halyard shanty

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A)

December 14, 2023March 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A)

Here is the most popular homeward-bound shanty of them all with, perhaps, the exception of “Rolling Home” – “Goodbye Fare-ye-well” include version Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A). The sailors sang this shanty at the windlass or capstan; when raising the anchor. Stan Hugill knows and publishes four versions of this song. This version is about usual homeward-bound sentiments.

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 120). I try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992), with Stormalong John.

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 120, 121).

The Record of the Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (A)

Oh, don’t yiz hear the Old Man say?
– Goodbye, fare-ye-well! goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Oh, don’t yiz hear the Old Man say?
– Horraw, me boys; we’re homeward bound!

* 2 *

We’re homeward bound; to Liverpool Town,
Where them judies they will come down,

* 3 *

An, when we gits to the Wallsey Gates,
Sally an’ Polly for their flash men do wait.

* 4 *

An’ one to the other ye’ll hear them say,
Here comes Johnny with his fourteen months’ pay!

* 5 *

Them gals there on Lime Street we soon hope to meet,
Soon we’ll be a-rollin’ both sides o’ the street.

* 6 *

We’ll meet these fly gals an’ we’ll ring the ol’ bell,
With them judies we’ll meet there we’ll raise merry hell,

* 7 *

I’ll tell me old mammy when I gets back home,
The gals there on Lime Street won’t leave me alone.

* 8 *

We’re homeward bound; to the gals o’ the town,
Stamp up me bullies an’ heave it around.

* 9 *

An’ when we gits home, boys, oh won’t we fly round,
We’ll heave up the anchor to this bully sound.

* 10 *

We’re fine flashy packet an’ bound for to go,
With the gals on the towrope we cannot say no!

* 11 *

We’re all homeward bound; for the old backyard,
Then heave, me bullies, we’re all bound homeward.

* 12 *

I wrote to my Kitty, she sez she is well,
She rooms at the ‘Astor’ and dines at the ‘Bell’.

* 13 *

Heave with a will, boys, oh, heave long an’ strong,
Sing a good chorus for ’tis a good song.

* 14 *

We’re homeward bound; we’ll have yiz to know,
An’ over the water to England must go!

* 15 *

Oh, the anchor we’ll weigh and the sails we will set,
The gals we are leaving we’ll never forget.

* 16 *

An’ when we git to the old Mersey Bar,
The girls’ll be flockin’ from near an’ from far.

* 17 *

We’re homeward bound; don’t ye hear the Mate say.
Hook on the ol’ catfall an’ rum her away.

* 18 *

We’ll spend all our money in one week a shore,
An’ then pack our bags–go to sea for some more.

* 19 *

We’re; homeward bound; don’t ye hear the sound?
Man the good capstan an’ run ‘er around.

* 20 *

We’re; homeward bound; an’ the wind’s blowin’ fair,
Our friends will be waiting to spend our pay-day.

* 21 *

We’re; homeward bound; for home; sweet; home,
Our sails; are set; the wind has come.

Related to this sea shanty

Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well

December 14, 2023March 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Hurrah, Sing Fare Ye Well

Here is the hauling song, resembling this latter somewhat “Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well!” Whall calls it “O Fare Ye Well, My Bonnie Young Girl”. Stan Hugill gives us a version; with perhaps; a few more regular verses than usual; which were obtained from an old Liverpool seaman. Normally there was one pull in the refrain on the second syllable of “Hurrah”.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 119).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 119).

The Record of the Hurrah, Sing Fare Ye Well

Hurrah, Sing Fare Ye Well - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well

Sing fare ye well me bonny young gal,
– HurRAH! Sing fare ye well!
Sing fare ye well, oh, fare ye well,
– HurRAH! Sing fare ye well!

* 2 *

We’re bound; away to Callyo,
Oh, fare ye well, me Liverpool gal,

* 3 *

I may cime back th ye some day,
With a spanking’ big fat pay-day.

* 4 *

But when we get to Callyo,
I’ll git me a nice bit o’ Dago,

* 5 *

As I walked out one mornin’ fair,
I met a puta standin’ there.

* 6 *

She winked at me I do declare,
Black as night was her raven hair.

* 7 *

She was a Spanish beauty bold.
Her name was Carmen; so I’m told.

* 8 *

Oh, fare ye well; we’re bound away,
We’re bound away this sailing day.

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye My Love Goodbye

December 14, 2023March 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Goodbye My Love Goodbye

Here is the hauling shanty. Tozer and Colcord give a version of the former giving a set of very sentimental verses which Stan Hugill, fell sure to have been made up. C. F. Smith sees in it a resemblance to „Shallow Brown”.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 118, 119).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 118, 119).

The Record of the Goodbye My Love Goodbye

Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Goodbye My Love Goodbye

I,m bound away to leave yer,
– Good-BYE my love, good-BYE!
I never will deceiver yer,
– Good–BYE my love, good.BYE!

* 2 *

I’ll leave you my half pay, Sue,
White-stocking Day soon will be due.

* 3 *

Have a drink on me, my dearie,
For waiting’s mighty weary.

* 4 *

We’re bound away to ‘Frisco,
Oh, cut her strings an’ let ‘er go!

Related to this sea shanty

The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

December 11, 2023March 27, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip) was already in print in 1950 in a book called “Nigger Melodies; being The Only Entire and Complete Work of Ethiopian Songs Extant” (Cornish Lamport & Co., New York, 1850, 2488., illustrated frontis, VG).

Stan Hugill states that this song may be the key to the origin of the verse of “Sacramento” and Foster’s “Camptown Races”. The original title of this song is “I’LL FIRE DIS TRIP”, and according to Stan Hugill’s research, originally has been written by a sailor who for the first, and probably the last time, tried the hard work of a fireman.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 115).

The lyrics: “Nigger Melodies; being The Only Entire and Complete Work of Ethiopian Songs Extant” (between 1842 and 1849) (page 168, 169).

The Record of The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

The version of this song in Stan Hugill’s book comes from Sigurd Sternvall’s “Sang under Segel” (1935). I decided to sing the original text of this song from “Nigger Melodies; being The Only Entire and Complete Work of Ethiopian Songs Extant”, printed over one hundred and seventy years ago (pages 168, 169), it has slightly different lyrics, compared to to this, what Stan Hugill’s gives to us.

I will try to reconstruct this song as a halyard shanty.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

I’ll fire dis trip but I’ll fire no more,
– Oho. oho, oh!
Oh, pay me my money, and I’ll go on shore,
– Fire down below

* 2 *

Miss Fanny Bell, oh, fare you well,
I’m going away p’r’aps to —–

* 3 *

A bully-boat, and a bully crew,
And a bully-raggin’ captain too,

* 4 *

De posom jump and de panther roar,
I woke dis morning at half-past four.

* 5 *

I creep out safely from my hive,
And took a dram at half-past five.

* 6 *

Says I, ole boat, let’s have no tricks,
Her biler bust,—at half-past six.

* 7 *

So now we trabel under sail,
‘Cause Jonah’s de man dat swallow’d de whale.

* 8 *

I’ll fire dis trip, but I’ll fire no more,
Pay me my money and I’ll go on shore.

Related to this shanty

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version

December 11, 2023March 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version

Patterson’s version, Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version, is like Patterson’s shanties unusual. The first difficulty is that Patterson in his book doesn’t give us music. In almost every his shanty he inserts short refrains where usually no refrain existed. Stan Hugill says that Patterson called his shanty ‘hauling song’, and gives us one stanza, but this is not entirely true, because Patterson (J. E. Patterson “The Sea’s Anthology” 1913) labeled this song as ‘Capstan.’ and give three verses, and after these three verses, he gives another 4 verses under the label “The same: as a hauling chanty'”. So this song will be a ‘hauling song’, particularly the Halyard Shanty Capstan version I will sing separately.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 112).
The lyrics: “The Sea’s Anthology” – J. E. Patterson (1913).

The Record of the Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version

The full lyrics

Banks Of Sacramento (Patterson Halyard version)

Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
– With a HOOdah!
Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
– With a HOOdah, hoodah-DAY!

– Blow, boys, blow, for Californi-O
– With a HOOdah!
– There’s plenty of gold, so I’ve been told,
– On the BANks of Sacramen-TO!

* 2 *

We came to a land where the cocktail flows
We came to a land where the cocktail flows

* 3 *

We came to a river where we couldn’t get across
And the plenty of gold, as I’ll have you told, Was a bully, bully loss

Related to this sea shanty

De Hoffnung – English Translation

December 10, 2023March 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the De Hoffnung – English Translation

Stan Hugill tells, us that this shanty (De Hoffnung – English Translation – is translated version which was real shanty), was popular aboard a German four-masted barque, He was shipped in called “Gustav”, hailing from Bremen. The first time Stan Hugill heard this version from Ossie Ziemer, young seamen from the Fresian Islands, would often raise it at t’gallant halyards. To raise up this yard, it was always sung, long haul type halyard shanty(slower tempo), due to the huge weight of the yard.

This song was very popular in English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of the XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the Germans and Scandinavians popularized versions in their own tongues. This song was sung as a halyard shanty.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 97).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 105).

The Record of the De Hoffnung – English Translation

Here is the English translation by Ingo Scharf. It is also possible that the song has never been sung at sea, and Hugill just posts a translation of a German song, whatever, in My opinion, this beautiful translation deserves to use it. And even feel proud of the possibility I will be the first person to sing this text.
“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 105).

The full lyrics

De Hoffnung – English Translation

De Hoffnung was a hundreed days under way,
– to my way, hay, hoday.
She sailed from Hamburg to Valapariso.
– a long time ago.

* 2 *

She sailed good and she sailed hard,
She had such a fine and costly cargo.

* 3 *

And as the Old Man swore and cursed,
The Devil came climbing over the rail.

* 4 *

If you bring me to the Channel in ten days time,
Surely as you stink you will get my soul.

* 5 *

The old hulk at last went nineteen knots,
THe Devil had the skysails set.

* 6 *

And when she came to the channel to anchor,
Then said the Devil, ‘Give me your soul.’

* 7 *

Then said the Old Man, ‘Take your time,
We have to anchor by Cape St. Patric”.

* 8 *

The Devil now was more than overjoyed,
He ran up the fo’c’sle-head to let go the anchor.

* 9 *

The old carpenter was greatly pleased,
He had spliced the Devil’s backside to the anchor.

* 10 *

And as the anchor went down to the ground,
The Devil went with it–the dirty big hound!

Related to this sea shanty

De Hoffnung (German)

December 10, 2023March 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the De Hoffnung

Stan Hugill tells, us that De Hoffnung was popular aboard a German four-masted barque, He was shipped in called “Gustav”, hailing from Bremen. The first time Stan Hugill heard this version from Ossie Ziemer, young seamen from the Fresian Islands, would often raise it at t’gallant halyards. To raise up this yard, it was always sung, long haul type halyard shanty(slower tempo), due to the huge weight of the yard.

This song was very popular in English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the Germans and Scandinavians popularized versions in their own tongues. This song was sung as a halyard shanty.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 97).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 104).

The Record of the De Hoffnung

The full lyrics

De Hoffnung

De Hoffnung wor hunnert Dag ünner wegs,
– to my way, hay, hoday.
Se seil von Hamborg no Valparaiso.
– a long time ago.

* 2 *

Se seilte good und se seilte hart,
Se harr so’ne gode kostbare Fracht.

* 3 *

Un as de Ool nu flucht un gnattert,
Dor keem de Düvel över de Reeling klattert.

* 4 *

Wenn mi in tein Dag nenn Kanal du bringst,
Denn krigst mien Seel, so woor as du stinkst.

* 5 *

De Pott leep negentein Mielen toletzt,
Dor harr de Düvel de Skyseils bisett.

* 6 *

Un as se nu kemen in’n Kanal to Stell,
Dar seegt de Düvel “Nu her mit de Seel!”.

* 7 *

Dar seeg de Ool „Nu lot di man tiet”,
“We goot to Anker bi Cape St. Patric”.

* 8 *

De Düvel de weer vör Freid ganz weg,
He leep op de Back, sett de Anker op slip.

* 9 *

De ole Timm’mann har grote Freid,
He harr den Düvel sien’n Steert mitvertäut.

* 10 *

Un as de Anker nu suust an den Grund,
Suust de Düvel mit, disse Swienehund.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version

December 10, 2023March 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version …

This song including A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version, was very popular in English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of the XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the Germans and Scandinavians popularized versions in their tongues. This song was sung as a halyard shanty. Only one stanza; is given in Stan Hugill’s book.

This version comes from the mentioned “Shell Book of Shanties” (which is the wrong title, because the true title is “The Shell Book of Sea Shanties”) by Gordon Hitchcock (1952). Fortunately, I found the book, I bought one and a lonely available exemplar in the whole online world, and from Germany arrived mail with this book, so I can sing this shanty to you in the full four stanzas version.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shell Book of Sea Shanties” by Gordon Hitchcock (1952) (1st ed: p 20, 21).

The lyrics: “The Shell Book of Sea Shanties” by Gordon Hitchcock (1952) (1st ed: p 20, 21).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 104).

The Record of the A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version

A Long Time Ago (Gordon Hitchcock version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

A Long Time Ago (Gordon Hitchcock version)

A long, long time and a long time a-go,
– To me WAY, hay, o-HI-o!
A long, long time and a long time a-go,
– A LONG time a-GO!

* 2 *

A smart Yankee packet lay out in the bay:
Awaiting a fair wind to get under way,

* 3 *

With all her poor sailors all sick and all sore:
They’d drunk all their lime juice, and couldn’t get more,

* 4 *

If she’s not; had a fair wind; she’s lying there still:
If she’s not; had a fair wind; she’s lying there still.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version

December 10, 2023March 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version

This version A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version, is a Cecil Sharp version from the book “English Folk-Chanteys” – 1914. Unfortunately, it has only three verses. The last five bars make it possible to capstan shanty. This song was very popular on English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of the XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the Germans and Scandinavians popularized versions in their tongues. This song was sung as a halyard shanty.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 49).

The lyrics: English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 49).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 103).

The Record of the A Long Time Ago – Cecil Sharp Version

A Long Time Ago (Cecil Sharp Version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

A Long Time Ago (Cecil Sharp Version)

Away down south where I was born,
– To my WAY – ay – DAY, ha!
Away down south where I was born,
– A LONG time a-GO

– twas a long, long time and a very long time,
– A LONG time a-GO

* 2 *

O! early on a summer’s morn.
O! early on a summer’s morn.

* 3 *

I Made up my mind to go the sea.
I Made up my mind to go the sea.

Related to this sea shanty