Harding Barbarian

Interesting Facts about the Haul Er Away! A

“Haul Er Away! A” it is the halyard song (long drag) shanty very close to “Cheerily Man”. Under the title of “Sally Rackett” was well served as a cargo-working song among the timber stowers of Quebec and elsewhere. This song is of West Indian origin, hailing either from Barbados or Jamaica. Stan Hugill learned this beautiful song from Harding Barbadian from Barbados.
This song will be reconstructed as the halyard (long drag) shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 316).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 316, 317).

The Record of the Haul Er Away! 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

Haul Er Away! A

Little Nancy Dawson,
– Haul’ er away!
She’s got flannel drawers on,
– Haul’ er away!
So sez our ol’ Bosun,
– Haul’ er away!
Wid a hauley high-O!
– Haul’ er away!

* 2 *

Little Sally Rackett,
She shipped in a packet,
An’she never did regret it,
Wid a Hauley high-O!

* 3 *

Little Betty Baker
Ran off wid a Quaker,
Guess her Mum could shake ‘er,
Wid a hauley …

* 4 *

Little Susie Skinner
Sez she’s a beginner,
But prefers it to ‘er dinner.

* 5 *

Little Flo Fanana
Slipped on a banana,
Now she can’t play the pianner.

* 6 *

Little Rose Riddle
Broke her brand new fiddle,
Got a hole right in the middle.

* 7 *

Little Polly Walker
Ran offf with a hawker,
Oh, he was a corker.

* 8 *

Little Kitty Karson
Ran off with a parson,
Now sh’s got a little parson.

* 9 *

Little Dolly Duckett
Washes in a bucket,
She’s tart but doesn’t look it.

Related to this sea shanty

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

John Kanaka

Interesting Facts about the John Kanaka

“John Kanaka” is a halyard shanty closely related to “Mobile Bay”. Stan Hugill informs us in his book, that this shanty is the first time it has been in print. This is one of the songs from a collection of wonderful shantymen, Harding of Barbados. “The last Shantyman,” says, that Harding sang it with many falsetto yelps and hitches almost impossible to imitate. Polynesian in origin chorus and the word “Tulai-ē” were Samoan. Also very unique for this halyard shanty are three solos and three refrains.
Because I always prefer the origin audio record (which rarely exists), to using music notation, I will try to reconstruct this fantastic halyard shanty base from an album by Stan Hugill with Stormalong John’s band “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288, 289).

The Record of the John Kanaka

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

John Kanaka

I heard, I heard the Old Man say,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Today, today is a holiday,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!

* 2 *

We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 3 *

We’re bound away for ‘Frisco Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 4 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter Christ we’d niver bin born,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 5 *

Oh, haul, O haul, oh haul away,
Oh, haul away an’ make yer pay,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Johnny Brown

Blow The Man Down (E)

Blow The Man Down (F)

Interesting Facts about The Gal With The Blue Dress

This is another great song we have from the Harding Barbadian, a shipmate of Stan Hugill, he mentions in his book that Harding considered this song as one of the best in his repertoire for halyards. It is the Negro origin song, probably one used by cotton hosiers.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267, 268).

The Record of The Gal With The Blue Dress

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 Gal With The Blue Dress (Harding)

A gal asleep wid a blue dress on,
– SHAKE her, Johnny, SHAKE her!
She’s waitin’ there for yer Uncle Tom,
– SHAKE ‘er, an’ we’ll WAKE ‘er!

* 2 *

This gal she did look good to me,
‘Cos I had bin ten months at sea’

* 3 *

She’s Down East gal wid a Down East style,
For a dollar a time it’s worth while.

* 4 *

Roust an’ shake her is the cry,
The bloody topmast sheave is dry!

* 5 *

A big wind comes from the Wes’-nor’-west,
This gal ain’t gonner git no rest.

* 6 *

Shake ‘er, bullies, oh, helm’s a-lee,
She’ll git washed out wid a big green sea.

* 7 *

Her oilskins they are all in pawn,
It’s wet an’ draughty round Cape Horn.

* 8 *

So roust ‘er from down below,
An’ haul away for yer Uncle Joe.

* 9 *

This gal she is a high-brown lass,
High-brown lass in a flash blue dress.

* 10 *

So roust ‘er be quick I say,
An’ make yer port an’ take yer pay.

* 11 *

Soon we’ll be down Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton for to git our pay.

Related to this sea shanty

Toms Gone Away

Toms Gone To Hilo – Bill Dowling

Stormalong Lads Stormy

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown B

Shallow Brown B is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. As the age of sails progressed, in the late days this song was usually sung at halyards. Here version of what Stan Hugill has heard from Harding Barbadian. I will reconstruct this song as a halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).

The Record of the Shallow 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.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown B

Oh! Shallow in the mornin’,
– SHALlow, oh, SHALlow Brown!
Just as the day was dawnin’,
– SHALlow, oh, SHALlow Brown!

* 2 *

She is a bright mulatter,
She hails from Cincinatter

* 3 *

Come put me clothes in order,
The packet sails termorrer.

* 4 *

Once ye wuz sweet and cherry,
But now ye are contrary.

* 5 *

For ye are fat an’ lazy,
Ye nearly drive me crazy.

* 6 *

My half-pay ye’ve spent like chaff,
Ye’d like the other half.

* 7 *

Ye boozed me pay away,
But ye’ve had yer last pay-day.

* 8 *

The packet sails termorrer,
I’ll leave yer without sorrer.

* 9 *

Me clothes are all in pawn,
I’m bound around the Horn.

* 10 *

She won’t miss me when I’ve gone,
She’ll hook some other bum.

Related to this sea shanty

Hello Somebody

Blow Boys Blow (A)

Blow Boys Blow (B)

Interesting Facts about the Hello Somebody

“Hello Somebody” is a halyard shanty related to the “Hilo Come Down Below” and “Hilo Boys Hilo”. Stan Hugill’s description of this shanty is quite interesting so first he says, that Captain J. P. Parker it writes a verse of this shanty on his “Log of limejuicer” of the American ship “Tusitalia”, on page 40. Stan Hugill’s version comes from Harding Barbadian who told him that was very popular in ships with “coloured” crews. Also, William Main Doerflinger in his book gives a three-verse example of this song, with an introductory verse chorus from the singing of Capitan Baker, who learned this shanty from American “coloured” seamen called ‘Lemon’ Curtis, aboard the ship “Dovenby Hall”.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 256).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 257).

The Record of the Hilo Boys 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

Somebody’s knockin’at the garden gate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!
It’s dirty Dick an’ his dirty mate,
– Hello, somebody, Hello!

* 2 *

Somebody’s knockin’ with a blody stick,
It’s Dirty Dick from New Brunswick,

* 3 *

Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o ‘Hell.
It’s Bully John an’ we knows him well.

* 4 *

Somebody’s knockin’ at the Gates o’ Heaven,
There wuz eight little nigger boys an’ now there’s seven.

* 5 *

Saint Peter’s knockin’ on the fo’c’sle door,
Guess I ain’t ready for the Golden Shore.

* 6 *

Somebody’s hangin’ on to this ‘ere line,
The blighter oughter rise an’ shine!

* 7 *

Haul away an’ make yer pay,
Haul away for Saccrappa Bay.

* 8 *

She’s knockin’ up the miles, reelin’ off the knots,
When we get to Boston, we’ll drink lots.

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Come Down Below

Blow The Man Down – Terry Version

Ane Madam – Bergen Version (Norwegian)

Interesting Facts about the Hilo Come Down Below

“Hilo Come Down Below” is another shanty with the word “Hilo”. This is a close related shanty to the “Hilo, Johnny Brown”. This is the halyard shanty, and Stan Hugill tells us is an obvious Negro origin. The only different version from this one in print we can find in Frank T Bullen’s book. This song Stan Hugill learned from his shipmate, great shantyman Harding Barbadian.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 255, 256).

The Record of the Hilo Boys 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

Hilo Come Down Below

A Black Bird sat in a walnut tree,
– HI-lo, come DOWN below!
A ping-a-pong-in’ on his ol’ banje,
– HI-lo! come DOWN below!

* 2 *

Said the blackbird to the crow,
Come down below wid the whole ‘yer crew,

* 3 *

The crow flew down to Mobile Town,
Met a high yaller gal called Sally Brown.

* 4 *

Said the blacbird to the crow,
Don’t tell them yaller gals all yer know.

* 5 *

The blackbird sang, the crow said ‘caw’,
Gotter set this sail by half pas’ four.

* 6 *

The blackbird flapped his wings an’ crowed,
Why does a chicken cross the road?

* 7 *

If the sun don’ shine, then the hens don’ lay,
If we don’ haul, we git no pay.

* 8 *

One more pull, to ol’ crow cried,
We got to hurry for to catch the tide!

Related to this sea shanty

Blow The Man Down (IV – Doerflinger)

Hilo Boys Hilo

Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)

Interesting Facts about the Ranzo Ray C

Ranzo Ray is one of the shanties with the word Ranzo in chorus. The seamen what Stan Hugill learned this song from said it was a hauling song. Stan Hugill thinks it was also singing at the capstan but was much more popular as a halyard song.
This version Stan Hugill learned from Harding Barbadian, he also informed us about this version was used as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 249). I try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Shanties From The Seven Seas” (1962), with The York & Albany Crew.

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 249).

The Record of the Ranzo Ray C

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

Ranzo Ray C

We’re homeward bound from China, oh, aboard a Limey Liner –,
– RANzo, Ranzo, AWAY, a way!
We’re gettin’ out our long tall blues ter waltz the gals a -round
– Timme HI-lo, me Ranzo RAY!

* 2 *

We’ve ploughed the whole world over an’ now soon we’ll be off Dover.
We’ve ploughed the over, like a proper deepsea rover,

* 3 *

We’ll pass the cliffs of Dover, oh, an’ soon we’ll be in clover,
We’ll anchor in the Downs, for we’re bound for London Town.

* 4 *

We’re loaded down with courios from China an’ the Indias,
We’ll soon be seein’ all the gals, the gals we do adore.

* 5 *

We’ll drink an’ have our fun, sez every jolly Jonny,
The gals are waitin’ on the pier – the soon will have our money.

Related to this sea shanty

Ranzo Ray B

Where Am I To Go M’ Johnnies?

Blow The Man Down (B2 – second method)

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 been the first time in print in Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas”.

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.

The full lyrics

Roll Boys Roll!

Oh! Sally Brown she’s the gal for me, boys,
– ROLL, boys, ROLL 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)