Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)
Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)”.
This version comes from William Doerflinger’s “Shantymen And Shantyboys” (1951). In Doerflinger’s book, we can read, is that Les Nickerson also used “The Sailor’s Grace”, that old forecastle rhyme inspired by “salt horse” rations.
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: “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 212).
The Record of the Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)
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
Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)
Old horse, old horse, what brought you here,
– WAY, hay, BLOW the man down!
After ploughing the turf for many a year,
– GIMME some time to BLOW the man down!
* 2 *
With kicks and cuffs and sad abuse,
We’re salted down for sailors’ use
* 3 *
Between the mainmast and the pump,
We’re salted down in great big chunks.
* 4 *
And when the mate comes from the rudder
He takes a piece of this old blubber.