Knock A Man Down

Interesting Facts about the Knock A Man Down

This is one of the earliest versions of the shanty sang at the capstan or at the pump “Blow The Man Down”, this version comes from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys” (1914). Stan Hugill mentioned is this song was probably the Hoosier version.
“Hoosier” refers to the cotton-Stowers, both black and white, who move cotton bales from docks to the holds of ships, forcing the bales in tightly using jackscrews. A low-status job, it nevertheless is referred to in various sea shanty lyrics. “Shanties from the Seven Seas” includes lyrics that mention Hoosiers.
Cecil Sharp in his book says:
“I have supplemented Mr. Short’s words – he could only remember two stanzas – with lines from other versions.
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 capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 200).

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

The Record of the Knock A Man 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.

Knock A Man Down - Capstan Shanties

The musical notation

Knock A Man Down - music notation

The full lyrics

Knock A Man Down

– Knock a man down, kick a man down;
– way ay knock a man down,
– Knock a man down right down to the ground,
– O give me some time to knock a man down.

The watchman’s dog stood ten foot high;
– way ay kno-ck a man down,
The watchman’s dog stood ten foot high;
– O give me some time to knock a man down.

* 2 *

A livery ship and a lively crew.
A livery ship and a lively crew.

* 3 *

O we are the boys to put her through
O we are the boys to put her through

* 4 *

I wish I was in London Town.
I wish I was in London Town.

* 5 *

It’s there we’d make the girls fly round.
It’s there we’d make the girls fly round.

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento (D)

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version

Sacramento – Version from German barque Gustav

Roll And Go

Interesting Facts about the Roll And Go

This is another shanty with “Roll and Go!”. This song is another diamond found by Cecil Sharp, which has been sung by a very famous shantyman called Short of Watchet, Somerset, who said it was used at the capstan. This song is a combination of “Sally Brown” and “A Long Time Ago”.

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 167).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 167).

The Record of the Roll And Go

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 And Go - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Roll And Go music notation

And the full lyrics

Roll And Go

O Sally Brown she promised me,
– A long time ago.
She promised for to mary me.
– Way-ay roll and go,
O she promised for to mary me.
– A long time ago!

* 2 *

O Sally Brown’s the girl for me,
– A long time ago.
O Sally Brown she slighted me,
– Way-ay roll and go,
O Sally Brown she slighted me,
– A long time ago!

* 3 *

As I walked out one morning fair,
– A long time ago.
It’s then I met her I do declare,
– Way-ay roll and go,
It’s then I met her I do declare,
– A long time ago!

Related to this sea shanty

Round The Bay Of Mexico

Rio Grande (D)

Rio Grande (E)

Walk him along Johnny

Interesting Facts about the Walk him along, Johnny

Stan Hugill took this variation from Richard Runciman Terry’s “The Shanty Book Part II”, and also mentioned that Walk him along Johnny, Terry, and Sharp gained from the same shantyman, (John) Short of Watchet, and both it states is a halyard shanty, but the construction of song (like a grand chorus), it makes possible this shanty would be pump or capstan, Stan Hugill gives this song as the halyard shanty. Text and melody come from Richard Runciman Terry’s “The Shanty Book Part II”, and Cecil J. Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys” (unfortunately they both give only two verses).

This song will be reconstructed as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 30, 31).

The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 30, 31).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 77).

The Record of the Walk him along, Johnny

Even though this Song is very short (only two stanzas), I have the impression that in the shape in which Terry and Sharp give it, i.e. the one in which I will try to sing it, this song has not been sung for at least 60 years, i.e. since Stan Hugill wrote about this version in his work.

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.

Walk him along, Johnny (R. R. Terry's Version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation of the Walk him along Johnny

walk-him-along-johnny music notation

The full lyrics

Walk him along, Johnny

Gen’ral Taylor gained the day.
– Walk him along, Johnny carry him along.
General Taylor gained the day.
– Carry him to the burying ground.

– Then away-ay you Stormy,
– Walk him along, Johnny carry him along.
– Way-ay you Stormy,
– Carry him to the burying ground.

* 2 *

Dan O’ Connell died long ago.
Dan O’ Connell died long ago.

Related to this sea shanty

As-Tu-Connu Le Per’ Lanc’lot

De Hoffnung

Stormalong, Lads, Stormy