“Shule Agra” the Irish folk song, is according to Stan Hugill the song related to “Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run” by a similar melody.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 347). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 347).
The Record
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
Shule Agra
My Johnny he has gone across the sea, He’s left me wid a wee babie, An’ whin he cames back he might wed me, Oh, my Johnny has gone for a soldier –
Shu-le, shu-le, shu-le, shu-le agra, Sure, ah, sure, an’ he loves me, And when he comes back he’ll marry me, Oh my Johnny has gone for a soldier.
“Eliza Lee” also known as “Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run”, is another song with the word “bulgine”. This is capstan shanty, it has almost the same tune as an Irish folk song “Shule Agra”, but the refrains have definitely Negro influence. The song is a typical mixture of Irish and Negro sentiments and is one of the so many shanties that passed through the shanty mart of Mobile. 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 345). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 345, 346).
The Record of the Eliza Lee
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
Eliza Lee
Oooh! the smartest packet ye can find, – Ah ho! way ho! are ye mos’ done? Is the ol’ “Wild Cat” of the Swallow Tail line, – Soo! clear the track an’ let the bulgine run!
– Timme high rig-a-jig in a jauntin’ car, – Ah ho! way ho! are ye mos’ done? – Wid Eliza Lee all on my knees, – Soo! clear the track an’ let the bulgine run!
* 2 *
Oooh, the ol’ Wild Cat of the Swallowtail Line, She’s never a day behind her time,
* 3 *
Oooh, we’re outward bound for New York town, Them Bowery gals we’ll waltz around.
* 4 *
When we’re stowed our freight at the West Street Pier, We’ll be homeward bound to our Liverpool beer.
* 5 *
Oooh, them Bowery gals will give us fun, Chatham Street dives is home from home.
* 6 *
Oooh, the gals are walkin’ on the pier, Let’s all go ashore an’ have some beer.
* 7 *
Oooh, them gals are walkin’ on the strand, Oh, heave a pawl, oh, bear a hand.
* 8 *
Oooh, wake her, shake her afore we’re done, Oh, wake thst gal wid the blue dress on.
* 9 *
When we all gits back to Liverpool town, I’ll stand ye whiskies all around.
* 10 *
Oooh, in Liverpool town them gals hang round, An’ there me Liza will be found.
* 11 *
Oooh, when I gits home across the sea, Eliza, will you marry me?
Interesting Facts about the Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run – Whall
“Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run” is another song with the word “bulgine”. This is capstan shanty, it has almost the same tune as an Irish folk song “Shule Agra”, but the refrains have definitely Negro influence. The song is a typical mixture of Irish and Negro sentiments and is one of the so many shanties that passed through the shanty mart of Mobile. Whall says it was a minstrel ditty, and so far as the version is concerned, he is correct. Stan Hugill does not give us original music, which as he says is very similar to his version, however, I will use original Whall music notation. This song will be reconstructed as the halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Songs and Shanties” Collected by William Boultbee Whall (1927) 6th edition. The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 344).
The Record of the Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run – 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
The full lyrics
Clear The Track Let The Bulgine Run – Whall
Oh, the world was made in six days and ended on the seventh, – Ah he, ah ho, are ye mos’ done? But accordin’ to de contract it ought of been eleven, – So clear de track, let the bulgine run.
– To my hi-rig-a-jig in a low back car, – Ah he, ah ho, are you most done? – Hurrah, my boys, and away we’ll go, – So clear de track, let the bulgine run.
* 2 *
But the masons struck for wages and dey would not work, So dey came to de conclusion dat dey fill him up wid dirt.
* 3 *
Now Adam was de first man and Eve was de oder, And Cain he was a wicked man because he killed his brudder.
* 4 *
O ‘way down in de garden where de apples hang low, Ole Satan got the pull and de man had to go.
* 5 *
Young Joseph was de fav’rite and eat his mush whole, But his brudders sell his coat and dey put him in a hole.
* 6 *
Ole Moses licked de Pharaoh and drown him in de sea. And de chillen came along, dat land for to see.
* 7 *
Lille David was de Boss, when he finished up Goliah, But he played it potty low on de old man Uriah.
* 8 *
Ye may talk about yer yaller gals and round-de-corner Sallies, Dey couldn’t come to tea with de Queens in de forests.
* 9 *
Daniel, in de den, done sleep all de night, Never mind de lion nor de tiger, not a mite.
* 10 *
Jonah was a hungry man, ‘cos he eat de whale, He manage very well till he come to de tail.
* 11 *
Dat’s all de fur dat de story goes, So hurry up to heaven in yo’ best suit o’ clothes.
Interesting Facts about the De History Ob De World
Here is the “De History Ob De World” effect of the research done by Stan Hugill on the occasion of the description of the “Clear The Track, Let The Bulgine Run” shanty. He tells us that his research has produced this minstrel song, and the theme of the verse is almost that of Whall’s version of Clear The Track – both songs minstrel and Whall’s version of the shanty could be called “Cosmogonic”! Stan Hugill gives us only one verse without the music, fortunately, I found on the internet the original music notation with five verses. Will be reconstructed as the Minstrel Song.
The source of De History Ob De World
The music: “De History Ob De World” by W. M. Parker (1847). The lyrics: “De History Ob De World” by W. M. Parker (1847). Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 344).
The Record
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
De History Ob De World
O, I come from ole Virginny Wid my head full ob knowledge, And I neber went to free school Nor any other colledge But one thing I will tell you Which am a solemn fact, I tell you how dis world was made In a twinkling ob n crack.
– Den walk in, Den walk in I say, – Den walk in. And hear the banjo play,
– Den walk in to the parlor – And hear de banjo ring – And watch dis (players) fingers – While be play upon de string
* 2 *
Oh dis world was made in six days, And den day made de sky, Aand den dey hung it ober head, And left it dat to dry; And den dey made de stars, Out ob (slaver) wenches eyes, For to gib a little light When de moon didn’t rise.
* 3 *
So Adam was de first man, Ebe she was de oder, And Cain walk’d on de treadmill Because he killed his broder; Ole Modder Ebe Couldn’t sleep widout a piller, And de greatest man dat eberlived. Was Jack de Giant killer.
* 4 *
And den dey made de sea, Annd in it put a Whale, And den dey made a raccou Wid a ring around his tail; All de oder animals Was fluished one by one, And stuck against de fence to dry As fast as dey were done.
* 5 *
O lighting is a yellow gal, She libs up in de clouds, And thunder he’s a black man, For he can hollow loud; When he kisses lighting, She dodgers off in wonder, Den he jumps, and tares his trowers, And dat’s what makes de thunder.
* 6 *
O de wind begin to blow, And de rain begin to fall, And de water come so high Dat it drowned de (slavers) all; And it rained forty days and nights, Exactly, by de counting, And it landed Noah’s ark ‘Pon de Alleghany Mountains.
Interesting Facts about the Run Let The Bulgine Run
Run Let The Bulgine Run is a halyard shanty which like some of the other few shanties starts its existence on the railroad. Stan Hugill informs us that Song is definitely Negro origin. Not every shanty collector gives it as the halyard shanty, Cecil Sharp gives it to us as a capstan shanty. Bulgine was an American slang term for a railway engine. 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 343). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 343).
The Record of the Run Let The Bulgine Run
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
Run Let The Bulgine Run
Oh, a bulgine once wuz a hear in’, – RUN, let the bulgine RUN! Oh, high ya! Oh aye yah! – RUN, let the bulgine RUN!
* 2 *
Oh, she’s lovely up aloft an’ she’s lovely down below, – RUN, let … Oh, high … – RUN, let …
Interesting Facts about the Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger
The “Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger” mentioned by Stan Hugill on page 341 of his “Shanties from the Seven Seas”, comes actually from the “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951). In Doerflinger’s book, it is in Halyard Shanties’ chapter. He mentions that: “A lusty Negro halyard shanty follows. It was sung with strong emphasis, a quick attack in the chorus, and a decided swing. The shantyman, William Laurie, whose rendition I give, recalled the circumstances under which he first heard “Gimme de Banjo” sung at sea. He picked up the shanty in 1877 on board the American full-rigger Kit Carson”. This song will be reconstructed as the short drag (t’gallants yards), 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 341).
The Record of the Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger
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
Gimme De Banjo – Doerflinger
Oh, dis is de day we pick on de banjo, – Dance, gal, gimme de banjo,
Interesting Facts about the Gimme De Banjo – Harding
The “Gimme De Banjo – Harding” version was given to Stan Hugill by Harding Barbadian, who said it was a very popular Hauling song aboard ships in the West Indian and Honduras Logwood Trade. This song will be reconstructed as the short drag (t’gallants yards), shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 341). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 341).
The Record of the Gimme De Banjo – Harding
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
Gimme De Banjo – Harding
This is the day we make our pay day, – Dance, gal, gimme de banjo! Oh, that banjo, that seven string banjo, – Dance, gal, gimme de banjo!
* 2 *
Haul away for Campeachy Bay, Oh, haul away an’ sretch out for yer pay-ay,
* 3 *
A dollar a day is a buckera’s pay, Oh, bend yer high shoes an’ lavender breeks, boys.
* 4 *
There’s my Sal, she’s the gal for me, boys, Oh, I know that she’ll be, a-waitin’ for me-e.
* 5 *
I’ll bang on the banjo — that ping-a, pong-a banjo! Oh, that banjo — that ping-a, pong-a banjo!
Interesting Facts about the Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
“Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo” version was given to Stan Hugill by Harding Barbadian, who said it was sung at the capstan. Cecil Sharp gives one verse of this song, and he believes this is the variant of the Irish Folk Song “Shule Agra”. The word “too-rer-loo” in the chorus indicates an Irish connection. This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 340). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 340).
The Record of the Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
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
Old Moke Pickin On The Banjo
He bang, she bang, daddy shot a bear, Shot it in the stem me boys, an’ niver turned a hair,
– We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo, – Oh, the ol’ moke pickin’ on the banjo.
– Hooraw! What the hell’s the row? – We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo, – We’re all from the railroad — too-rer-loo, – oooh! The ol’ moke pickin’ on the banjo!
* 2 *
Pat, get back, take in yer slack, heave away, me boys, Heave away, me bully boys, why don’t ye make some noise?
* 3 *
Roll her, boys, bowl her, boys, give ‘er flamin’ gip, Drag the anchor off the mud, an’ let the bastard rip!
* 4 *
Rock-a-block, chock-a-block, heave the caps’n round, Fish the flamin’ anchor up, for we are outward bound.
* 5 *
Out chocks, two blocks, heave away or bust, Bend yer backs, me bully boys, kick up some flamin’ dust.
* 6 *
Whisky-o, Johnny-O, the mudhook is a slight, ‘Tis a hell-ov-a-way to the gals that wait, an’ the ol’ Nantucket Light.
“The Shaver” capstan shanty. Terry claims that his uncle often sang it. He thinks that the “Poor Paddy Works On The Railway” tune comes from this song. This song will be reconstructed as the Capstan 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 339). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 339).
The Record of The Shaver
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
The Shaver
When I was a little hairless boy, I went to sea in Stormy’s employ. Oh, I shipped a way as a cabin boy,
– When I was just a shaver, a shaver, – Oh, I was fed up with the sea, – When I was just a shaver.
* 2 *
Oh, they whacked me up, an’ they whacked me down, The Mate he cracked me on the crown, They whacked me round an’ round an’ round,
* 3 *
When I went aloft through the lubber’s hole, The mate he cried, ‘Lord darn yer soul, Ye’ll do, me son, what yer bloomin’ well told!’
* 4 *
An’ when we lollop’d around Cape Horn, I wisht to hell I’d niver bin born, I felt like a sheep with its wool all shorn.
* 5 *
When we left behind the ice an’ rain, An’ once more to the tropics we came, The Mate came hazin’ me once again.
* 6 *
When we made port, well I skipped ship, I’d had enough for one bloomin’ trip, I’d stay ashore an’ never more ship.
Interesting Facts about the Poor Paddy Works On The Railway
“Poor Paddy Works On The Railway” usually used as the pump or capstan shanty “. Alden in Harpers Magazine (July 1882) declares that it is a “sailors” song tamed to do land service . . . on the minstrel stage. Stan Hugill also tells us that song was popular in the Western Ocean Packets about the time of the Irish Potato famine. 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 337). The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 337, 338).
The Record of the Poor Paddy Works On The Railway
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
Poor Paddy Works On The Railway
Oh, in eighteen hundred an’ forty one, Me dungaree breeches I put on, Oh, me dungaree breeches I put on, To work upon the railway,
– The railway, – I,m weary of the railway, – Oh, Poor Paddy works on the railway!
* 2 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-two, I did not know what I should do, So I shipped away wid and Irish crew, To work upon the railway,
* 3 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-three, I packet me gear an’ went to sea, I shipped away to Amerikee, To work …
* 4 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-four, I landed on Columbia’s shore, I had a pick-axe an’ nothin’ more.
* 5 *
In eighteen hundred and forty-five, When Dan O’Connell he wuz alive, To break me leg I did contrive.
* 6 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-six, Me drinks no longer I could mox, So I changed me trade to carrying bricks.
* 7 *
In eighteen hundred an’ forty-seven, Me Children numbered jist eleven, Of girls I’d four, of boys I’d seven.
* 8 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-eight, I made a fortune, not to late, An’ shipped away to the River Plate.
* 9 *
In eighteen hundred an’ fourty-nine, I for a sigh of Home did pine, So I sailed down so uth to a warmer clime.
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