Stormalong Lads Stormy is much the same as those in “Across the Western Ocean”, this song Stan Hugill learned from seamen who had the most famous name I ever heard, He was called “Harding, the Barbadian Barbarian” from Barbados, and having sailed in British, American, and Bluenose (Nova Scotian) ships, as well as West Indian traders, and he was Shantyman himself. It was originally used at the halyards.
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 76). I try to recreate this song from hearted Stan Hugill’s version from the album “Shanties From The Seven Seas” (1962), with The York & Albany Crew.
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 76).
The Record of the Stormalong Lads Stormy
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
Stormalong, Lads, Stormy
Stormalong an’ around we’ll go, – Ol’ Stormalong! Oh, Stormalong an’ around we’ll go, – Storm-along, lads, stormy.
* 2 *
If ever you go to Liverpool, If ever you go to Liverpool,
* 3 *
To Liverpool that packet school, To Liverpool that packet school,
* 4 *
Yankee sailors ye’ll see there, Yankee sailors ye’ll see there,
* 5 *
With red-topped boots an’ short cut hair, With red-topped boots an’ short cut hair,
* 6 *
There ‘s Liverpool Pat with his tarpaulin hat, An’ ‘Frisco Jim, the packet rat.
* 7 *
Wake up, yer bitch, ‘n’ let us in, Get up, yer bitch, ‘n’ service us gin.
* 8 *
Oh, I wisht I wuz in Liverpool Town, Them Liverpool judies I’d dance around.
* 9 *
O long Stormy-stormalong, O long Stormy-stormalong.
Same as in “Lowlands Away”, Stormy Along, John was originally used at the pumps and later as a capstan. Some of the people believe that was built around John Willis- the owner of “Cutty Sark”. But true it is negro origin and of much older vintage than the “Cutty Sark” period.
This song will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 75).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 75, 76).
The Record of the Stormy Along, John
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 of the Stormy Along, John
The full lyrics
Stormy Along, John
Oooh… Stormy’s gone that good ol’ man, – Stormyalong boys, Stormalong, John! Oh, Stormy’s gone that good ol’ man, – Ah, ha, come-along, git-along, stormy along, John!
* 2 *
Oh, poor Ol’ Stormy’s gone to rest, Of all ol’ seamen he wuz best,
* 3 *
He slipped his cable off Cape Horn. Close by the place where he wuz born.
* 4 *
We dug his grave with a silver spade His shroud o’ finest silk wuz made.
* 5 *
I wisht I wuz Ol Stormy’s son, I’d build a ship o’ a thousant ton
* 6 *
I’d sail this wide world round an’ round, With plenty o’ money I’d be found.
* 7 *
We’d sail this ol’ world round an’ round, An’ get hot rum oh, I’ll be bound.
* 8 *
I,d load her up with Jamaicy rum, An’ all me shellbacks they’d have some.
* 9 *
We’d git our drinks, lads, every man, With a bleedin’ big bottle for the shantyman.
* 10 *
I’d load ‘er up with grup an’ gin, An’ stay in the port that we wuz in.
* 11 *
I’d feed ye well, an’ raise yer pay, An’ stand ye drinks three times a day.
* 12 *
An’ whin we git to Liverpool Town, We’ll dance them judies round an’ round.
* 13 *
Oh, Stormalong an’ around we’ll go, Oh, Stormalong through ice an’ snow.
* 14 *
When Stormy died he made a will, To give us sailors gin to swill.
A fine old shanty was Mister Stormalong (A2). Analogically, as in “Lowlands Away”; these shanty sailors were used at the pumps; and also later as a capstan. But true it is negro origin and of much older vintage than the “Cutty Sark” period. In Stan Hugill’s book; are described 6 versions of this family. In this particular version are two patterns:
Praising the dead seamen,
Praising the benevolent son of the dead seamen.
The second pattern; was usually added after the dirge-like regulation stanzas run out. It happens for a reason that work at pumps was a constant job, especially on old wooden ships; when every changed course or trim the sails; the hull was liked literally “everywhere”. I do separate these 2 patterns. This is the second version, I will do a little “presentation” of work at the leaver “Jiggity-Jig” (older type) pump.
This song will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72, 74).
The Record of the Mister Stormalong (A2)
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
Mister Stormalong (A2)
I wisht I wuz Ol Stormy’s son, – To me way you Stormalong! I’d build a ship o’ a thousant ton – Aay! Ay.! Ay! Mister Stormalong!
* 2 *
I’d sail this wide world round an’ round, With plenty o’ money I’d be found..
* 3 *
We’d sail this ol’ world round an’ round, An’ get hot rum oh, I’ll be bound.
* 4 *
I’d load her up with Jamaicy rum, An’ all me shellbacks they’d have some.
* 5 *
We’d git our drinks, lads, every man, With a bleedin’ big bottle for the shantyman.
* 6 *
I’d load ‘er up with grup an’ gin, An’ stay in the port that we wuz in.
* 7 *
I‘d feed ye well, an’ raise yer pay, An’ stand ye drinks three times a day.
* 8 *
An’ whin we git to Liverpool Town, We’ll dance them judies round an’ round.
* 9 *
Oh, Stormalong an’ around we’ll go, Oh, Stormalong through ice an’ snow.
* 10 *
When Stormy died he made a will, To give us sailors gin to swill.
A fine old shanty was Mister Stormalong (A1). The same as in “Lowlands Away”, this shanty was originally used at the pumps and later as a capstan. There are stories about that who believe it was built around John Willis- the owner of “Cutty Sark”. But true it is negro origin and of much older vintage the “Cutty Sark” period.
Stan Hugill’s book describes 6 versions of this shanty. In this particular version are two patterns:
Praising the dead seamen,
Praising the benevolent son of the dead seamen.
Worth noting, that the second pattern was usually added after the dirge-like regulation stanzas run out. The reason why the stanzas run out was: that the work at pumps was a constant job, especially on wooden ships. Each change to the course or trims of the sails caused the leakage literally “everywhere”. I do separate these 2 patterns because, in the second version, I plan to do a little “presentation” of work at the leaver “Jiggity-Jig” (older type) pump.
This song will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 72, 74).
The Record of the Mister Stormalong (A1)
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
Mister Stormalong (A1)
Old Stormy he is dead and gone, – To me way you Stormalong! Old Stormy he is dead and gone, – Aay! Ay.! Ay! Mister Stormalong!
* 2 *
Of all ol’ skippers he was best, But now he’s dead an’ gone to rest.
* 3 *
He slipped his cable off Cape Horn, Close by the place where he was born.
* 4 *
Oh, off Cape Horn where he was born, Our sails wuz torn an’ our mainmast gorn.
* 5 *
We’ll dig his grave with a silver spade, His shroud of finest silk was made.
* 6 *
We lowered him down with a golden chain, Our eyes all dim with more than rain.
* 7 *
He lies low in his salt-sea [earthen] bed, Our hearts are sore, our eyes were red.
* 8 *
An able seaman bold an’ true, A good ol’ skipper [bosun] to his crew.
* 9 *
He’s moored at last an’ furled his sail, No danger now from wreck or gale.
* 10 *
Old Stormy heard the Angel call, So sing his dirge now one an’ all.
* 11 *
Oh, now we’ll sing his funeral song, Oh, roll her over, long an’ strong.
* 12 *
Old Stormy loved a sailors’ song, Hes voice wuz tough an’ rough an’ strong.
* 13 *
His heart wuz good an’ kind an’ soft, But now he’s gone ‘way up aloft.
* 14 *
For fifty years he sailed the seas, In winter gale and summer breeze.
* 15 *
But now Ol’ Stormy’s day is done; We marked the spot where he is gone.
* 16 *
So we sunk him under with a long, long roll, Where the sharks’ll have his body an’ the divil have his soul.
* 17 *
An’ so Ol’ Stormy’s day wuz done, South fifity six, west fifty one.
* 18 *
Ol’ Stormy wuz a seaman bold, A Grand Ol’ Man o’ the days of old.
The book Sailortown (1967) (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.). It is an excellent source of knowledge about what a merchant seaman did when he was not on a voyage.
During reading this unique book, I realized my great ignorance of seafaring life and what things, filled a huge part of a merchant sailor’s life. Another thing that I realized from this book is the fact, that focusing only on the musical aspect of the shanties and the forebitters. This was a complete misunderstanding and even ignorance on my part. This fact reduces the shanties and forebitters to music sheets and notations. In fact, the care for beautiful performance is all that was the least important in the shanties and forebitters.
Discover the tragic sailor’s lives described in the Sailortown (1967)
“Sailortown,” tells us how terrible and tragic albeit hilarious and challenging, was the land part of a sailor’s life. The book describes emotions and dangers mentioned, for example, such as Shanghaiing, prostitution, selling the corpses of sailors, horse riding in a brothel, or maybe beatings and mass orgies in whaling ports. It is an amazing mix indeed. The author gives us a description of all the most important “Sailortowns”, or port districts that were an alienated, exclusive world for sailors,
another name “Sailortown” or actually the first, as the author claims, it is “Fiddlers Green”
Yes, yes, we learn from the book that the meaning of “Fiddlers Green” as a paradise for sailors was secondary and invented much later. I could write more, but it would take too long. This book cannot be ignored by people who are shanty lovers. One of the fans of my FB page stated, with whom I fully agree, “If you start reading this book, take your time, let your mind enjoy it”.
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 Stan Hugill – Shanties and Sailors’ Songs
It is My great pleasure, to share the Songs Of The Sea (1977) book with you. One of the less (unfortunately) known books by Stan Hugill. A book in a huge size, my friend, shantyman, and great player on Melodeon Greg Bullough who knows Stan Hugill due to his active work in Mystic Seaport Museum says that …
Stan Hugill himself called this book the “coffee table”…
… the quality of photos and paper in this book can be compared to the most expensive albums in the field of painting. Excellent photos and a very interesting formula of “as if by hand” writing. The text of the song adds to the charm of this book. Inside, we can find real gems, in addition to the most famous shanties. We can find a large collection of songs and shanties: Danish, Norwegian, German, and other unique languages.
All non-English songs have an English translation aside.
Additionally, all non-English songs are divided into thematic chapters. I would like to add that in the Songs Of The Sea (1977) book you can find a huge amount of information about the life and customs of sailors living at the time when these songs were sung. As usual, this book has a huge amount of knowledge, not only about sea shanties but also maritime knowledge, which is really helpful to understand the mechanics of the sea shanties.
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.
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).
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
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!
Interesting Facts about My Dollar An’ A Half A Day
This originally pumping shanty, My Dollar An’ A Half A Day was later used as windlass and capstan. This is the Southern States version, Bullen believes it to be of Negro origin, and Whall calls it’ American’, from the cotton ports. “Mr. Perring said this was a ‘typical’ (‘ti’ rhymes with ‘my’) Negro Chantey, sung by Negro sailors in the East India trade, in complaint at their being harder worked and lower-waged than white seamen. Doerflinger disagrees and thinks it is an English song, taken to the Gulf ports by the English and Irish pocket seamen who worked there loading cotton.
Its “Dead Lover” theme definitely originated in Scotland or North England. This “dead lover” pattern one I sing, of four is: “Later southern States version” another three patterns are: “The dead lover is a male”, “Sailor’s dream of his sweetheart” “The dead lover is a female”
This song will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 68, 69). The version I will try to recreate I heard on Stan Hugill’s album – “Aboard the Cutty Sark” (1979).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 68, 69).
The Record of the My Dollar An’ A Half A Day
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
Lowlands (My Dollar An’ A Half A Day)
– Low-lands, Lowlands away my John – Low-lands away, I heard them say, – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 1 *
A dollar an’ a half a day is a (black man) nigers pay, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! I thought I heard out Old Man say, – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 2 *
A white man’s pay is rather high. – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! A black man’s pay is rather low, – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 3 *
Five dollars a day is a hoosier’s pay, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! Five dollars a day is a hoosier’s pay, – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 4 *
A dollar an’ a half a day is mathlow’s pay, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! A dollar an’ a half a day won’t pay my way. – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 5 *
Ohwhat shall we poor shellbacks do? – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! We’ve got no money an’ we can’t git home. – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 6 *
I packet me bag an’ I’m bound away, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! I’m bound away for Mobile Bay. – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 7 *
We’re bound away for Mobile Bay, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! We’re bound away at the break o’ day. – My Dollar an’ a half a day.
* 8 *
Oh, say wuz ye never down in Mobile Bay? – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! A-screwin’ cotton all the day. – My Dollar an’ a half, a day.
* 9 *
Oh, me poor ol’ mother, oh, she wrote to me, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! She wrote to me to come home from sea. – My Dollar an’ a half, a day.
* 10 *
We’ll heave ‘er up from down below, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! Oh, heave ‘er up an’ away we’ll go! – My ...
* 11 *
Oh, I though I heard the Ol’ Man say, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! He’d give us rum three times a day. – My ...
* 12 *
I wish I had ten thousand pound, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! I’d steer me ship for miles around. – My ...
* 13 *
I’d load her up with grub an’ gin, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! An’ stay in the port where we wuz in. – My ...
* 14 *
I’d stand ye drinks three times a day, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! An’ feel ye well am’ raise yer pay. – My ...
* 15 *
With a bully ship an’ a bully crew, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! An’ a bucko skipper for to kick her through. – My ...
* 16 *
Oh, I wished I wuz in Liverpool Town, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! With them Liverpool judies I’d dance around. – My …
* 17 *
Wake up, yer bitch, an’ let us in, – Lowlands, Lowlands away my John! Wake up, yer bitch, cos we want some gin. – My …
Lowlands Away (B) originally a pumping shanty was later used as windlass and capstan. According to Stan Hugill, because was difficult to sing, was never popular. Its “Dead Lover” theme definitely originated in Scotland or North England.
This “dead lover” pattern one I sing, of four is: “Sailor’s dream of his sweetheart” another three patterns are: “The dead lover is a female”, “The dead lover is a male” “Later southern States version”
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 66).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 67). This version has also a slightly different chorus, I did change it just to seek to try out some different.
The Record of the Lowlands Away (B)
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
Lowlands Away (B)
– Lowlaands, Lowlands, hurrah my Jo! – Lowlands, high, Lowlands, alay! – My Lowlands away!
* 1 *
I dreamt a dream, the other night, – Low-lands, Lowlands, hurrah my Jo! I dreamt a dream, the other night, – Lowlands, alay!
* 2 *
I dreamt I saw my own true love, She flew to me like some young dove
* 3 *
This maid she stood close by my side, All dressed in white like some fair bride.
* 4 *
She spoke in accents sweet an’ low. I love you, dear, this well you know.’
* 5 *
And, then I sang in sweetest voice, That song which made my heart rejoice.
* 6 *
Oh, Lowlands maids are fair an’ true, This Lowlands maid she loves you too.
* 7 *
And Lowlands men are strong an’ brave: The one I love sails o’er the wave.
* 8 *
I held her in my fond embrace, And kissed her sweet an’ shinin’ face.
* 9 *
And-then awoke to her the cry, ‘Rouse out the watch, ho! watch ahoy!’
Strangely enough, C. F. Smith gives Lowlands Away (A) (ii) it as a halyard shanty, It is maybe because it doesn’t have a grand chorus, and in Stans Hugill’s theory from -“The Bosuns Locker” book, is that four-line construction – two solos and two intermittent refrains (more details you can find there).
Its “Dead Lover” theme definitely originated in Scotland or North England. This “dead lover” pattern one I sing, of four is: “The dead lover is a female” another three patterns are: “The dead lover is a male”, “Sailor’s dream of his sweetheart” “Later southern States version”
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 65).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 66, 67).
The Record of the Lowlands Away (A) (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.
The musical notation
The full lyrics
Lowlands Away (A) (ii)
– Low-lands, Lowlands, away, my John, – Lowlands away I heard them say, – My Lowlands away.
* 1 *
I dreamed a dream the other night, – Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John. My love she came dressed all in white, – My Lowlands away.
* 2 *
I dreamed my love came in my sleep, Her cheeks were wet, her eyes did weep.
* 3 *
She came to me as my best bride (at mt bed-side), All dressed in white like some fair bride.
* 4 *
And bravely in her bosom fair, A red, red rose did my love wear.
* 5 *
She made no sound-no word she said, And then I knew my love was dead.
* 6 *
I bound the weeper round my head, For now I knew my love was dead.
* 7 *
She waved her hand-she said goodbye, I wiped the tear from out my eye.
* 8 *
And then awoke to hear the cry, ‘Oh, watch on deck, oh, watch ahoy!’
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
