Richard Runciman Terry Archives - Traditional Sea Shanties

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

November 19, 2023November 19, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

“Whip Jamboree (Sharp)” is the capstan shanty. This version comes from ““English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10). According to Sharp:
“there are no other versions of this chantey except one, in the major mode, given me by Mr. George Conway. The tune which is Eolian mode is a variant of Santy Anna (No I).In this construction, and to some extent in the character of its words, the chantey is asking to ‘Spanish Ladies’ (Folk Songs from Somerset, No. 124). The words of the chorus show negro influence. The Rock Light is in Cheshire, at the mouth of the Mersey. “Old Dan Lowerie’s,” Mr. Short said, was a popular playhouse in Paradise Street, Liverpool, near the Waterloo Dock, much frequent by sailors.”
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10).
The lyrics: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 10).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 384).

The Record of the Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

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

And the full lyrics

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

Now, Cape Clear it is in … sight,
We’ll be off Holyhead by tomorrow night,
And we’ll shape our course for the Rock Light;
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

– Whip jamboree, Whip jamboree,
– Oh you longtailed black man, poke it up behind me.
– Whip jamboree, Whip jamboree,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 2 *

Now, my lads, we’re round the Rock,
All hammocks lashed and chests all locked,
We’ll haul her into the Waterloo Dock,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 3 *

Now, my lads, we’re all in dock
We’ll be off to Dan Lowrie’s on the spot;
And now we’ll have a good roundabout.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

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Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

“Whoop Jamboree (Terry)” is the capstan shanty. This version comes from “The Shanty Book Part II” (1926) by Richard Runciman Terry. Terry heard this song from the shantyman known as – Mr. Short of Watchet, Somerset. Terry in the description of the song gives us a hint about how to sing the word “whoop”, he says: “The word as ‘coughed up’ by Mr. Short (with a shock of the glottis) sounded more like ‘Whup'”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.
The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 383, 384).

The Record of the Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

The musical notation

And the full lyrics

Whoop Jamboree (Terry)

Now, my lads, be of good cheer,
For the Irish land will soon draw near.
In a few days more we’ll sight Cape Clear.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

– Whoop jamboree, whoop jamboree,
– Oh you longtailed black man, poke it up behind.
– Whoop jamboree, whoop jamboree,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 2 *

Now Cape Clear it is in sight,
We’ll be off Holyhead by to-morrow night;
And we’ll shape our course for the Rock Light,
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 3 *

Now, my lads, we’re round the Rock,
All hammocks lashed and chests all locked.
We’ll haul her into the Waterloo dock.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

* 4 *

Now, my lads, we’re all in dock,
We’ll be off to Dan Lowries’s on the spot;
And now we’ll have a good roundabout.
– O Jenny, get your oat-cake done.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Toms Gone To Hilo – Terry

March 16, 2023August 20, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Toms Gone To Hilo – Terry

The “Thoms Gone To Hilo” was a halyard shanty. This version comes from “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – by Richard Runciman Terry. Terry chose the version sung to him by Mr. George Vickers, who gives us verses about “The Victory” and “Trafalgar”, due to Terry never heard them sung by any other seaman.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry.
The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry.
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 261).

The Record of the Toms Gone To Hilo – Terry

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Toms Gone To Hilo

Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– Away down Hilo.
Oh, Tommy’s gone, and I’ll go too,
– Tom’s gone to Hilo

* 2 *

Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Liverpool,

* 3 *

Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,
Oh, Tommy’s gone to Mobile Bay,

* 4 *

Tom’s gone, what shall I do?
Oh, Tom’s gone, what shall I do?

* 5 *

Tommy fought at Trafalgar.
Oh, Tommy fought at Trafalgar.

* 6 *

The old Victory led the way.
The brave old Victory led the way.

* 7 *

Tommy’s gone for evermore.
Oh, Tommy’s gone for evermore.

Related to this sea shanty

Tommys Gone To Hilo – Harlow

Reuben Ranzo – Sternvall version

Reuben Ranzo – Patterson version

Richard Runciman Terry – The Shanty Book Part 2 (1926)

May 1, 2023May 8, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Richard Runciman Terry – The Shanty Book Part 2

Richard Runciman Terry – The Shanty Book Part 2 is one of the most recognized shanties collections ever. This is the second part; which was published in 1926; to the original first part, after additional five years of research, Richard Runciman Terry added another thirty-five shanties. Similar to the first part, along with sheet music for voice and pianoforte. The introduction and descriptions of shanties contain a huge amount of useful knowledge. This book is one of the many published during the so-called “Grand Hall shanty revival”. The content of the descriptions contains a lot of important information; e.g. the names of the seaman from whom the individual songs were obtained. This is a must-have for every Shanties enthusiast.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to The Richard Runciman Terry’s Book

Richard Runciman Terry – The Shanty Book Part 1 (1921)

Alex Anderson – Windjammer Yarns (1923)

The Shell Book Of Sea Chanties (1952)

Blow ye winds of morning

March 16, 2023May 2, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Blow ye winds of morning

Blow ye winds of morning, this song mentioned by Stan Hugill – “Shanties from the Seven Seas” (1961) on page 220, comes from Richard Runciman Terry’s “The Shanty Book Part II”. R R Terry has it as a capstan shanty, same give it to us, Stan Hugill in his book. Also intriguingly Terry says it is the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty. In the case that this shanty was the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty, Stan Hugill however, pointed out examples of sea songs such as “Rolling Home” or “High Barbary”. They were all popular sea-songs that the end of the day finished as a shanty. Terry gives this song as a shanty from the shantyman known as – Mr. Short of Watchet, Somerset.
This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.

The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part II” (1926) – Richard Runciman Terry.

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 220).

The Record of the Blow ye winds of morning

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Blow, ye winds of morning

As I walked out one morning fair
to view the meadows round,
It’s there I spied a maiden fair
come trip-ping o’er the ground.

– O blow, ye winds of morning,
– Blow, ye winds, hi! Ho!
– Clear away the morning dew,
– And blow boys blow.

* 2 *

My father has a milk-white steed
and he is in the stall,
He will not eat his hay or corn,
Nor will not go at all.

* 3 *

When we goes in the farmer’s yard
and sees a flock of geese,
We dang their eyes and cuss their tighs
And knock down five or six.

* 4 *

As I was a walking
Downby the riverside,
It’s there I saw a lady fair
A-bathing in the tide.

* 5 *

As I was a-walking
out by the moonlight,
It’s there I spied a yaller gal,
And her eyes they shone so bright.

* 6 *

As I was a-walking
Down Paradise Street,
It’s there I met old John de Goss,
He said, ‘Will you stand treat?”

Related to this sea shanty

Blow. Ye Winds (A)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (D)

Blow The Man Down – Terry Version

March 16, 2023May 2, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Blow The Man Down – Terry Version

Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops’l halyard shanty “Blow The Man Down – Terry”.
This version has been collected by Richard Runciman Terry in his “The Shanty Book Part I” (1921), here is what the description of this shanty says:
“This is the shanty which is perhaps the best known among landsmen. “Winchester Street” is in South Shields, and in the old days was the aristocratic quarter were only persons of high distinction –such as shipowners, and “South-spainer” skippers–lived…”
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry.

The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry.

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 212).

The Record of the Blow The Man Down – Terry Version

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Blow The Man Down (Terry Version)

Oh blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down.
– To me WAY-ay, BLOW the man down!
Oh blow the man down, bullies, blow him a-way.
– Oh GIMME some time to BLOW the man down.

* 2 *

We went over the Bar on the thirteenth of may.
The Galoper jumped, and the gale came away.

* 3 *

Oh the rags they was gone, and the chains they was jammed,
And the skipper sez he, “Let the weather be hanged”.

* 4 *

As I was a-walking down Winchester Street,
A saucy young damsel I happened to meet.

* 5 *

I sez to her, “Polly, and how d’you do?”
Sez she, “None the better for seein’ of you”.

* 6 *

Oh, it’s sailors is tinkers, and tailors is men.
And we’re all of us coming to see you again.

* 7 *

So we’ll blow the man up, and we’ll blow the man down.
And we’ll blow him away into Liverpool Town.

Related to this sea shanty

Blow The Man Down (V – Doerflinger)

Yankee John Stormalong

A Long Time Ago (B)

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

June 24, 2023March 16, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

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

This version of Bound for the Rio Grande is Richard Runciman Terry’s version from “The Shanty Book Part I” (1921). “Rio Grande” was always sung at the anchor capstan or windlass, and was an outward-bound song. In “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, Stan Hugill Mentioned only this version.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 4, 5).

The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 4, 5).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 93).

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

This song will be sung as a capstan shanty.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

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

I,ll sing you a song of the fish of the sea.
– Oh Rio
I,ll sing you a song of the fish of the sea
– And we’re bound; for the Rio Grande,

– Then away, love away!
– Way down Rio!
– So fare-ye-well, my pretty young gel,
– For we’re bound; for the Rio Grande.

* 2 *

Sing goodbye to sally, and goodbye to Sue.
And you who are listerning, goodbye to you.

* 3 *

Our ship went sailing out over the Bar
And we pointed her nose for the southeren Star.

* 4 *

Farewell and adieu to you laidies of Spain
And were all of us comming to see you again.

* 5 *

I said farewell to Kitty my dear,
And she waved her white hand as we passed the South Pier.

* 6 *

The oak and the ash, and the bonny birk tree
They’re all growing green in the North Countrie.

Related to this shanty

Rio. Grande (A)

A Long Time Ago (C)

California

Santy Anna (Terry’s Version)

June 24, 2023March 13, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about Santy Anna (Terry’s Version)

Richard Runciman Terry described In his “The Shanty Book Part I”, mentioned by Stan Hugill, that Santy Anna (Terry’s Version) he gives is “windlass and capstan.” shanty. Here full version is taken from Terry’s book.

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

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 18, 19).

The lyrics: “The Shanty Book part I” (1921) – Richard Runciman Terry (1st ed p 18, 19).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 85).

The Record of the Santy Anna (Terry’s Version)

This reconstruction will be singing as a capstan shanty(faster / first phase of capstan rotation, before the chain, was still vertical below the ship).

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Santy Anna (R. R. Terry’s Version)

Oh Santy Anna won the day.
– Way-Ah, me Santy Anna.
Oh Santy Anna won the day.
– All on the plains of Mexico.

* 2 *

He beat the Prooshans fairly,
And whacked the British nerly.

* 3 *

He was a rority gineral;
A rorty snorty gineral.

* 4 *

They took him out and shot him.
Oh when shall we forget him.

* 5 *

Oh Santy Anna won the day.
Oh Gin’ral Taylor run away.

Related to this sea shanty

A Long Time Ago (C)

California

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso

Walk him along Johnny

June 22, 2023March 13, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Walk him along, Johnny

Stan Hugill took this variation from Richard Runciman Terry’s “The Shanty Book part II”, also mentioned is 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

Despite the fact that 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 the time when Stan Hugill wrote about this version in his work.

The musical notation of the Walk him along Johnny

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