Interesting Facts about the Johnny Bawker
“Johnny Bawker” is another shanty from Stan Hugill’s “Johnny” shanties family. It was the shanty used for sheets. It was used for ‘sweating up’, i.e. to give a final drag on a halyard to gain the last inch, at tacks and sheets. Stan Hugill also mentions that this song was used for bunting sails, quite a unique theory because this job was considered the prerogative of “Paddy Doyle” shanty (we don’t know if Stan Hugill saw this song in action when sails were bunting or if this is only the theory). Another interesting fact is that the final “DO” was grunted out staccato, or rather the word was sung to its correct note and then a rising, gasped-out ‘UGH” would follow as the pull came.
And in end due to the specifics of the “sweetening up” job (final pulls), would not take more than three or four verses at the most. For my reconstruction, I select five verses which are more than enough for the described job.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 289, 290).
The Record of the Johnny Bawker
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
The full lyrics
Johnny Bawker
Ooh! do, me Johnny Bowker, Come rock ‘n’ roll me over,
– Oh do me Johnny Bowker do!
* 2 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, Come roll me down to Dover,
* 3 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, lets’ all go on a Jamboree.
* 4 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the watches are cala-la-shee.
* 5 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chief mate he’s a croaker.
* 6 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the Old Man he’s a soaker.
* 7 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the bosun’s never sober.
* 8 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, I bet ye are a rover.
* 9 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the he is a tailor.
* 10 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the chips he ain’t no sailor.
* 11 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, come roll me in the clover.
* 12 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, come rock an’ roll ‘er over.
* 13 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, from Calais down to Dover.
* 14 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, in London lives yer lover.
* 15 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, the packet she is rollin’.
* 16 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, come haul away the bowline.
* 17 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll either break or bend it.
* 18 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’re men enough to mend it.
* 19 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, get round the corner, Sally.
* 20 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, let me an’ you live tally.
* 21 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, we’ll haul away an’ bend ‘er.
* 22 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, me sweethart’s young an’ tender.
* 23 *
O do, me Johnny Bowker, one more pull then choke ‘er.
