Blow The Man Down (B1 – first method)

Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down (B1)

Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down (B1)”. Verses for this version Stan Hugill took from Paddy Delaney, an Irish old-timer, and two or three verses from Bill Fuller who sang them in his version of “Bound Away”.
It was two methods of starting this version, so this is how the first method did go.

Stan Hugill left a record on his album: “Chants des Marins Anglais (1992)” where singing with Stormalong John, and this is the version with melody and tempo, I try to replicate.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.

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 203).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 206, 207).

The Record of the Blow The Man Down (B1)

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.

Blow The Man Down ( B - first method ) - Halyard Shanty

The full lyrics

Blow The Man Down (B1)

In the Blackball Line I served My time,
– Timme WAY, hay, BLOW the man down!
In the Blackball Line I wasted me prime,
– Ooh! GIMME us some time to BLOW the man down!

* 2 *

Blackball ships are good an’ true,
They’re the ships for me an’ you.

* 3 *

There wuz once a Blackball ship,
That fourteen knots an hour could clip.

* 4 *

‘Twas when this Blackballer wuz ready for sea’
‘Tis then that you’d see such a hell o’ a spree

* 5 *

There’s tinkers an’ tailors an’ sogers an’ all,
All ship as prime seamen aboard the Blackball.

* 6 *

Oh, muster ye sojers an’ fakirs an’ sich,
An’ hear yer name called by a son-o’-a-bitch.

* 7 *

An, when the Blackballer hauls out o’ the dock,
To see these poor bastards, how on deck they flock.

* 8 *

‘Lay aft here, ye lubbers! Lay aft one an’ all,
I’ll have none o’ yer dodgers aboard this Blackball!’

* 9 *

Now see these poor bastards how aloft they will scoot,
Assisted along by the toe o’ a boot.

* 10 *

The second mate stands ’em all up in a row,
A seam in the deck he sure makes ’em all toe.

* 11 *

It’s ‘Fore tawps’l halyards!’ the mate he will roar,
‘Oh, lay along smartly, ye son-o’-a-whore!’

* 12 *

It’s way aloft, lubbers, shake them tawps’ls out,
The last man in the riggin’ he clouts on the snout.

* 13 *

Oh, lay along smartly each lousy recruit,
Or ’tis lifted ye’ll be by the greaser’s sea-boot.

* 14 *

‘Tis larboard an’ starboard on deck ye will sprawl,
For Kickin’ Jack Williams commands this Blackball.

* 15 *

An’ when the Blacballer is levin’ the dock,
All the pretty young gals on the pierhead do flock.

* 16 *

An’ now when she’s leavin’ the ol’ Merseyside,
All hands are now ordered to scrub the ship’s side.

* 17 *

An’ now when she’s clear over ol’ Mersey Bar,
The mate knocks ’em down with a big caps’n-bar.

* 18 *

An’ when the Blackballer hauls clear o’ the land,
The bosun roars out the hoarse words o’ command.

* 19 *

Yes, soon as the packet is well out to sea,
‘Tis cruel, hard treatement o’ every degree.

* 20 *

Ye’ve handspike hash every day for yer tea,
An’ belayin’-pin soup many times will ye see.

* 21 *

Now we are sailin’ the Western so wide,
An’ the green rollin’ seas run along our black side.

* 22 *

Soon, bully boys, we’ll be back round the Rock,
An’ then, bully boys, we’ll be snug in the dock.

* 23 *

An’ then all the hands they will bundle ashore,
To ship in a Blackballer we’ll niver do more.

Related to this sea shanty

Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Halyard Version

Roll The Cotton Down (D)

Oh Köm un Beer for mi (German)

Blow The Man Down (A)

Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down (A)

Here is one of the most favored shanty, sung by Stan Hugill, when asked by the Polish National Shantimen Marek Szurawski, he quite unambiguously replied that his most favorite shanties are the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down”.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.
The six major versions of “Blow The Man Down” are as follows:
(a) – The Flash Packet (from Ratcliffe Highway).
(b) – The Sailing of the Blackballer.
(c) – The Flying Fish Sailor or Policeman Version.
(d) – The Fishes.
(e) – The Milkmaid.
(f) – Bungyereye.

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 203). Stan Hugill left a record on his album: “Chants des Marins Anglais (1992)” where singing with Stormalong John, and this is a version with melody and tempo, I try to replicate.

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 203, 205).

The Record of the Blow The Man Down (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.

Blow The Man Down ( A ) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Blow The Man Down (A) - musical notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Man Down (A)

Oh, as I wuz a rollin’ down Paradise Street,
– Timme WAY, hay, BLOW the man down!
A sassy, flash clipper I chanct for to meet,
– Oooh, GIVE us some time to BLOW the man down!

* 2 *

Of the port that she hailed from I cannot say much,
But by her appearance, I took her for Dutch,

* 3 *

Her flagwuz three colours and her masthead wuz low,
Ahe wuz round in the counter an’ bluff at the bow,

* 4 *

From lardboard to starboard an’ so sailed she,
She wuz sailin’ at large–she wuz runnin’ free.

* 5 *

I fired my bow-chaser the signal she knew,
She backed her maintawps’l an’ for me hove to.

* 6 *

She wuz bowlin’ along with the wind blowin’ free,
She clewed up her curses an’ waited for me.

* 7 *

I hailed her in English she answered me clear,
‘I’m from the Black Arrow bound to the Shakespeare.’

* 8 *

I tipped her me flipper an’ took her in tow,
An’ yard-arm to yard-arm away we did go.

* 9 *

She then took me up to her lily-white room,
An’ there all the evening we danced and we spooned.

* 10 *

Me shot-locker’s empty, me powder’s all spent,
I’ve plenty o’ time, boys, to think and repent.

Related to this sea shanty

Hourra Mes Boués Hourra! (French)

Roll The Cotton Down (A)

Roll The Cotton Down (B)

Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version

Interesting Facts about Shanandar – Cecil Sharp

Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version, of Shenandoah, is given to us, by Cecil Sharp, which was sung to him by sailor Mr. James Thomas of Cambourne. Mr. Thomas said this was often used aboard the “City of Washington”, a ship that he sailed to America in 1870, as a halyard shanty. In Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk Chanteys” (1914) there are two versions of Shanadar, I will only reconstruct the one mentioned by Stan Hugill.

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 178).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 178).

The Record of the Shanandar – 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.

Shanandar (Cecil Sharp version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Shanandar - Cecil Sharp music notation

The full lyrics

Shanandar (C. Sharp version) – Halyard Shanty

Shanadar is a rolin river,
E – o… I – o… E – o… I – o…

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye My Love Goodbye

Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Singurd Sternvall version)

Roll Boys Roll!

Interesting Facts about Roll Boys Roll!

This is another “Roll” halyard shanty that comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, “Roll, Boys, Roll!”. According to Stan Hugill, when Harding Barbadian from Barbados sang it had its full complement of grace notes and yells, this song has the first time in print in Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas”.

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 170).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 170).

The Record of the Roll Boys Roll!

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.

Roll, Boys, Roll! - halyard shanty

The full lyrics

Roll Boys Roll!

Oh! Sally Brown she’s the gal for me, boys,
– ROLL, boys, ROOLL boys, roll!
Sally Brown she’s the gal for me, boys,
– WAY, high, Miss SALLY Brown!

* 2 *

We’re bound away — ‘way down south, boys,
We’re bound away — ‘way down south, boys,

* 3 *

We’re rollin’ down to Trinidad to see Miss Sally Brown
We’re rollin’ down to Trinidad to see Miss Sally Brown

* 4 *

Oh, she’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below.
Oh, she’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below.

* 5 *

She’s lovely up aloft, an’ she’s lovely down below,
She’s lovely ‘cos she loves me, boys, that’s all I want ter know.

* 6 *

Ol’ Capen Baker, how do yer stow yer cargo?
Some I stow for’ard, boys, an’ some I stow arter.

* 7 *

Forty fathoms or more below, boys,
There’s forty fathom or more below, boys,

* 8 *

Oh, way high ya, an’ up she rises,
O way high ya, an’ the blocks is different sizes.

* 9 *

One more pull–don’t yer hear the mate a-bawlin’?
One more pull, dat’s the end of all our haulin’.

Related to this shanty

A Long Time Ago – Gordon Hitchcock version

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Halyard version

The Sailor Fireman (I’ll Fire Dis Trip)

Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

Interesting Facts about Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

This is another “Roll” halyard shanty that comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, “Where Am I To Go, M’ Johnnies?”. According to Stan Hugill, Harding Barbadian from Barbados sang this shanty with many wild yelps and “hitches”, this song has been the first time in print in Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas”.
It is also worth mentioning, that the only exceptional great use of Harding’s wild yelps and “hitches”, you can find in the CD record attached to Jim Mageean’s great book “Haul Away – A Collection of Hauling Shanties Compiled by Jim Mageean”.
Like many shanties, it mentions the Black Ball Line of Trans-Atlantic sailing packets which operated from 1818 until 1878.

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 169).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 169, 170).

The Record of the Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

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.

Where Am I To Go, M' Johnnies? - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Where Am I To Go M' Johnnies? music notation

The full lyrics

Where Am I To Go, M’ Johnnies?

Where am I to go, me Johnnies? O, where am I to go?
– To me WAY hay, hay, high, ROLL an’ go!
O, where am I to go, me Johnnies? O, where am I to go?
– For I’M a young sailor boy, an’ WHERE am I to go?

* 2 *

‘Way up on that t’gallant yard, that’s where yer bound to go,
‘Way up on that t’gallant yard, that’s where yer bound to go,

* 3 *

‘Way up on that t’gallant yard an’ take that gans’l in.
‘Way up on that t’gallant yard an’ take that gans’l in.

* 4 *

Yer bound away around Cape Horn, that’s where yer that gans’l in,
Yer bound away around Cape Horn, that’s where yer that gans’l in.

* 5 *

Yer bound away through ice an’ snow, that’s where yer bound to go.
Yer bound away through ice an’ snow, that’s where yer bound to go.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago (G)

A Long Time Ago – Harding Barbadian melody version

De Hoffnung – English Translation

High O Come Roll Me Over!

Interesting Facts about the High O Come Roll Me Over!

High O Come Roll Me Over! shanty, was given as a halyard shanty, and in this way, I will try to recreate it, but Stan Hugill claims it more likely can be used for tack and sheets. This song comes from Stan Hugill’s friend, Harding, who declared still being sung (in 1932) for rolling logs in the West Indies – the roll coming on the word, where the drag would be on the rope.

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 169).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 169).

The Record of the High O Come Roll Me Over!

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.

High O, Come Roll Me Over! - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

High O Come Roll Me Over! music notation

The full lyrics

High O, Come Roll Me Over!

Oho, why don’t you blow?
– HIGH-O! Come Roll me over!
Oho, why don’t you blow?
– HIGH-O! Come Roll me over!

* 2 *

One man to strike the bell,
One man to strike the bell,

* 3 *

To men to man the wheel.
To men to man the wheel.

* 4 *

Three men, to’gallant braces.
Three men, to’gallant braces.

* 5 *

Four men to board the tack.
Four men to board the tack.

* 6 *

Five men to have the lead.
Five men to have the lead.

* 7 *

Six men, to furl t’g’ns’ls.
Six men, to furl t’g’ns’ls.

* 8 *

Seven men to bunt-a-bo.
Seven men to bunt-a-bo.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago (D)

Roll The Cotton Down (E)

A Long Time Ago (E)

What is in the Pot A-boiling

Interesting Facts about the What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the Pot A-boiling, in my opinion, definitely is the pulling shanty, the construction verses, and choruses clearly show it, however, Stan Hugill did not specify this clearly, but he left underscored words on choruses in music notation. According to this notation, we can be sure this song is a halyard shanty. Stan Hugill took this song from Cecil J. Sharp’s “Folk Song Society Journal (England Folk Song and Dance Society)” 1916: Vol 5 Iss 20. From Cecil Sharp’s description, this song was sung by Mr. H. C. Alison (Of Perth Scotland), at Stratford-On-Avon, on Aug. 29th, 1914.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).

The lyrics:  “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).

The Record of the What is in the Pot A-boiling

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.

What is in the Pot A-boiling - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation of the What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the Pot A-boiling music notation

The full lyrics

What is in the Pot A-boiling

What is in the pot a-boiling?
– O row, HEAVE and go!
Two sheep’s spunks and an apple dumpling,
– O row, HEAVE and go!

Related to this sea shanty

Walk Me Along Johnny

Yankee John Stormalong

A Long Time Ago (B)

Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

Interesting Facts about the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

Here is “Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard” a very unique variant of “Sally Brown”, which Has been picked up by Stan Hugill in the West Indies. This shanty was used on halyards, but only for quick light pulls on the royal halyard – one pull in each refrain. Stan Hugill also heard that it was also used for tack and sheets. On page 166, we can find an alternative final refrain, which I will try to utilize in this reconstruction.

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 166).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).

The Record of the Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

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.

Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard musical notation

The full lyrics

Tommy’s On The Tops’l Yard

There was a ship she sailed for Spain,
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
There was a ship she sailed for Spain
– TOM-my’s on the tops’l yard!

* 2 *

There wuz a ship came home again,
There wuz a ship came home again,

* 3 *

An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?
An’ wha’ d’yer think wuz in her hold?

* 4 *

She had diamonds, she had gold.
She had diamonds, she had gold.

* 5 *

An, what wuz in her lazareet?
An, what wuz in her lazareet?

* 6 *

Good split peas an, bad bull meat.
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.

* 7 *

An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?
An’ who d’yer-think wuz her Old Man?

* 8 *

Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.

* 9 *

An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!
An’ who d’yer think wuz her chief mate?
– Oh-o-o! ROLL’n’go!

Related to this sea shanty

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Walk Me Along Johnny

Walk him along Johnny

Sally Brown (B) – Robbins version

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (B)

This I another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. This particular version of Sally Brown (B), from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys” is a halyard shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Robbins, Cecil Sharp’s shantyman, sang the following tune. He said he always used it at halyards.

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).

The lyrics:  “English Folk-Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 165).

The Record of the Sally Brown (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.

Sally Brown B (Robbins version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Sally Brown B - music notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (B) – Robbins version

I shipped on board of a Liverpool liner,
– WAY, ho, a ROLling go!
And I shipped on board of a Liverpool liner,
– For I SPEND my money ‘long with SALly Brown!

* 2 *

O Sally Brown was a Creole Lady
O Sally Brown was a Creole Lady

* 3 *

O Sally Brown was a bright mulatto
O Sally Brown was a bright mulatto

* 4 *

O seven years I courted Sally.
O seven years I courted Sally.

* 5 *

And now we’re married and we’re living nice and comfor’ble.
And now we’re married and we’re living nice and comfor’ble

Related to this sea shanty

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Walk Me Along Johnny

Walk him along Johnny

Lower The Boat Down

Interesting Facts about Lower The Boat Down

Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, described by Joanna C. Colcord in her “Roll And Go – Songs Of The American Sailormen” (1924), “Lower The Boat Down”. Joanna Colcord claims this song has Negro origin, and is almost the same as a version (C) from Stan Hugill’s book, without a grand chorus. Miss Colcord claims the words are very likely borrowed from shanty “Rolling King”, However, Stan Hugill is closer to the theory that words are from “South Australia”. To make the case even more complicated, Cecil Sharp gives similar words in his version of “One More Day”.

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 154 ).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 159). The first stanza comes from “Shanties From The Seven Seas”, and the second from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys”. (1914).

The Record of the Lower The Boat Down

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.

Lower The Boat Down - Halyard Shanty

The full lyrics

Lower The Boat Down

There’s only one thing grives me,
– Oh, lower the boat down!
It’s my poor wife and bayby,
– Oh, lower the boat down!

* 2 *

I’m bound away to leave you
Don’t let my parting grieve you

Related to this shanty

A Long Time Ago (A)

Stormalong Lads Stormy

De Runer Von Hamborg