Spanish Ladies A

Interesting Facts about the Spanish Ladies A

“Spanish Ladies A” old naval song, only Stan Hugill and Captain Frank Shaw were writers who call this beautiful song the shanty. Hugill tells us it was the homeward-bound song sung at the capstan. This song has two tunes – the livelier and faster one being preferred by the later generation of sailing-ship men. Both versions including this one, Stan Hugill took from his father.
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 385).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 385).

The Record of the Spanish Ladies A

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

Spanish Ladies A - music notation

And the full lyrics

Spanish Ladies A

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England,
An’ hope very shortly to see you again.

– We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar, like true British sailors,
– We’ll rant an’ we’ll rave across the salt seas,
– Till we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-four leagues.

* 2 *

We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou’west, boys,
We hove our ship to for to take soundings clear.
In fifty-five fathoms with a fine sandy bottom,
We filled our maintops’l, up Channel did steer.

* 3 *

The first land we made was a point called the Deadman,
Next Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight.
We sailed then by Beachie, by Fairlee and Dover,
Then bore straight away for the South Foreland Light.

* 4 *

Now the signal was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
We clewed up our tops’ls, stuck out tacks and sheets.
We stood by our stoppers, we brailed in our spankers,
And anchored ahead of the noblest of fleets.

* 5 *

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,
Let every man here drink up his full bowl,
And let us be jolly and drown melancholy,
Drink a health to each jovial an’ true-hearted soul.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Whip Jamboree (Sharp)

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

Whip Jamboree (Sharp) - music 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)

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)

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

Whoop Jamboree (Terry) - music 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

Jamboree (Whall)

Interesting Facts about the Jamboree (Whall)

“Jamboree (Whall)” is the capstan shanty. In the time when Stan Hugill wrote his book, swear words or “bawdy words” was not acceptable for print, so in any case “words” has to be camouflaged. As we know from his book, this song was very difficult to camouflage. According to the “last leaving shantymen” this song also breaks another theory that shanties contain unprintable words only in solos, here the final and noisiest line of the chorus is unprintable! This version Stan Hugill called: this “The London Version”, and gave the comment that is much the same as Whall’s, in fact, Whallalso in his book calls it the “London Version”. So probably to unify this case I will use Whall’s version and music, due to the Hugill giving us only text which is almost identical. The music is original from Whall.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Sea Songs Ships & Shanties” by William Boultbee Whall (6th extended edition 1927).
The lyrics: “Sea Songs Ships & Shanties” by William Boultbee Whall (6th extended edition 1927).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 383).

The Record of the Jamboree (Whall)

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

Jamboree (Whall) - music notation

And the full lyrics

Jamboree (Whall)

The pilot he looks out ahead,
O a hand in the chains, O a heaving of the lead!
The union Jack at our masthead,
– O I wonder if my clothes are out of pawn!

– Oh, Jamboree, Oh Jamboree,
– O its get away, you black man, don’t you come a-night me!
– Oh, Jamboree, Oh Jamboree,
– O I wonder if my clothes are out of pawn!

* 2 *

O it’s now we’re past o’ the Lizard lights,
The Start, boys, next will have in sight;
We’ll soon be abreast of the Isle of Wight;
O I wonder if my clothes are o’ pawn.

* 3 *

O when we get to the Blackwall docks,
The pretty young girls come down in flocks,
Some in their petticoats and some in frocks;
O I wonder if my clothes are o’ pawn.

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Jinny

Interesting Facts about the Jinny

“Jinny” is the capstan shanty and homeward-bound. A much more popular title of this song is “Jamboree”. In the time when Stan Hugill wrote his book, swear words or “bawdy words” was not acceptable for print, so in any case “words” has to be camouflaged. As we know from his book, this song was very difficult to camouflage. According to the “last leaving shantymen” this song also breaks another theory that shanties contain unprintable words only in solos, here the final and noisiest line of the chorus is unprintable! This version of Hugill was obtained partially from Mr. Jones, a Welsh mate who had served in many sailing ships, rest of the words of this song come from Stan Hugill himself.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the windlass shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 382).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 382, 383).

The Record of the Jinny

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

Jinny - music notation

And the full lyrics

Jinny

Now m’lads be of good vheer,
For the Irish land will soon draw near,
In a fery days more we’ll sight Cape Clear,
Ooooh, Jinny keep yer ringtail warm!

– Oh, Jamboree, Oh Jamboree,
– Ai-i-i! Y’ring tailed black man, sheet it home behind!
– Oh, Jamboree, Oh Jamboree,
– Ooooh, Jinny keep yer ringtail warm!

* 2 *

Now, me boys, we’re off Holyhead
An’ there’s no more casts of the dipsy lead,
‘N’ soon we’ll be in a lovely fevver bed,
Ooooh, Jinny keep yer ringtail warm!

* 3 *

Now the Barship is in sight,
An’ soon we’ll be off the pl’ Rock Light,
An’ I will clean the flue ternight.
Ooooh, Jinnie keep yer ringtail warm!

* 4 *

Now we’re through the dock,
All the pretty young gals on the pierhead do flock,
An’ there’s my Jinnie in a new pink frock,
Ooooh, Jinny keep yer ringtail warm!

* 5 *

Now we’re tied up to the pier,
Oh, it’s ‘way down below, an’ pack yer musty gear,
An’ I’ll soon be a-kissin’ o’ you, me dear,
Ooooh, Jinnie keep yer ringtail warm!

* 6 *

Now I’m safe upon the shore,
An’ I don’t give a damn how the winds do roar,
For I’ll drop me anchor an’ I’ll to sea no more,
Ooooh, Jinnie keep yer ringtail warm!

* 7 *

But now I’ve had two weeks ashore,
I’ll pack me bags an’ I’ll go to sea once more,
An’ I’ll bid goodbye to me Liverpool whore,
Ooooh, Jinnie keep yer ringtail warm!

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Doodle Let Me Go

Interesting Facts about the Doodle Let Me Go

“Doodle Let Me Go” is the capstan shanty. According to Stan Hugill probably related to “Do Let Me Go Susan”. Terry says that the word “Do” was sometimes sung as “doodle”. This version is version comes from Harding Barbadian, a shipmate of Stan Hugill.
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 380).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 380, 381).

The Record of this 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 musical notation

Doodle Let Me Go - music notation

And the full lyrics

Doodle Let Me Go

Oh, once I met a dou-dou fair, belonged to Mobile Bay,
– Hooraw, me yaller gels, doodle let me go!
– Doodle let me go, gels,
– Doodle let me go.
– Hooraw, me yaller gels,
– doodle let me go!

* 2 *

She swung her lip, she tripped her feet, she winked her sassy eye,
– Hooraw …

* 3 *

Ah took her in an’ gave her gin, an’ danced her on the floor,
– Hooraw …

* 4 *

The crew is drunk, the mate is drunk, the Old Man’s got a load,
– Hooraw …

Related to this sea shanty

Rio Grande (F)

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

Rio Grande (A. Connan Doyle version)

Do Let Me Lone Susan

Interesting Facts about the Do Let Me Lone Susan

“Do Let Me Lone Susan” Halyard shanty comes from Harding Barbadian, a shipmate of Stan Hugill used in both American and British ships. Stan Hugill claims that “Shanties From the Seven Seas”, is the first place where this song is in print. The song is of Spanish-American origin with similar timing to calypso.
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 379).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 379, 380).

The Record of the Do Let Me Lone Susan

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

Do Let Me Lone Susan - music notation

And the full lyrics

Do Let Me Lone Susan

Do let me lone, Susan, Och! do let me lone!
– HooRAW! me loo-loo boys, Do let me lone!
When I put me arm round Jinny’s waist,
oh, Jinny jump about,
– HooRAW! me loo-loo boys, Do let me lone!
When I put me hand on Jinny’s head,
oh, Jinny jumps away,
– HooRAW! me loo-loo boys!

* 2 *

Do let me lone, Flora, oh, do let me lone.
– HooRAW …
When I put me hand on Jinny’s cheek,
oh, Jinny jumps about,
– HooRAW …
When I try to play with Jinny’s ear,
oh, Jinny jumps away,
– HooRAW …

* 3 *

Do let me lone, Rosy, oh, do let me lone.
– HooRAW …
When I put me hand on Jinny’s waist,
oh, Jinny jump about,
– HooRAW …
When I Stroke my Jinny on the back,
oh, Jinny jumps away,
– HooRAW …

* 4 *

Do let me lone, Judy, oh, do let me lone.
– HooRAW …
When I put me hand on Jinny’s lap,
oh, Jinny jump about,
– HooRAW …
When I kiss my Jinny on the lips,
oh, Jinny jump away,
– HooRAW …

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Coal Black Rose

Bunch O Roses (tune version 1)

Bunch O Roses (tune version 2)

Poor Lucy Anna

Interesting Facts about the Lucy Anna

“Poor Lucy Anna” shanty, was used to the pumps or capstan of “Negro” origin. This song as Stan Hugill informs us is taken from the “Songs Of Sea Labour” by F.T. Bullen & W.F. Arnold (1914) (1st ed: p 14). This is what Bullen tells us about this song: “is so mournful that one suspects it of being the lament of some just sold slaves sent from one State to another without reference to any human ties they may have possessed”. This shanty was very seldom used except where “Negros” formed a considerable portion of the crew.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the windlass shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The source of this sea shanty:

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 379).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 379).

The Record of the Lucy Anna

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

Poor Lucy Anna - music notation

And the full lyrics

Poor Lucy Anna

Oh, ‘the mounten’s so high, an’ de riber’s so wide,
Poor Lucy Anna!
De mounten’s so high, an’ de riber’s so wide,
Ise just gwine o-ber de mountens!

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Way Me Susiana!

Interesting Facts about the Way Me Susiana!

“Way Me Susiana!” a hauling shanty, another fantastic song comes from Harding Barbadian. According to Stan Hugill, it has definitely Negro origin. From Harding, we know that this song was also used for pumping and cargo work. A very interesting part of Hugill’s description is that word “heave” suggests pumping, although some Negro hauling songs had the word “Heave” in their refrains, thus indicating that very possible they had one time or another been used at the jack-screws aboard cotton-ships.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.

The source of the Way Me Susiana!

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 378).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 378).

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 musical notation

Way Me Susiana! - music notation

The full lyrics

Way Me Susiana!

We’ll heave him up an away we’ll go,
– ‘WAY, me SusiANA!
We’ll heave him up an away we’ll go,
We’re ALL bound over the MOUNten!

* 2 *

We’ll heave him up from down below,
That is where the cocks do crow,

* 3 *

An’ if we drown while we are young,
It’s better to drown, than to wait to be hung.

* 4 *

Oh, growl ye may but go ye must,
If ye growl too hard yer head they’ll bust.

* 5 *

Up sox, you cocks, hand her two blocks,
An’ go below to yer ol’ ditty box.

* 6 *

Oh, rock an’ shake ‘er, one more drag,
Oh, bend yer duds an’ pack yer bag.

Related to this sea shanty

Albertina – Glyn Davies

Skonnert Albertina – Sternvall

Poor Paddy Works On The Railway

Jack All Alone

Interesting Facts about the Jack All Alone

“Jack All Alone” forebitter mentioned by Stan Hugill on occasion to describe the “The New York Gals” shanty. The words of this song were well known in Liverpool, and occasionally some bits of lyrics were adapted to fit various shanties and forebitters. The traditional and origin name of this song was “The Shirt and the Apron”. The lyrics given by Stan Hugill come from Paddy Cunningham. Of course, the biggest issue with this song is that Stan Hugill doesn’t give us any music score, so after long research and with the huge help of one of my mentors Gibb Schreffler, I found the music notation in the “Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia” by Helen Creighton (1932). On the mentioned book song was under the title “Barrack Street”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the Forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia” by Helen Creighton (1932).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 376-377).

The Record of the Jack All Alone

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

Jack All Alone - music notation

The full lyrics

Jack All Alone

Ye ‘prentice lads and seamen bold, come listen to me song,
An’ I’ll tell ye how I met me fate, when I was very young;
‘Twas on the day I came from sea, a flash gal I did meet.
She kindly axed me to a dance, ’twas up on Peter Street.

* 2 *

Sez I, ‘My charmin’ fair one, I can’t dance very well,
For Wigan town this night I’m bound, where all my friends do dwell;
Today I’ve just come in from sea, an’ I’ve saved eighty pound,
My parents are expectin’ me tonight in Wigan town.’

* 3 *

Sez she, ‘If you dance too well, ye still can have a treat,
I’ll give you rum and brandyhot an’ something nice to eat;
At ten o’click this very night I’ll meet you at the train,
If ye’ll consent, give me a call when ye come in town again.’

* 4 *

So finding her quite friendly, I then did hail a car,
To take us to a bar-room, boys, the distance warn’t too far;
Some gals passed by the other side, these words to me did say,
‘Oh, you young chap, ye’ll lose yer cap if you steer that way.’

* 5 *

And when we reached the bar-room, boys, the loquor was brought in,
And every man waltzed round the room as the dancing did begin;
Me and my love danced round the room, danced to a merry tune,
Sez she, ‘My dear, now we’ll repair to a chamber all alone.’

* 6 *

When the dancing it was over, we straight to bed did go.
‘Twas little did I ever think she’d prove my overthrow;
My watch and clothes and eighty pound with me fancy one they fleed,
And she left me there, Jack-all-alone, stark naked on the bed.

* 7 *

When I came to me senses, oh, nothing could I spy,
But a woman’s shirt an’ apron there upon the bed did lie;
I wrung me hands, I tore me hair, I yelled, ‘What shall I do?’
And said, ‘Farewell, O Wigan town, I’ll never more see yo.’

* 8 *

Oh, everything was silent, the hour was twelve o’clock,
I put the shirt and apron on and hauled for the dock;
My shipmate saw me come aboard, these words to me did say,
‘Well, well ol’ chap, you’ve lost yer cap, since last ye went away.

* 9 *

‘Is this the new spring fashion the ladies wear on shore,
Where is the shop that’s sellin’ it, have they got any more?’
The Ol’ Man cried, ‘Why, Jack me boy, to Wigan I thought ye’d gone,
A better suit I sure could buy than that for eighty pun.’

* 10 *

Sure I could buy a better suit if I’d only had the chance,
But I met a gal on Peter Street and she took me to a dance;
I danced to my destruction, got stripped from head to feet,
So I swore an oath I’d go no more to a dance on Peter Street.

* 11 *

Come, all ye lads an’ seamen bold, a warn’ take by me:
Be sure ye choose good company when you goes on the spree;
Beware of a dance on Peter Street, ye’ll surely rue a day,
With a woman’s shirt and apron, boys, they’ll fit ye out for sea!

Related to this Forebitter

Ratcliffe Highway

Blow Ye Winds in the Morning

Rolling Home – W. B. Whall