Rolling Home By The Silver Moon

Interesting Facts about The Rolling Home By The Silver Moon

Rolling Home By The Silver Moon is another shore song that has been adapted to use as a shanty, this song is of Negro origin and has been altered for the needs of the sailors. This capstan shanty was sung by Stan Hugill on board the American ship William T. Lewis.

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 180).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 180, 181).

The Record of The Rolling Home By The Silver Moon

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

Rolling Home By The Silver Moon music notation

The full lyrics

Rol-ling Home By The Silver Moon

Here’s to the good ol’ whisky, mop it down,
– mop it down!
Here’s to the good ol’ whisky, mop it down,
– mop it down!
Here’s to the good ol’ whisky, that makes ye feel so frisky,
– Here’s to the good ol’ whisky, mop it down!

– Rollin’ home, rollin’ home!
– Rollin’ home, rollin’ home!
– By the light of the silver moon.
– Happy is the sailor who has shipped aboard a whaler,
– When she’s rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ home!

* 2 *

Here’s to the good ol’ beer…

* 3 *

Here’s to the good ol’ rum…

* 4 *

Here’s to the good ol’ claret…

* 5 *

Here’s to the good ol’ cider…

Related to this sea shanty

Hieland Laddie (A)

My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O

Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Capstan Version

Goodnight Ladies

Interesting Facts about Goodnight Ladies

Goodnight Ladies is a Negro origin, it is a shore song, sometimes used as a capstan shanty. It was used aboard American ships. For the ‘good ship Shenandoah’ was sung, but any four-syllable name can be used.

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 180).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 179, 180).

The Record of the Goodnight Ladies

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

Goodnight Ladies music notation

The full lyrics

Goodnight, Ladies

This is the way we sew the sails,
– sew the sails! sew the sails!
This is the way we sew the sails,
– on the good ship “Shenandoah”!

– Good-night, ladies, goodnight, ladies,
– Good
night, ladies, we’re gonna leave yer now!
– So, merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along,
– Merrily we roll along,
– On the good ship Shenandoah!

* 2 *

This is the way we heave the lead,

* 3 *

This is the way we roustabout.

* 4 *

This is the way we tuck a splice.

* 5 *

This is the way we stow a bunt.

* 6 *

This is the way we heave away.

Related to this sea shanty

Horraw For The Blackball Line (solo variations)

Hurrah Hurrah Hurrah!

The Gals O’ Dublin Town (B)

A-Rolling Down The River

Interesting Facts about A-Rolling Down The River

Another ‘rolling river’ shanty is the A-Rolling Down The River, sung at capstan and pumps.
This is one of my first records, years ago, so the quality is not the best, but is an honest record. Melody and tempo have been taken from Stan Hugill’s “Sailing Days” album recorded with the band Stormalong John.

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 178).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 178, 179).

The Record of the A-Rolling Down The River

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

A-Rolling Down The River

Oh, the Arabella set her main tops’l,
The Arabella set her main tops’l,
The Arabella set her main tops’l,
A-rollin’ down the river.
– A-rol-ling down, a-rollin’ down,
– A-rol-lin’ down the river,
– A-rol-lin’ down, a-rollin’ down,
Said the bucko mate to the greaset’s wife,

– Oh, a pumpkin pudden an’ a bulgine pie,
– A pumpkin pudden an’ a bulgine pie,
– A pumpkin pudden an’ a bulgine pie,
– Abord the Arabella!

* 2 *

So the Arabella set her main gans’l,

* 3 *

So the Arabella set her main roy-al,

* 4 *

So the Arabella set her main skys’l,

* 5 *

So the Arabella set her main stays’l,

Related to this sea shanty

Lowlands or My Dollar An’ A Half A Day

Mister Stormalong (A1)

Stormy Along, John

Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version

Interesting Facts about Shanandar – Cecil Sharp

Shanandar – Cecil Sharp version, of Shenandoah, is given to us, by Cecil Sharp, which was sung to him by sailor Mr. James Thomas of Cambourne. Mr. Thomas said this was often used aboard the “City of Washington”, a ship that he sailed to America in 1870, as a halyard shanty. In Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk Chanteys” (1914) there are two versions of Shanadar, I will only reconstruct the one mentioned by Stan Hugill.

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 178).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 178).

The Record of the Shanandar – Cecil 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

Shanandar - Cecil Sharp music notation

The full lyrics

Shanandar (C. Sharp version) – Halyard Shanty

Shanadar is a rolin river,
E – o… I – o… E – o… I – o…

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye My Love Goodbye

Hurrah Sing Fare Ye Well

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Singurd Sternvall version)

Shenandoah – Bullen

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah – Bullen

Shenandoah – Bullen, is another capstan shanty with the name “Shenandoah”, a song given by F.T. Bullen “Songs Of Sea Labour” (1914). Stan Hugill mention is that Bullen says, about the first four shanties from his collection, where “Shenandoah” was fourth:
“They are negro Chanties all right enough, but they were not in common use onboard ship. If however, it has demurred that the time is long since I learned them and memory may fail me, I can only reply I heard them every day for about a month, that I have never forgotten a tune I once learned, no matter how long ago it may have been, and consequently the correctness of these airs may be thoroughly relied on.”

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 177).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 177).

The Record of the Shenandoah – Bullen

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

Shenandoah - Bullen music notation

The full lyrics

Shenandoah (F. T. Bullen)

Oh, Shenandoah, my bully boy, I long to hear you holler,
Way ay, ay ay ay, Shenandoh,
I lub ter bring er tot er rum en see ye make a swoller,
Way ay, ay ay, Shenandoh.

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (Norwegian)

Horraw For The Blackball Line

Horraw For The Blackball Line (Liverpool Jacks Tune)

River Shenandore – L. A. Smith Version

Interesting Facts about the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version

This is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version. The interesting fact according to Stan Hugill is that no two shantymen ever sang the same pronunciation of the word “Shenandoah”. Shenandoar, Shannandore, Shanandar, and Shanidah were all used. This is the version when crossed Sally Brown.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 51).

The lyrics:  “The Music of The Waters” by Laura Alexandrine Smith (1888) (1st ed p 51).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 177).

The Record of the River Shenandore – Laura Alexandrine Smith Version

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

River Shenandore - Laura Alexandrine Smith music notation

The full lyrics

River Shenandore (Laura A Smith Version)

You Shanandore, I long to hear you,
– Hurrah, you rollin’ river!
You Shanandore, I long to hear you,
– Ah, ha, you Shanandore.

Related to this sea shanty

Heisevise (Norvegian Wergland version)

Bound To California

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (odd verses collection)

Shenandoah D

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah D

This is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the “Shenandoah”. The interesting fact according to Stan Hugill is that no two shantymen ever sang the same pronunciation of the word “Shenandoah”. Shenandoar, Shannandore, Shanandar, and Shanidah were all used. This is the version when crossed Sally Brown.

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 175).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 176, 177).

The Record of the Shenandoah D

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

Shenandoah D

O Sally Brown, I love your daughter,
Away, ye rollin’ river!
For her I sail across the water,
Away we’re bound to go
;
‘Crosst the wide Missourah!

* 2 *

O Shenandoah’s a big plantation,
I’m shantyman of the Wild Goose Nation.

* 3 *

O Sally’s gal just took me fancy,
She’s clipper built;
her name is Nancy.

* 4 *

O Sally Brown, I love yer dearly,
Ye had me heart or very nearly.

* 5 *

She lives alone in Kingston City,
It can’t be helped; oh more’s the pity,

* 6 *

I bought her coral beads and laces,
Often call her ‘Queen o’ Faces’.

* 7 *

Seven long years I courted Sally,
The sweetest flower in the valley.

* 8 *

Farewell, me dear; I’m bound; ter leave yer
I’m bound away; but won’t; deceive yer.

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento – Version from German barque Gustav

Der Hamborger Veermaster

Sacramento – Norvegian English worded version

Shenandoah C

Interesting Facts about Shenandoah C

Shenandoah C is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the “Shenandoah”. The interesting fact according to Stan Hugill is that no two shantymen ever sang the same pronunciation of the word “Shenandoah”. Shenandoar, Shannandore, Shanandar, and Shanidah were all used.
This version comes from Captain Frank H. Shaw’s “Splendour Of The Seas” (1953), Captan Shaw wrote:
“Perhaps the best known, certainly the favourite amongst windjammer men was ‘Shenandoah’. To hear these sweet strains floating over a placed anchorage as a crowd of half-sober men walk around the back-breaking capstan is to get the real poetry and splendour of the seas.

Even as a concert ditty the song has infinite charm. It seems to have a Negro origin because the Shenandoah river flowed through the slave-states below the Mason and Dixon Line, and whoever first sang it was obviously pinning for the delights of that considerable stream. Its composition throws an interesting sidelight on the conditions of life aboard the hard-case Yankee packets if even the slavery so poignantly described by Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe was preferable to existence aboard these hell-and-be-damned vessels!”

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 176).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 176).

The Record of the Shenandoah C

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

Shenandoah C

Oh Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer,
– Away, ye rollin’ river!
Oh Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer,
– Away we’re bound to go,
– ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!

* 2 *

O Shenandoah, I took a notion,
To sail across the stormy ocean.

* 3 *

O Shenandoah, I’m bound ter leave yer,
O Shenandoah, I’ll not deceive yer.

* 4 *

O Shenandoah, I love yer daughters,
I love the music of yer waters.

* 5 *

‘Tis seven long years since last I seed yer,
But, Shenandoah, I’ll never grieve yer,

* 6 *

O Shenandoah’s my native valley,
Beside her waters I love to dally.

* 7 *

O Shenandoah she’s a lovely river,
An’ I shall never forget you ever.

Related to this sea shanty

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (C)

Goodbye Fare-ye-well (D)

Ved Ankerhioning

Shenandoah B

Interesting Facts about the Shenandoah B

Shenandoah B, is one of the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties, the “Shenandoah”. The interesting fact according to Stan Hugill is that no two shantymen ever sang the same pronunciation of the word “Shenandoah”. Shenandoar, Shannandore, Shanandar, and Shanidah were all used. This was a very popular version about an Indian chief.

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 175).

The lyrics:  “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 175).

The Record of the Shenandoah 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 full lyrics

Shenandoah B

Oh Missourah she’s a mighty water,
– Away, ye rollin’ river!
The red skin camp lies on her border,
– Away we’re bound to go,
– ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!.

* 2 *

O Shenandoah wuz a redskin maiden,
And a white man loved that redskin maiden,

* 3 *

Oh, the white man loved the Indian maiden,
With trade-goods his canoe was laden.

* 4 *

The chief refused the trader’s dollars
My daughter ye shall never follow

* 5 *

At last there came a Yankee skipper
Who winked his eye and flipped his flipper

* 6 *

He sold the chief some fire-water,
And stole the gal across the water.

* 7 *

O Shenandoah, I love yer daughter,
I’ll take her sailing cross yon rollin’ water,

Related to this sea shanty

Sacramento (C)

Sacramento (D)

Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye (Alan Lomax) -River Song

Interesting Facts about The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

This is one of the origins, of the “Shenandoah”, the most popular of all capstan and windlass shanties. Mentioned origin is the “The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye”, given by J. A. Lomax & Alan Lomax “American Ballads & Folk Songs” (1934), his version is ‘cavalry version’. It seems to be nothing more than a river song–one of the songs used by boatmen of the great American rivers (like Ohio). The story from Lomax’s book is this:
“The cavalry jealously claims this song for its very own, having acquired it, no doubt, during for frontier days. Sometimes the ‘would not have me for a lover’ stanza is followed by one beginning, ‘Because I was a wagon solider’, but the cavalry claims this to be a field artillery intrusion and an attempt to steal its song.”

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the river song.

The source of this river song

The music: “American Ballads & Folk Songs” by John Avery Lomax & Alan Lomax (1934).

The lyrics:  “American Ballads & Folk Songs” by John Avery Lomax & Alan Lomax (1934).

Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 173).

The Record of The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

This song will be performed as an average song, not even in intention is to recreate this song by me as a 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

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye music notation

The full lyrics

The Wild Miz-Zou-Rye

For seven long years I courted Nancy,
– Hi! Ho! the rolling river!
For seven long years I courted Nancy,
– Ha! Ha! I’m bound away
– for the wild Miz-zou-rye!

* 2 *

She would not have me for a lover–
She would not have me for a lover–

* 3 *

And so she took my fifteen dollars–
And so she took my fifteen dollars–

* 4 *

And then she went to Kansas City–
And then she went to Kansas City–

* 5 *

And there she had a little sh-sh-baby–
And there she had a little sh-sh-baby–

* 6 *

She must have had another lover–
She must have had another lover–

* 7 *

He must have been a ——th Cavalry Solider–
He must have been a ——th Cavalry Solider–

* 8 *

I’m drinkin’ of rum and chawin’ tobacco–
I’m drinkin’ of rum and chawin’ tobacco–

* 9 *

I learned this song from Tommy Tompkins–
I learned this song from Tommy Tompkins–

Related to this song

Timber Drogher’s Shanty

The Powder Monkey – Shore Sea-Song

Roll The Wood-pile Down – Shore Song