Interesting Facts about Roll The Wood-pile Down – Shore Song
Roll The Wood-pile Down is the Negro version, sailors sometimes sang the chorus from this version: “Haul the woodpile down”. This song will be sung in a halyard shanty tempo, but of course, it is a shore song.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the shore song.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 160).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 161).
The Record Roll The Wood-pile Down – Shore Song
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
Roll The Woodpile Down
Old Aunt Dinah had a farm – Way down in Florida Old Aunt Dinah had a farm – Haul the woodpile down
“Roll The Woodpile Down” is another shanty that is partially related to “Roll The Cotton Down”. This shanty is a sea version of Negro song “Haul The Woodpile Down”. Stan Hugill’s version comes from West Indian seamen and is fairly obvious it originated in either the West Indies or the Southern States of America, most probably in the latter, being, perhaps, one of the many rivermen songs that reached deep water. No specified type of this shanty in Stan Hugill’s book, the grand chorus gives us two options, I decided this time to recreate this song as pump shanty. To be more precise, the tempo is adjusted to the “Downton” pump.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 160).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 160, 161).
The Record of the Roll The Woodpile Down
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
Roll The Woodpile Down
‘Way down south where the socks do crow, – ‘Way down in Florida! The gals they all dance to the ol banjo, – An’ we’ll roll the woodpile down! – Rollin’! Rollin’! oh, Rollin’ the whole worl’ round, – That brown gal o’ mine’s down the Georgia Line, – An’ we’ll roll the woodpile down!
* 2 *
When I was a young man in me prime, I chased them yaller gals two at a time,
* 3 *
We’ll roll him high an’ we’ll roll him low, We’ll heave him up and away we’ll go,
* 4 *
O rouse an’ bust ‘er is the cry, A black man’s wage is never high.
* 5 *
O Curly goes on the ol’ ran-tan, O Curly’s jist a Down-East Man.
* 6 *
O one more heave an’ that’ll do, We’re the bullies for to kick ‘er through.
This version of the “Roll, Alabama, Roll”, Alabama II Stan Hugill mentioned, is the version from William Main Doerflinger’s “Shantymen And Shantyboys”(1951), and instead of the halyard shanty this time is sang as pump shanty. Here full version of this song from Doerflinger’s book, indexed as The “Alabama (II)”, in his book.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the pump 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 160).
The Record of the Alabama II
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.
And the full lyrics of the Alabama II
Alabama II
Oh, in eighteen hundread an’ sixty-one, – Roll, alabama, roll! The Alabama’s keel was laid, – And roll, Alabama, roll!
* 2 *
‘Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird At the town of Birkenhead.
* 3 *
At first she was called the “Two-Ninety-Two,” For the merchants of the city of Liverpool
* 4 *
Put up the money to build the ship, In the hopes of driving the commerce from the sea.
* 5 *
Down the Mersey she sailed one day To the port of Fayal in the Western Isles.
* 6 *
There she refitted with men and guns, And sailed across the Western Sea,
* 7 *
With orders to sink, burn and destroy All ships belonging to the North.
* 8 *
Till one day in the harbor of Cherbourgh she laid, And the little Kearsage was waiting there.
* 9 *
And the Kersage with Winslow was waiting there, And Winslow challenged them to fight at sea.
* 10 *
Outside the three-mile limit they fought, Outside the three-mile limit they fought
* 11 *
Till a shot from the forward pivot that day Took the Alabama’s steering gear away,
* 12 *
And at the kearsage’s mercy she lay, And Semms escaped on a British yacht.
Interesting Facts about Roll Alabama Roll! – Forebitter
This forebitter has a very similar tune to “Roll The Cotton Down”, “Roll Alabama Roll! – Forebitter”. Stan Hugill has “Roll The Cotton Down” – Forebitter version, from New Zeland Lady which he met, in New Zeland in 1925, whose husband had been a seaman in “Alabama”.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.
The source of this forebitter
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 159).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 159).
The Record of the Roll Alabama Roll! – Forebitter
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
Roll, Alabama, Roll!
Oh, in eighteen hundread an’ sixty one, – ROLL, alabama, ROLL! This ship her building wuz begun. – Oh ROLL, alabama, ROLL!
* 2 *
When the Alabama’s keel was laid, This ship her building was begun.
* 3 *
Oh, she was build in Birkenhead, Built in the yard of Jonathan Laird
* 4 *
And down the Mersey she rolled one day, An’ across the western she ploughed her way
* 5 *
With British guns, oh, she was stocked, She sail from Fayal – in Cherbourg she docked.
* 6 *
To fight the North, Semmes did employ, Any method to kill an’ destroy.
* 7 *
But off Cherbourg, the Kearsage lay tight, Awaiting was Winslow to start a good fight.
* 8 *
Outside the three-mile limit they fought, An’ Semmes escaped on a fine British yacht.
* 9 *
The Kersarge won – Alabama so brave, Sank to the bottom to a watery grave.
Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, described by Joanna C. Colcord in her “Roll And Go – Songs Of The American Sailormen” (1924), “Lower The Boat Down”. Joanna Colcord claims this song has Negro origin, and is almost the same as a version (C) from Stan Hugill’s book, without a grand chorus. Miss Colcord claims the words are very likely borrowed from shanty “Rolling King”, However, Stan Hugill is closer to the theory that words are from “South Australia”. To make the case even more complicated, Cecil Sharp gives similar words in his version of “One More Day”.
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 154 ).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 159). The first stanza comes from “Shanties From The Seven Seas”, and the second from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys”. (1914).
The Record of the Lower The Boat Down
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
Lower The Boat Down
There’s only one thing grives me, – Oh, lower the boat down! It’s my poor wife and bayby, – Oh, lower the boat down!
* 2 *
I’m bound away to leave you Don’t let my parting grieve you
Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, Oh Köm un Beer for mi. This version is sung aboard German ships. This one as a halyard, and “Sacramento” as capstan were the two most popular shanties aboard German ships. Stan Hugill heard and took part in the singing of this hauling song many times and participated in singing this song on board a German barque. Here is the version from “Knurrhahn: Seemannslieder und Shanties” (1936).
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 154 ).
The lyrics: “Knurrhahn – Seemannslieder und Shanties” Richard Baltzer; Klaus Prigge; Knurrhahn-Lotsen-Gesangverein (1936).
The Record of the Oh Köm un Beer for mi
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
Oh Köm un Beer for mi
No den Suden to, dor foort een Shipp, – Oh, KöM un Beer for ME! Verprovianteert mit schlauem Kniff, – Oh, KöM un Beer for ME!
* 2 *
Wat harr dat schipp for’n proviant, Dre Arften, dre Bonen, tein Foten vull Sand.
* 3 *
Doch ut de slappkist dor kunnst all’ns hemm, De Ool dat wor een bussiness-man.
* 4 *
Un morgens Klock soss koom de Ool an Deck, Un spee denn eerst mol ober dat Heck.
* 5 *
Oh, Stuurmann, wat sund de Luud for ne Blaas, Laat se eerst mol hentrummen de Raas.
* 6 *
De Stuurmann de gung in vuller Wut, Nat dat Logis un haalt de Luud herut.
* 7 *
‘Turn to’ wi wullt hentrummen de Raas, Doch Janmoot denkt, du kannst uns mol.
* 8 *
Un sund wi in Hamborg man eerst vermoort, Gaat wi von Bord un geevt ‘three boos’.
Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, the De Runer Von Hamborg. This version is sung aboard German ships. This one as a halyard, and “Sacramento” as capstan were the two most popular shanties aboard German ships. Stan Hugill heard and took part in the singing of this hauling song many times and participated in singing this song on board a German barque.
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 154 ).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 156, 157 ).
The Record of the De Runer Von Hamborg
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
De Runer Von Hamborg
De see geiht hoch, de Wind de blast, – Oh, KOHM un Beer for MI! Janmaat, de fleit, is nie verbaast, – Oh, KOHM un Beer for MI!
* 2 *
Reise aus Quartier un all’ an Deck, De Ool de fiert de Marssails weg.
* 3 *
Un wenn wi nu na Hamborg kaamt, Denn suut man all’ de Sneiders staan.
* 4 *
Elias roppt, dor bust du ja, Ik see di nich tom eersten Mal.
* 5 *
Du bruukst gewiss een’ neen Hoot, Ik heff weck von de neeste Mood.
* 6 *
Un ok gewiss een Taschendook, Un’n neen Slips, den bruukst du ok.
* 7 *
Un ook een beeten Seep un Twern, Un denn one pound to’n Amuseern.
* 8 *
Wi is dat een lutjen Koom, Un een Zigarr, dat smeckt doch schoon.
* 9 *
Afmusert ward, dat is mol klor, Wie gaat von Bord un schreet Hurroh.
Description of Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morze (1975)
Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morza (1975), is one of three Polish-language books about sea shanties (another two: Along with the book “Szanty I Szantymeni” – Marek Szurawski and “Songs from under the sails” – Jerzy Wadowski). However, sea shanties are not the main topic of this book. Also, I discovered that only the first 66 pages contain shanties with their descriptions.
As mentioned previously the first chapter “Boys, Ahoj”, contains a set of sea shanties, is very interesting, and has a lot of important information about shanties. It is worth mentioning, that the shanties in this chapter are also translated into Polish.
I also found that this book is big, it contains almost 400 pages. Most of the time, the book keeps a patriotic tone, starting with the description of the maritime school in Tczew, through the often dramatic circumstances of the creation of certain sea songs (written during World War II and the post-war period). I Halina Stefanowska’s songs also have chords for guitar. To finish my review, I can confirm, that this book is a really great source of knowledge about sea shanties and Polish sea songs.
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.
Description of the Cicely Fox Smith – Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 (1930)
It is a great joy to present to all of you this amazing book. When I saw it in the online store, I thought it was a sea shanty book. Also, I thought this book contained a collection of shanties and songs of the sea. I knew that Miss Smith was great in the field of shanties books.
You can’t even imagine my surprise when I discovered, that the Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 do not contain any notes and are a collection of poetry. However, this poetry surprised me even more, reading this book. At the time when I read this book, I felt like a person who gets to know the marine world. The realism of this poetry related to a certain period when sailing ships were undoubtedly still at sea. The introduction on the inside cover says: Miss C.Fox Smith is the ‘C.F.S’ whose initials are so well known to the readers of Punch where many of these delightful salt-water poems first appeared. Miss Fox Smith’s knowledge of ships and of those that go down to the sea in them is so remarkable as to be almost clairvoyant, and with that understanding goes a mastery of rhythm and melody. I confirm that this book is a great source of authentic seafaring poetry of the golden age of the sails. some poems can boldly be used as lyrics; coded songs about the sea, in an authentic atmosphere at the beginning of the 20th century.
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 Cicely Fox Smith – Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 (1930)
Description of the Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961)
The book that I want to present to you is a very special book by Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961). It can be very useful for all who are passionate about Shanties. This book has been recommended to me by an expert on maritime and shanties, my friend Simon Spalding. This book is for someone who wants to not only listen to songs but also want to understand the shanties. The nautical dictionary, the construction of sailing ships, and the names of individual elements about which shantymen sing. A flagship example may be, for example, an attempt to understand what the word “halyard” means.
The knowledge necessary to answer this question is: what is a “yard”? Knowing that some yards were movable (and why they were movable), and how they were raised and lowered. This book brings us significantly closer to the answers to these questions. It is not book very detailed, but about the history of our planet’s watercraft, from prehistoric times to the present. It tells about Egyptian ships, Vikings, Galleys, Tall Ships, Warships, etc. This book describes the influence of sails, on the amazing history of the development of the seas and oceans. About the graphics: the book is beautifully illustrated with over 700 color illustrations, long out of print, but you can buy it in virtual stores for really little money.
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.
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