “The next five Chanties have very little to distinguish them. The tunes are good but not super-excellent and from the great similarity between them…”.
The source of The Hog-eye Man – Bullen
The music: “Songs Of Sea Labour” by F.T. Bullen & W.F. Arnold (1914) (1st ed: p 19). The lyrics: “Songs Of Sea Labour” by F.T. Bullen & W.F. Arnold (1914) (1st ed: p 19). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 270).
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
Hog-eye Man – Bullen
Oh! de hog-eye man is the man for me, he wuk all day on ‘de big – le – vee Oh!
– Hog-eye! Pig-eye! – Row de boat a shore fer de hog-eye O! – an all she wants is de hog-eye man.
“The Hog-eyed Man”, this version comes from “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 6), in the description of this song Sharp tells us that, the tune of this chantey negro influence, especially in the curious characteristic rhythm of the chorus. The usual place of use for this shanty was the capstan.
The source of The Hog-eyed Man
The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 6). The lyrics: English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 6). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 270).
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
The Hog-eyed Man
O who’s been here since I’ve been gone? Some big black nigger with his sea – boots on.
– And a hog-eye! – Steady up a jig and a hog-eye! – Steady up a jig, – And all she wants is her hog-eye man!
* 2 *
The hog-eyed man is the man for me, He brought me down from Tennessee.
“The Hog-eye Man”, Stan Hugill mentions that he has no idea why this shanty was treated in a special way by collectors. Namely, collectors always wrote about this shanty in a “muted tone”, it is about the obscenity of the text, but as the author of “Shanties from the Seven Seas” recalls, Other shanties were equally or even more indecent. Terry writes about the meaning of the term “hog-eye” and what a disgusting meaning it had to sailors, but with all the convoluted statements, it doesn’t really explain anything. Captain Whall explains the use of the word “hog-eye”.
He claims it was the kind of barge invented for the newly emerged land trade that used America’s canals and rivers during the Gold Rush (1850). According to Stan Hugill, Terry mixed up words, thought of “Dead-eye”, and wrote about “hog-eye”, that first word had both nautical and obscene meanings. However, the solo parts of this song were indecent and a lot of camouflage was required before the song could be released to the public. The usual place of use for this shanty was the capstan.
The source of The Hog-eye Man
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 269). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 269, 270).
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
The Hog-eye Man
The hog-eye man is the man for me, He came a sailin’ from o’er the sea,
– An’ a hog-eye! – Row the boat ashore for her hog-eye! – Row the boat ashore wid her hog-eye O! – She wants the hog-eye man!
* 2 *
He came to a shack where his Sally she did dwell, And he knocked on the door and he rang her bell.
* 3 *
Oh, Sally’s in the garden, pickin’ peas, An’ the hair of her head hangin’ down to her knees.
* 4 *
Oh, who’s bin here since I’ve bin gone? Some big buck nigger wid his sea-boots on.
* 5 *
If I cotch him here wid me Sally any more, I’ll sling me hook an’ I’ll go to sea some more.
* 6 *
Oh, Sally in the parlour a-sittin’ on his knee, A-kissin’ of the sailor who’d come o’er the seas.
* 7 *
Sally in the garden siftin’ sand, An’ the hog-eye man sittin’ hand-in-hand.
* 8 *
Oh, Sally in the garden shellin’ peas, With her young hog-eye all a-sittin’ on her knee.
* 9 *
Oh, I won’t wed a nigger, no, I’m damned if I do, He’s got jiggers in his feet an’ he can’t wear a shoe.
* 10 *
Oh, the hog-eye man is the man for me, He wuz raised way down in Tennessee.
* 11 *
Oh, go fetch me down me ridin’-cane, For I’m off to see me darlin’ Jane.
* 12 *
Oh, a hog-eye ship an’ a hog-eye crew, A hog-eye mate an’ a skipper too.
Interesting Facts about O Johnny Come To Hilo – Cecil Sharp
“Johnny Come Down To Hilo” shanty was given by many collectors: Sharp, Terry (who even make it popular in schools), and Doerflinger. The normal environment for “Johnny Come Down To Hilo” was the work at the capstan. This version comes from “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914). Sharp in his book on page 68 left us a short description of this shanty, says that: “Versions of this chantey are given by Bullen (No. 10) and Tozer (No. 42). Presumably, Hilo is the seaport of that name on the east coast of Hawaii Island.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 19). The lyrics: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 19). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267).
The Record of O Johnny Come To Hilo – Cecil Sharp
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
O Johnny Come To Hilo
O a poor old man came a riding by, Says I: Old man, your horse will die,
– O, Johnny come to Hi-lo, – O-poor old man. – O-wake her, – O–shake her, – O-shake that girl with the blue dress on, – O-Johnny come to Hi–lo, – Poor old man.
Interesting Facts about The Johnny Come Down To Hilo
“Johnny Come Down To Hilo” shanty was given by many collectors: Sharp, Terry (who even make it popular in schools), and Doerflinger. According to Stan Hugill tune is Irish in origin and the lyrics are a mixture of the Negro catch-phrases, lines from Negro minstrel ditties, and other bits and pieces from other shanties, e.g. “Poor Old Man” or “The gal With the Blue Dress”. The normal environment for “Johnny Come Down To Hilo” was the work at the capstan.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 266). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 266, 267).
The Record of The Johnny Come Down To Hilo
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
Johnny Come Down To Hilo
I niver seed the like, since I bin born, Ooh, a big buck nigger wid his sea boots on
– Oh, Johnny come down to Hilo, – (Oh) poor old man! – Oooh! wake her! – Oh, shake her! – Ooooh! wake that gal wid the blue dress on! – When Johnny comes down to Hilo, – (Oh) poor old man!
* 2 *
I love a little gal across the sea, She’s a ‘Badian beauty, an’ she sez to me
Wuz ye never down in Mobile Bay, A-screwin’ cotton for a dollar a day?
* 3 *
Ooh, there once wuz a nigger an’ his name wuz Uncle Ned, An’ he had no yarns on the top o’ his head.
* 4 *
Did ye ever see the ol’ plantation boss, An’ his long-tailed filly, an’ his big, black hoss?
* 5 *
Oh, go fetch me down me riding cane, For I’m off to see me sweetheart Jane.
* 6 *
Ooh, Sally in the garden, pickin’ peas, An’ the hair of her head hangin’ down to her knees.
Mochyn Du was probably the most popular capstan shanties among Welsh crews, on the ships hailing in the main from Liverpool. This song is a folk song under another name “The Black Pig”. Stan Hugill obtained these lyrics from H. B. Jones. Stan Hugill also states that were many versions of this song but not all of them were sung at sea.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 238).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 238).
The Record of the Mochyn Du
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
Mochyn Du
Redodd Dico i Lluyncelyn, Mofyn Mati at y mochyn, D’wedodd Matti, O mar arw, M0chyn-du syd bron a marw,
– O mor drwm yr ydym ni, – O mor drwm yr ydym ni, – Y mae yma alar calon, – Ar ol claddew m0chyn; du!
* 2 *
Melws iawn yw cael rhew seliscen, O gig mochyn gyda thatan, Ond y awr rhaid gwnaid heb hwnw, M0chyn-du syd wedi marw.
– O mor drwm yr ydym ni, – O mor drwm yr ydym ni, – Y mae yma alar calon, – Ar ol claddew m0chyn; du!
Blow Ye Winds (B), according to stan Hugill was even more popular than version “A” from his book. Joanna Colcord gives us this song as a Forebitter, but another American collector, sailor, and author Frederick Pease Harlow give us as a shanty. This version has been preserved by Stan Hugill from his shipmate — “Taff” Davies of Anglesey — is closely allied to both. It was sung at the capstan and pumps to the same tune as version “A”. Worth noting that Harlow gives us additional two stanzas which are worth singing, so you can find at the end of my reconstruction these additional two stanzas. 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 219).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 222).
The Record of the Blow Ye Winds (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 full lyrics
Blow Ye Winds (B)
Twas on a Sunday mornin’, down ‘cross the Southern Sea, Our ship she lay at anchor, while awaitin’ for a breeze,
– Singin’ blow, ye winds, in the mornin’, – Blow, ye winds, high-ho! – Clear away yer runnin’ gear, – An’ blow, me bully-boys, blow!
* 2 *
The cap’n he wuz down below, the men at their work about, When under our bow we heard a splash, an’ then a lusty shout.
* 3 *
‘Man overboard!’ the lookout cried, an’ for’ard we all ran, A’ hangin’ to our larboard chains wuz a bluff, ol’ green merman.
* 4 *
His hair wuz blue, his eyes wuz green, his mouth wuz big as three, An’ the long green tail that he sat on wuz wigglin’ in the sea.
* 5 *
‘Hello!’ cried the Mate as bold as brass, ‘What-ho! shipmates,’ cried he. ‘Oh, I want ter speak ter yer Ol’ Man, I’ve a favour to ask, ye see.
* 6 *
‘I,ve bin out all night on a ruddy sea-fight at the bottom of the deep blue sea, I’ve just come home and find that ye have caused a hell o’ a spree.
* 7 *
‘Oh, ye’ve dropped yer anchor afore me house, an’ blocked me only door, An’ me wife’s blocked in an’ she can’t git out, nor me babes who number four.’
* 8 *
‘The anchor shall be hove at once, an’ yer wife an’ yer babes set free, But I never saw a scale from a sprat to a whale till now that could speak to me.
* 9 *
‘Yer figgerhead is a sailor’s bold, an’ ye speak like a human man, But where did yer git such a ruddy big tail, answer me that if yer can.’
* 10 *
‘A long time ago from ship ‘Hero’ I fell overboard in a gale, An’ away down below where the seaweeds grow, I meet a gal with a tail.
* 11 *
‘She saved me life, an’ I made her me wife, an’ me legs changed instantly, An’ I’m married to a sweet merimaid at the bottom of the deep blue sea.
* 12 *
‘So I’ll stay here for the rest o’ me life, with never a worry nor care. Goodbye to the trade of a sailor bold — my lotwith the fishes I’ll share.
* 13 *
Additional Harlow Verses
* 14 *
And now we’re all loaded and I don’t give a damn, With anchor weighted and hawser made, we’ll sail for Yankee Land,
* 15 *
We’re bound for New York City, in the good old ship Akbar, The old man bought the consul out with a barrel of Stockholm tar.
Interesting Facts about the Blow Ye Winds (extra verses)
I want to introduce Blow Ye Winds (extra verses). Stan Hugill in his “Shanties From the Seven Seas” gives us three versions of this song, after the description of version A he mention that: … Many of the verses sung to these refrains were also used by seamen — often in the unprintable form! … These are those five verses mentioned by Stan Hugill, I think it will be a big loss to not sing these verses, and as far as I am aware, nobody sang these verses but Stan Hugill, or people who he heard them from. To make my theory even stronger I mention fact that verses don’t have a title or an author or any musical notation, so I will reconstruct them using notation from version A of Stan Hugill’s book. 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 219).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 219, 220).
The Record of the Blow Ye Winds (extra verses)
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 full lyrics
Blow Ye Winds (extra verses)
We have a cock in our barton, will cluck like any hen, And often to myself I think, why ye are just the sen!
– Singin’ blow, ye winds, in the mornin’, – Blow, ye winds, high-ho! – See all clear yer runnun’ gear, – An’ blow, me bully boys, blow!
* 2 *
We have a flower in our garden which we call Marigold, And if you will not when you can, you shall not when you will.
* 3 *
As I went out one May morning to view the medows gay, I met a pretty dairy-maid all in the new mown hay.
* 4 *
As I was ridding out one day I saw some pooks of hay; Is this not a very pretty place for boys and maids to play?
* 5 *
There was a jolly farmer’s son who kept sheep on a hill, He sallied forth one summer’s morn to see what he could kill.
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.
