halyard shanty

Interesting Facts about the Whisky Johnny B

The “Whisky Johnny B” is a halyard one, usually used at either t’gallant or tops’l halyards, and from time to time it even was used at the capstan. Clark in his book “Seven Years of a Sailor’s Life (1867), refers to the singing of Whisky Johnny at the windlass.
Here is the list of versions given to us by Stan Hugill:
(a) The advantages and disadvantages of whisky drinking,
(b) Shanghaiing version,
(c) The limejuice skipper, and
(d) Crabfish, crayfish, or lobster version.
The text for this version Stan Hugill took from Mr. Jimmy Sexton, Arthur Spencer, and other seamen. This song will be reconstructed as the Halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 274).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 276, 277).

The Record of the Whisky Johnny 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

The full lyrics

Whisky Johnny B

Now if ever go to ‘Frisco town,
– Whisky Johnny!
Mind ye steer clear o’ Shanghai Brown,
– Whisky for my Johnny!

* 2 *

He’ll dope yer whishy night an’ morn,
An’ then shanghai ye round Cape Horn.

* 3 *

Two months’ wages are dead,
An’ a donkey’s breakfast for yes bed.

* 4 *

Ol’ Shanghai Brown an’ Larry Marr,
Their names are known both near an’ far.

* 5 *

Ol’ Larry Marr an’ Shanghai Brown,
They robbedme up an’ robbed me down.

* 6 *

They fit ye out wid bumboat gear,
That’s got ter last yer ‘alf-a-year,

* 7 *

Carpet slippers made o’ felt,
An’ a nice, clean rope-yarn for a belt.

* 8 *

A suit o’ oilskins made o’ cotton,
An’ ol’ sea-chest wid bricks in the bottom.

* 9 *

Oh, the Barbary Coast is no place for me,
Ye have one drink then wake up at sea.

* 10 *

Ol’ Shanghai Brown he loves us sailors,
Oh, yes he does like hell ‘n’ blazes.

* 11 *

All ye young sailors take a warnin’ from me,
Keep an eye on yer drink, lads, when ye come from sea.

* 12 *

Or else ye’ll awake on a cold frosty morn,
On a three-skys’l yarder bound round the Horn.

* 13 *

On a skys’l yarder all bound round the Horn,
Ye’ll wish ter hell that ye’d niver bin born.

* 14 *

Oh, I thought I heard the Ol’ Man say,
Just one more pull, lads, then belay!

Related to this sea shanty

Walk Me Along Johnny

The Gal With The Blue Dress

Hilo Boys Hilo

Interesting Facts about the Whisky Johnny A

The “Whisky Johnny A” is the first shanty that opens the family of the shanties with the name Johnny, in its lyrics. This shanty is a halyard one, usually used at either t’gallant or tops’l halyards, and from time to time it even was used at the capstan.
Here is the list of versions given to us by Stan Hugill:
(a) The advantages and disadvantages of whisky drinking,
(b) Shanghaiing version,
(c) The limejuice skipper, and
(d) Crabfish, crayfish, or lobster version.
The text for this version Stan Hugill took from Mr. Butcher. This song will be reconstructed as the Halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 274).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 274, 275, 276).

The Record of the Whisky Johnny 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

The full lyrics

Whisky Johnny A

Ooh, whisky is the life of man
– Whisky Johnny!
Ooh, whisky from an old tin can,
– Whisky for my Johnny!

* 2 *

Whisky here, whisky there,
Oooo! whisky almast everywhre,

* 3 *

Whisky up an’ whisky down,
Oooh! whisky all around the town.

* 4 *

I’ll drink it hot, I’ll drink it cold,
I’ll drink it new, I’ll drink it old.

* 5 *

Whisky made me sell me coat,
Whisky’s what keeps me afloat.

* 6 *

Whisky fills a man with care,
Whisky makes a man a bear.

* 7 *

Whisky gave me many a sigh,
But I’ll swing whisky till I die.

* 8 *

Whisky made me mammy cry,
Whisky closed me stabbud eye.

* 9 *

Whisky killed me poor ol’ Dad,
Whisky druv me mother mad.

* 10 *

Whisky made me pawn me cloes,
Whisky gave me a broken nose.

* 11 *

Whisky made me shun the booze,
Put me in the calabooze.

* 12 *

Whisky gave me a big, fat head,
But I’ll drink whisky till I’m dead.

* 13 *

If I can’t have whisky, then I’ll have rum,
That’s the stuff to make good fun.

* 14 *

Whisky killed me Sister Sue,
Whisky killed me brother too.

* 15 *

I had a sister an’ her name wuz Lize,
She puts whisky in her tea.

* 16 *

My wife an’ I could never agree,
She’d put whisky in her tea.

* 17 *

Some likes whisky, some likes beer,
I wisht I had a barrel here.

* 18 *

Oh, the mate likes whisky an’ the skipper likes rum,
The sailors like both but we can’t git none.

* 19 *

Oh, a tot of whisky for each man,
An’ a bloody big bottle for the shantyman.

* 20 *

If whisky wuz a river an’ I could swim,
I’d say here goes an’ I’d dive right in.

* 21 *

If whisky wuz a river an’ I wuz a duck,
I’d dive to the bottom an’ never come up.

* 22 *

I wist I knew where whisky grew,
I’d eat the leaves an’ the branches too.

* 23 *

The Divil came from the worl’ below,
That is where bad whisky do grow.

* 24 *

Oh, whisky straight an’ whisky strong,
Gimme some whisky an’ I’ll sing ye a song.

* 25 *

If whisky comes too near me nose,
I tip it up an’ down the hatch she goes.

* 26 *

Here comes the cook with the whisky-can,
A glass o’ grog for every man.

* 27 *

Whisky made me scratch me toes,
Whisky makes me fight me foes.

* 28 *

I say Ol’ Man it is a sin,
To make us work widout any gin.

* 29 *

Whisky made the bosun call,
Hang over hand, lads, ye must reach.

* 30 *

Whisky made the Ol’ Man say,
One more pull, lads, than belay!

Related to this sea shanty

Walk Me Along Johnny

The Gal With The Blue Dress

Hilo Boys Hilo

Interesting Facts about the Toms Gone Away

This is the Toms Gone Away halyard shanty. Apart from Stan Hugill, we can find this song in the collection of Richard Runciman Terry. This version of the tune Stan Hugill has from a South Wales seamen who had served in the Bristol Channel copper ore trade. The words are the same as in Bill Dowling’s „Thoms Gone To Hilo”.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 264).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 264).

The Record of the Toms Gone Away

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

Toms Gone Away

Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– My Tommy’s gone away!
Oh, Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– My Tommy’s gone away!

* 2 *

Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,

* 3 *

Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,

* 4 *

Tom’s gone, what shall I do?
Oh, Tom’s gone, what shall I do?

* 5 *

Tommy fought at Trafalgar.
Oh, Tommy fought at Trafalgar.

* 6 *

The old Victory led the way.
The brave old Victory led the way.

* 7 *

Tommy’s gone for evermore.
Oh, Tommy’s gone for evermore.

Related to this sea shanty

Toms Gone To Hilo – Bill Dowling

Ranzo Ray C

Hilo Johnny Brown

Interesting Facts about the Toms Gone To Hilo

The “Thoms Gone To Hilo” was a halyard shanty usually sang for raise a topsails yards, and one that was never liked by mats because sung by a good shantyman slowed down the pulls, due to the lethargic nature in which the shanties are sung. Difficult song for shantymen, however very popular with the crowd, especially for heavy yard lifts.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261, 262).

The Record of the Toms Gone 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

Toms Gone To Hilo

Tommy’s gone, what shall I do?
– A-WAY you HELO-o-o!
Ooh! Tommy’s gone an’ I’ll go too,
– TOM’s gone to HI-lo!

* 2 *

Tommy’s gone to Hilo town,
Where all them gals they do come down.

* 3 *

Hilo town is in Peru,
It’s just the place for me an’ you.

* 4 *

Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,
To Liverpool, that packet school.

* 5 *

Yankee shellbacks ye’ll see there,
Wid red-topped boots an’ short cut hair.

* 6 *

He signed for two pound ten a month,
No more than two pound ten a month,

* 7 *

Tommy’s gone to Baltimore,
To dance upon a sandy floor.

* 8 *

Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,
A-screwin’ cotton all the day.

* 9 *

Tommy’s gone to fair Quebec,
A-stowin’ timber on the deck.

* 10 *

Tommy’s gone to Cally-o,
He won’t come back from there, I know.

* 11 *

Tommy’s gone to Vallipo,
He’ll dance them Spanish gals, y’know.

* 12 *

Tommy’s gone to ‘Frisco Bay
In a Cape Horner the other day.

* 13 *

Tommy’s gone to Pernambuck,
He’s gone to get a nip an’ tuck.

* 14 *

Tommy’s gone to Montreal,
In a packet ship wid sky’ls tall.

* 15 *

Tommy’s gone to Rye-o Grand,
He’s rollin’ in the yeller sand.

* 16 *

Tommy’s gone to to Singapore,
Oh, Tommy’s gone for evermore.

* 17 *

Oh, haul away, me bully boys.
Oh, haul away, kick up some noise.

* 18 *

Now hoist ‘er up an’ show ‘er clew,
Oh, we’re the bastards to kick ‘er though!

* 19 *

One more pull, lads, then belay,
Ooh! One more pull an’ then belay.

Related to this sea shanty

Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

Shiloh Brown

Reuben Ranzo – Hugills version