Old Smith of Tobago Archives - Traditional Sea Shanties

Good Mornin Ladies All A

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Good Mornin Ladies All A

“Good Mornin Ladies All A” capstan shanty, is the song with the line “Good Mornin Ladies All” which gives us the notion that the song is the negro origin. Cecil Sharp believes it to have some affinity with “Heave Away, Me Johnnies”. This version Stan Hugill took from Tobago Smith, a West Indian shantyman.
This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.

The source of the Good Mornin Ladies All A

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 350).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 350).

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.

Good Mornin Ladies All A - Capstan Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Good Mornin Ladies All A

Our ol’ man said to me one day,
– High-ee-yo – ho-ho, High-ee-yo – ho-ho – ho-ho!
Let’s git aboard of our packet ship, an’ we’ll roll’er ‘crosst the Bay – ,
– Ah – ha – ! me yellar gals,
– Good mornin’ ladies all!

* 2 *

Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well,
We’re outward bound on the mornin’ tide, this packet wuz bound ter hell.

* 3 *

We sailed away to the White Man’s Grave,
The Yaller Jack it wiped us out, the divil a man wuz saved.

* 4 *

We shipped some monkeys for the crew,
Our bosun wuz a great big ape, the ‘sails’ a kinkajou.

Related to this sea shanty

Paddy Signs On

Paddy Get Back – Dick Maitland

Roller Bowler – Trinidad Version

Hilo Boys Hilo

March 16, 2023July 21, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Hilo Boys Hilo

“Hilo Boys Hilo” is another shanty with the word “Hilo”. Negro origin shanty used at halyards. Like usually happen in Negro and cotton-Hoosier’s song, after the first few regulation verses shantyman would have to extemporize, since such shanties told no familiar story; However, in Stan Hugill’s version, which he has from Old Smith of Tobago, a one-time shipmate, a short tale is told.

The source of this sea shanty

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

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

The Record of the Hilo Boys Hilo

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Hilo Boys Hilo

A black bird sat in a goose-berry tree,
– HI-lo, boys, HI-lo!
A ping-a-pon-gin’ on his ol’ ban-jee,
– Oh, Hilo, somebody Hilo!

* 2 *

The blackbird sang unto the crow,
I’ll soon be takin’ you in tow,

* 3 *

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

* 4 *

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

* 5 *

Them yaller gals we do adore,
They’ll drink ye skint an’ ask for more.

* 6 *

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

* 7 *

High an’ dry we’ll hoist her high,
Hoist her high for a bulgine pie.

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Johnny Brown

Blow The Man Down (E)

Blow The Man Down (F)

Sally Brown (C)

December 18, 2023April 17, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (C)

This is another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. Sally Brown (C) is the 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! Stan Hugill heard this version, very popular on halyards, from Old Smith of Tobago, a great West Indian shantyman.

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 165).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163).

The Record of the Sally Brown (C)

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Sally Brown (C)

Oh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulato,
– WAY-ay, ay, ay, YAH!
Oh, She drinks rum an’ chaws terbacco,
– Oh, WALK along you SALly Brown!

* 2 *

Sally lives on the old plantation,
She is daughter of the Wild Goose Nation.

* 3 *

Seven long years I courted Sally,
But all she did was dilly-dally,

* 4 *

Sally Brown’s a big buck creole,
Her bow is big, but her starn is bigger.

* 5 *

I brought her growns an’ I bought ‘er laces,
Took her out to all the places.

* 6 *

Sally’s teeth are white an’ pearly,
Her eyes are black an’ her hair is curly.

* 7 *

Sally lives in ol’ Jamaica,
Sellin’ rum an’ grown’ terbacker

* 8 *

I call her my ol, Queen of Faces,
Bought her coral beads an’ laces.

* 9 *

The sweetest flower in the valley,
Is my own my pretty Sally.

* 10 *

Sally Brown, what is the matter?
Pretty gal, but can’t git at her.

* 11 *

Sally Brown, I love ye dearly,
Ye had me heart, or very nearly.

Related to this sea shanty

The Gals O’ Chile

Larry Marr

The Lowlands Low (A)

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

December 3, 2023March 10, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Another shanty from the Lowlands family, but this time is a halyard one. Stan Hugill had Lowlands Low (Halyards), from Old Smith of Tobago, a fine old colored shantyman who gave to Stan a lot of little-known shanties, it was happening in the 30s of the XX century. It is a West-Indian song, according to Sharp, it comes from West Indian Trade (Sugar and Rum).

At this time I did a little presentation with yard pull, as this is a halyard chantey. According to Stan Hugill, it was two hard pulls, and after every pull, the yard goes up a couple of inches. Three sails have been hoisted (those with raising up yards) to be raised in a single mast: Upper Topsail, Upper Topgallant, and Royal, in those sails, were hoisted to the singing of “Halyard Shanties”. It was one of the hardest work on the ship.

This song will be reconstructed as the halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 70).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 71, 72).

The Record of the Lowlands Low (Halyards)

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 70,71).

Lowlands Low (Halyards) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Our packet is the Island Lass,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
There’s a nigger howlin’ at the main top-mast,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

* 1 *

The Ol’ Man hails from Barbadoes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
He’s got the name Ol’ Hammertoes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

* 2 *

He gives us bread as hard as brass,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Our junk’s as salt as Balaam’s ass.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

* 3 *

The monkey’s rigged in the sijer’s clo’es,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Where he gottem from God ‘lone knows.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

* 4 *

We’ll haul ’em high an’ let ’em dry,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
We’ll rtice ’em up into de sky.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

* 5 *

Lowland, me boys, an’ up she goes,
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Git changed, me boys, to her shore-goin’ clo’es.
– LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!

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Stormalong, Lads, Stormy