Journal of the Folk-Song Society

Off To The Southard Well Go

Interesting Facts about the Off To The Southard Well Go

“As Off To The Southard We Go” according to Stan Hugill, is another variation of the “Heave Away Cheerily O!”, he took it from the “Journal Of The Folk Song Society” No. 20 (November 1916; page 309, 310). In the Journal original title of this song is “Off To The Southard We’ll Go” and it is described as the “hauling chanty”. This shanty has been sung by shantyman Mr. John Perring, at Dartmouth on February 1912 (Noted by H. E. Piggott). Stan Hugill gives us only one verse of this song, fortunately, I had access to the original Journal which contains the six verses, so I have a chance to reconstruct this song in full length. I will reconstruct this song as the anchor capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Journal Of The Folk Song Society” No. 20 (November 1916; page 309, 310).
The lyrics: “Journal Of The Folk Song Society” No. 20 (November 1916; page 309, 310).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 311).

The Record of the Off To The Southard Well 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.

Off To The Southard Well Go - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Off To The Southard Well Go - music notation

And the full lyrics

Off To The Southard Well Go

Oh our ship is refited, we are going for a trip,
– Cheer’ly my lads, let her go…
We’ve a jolly fine crew and a jolly fine ship,
– As off to the south’ard we’ll go…

* 2 *

So set all your sails, it’s a favouring wind,
Say good-bye to the friends you are leaving behind.

* 3 *

We shall soon clear the Channel and be well off the land;
Then the stewart will serve out the grog to each man.

* 4 *

But the wind is increasing, we must reduce sail.
Take a reef in the topsails and weather the gale.

* 5 *

Under low canvas four days we have been.
Four passing ships homeward bound we have seen.

* 6 *

But now we will set all our sails again.
And think nothing more of the wind and the rain.

Related to this sea shanty

Blow Ye Winds (extra verses)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Norwegian)

Horraw For The Blackball Line

O Whos Been Here – Cecil Sharp

“O Whos Been Here” is a shanty mentioned by Stan Hugill when He described the “Hog-eye Man” shanty. This song (unfortunately not even a bit of the verse more), we can find in the “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January 1914 page 42). Song was noted by Cecil J. Sharp, sung by Mr. John Allen (aged 67), 183, Adelaide Road, Feb, 18th, 1909. Cecil Sharp tells us that this song is evidently a version of the “Hog-eyed” or “Hawk’s-eyed Man”. The words of this shanty (a favorite when the ship was being hauled into the dock), refers to life ashore, and this verse may belong to other printed fragments. A reference to the Yankee sailor’s sea boots (as contrasted with the pumps or bare feet of English sailors) occurs also in a version of “John’s gone to Hilo”.

The source of the O Whos Been Here

The music: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January, 1914 page 42).
The lyrics: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 18 (January, 1914 page 42).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 272).

The Record of this sea shanty

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.

O Whos Been Here - Cecil Sharp - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

O Whos Been Here - music notation

The full lyrics

O Whos Been Here

O who’s been here since I’ve been gone,
A Yankee boy with his sea boots on,

– Ha Ha!
– Ha Ha!

Related to this sea shanty

Johnny Come Down To Hilo

Ten Stone

The Hog-eye Man

The Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton)

Interesting Facts about The Hawks-Eye Man

“The Hawks-Eye Man” mentioned by Stan Hugill in “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, comes from “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248, 249). In the Journal, the author mentions the sung as the capstan shanty in Southport, January 1906, sung by Mr. W. Bolton. In the description, we can find that this curious tune has, like “Shangadore” (probably a version of Shanandore), a decided Negro flavor. We also can find that a very similar version of this song was taken down on board ship in 1862-4; and was printed in “Yachting Monthly” magazine in the article “The Sea Shanty” (issue October 1906).
Also, the “Hog-eye Man” (given under the heading “Hauling into Blackwall Dock, 1862”), the writer of the article says: “This shanty was not allowed so long as any passengers were aboard; directly they were landed this was the only shanty that would suit sailor John. The words cannot be given, but the tune is characteristic. It is of Negro origin, from the slave states”.

The source of The Hawks-Eye Man

The music: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248).
The lyrics: “Journal of The Folk Song Society” – No 9 (1906 page 248, 249).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 271).

The Record of this sea shanty

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 Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Hawks-Eye Man (Bolton)

Oh! the ‘awk’s-eye man is the man for me,
And when he comes ashore he has a jolly spree,

– And the ‘awk’s-eye –
– Roll the boat ashore, And the ‘awk’s-eye
– Roll the boat ashore, And the ‘awk’s-eye, Ho!
– She wants the ‘awk’s-eye man.

* 2 *

Sally in the garden sifting sand.
And Jenny in House with the hawk’s-eye man.

Related to this sea shanty

The Hog-eyed Man – Cecil Sharp

Hog-eye Man – Bullen

Horraw For The Blackball Line (Liverpool Jacks Tune)

Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

Shallow Brown – Harry Perry, was mentioned by Stan Hugill, he says that Piggot was given to us in “Journal of the Folk Song Society” an interesting verses: “I’ll cross the Chili mountains, To pump the silver fountains, …” which means that a sailor deserted his ship in some West Coast port and went working in the silver mines of Chili.
I did find the original “Journal of the Folk Song Society” (No. 20, November 1916), and it is a couple of things to clarify. First instead of Piggot song is sung by Mr. Harry Perry (Aged 61), On board the American Liner, S.S. St. Paul. July 21st, 1915. Noted by Cecil J. Sharp. Original title “Shallow Brown (I’m Going Away To Leave You)”, and is noted as pulling shanty, therefore I will reconstruct this song as halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music:”Journal of the Folk Song Society” (No. 20, November 1916)
The lyrics: “Journal of the Folk Song Society” (No. 20, November 1916)
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 260).

The Record of the Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

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.

Shallow Brown (Harry Perry version) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Shallow Brown - Harry Perry - music notation

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown – Harry Perry

I’m going away to leave you, ….,
– SHALlow, O SHALlow Brown.
I’m going away to leave you, ….,
– SHALlow, O SHALlow Brown.

* 2 *

Get my clothes in order.
Get my clothes in order.

* 4 *

The steam-boat sails to-morrow.
The steam-boat sails to-morrow.

* 5 *

I’m bound away for Georgia.
I’m bound away for Georgia.

* 6 *

No more work on plantation.
No more work on plantation.

* 7 *

I’ll cross the wide Atlantic.
I’ll cross the wide Atlantic.

* 8 *

I’ll cross the Chili mountains.
I’ll cross the Chili mountains.

* 9 *

To pump the silver fountains.
To pump the silver fountains.

Related to this sea shanty

Hello Somebody

Shallow Brown B

Blow Boys Blow (C)

Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

Interesting Facts about the Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

According to Stan Hugill, both versions of the “Blow The Wind Wester.” song, recorded and documented by Cecil Sharp in the “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914) was a shanty sang at capstan and at the pumps. This version was Sung by Mrs. L. Hoper, Hambridge, Somerset, April 4th, 1904.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).

The Record of the Blow The Wind Wester. – Second Version

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 Wind Wester. (Cecil Sharp Second Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Blow The Wind Wester. - Second Version - music notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Wind Wester. (Second Version)

Up jumps the salmon,
The largest o’ ’em all;
He jumps on our fore-deck,
Say-ing; Here’s meat for all.

– O blow the wind whistling, O blow the winds all!
– Our ship is still hearted, boys, How steady she go!

* 2 *

Up jumps the shark,
The largest of all;
He jumps on our fore-deck:
You should die all!

* 3 *

Then up jumps the sprat,
The smallest of all ;
He jumps on our fore-deck,
Saying: We shall be drowned all!

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande – Norvegian sailor version

Opsang For Brasiliefareren, Briggen Preciosa (Norwegian)

Sacramento (A)

Blow The Wind Wester. – First Version

Interesting Facts about Blow The Wind Wester. (First Version)

According to Stan Hugill, both version of the “Blow The Wind Wester.” song, recorded and documented by Cecil Sharp in the “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914) was a shanty sang at capstan and at the pumps. This version was Sung by Mr. Wm. Woolley (aged 84), Bincombe, Somerset, January 6th, 1908.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Journal of the Folk-Song Society” (No 18 from January 1914).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 197).

The Record of the Blow The Wind Wester. – First Version

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 Wind Wester. (Cecil Sharp First Version) - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

Blow The Wind Wester. - First Version - music notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Wind Wester. (First Version)

It’s up jumps the sprat, the smallest of them all;
She jumped on the foredeck, well done, my lads all…

– So blow the wind wester, blow the wind, blow!
– Our ship she’s in full sail, how steady she goes.

* 2 *

Then up jumps the eel, with his slippery tail;
He jumped on the fore deck and glistened the sail.

* 3 *

Then up jumps the nirl-log, with his pretty spots;
He jumped on the fore deck and looked on the top.

* 4 *

Then up jumps the nirl-log, with his rolling teeth;
He said: “Mr. Captain, shall I cook your beef? “

* 5 *

Then up jumps the roter, the king of the sea;
He jumped on the fore deck and turned the key.

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande (F)

Bound for the Rio Grande (R. R. Terry’s Version)

Rio Grande (A. Connan Doyle version)