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!’
Lowlands Away (A) (i) was originally a pumping shanty; also later used as a windlass and capstan shanty. According to Stan Hugill, because was difficult to sing, was never popular. Terry, claims that this song, after the China clipper era was seldom heard. This “Dead Lover” theme, it is definitely, originated in Scotland or North England.
This “dead lover” pattern one I sing of four is: “The dead lover is a male” another three patterns are: “The dead lover is a female”, “Sailor’s dream of his sweetheart” “Later southern States version”
I will reconstruct this song 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 65, 66).
The Record of the Lowlands Away (A) (i)
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) (i)
– Low-lands Lowlands, away my John! – Lowlands, Away I heard them say, – [My] Lowlands, away!
* 1 *
I dreamt a dream, the other night, – Lowlands , Lowlands, away my John! I dreamt a dream, the other night, – [My] Lowlands, away!
* 2 *
I dreamt I saw my own true love, He stood so still, he did not move,
* 3 *
I knew my love was drowned and dead, He stood so still, no word he said.
* 4 *
All dank his hair, all dim his eye, I knew that he had said goodbye.
* 5 *
All green and wet with weeds so cold, Around his form green weeds had hold.
* 6 *
I’m drowned in the Lowland Seas,’ he said, ‘Oh, you an’ I will ne’er be wed.’
* 7 *
I shall never kiss you more,’ he said, ‘Never kiss you more — for I am dead.’
* 8 *
I will cut my breasts until they bleed.’ His form had gone — in the green weed.
* 9 *
I will cut away my bonnie hair, No other man will think me fair.’
* 10 *
I bound the weeper round my head, For now I knew my love was dead.
* 11 *
My love is drowned in the windy Lowlands, My love is drowned in the windy Lowlands,
The Lowlands Low (C) is a slightly more modern version This is much the same tune as Bullen Gives. In all three versions, the words are very similar. But the name of the ship differs widely; some versions give the “Gold China Tree”, or the “Marry Golden Tree”; others have the “Weep Willow Tree”, “Golden Willow Tree”, and “Sweet Trinitee”. Also, the pirate ship has various names: the “Turkish [or Spanish] Canoe”, the “Turkish Roveree”, and “Spanish Gahalee” being.
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 64). The is sung as a pump shanty.
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63 width version modifications).
The Record of The Lowlands Low (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 musical notation
The full lyrics
The Lowlands Low (C)
Oh, there was a lofty ship boys, an’ she put aut to sea An’ she goes by the name of the Golden Vanitee An’ we feared she would be taken by a spanish piratee – as we sailed along the lowlands, lowlands – as we sailed along the lowlands low!
* 2 *
Oh, we had aboard o’ us a little cabin-boy Who said, – “What will ye give me if the galley I destroy?” Oh, ye can wed my daughter, she is my pride and joy – If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands – If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 3 *
‘Of treasure and of gold I will give to ye a store, And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore, Of treasure and of fee as well I’ll give to thee galore, – If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands – If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 4 *
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide An’ he swam until he came to the rascal pirate’s side He climbed on the deck an’ went below, by none was he espied – And he sank’em in the lowlands, lowlands – And he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 5 *
He bore with his auger, he bored once an’ twice And some were playin’ cards an’ some were playin’ dice An’ water flowed in an’ dazzled their eyes – An’ he sank’em in the lowlands, lowlands – An’ he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 6 *
Oh, some were playing cards, oh, an’ some were playin’ dice And some wuz in their hammocks a-sportin’ with their wives An’ then he let the water in an’ put out all their lights – And he sank her in the lowlands, lowlands – And he sank her in the lowlands low!
* 7 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim o’er to the starboard side Sayin’ – “Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide.” “I will ink ye, I will kill ye, if ye claim my child as bride, – I wiill sink ye in the lowlands, lowlands – I-will sink ye in the lowlands Low!
* 8 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim all to the lardboard side Sayin’ – “Shipmates take me up for I’m drowinin’ with the tide.” They hauled him up so quickly, but when on deck he died – And they buried him in the lowlands, lowlands – And they buried him in the lowlands low!
* 9 *
‘And his shipmates took him up, and when on deck he died They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide They said a short prayer o’er him, and they dropped him in the tide – And they sailed from the lowlands, lowlands – And they sailed from the lowlands low!
* 10 *
Here’s a curse upon that Captain, wherever he may be For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea – And to leave him in the lowlands, lowlands – And to leave him in the lowlands low!
This version, of The Lowlands Low (B), Stan Hugill had from his shipmate Jack Birch of Plymouth. This song is known as “Lowlands”, “The Lowland Sea”, “The Golden Vanitee”, or “The Lowlands Low” and seems to have been based on a ballad of the seventeenth century entitled “Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands”.
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 64).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63).
The Record of The Lowlands Low (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
The Lowlands Low (B)
There was a lofty ship boys, an’ she put aut to sea An’ she goes by the name of the Golden Vanitee An’ we thought she would be taken by the spanish piratee – as we sailed along the lowlands, lowlands – as we sailed along the lowlands low!
* 2 *
Oh, we had aboard o’ us a little cabin-boy Who said, – “What will ye give me if the galley I destroy?” Oh, ye can wed my daughter, she is my pride and joy – If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands – If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 3 *
‘Of treasure and of gold I will give to ye a store, And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore, Of treasure and of fee as well I’ll give to thee galore, – If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands – If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 4 *
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide An’ he swam until he came to the rascal pirate’s side He climbed on the deck an’ went below, by none was he espied – And he sank’em in the lowlands, lowlands – And he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 5 *
He bore with his auger, he bored once an’ twice And some were playin’ cards an’ some were playin’ dice An’ water flowed in an’ dazzled their eyes – An’ he sank’em in the lowlands, lowlands – An’ he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 6 *
Oh, some were playing cards, oh, an’ some were playin’ dice And some wuz in their hammocks a-sportin’ with their wives An’ then he let the water in an’ put out all their lights – And he sank her in the lowlands, lowlands – And he sank her in the lowlands low!
* 7 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim o’er to the starboard side Sayin’ – “Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide.” “iI will ink ye, I will kill ye if ye claim my child as bride, -il will sink ye in the lowlands, lowlands -iI will sink ye in the lowlands Low!
* 8 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim all to the lardboard side Sayin’ – “Shipmates take me up for I’m drowinin’ with the tide.” They hauled him up so quickly, but when on deck he died – And they buried him in the lowlands, lowlands – And they buried him in the lowlands low!
* 9 *
‘And his shipmates took him up, and when on deck he died They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide They said a short prayer o’er him, and they dropped him in the tide – And they sailed from the lowlands, lowlands – And they sailed from the lowlands low!
* 10 *
Here’s a curse upon that Captain, wherever he may be For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea – And to leave him in the lowlands, lowlands – And to leave him in the lowlands low!
The lilt of the word ‘Lowlands’ seemed to have a fascination for the shantyman and sailor in general. A very ancient song of the sea sings of the Lowlands of Holland, those of Scottland, and even the Lowlands of Virginia were all woven into the songs of the shantyman. Stan Hugill mentioned that Capitan Davis (“Sailors’ Songs and Shanties” – 1887) gives it as a shanty, but Stan Hugill and many of his shipmates have sung this old song at both capstan and pumps.
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 62, 63). I will try to recreate is capstan, and I heard it on Stan Hugill’s album – “A Salty Fore Topman” (1989).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63).
The Record of The Lowlands Low (A)
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
The Lowlands Low (A)
There once was a skipper who was boastin’ on the quay, Oh, I have a ship and a gallant ship is she, Of all the ships I know. She is far the best to me, an’ she’s sailing in the Low-lands, Low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, she’s sailing in the, Lowlands Low!
* 2 *
Oh, I had her built in the North a-counterie, And I have her christened The “Golden Vanitee”. I armed her and I manned her an’ I sent her off to sea And she’s sailing in the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and she’s sailing in the...
* 3 *
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea ‘Oh, I wuz aboard of the “Golden Vanitee” When she wuz held in chase by a Spanish piratee And we sank her in the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and we sank her in the...
* 4 *
Oh, we had aboard o’ us a little cabin-boy Who said, – “What will ye give me if the galley I destroy?” Oh, ye can wed my daughter, she is my pride and joy If ye sink her in the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the...
* 5 *
‘Of treasure and of gold I will give to ye a store, And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore, Of treasure and of fee as well I’ll give to thee galore, If ye sink her in the low-lands, low. – In the Low–lands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the...
* 6 *
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide An’ he swam until he came to the rascal pirate’s side He climbed on the deck an’ went below, by none was he espied And he sank’em in the low–lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and he sank’em in the...
* 7 *
He bore with his auger, he bored once an’ twice And some were playin’ cards an’ some were playin’ dice An’ water flowed in an’ dazzled their eyes An’ he sank’em in the low–lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, an’ he sank’em in the...
* 8 *
Oh, some were playing cards, oh, an’ some were playin’ dice And some wuz in their hammocks a-sportin’ with their wives An’ then he let the water in an’ put out all their lights And he sank her in the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and he sank her in the...
* 9 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim o’er to the starboard side Sayin’ – “Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide.” “I will ink ye, I will kill ye, if ye claim my child as bride, I will sink ye in the low-lands, low.” – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, I will sink ye in the...
Then the cabin-boy did swim all to the lardboard side Sayin’ – “Shipmates take me up for I’m drowinin’ with the tide.” They hauled him up so quickly, but when on deck he died And they buried him in the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and they buried him in the …
* 11 *
‘And his shipmates took him up, and when on deck he died They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide They said a short prayer o’er him, and they dropped him in the tide And they sailed from the low-lands, low. – In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and they sailed from the …
* 12 *
Here’s a curse upon that Captain, wherever he may be For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea And to leave him in the low-lands, low. – In the Low–lands, Lowlands, and to leave him in the ...
This version of The Five-Gallon Jar is a forebitter, (Only the first verse and all choruses are Hugill’s version), which Stan Hugill took from old Irish Sailor Paddy Delaney. We see the story of Jack Ratcliffe and Marry Ann, a couple who were crimps and took profit from the “Shanghaiing” sailors. Shanghaiing or crimping is the practice of kidnapping people to serve as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence. Those engaged in this form of kidnapping were known as crimps.
The source of this forebitter
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 61).
The lyrics: The first full verse and all Choruses come from: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 61). To make the song story complete, and give it a sensible length I added other 3 verses from (Doerflinger – ‘Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman’ – p111) Doerflinger’s version of “The Big Five-Gallon Jar” comes from Capitan Henry E. Burke.
To keep the consistency of the song I replaced Doerflinger verses I replaced the original wife’s name from “Caroline” into Hugill’s “Mary Ann”.
The Record of The Five-Gallon Jar
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
The Five-Gallon Jar
In Liverpool there lived a man, Jack Ratcliffe was his name An’in the days of the Cape Horn Trade, he played the Shanghai Game, His wife’s name was Mary Ann, sailors knew both near an’far, an’ when they played the Shanghai Game, They used the big stone Jar,
– In The Old Virginia Lowlands, Lowlands Low – In The Old Virginia Lowlands Low.
* 2 *
There were drunkards in the corner and bummers at the bar And [Mary Ann]Caroline was supplying them with a big five-gallon jar …………… ……………
* 3 *
Said old Jack to old [Mary Ann]Caroline, I’ll tell you what we’ll do, There’s a ship lying down to McKinnon’s Wharf; I think she wants a crew. We’ll go down around the corners to get some drunken tars We’ll shanghai them away out of Liverpool Bay with a big five gallon jar.
* 4 *
So Jack and Cal[Ann] they worked their game when the ships signed on their tars, Skys’l Jack and Pete and Bowline Bill helped to judge old Cal’s five gallon jar. Now we’ll bid adieu to Cal and Jack and set our sails for ports afar Dear Shanghai Cal, we’ll all come back, and sample Jack’s five-gallon jar.
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.
