Shanties, Sea Songs, and all that kind of stuff.
Songs
L - M
Le Capitaine De San Malo
Leave Her Johnny
Leaving Of Liverpool
Let The Bulgine Run
Lime Scurvy
Littlehampton Collier Lads
Liverpool Judies
Load 'Em and Stack 'Em
Lowlands Away
Lowlands Low
Maggie May (various versions)
Maid of Amsterdam
Marching Inland
Men Of The Sea
Mingulay Boat Song
Morning Glory
Mr; Stormalong
My Son John
Songs
L - M
Le Capitaine De San Malo
Leave Her Johnny
Leaving Of Liverpool
Let The Bulgine Run
Lime Scurvy
Littlehampton Collier Lads
Liverpool Judies
Load 'Em and Stack 'Em
Lowlands Away
Lowlands Low
Maggie May (various versions)
Maid of Amsterdam
Marching Inland
Men Of The Sea
Mingulay Boat Song
Morning Glory
Mr; Stormalong
My Son John
Le Capitaine De San Malo
Usually sung in French, it is quite rude in parts, but if you don't know French, you won't understand it anyway.
Tom Kelly introduced us to the song and always sang the more risque version, as opposed to the fairly tame one French speaking children learn. One Thursday shanty session at the Stag there were two young Belgian, or French, women in the back bar with us all. They were happy to listen to a song they knew it in their own language. There were a couple of gasps from them, and blushes, when Tom got to the 'naughty' verses, they'd never heard them before. They took it in good part.
The versions below are, first off the cleaner version in French, then English, followed by the risque version in the same manner.
Chorus, or refrain, is indented.
Le capitaine de St Malo
Ali alo
Qui fait la pêche au cachalot
Ali ali ali alo
Ali alo
Il a trois filles qui font la peau
La première à Valparaiso,
La deuxième à Rio de Janeiro,
La troisième à San Francisco.
Il donne la goutte à ses matelots
À grande coups de barre de guindeau.
Il mange la viande, nous laisse les os.
Il boit du vin et toi de l'eau.
Le lieutenant t'envoie la haut
À coups de bottes dans le dos.
Et le second, qui est le plus beau
Si tu groumes. Il te fout à l'eau.
Captain of San Malo
The captain of St Malo
Ali alo
Who sperm whale fishing
Ali ali ali alo
Alo alo
He has three daughters who make the skin
The first in Valparaiso,
The second in Rio de Janeiro,
The third in San Francisco.
He gives gout to his sailors
With great strokes of the windlass.
He eats the meat, leaves us the bones.
He drinks wine and you drink water.
The lieutenant sends you up
With boots on the back.
And the second one, which is the most beautiful
If you groan. He's screwing you up.
Rude French Version
Le capitaine de St Malo
Ali Alo
Qui pêche les cachalots
Ali Ali Ali Alo
Ali Alo
Il donne la goutte à ses marins…
Avec grands coups de barres de guindeau!
Il mange de la viande, nous laisse les os
Il boit du vin et nous arrosons.
Et son second qui est un salaud
Il fume des cigares et nous laisse des mégots
Il a trois filles qui font la peau
À Nantes, Le Havre et Frisco
Dans leur chatte, gros comme un seuil
Le sperme coule à plein baril
Sperme rouge d'Anglos
Sperme vert de Portugos
Sperme froid Sperme chaud
Norvégiens Italos
Qu'ils aiment plutôt
C'est celle du faraud français
Le sperme blanc le sperme chaud
Des baleiniers de Saint Malo
Piquez-leur votre vie, fier marin
Comme votre harpon avec un cachalot.
Rude version translated into English
The Captain of Saint Malo
Ali Alo
Who fishes for sperm whales
Ali Ali Ali Alo
Ali Alo
He gives the gout to his sailors…
With great blows of windlass bars!
He eats the meat, leaves us the bones
He drinks wine and we water.
And his second who is a bastard
He smokes cigars and leaves us butts
He has three daughters who make the skin
In Nantes, Le Havre and Frisco
In their cunt, big like a sill
The sperm flows at full barrel
Red cum from Anglos
Green cum from Portugos
Cold cum hot cum
Norwegians Italos
That they rather enjoy
It is that of the French faraud
The white cum the hot cum
From the whalers of Saint Malo
Prick them your life, proud sailor
Like your harpoon with a sperm whale.
Leave Her Johnny
usually sung when nearly home, it gave the crew a chance to state their grievances
Oh the times was hard and the wages low
Chorus: Leave her, Johnny, leave her
And the grub was bad and the gales did blow
Chorus: And it's time for us to leave her
Chorus:
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her
I thought I heard the Old Man say
You can go ashore and take your pay
Oh her stern was foul and the voyage was long
The winds was bad and the gales was strong
And we'll leave her tight and we'll leave her trim
And heave the hungry packet in
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her with a grin
For there's many a worser we've sailed in
And now it's time to say goodbye
For the old pier head's a-drawing nigh
Leaving of Liverpool
Farewell to Princes' landing stage
River Mersey fare thee well
I am bound for California,
a place I know right well
Chorus:
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I have sailed with Burgess once before
I think I know him well
If a man's a sailor he will get along,
if not then he's sure in hell
Farewell to Lower Frederick Street,
Anson Terrace and Park Lane
I am bound away for to leave you
and I'll never see you again
I am bound for California
by way of stormy Cape Horn
And I will write to thee a letter, love,
when I am homeward bound
I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship,
"Davy Crockett" is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her
and they say that she's a floating hell
Let the Bulgine Run
The smartest packet you can find
Chorus: Ah Hee! Ah Ho! Are you most done
Is the old Wildcat of the Swallowtail Line
Chorus: So clear away the track and let the bulgine run.
Chorus:
With a Hey Rig-a-jig, in a jaunting car
Ah Hee! Ah Ho! Are you most done
With Liza Lee all on my knee
Oh, clear away the track and let the bulgine run.
Now the old Wildcat of the Swallowtail Line
She's never a day behind her time.
We're outward bound for New York Town
Them Bowery gals we'll waltz around.
And when we dock at the South Street Pier
We'll all go ashore and have some beer.
When we get back to Liverpool town
I'll stand you whiskies all around.
When I get home across the sea
Eliza will you marry me?
Lime Scurvey
Or the Captains Shanty by Elliot Crawford
I've been a sailor since my birth
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Took my home, for all it's worth
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Chorus:
Lime, scurvy, ambergris and marmalade
Hoist the petard, and we'll haul away the bully boys
Lime, scurvy, ambergris and blubber, we're
Bound for Cincinnati,
Fifteen years and we haven't seen a shore leave
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
All we do is hall and heave.
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Chorus:
Sight the bowsprit, down the grog
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Carve the turkey in the log.
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Chorus:
Come the day she's out of port
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Shove the bosun o'er the thwart.
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Chorus:
Through a fluke the spout did wail,
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
And that's the end of my scrimshaw tale.
Yo ho ho and a ruddy bum bum
Chorus:
Lime, scurvy, ambergris and marmalade
Hoist the petard, and we'll haul away the bully boys
Lime, scurvy, ambergris and blubber, we're
Bound for Cincinnati,
Littlehampton Collier Lads
Come harum scarum collier lads for ‘Hampton town we steer
We face all kinds of weather and we likes a drop of beer
Some people say how rough we are but merrily are we
The money we earn so hard at sea we spend on land so free
Chorus:
Watch us, twig us with a popular jubiju
We’ll give her some sheet to make her rip, we’re the lads to pull her through
You ought to see us running with our square sails all a-full
On the passage from Newcastle to the town of Whitstable
Our old skipper’s a roosteroo he likes a drop of ale
The second division has been in prison & seen the inside of a jail
The third he is a bush ranger & comes on deck with a smile
And as for cook you can tell by his look that he comes from an African isle
When our coal is all on board for ‘Hampton town we steer
But nothing else is in our heads but old George Oliver’s beer
We face all stormy weathers and we batter through gale
When the outer light is out of sight it’s then we set our sail
People say we’re noisy lot when we come home from sea
We call for liquor merrily & cheerily are we
But when our money is all gone to sea we’ll go again
We are the boys to rough it but we never do complain
Repeat chorus to end
Liverpool Judies
Versions 1 and 2
Liverpool Judies 1
From Liverpool to Frisco a-roving I went
To live in that country it was my intent;
But drinking strong liquor like other damned fools,
I soon got transported back to Liverpool.
Chorus (after each verse):
And it's row, row bullies row,
Them Liverpool judies has got us in tow.
I joined the ‘Alaska’ lying out in the bay,
A-waiting a fair wind to get under way.
Her crew was all weary, so sick and so sore,
They'd had too much liquor and they'd had too much whore.
Then up stepped the mate in a hell of a stew,
Looking for work for the sailors to do.
“It's foretops'l halyards!” he loudly do roar,
“And lay aloft Paddy you son of an whore!”
One night off Cape Horn I shall never forget,
And oftimes I sighs when I thinks of it yet;
She were making twelve knots wi' her main skys'l set
And diving bows under with the whole of us wet.
We was hauling and pumping the whole bloody way,
By Jesus on that trip we sure earned our pay,
The mate was a cow-son, the bosun was worse,
With brass knuckles they added some weight to a curse.
Here's a health to Captain Samuels wherever he be,
A friend to a sailor on land or on sea,
But as the the first mate when his life do pass,
I hope that he hangs from the yard by his brass.
Liverpool Judies 2
When I was a young man I sailed like the best
On a Liverpool packet bound out for the west.
We anchored one day in the harbour of Cork
Then we were bound for the port of New York.
Chorus: (repeated after each verse):
Singing / And it's row, row bullies row,
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow.
For forty-two days we were hungry and sore,
For the winds was agin us and the gales they did roar.
But off Battery Point we anchored at last
With the jib-boom hove in and our canvas all fast.
The boarding-house masters was off in a trice,
Offering us all kinds of things that were nice.
One fat old crimp took a likin' to me,
Says he, “You're a fool, lad, to follow the sea.”
Says he, “There's a job as is waiting for you
With lashings of liquor and bugger-all to do.”
Says he, “What d'ye say, lad, won't you jump her too?”
Says I, “You old bastard, I'm damned if I do.”
But the best of intentions they never goes far,
After forty-two days at the door of a bar
I tossed off my liquor and what do you think?
The rotten old bastard put drugs in my drink!
The next I remembers I woke in the morn',
On a three skys'l yarder bound south round the Horn,
With an old set of oilskins and two pair of socks,
A bloody thick head and a sea-chest that rocks.
Now all you young sailors, take a warning by me,
Keep a watch on your drinks when the liquor is free!
And pay no attention to runner or whore
Or your head will be thick and your throat will be sore.
Load 'em and Stack 'em
Chorus:
Load 'em and stack 'em; you can't do it later.
Load 'em and stack 'em on a Japanese freighter.
Load 'em and stack 'em; the holds are gettin' higher.
Load 'em and stack 'em till the sun goes down.
1 Well, you work all day (Load them beans!)
To make your pay. (Load them beans!)
Oh, another pallet's comin' (Load them beans!)
Down into the hold so you gotta work on.
2. Your hands are sore, (Load them beans!)
Your back even more, (Load them beans!)
But another pallet's comin' (Load them beans!)
Down into the hold so you gotta work on.
3. Break away; break away! (Load them beans!)
Clear the way; clear the way! (Load them beans!)
Seven days a week, (Load them beans!)
From dawn to dusk so you gotta work on.
4. She's filled to the top. (Load them beans!)
It's time to stop. (Load them beans!)
The last pallets done (Load them beans!)
We're out of the hold, but another freighters comimg.
CHORUS TWICE
Lowlands Away
I dreamed a dream the other night.
Chorus: Lowlands, lowlands away my John.
My love she came, dressed all in white.
Chorus: Lowlands away.
I Dreamed my love came in my sleep.
Chorus: Lowlands, lowlands away my John.
Her cheeks were wet, her eyes did weep .
Chorus: Lowlands away.
She came to me at my bedside.
Chorus: Lowlands, lowlands away my John.
All dressed in white, like some fair bride.
Chorus: Lowlands away.
And bravely in her bossom fair.
Chorus: Lowlands, lowlands away my John.
Her red, red rose, my love did wear.
Chorus: Lowlands away.
She made no sound, no word she said.
Chorus: Lowlands, lowlands away my John.
And then i knew my love was dead.
Chorus: Lowlands away.
Then I awoke to hear the cry.
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John.
On watch on deck, on watch, ahoy.
Lowlands away.
Lowlands Low
Our packet is the island lass
Chorus: (Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
There's a laddie howlin' at the main topmast
Chorus: (Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
The old man he's from Barbados
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
He's got the name of Hammer Toes
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
He gives is us bread as hard as brass
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Our junk's as salt as a bailer's arse
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
The monkey's raised in a soldier's clothes
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Now, where he got 'em from, no one knows
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
We'll haul 'em high and let 'em dry
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
We'll trice 'em up into the sky
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
It's up aloft that yard must go
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Up aloft from down below
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Lowlands, me boys, and up she goes
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Get changed, me boys, for your shore-going clothes
(Low lands lowlands lowlands low)
Maggie May
Traditional 19th Century Liverpool seamen's song.
This song is also believed to be the inspiration for the American ballad "Darling Nellie Grey".
I've listed several alternate choruses and a few alternative versions.
Now gather round you sailor boys, and listen to my plea
And when you've heard my tale you'll pity me
For I was a real damned fool in the port of Liverpool
The first time that I came home from the sea
Chorus:
Oh, Maggie, Maggie May, they've taken you away
They've sent you to Van Diemen's cruel shore
For you robbed so many a sailor, and skinned so many a whaler
And you'll never walk in Paradise Street no more
I was paid off at the Home, from a voyage to Sierra Leone
Two pounds ten and sixpence was my pay
When I drew the tin I grinned, but I very soon got skinned
By a girl by the name of Maggie May
I shan't forget the day when I first met Maggie May
She was cruising up and down on Canning Place
With a figure so divine, like a frigate of the line
So, being a sailor, I gave chase
Next day I woke in bed, with a sore and aching head
No shoes, or shirt, or trousers could I find
I asked her where they were, and she answered, "My dear sir,
They're down in Kelly's knock-shop, number nine"
Oh, you thieving Maggie May, you robbed me of my pay
When I slept with you last night ashore
And the judge he guilty found her of robbing a homeward-bounder
And she'll never roam down Paradise Street no more
ALTERNATE CHORUS (1):
Oh, Maggie, Maggie May, they have taken you away
And you'll never walk down Lime Street anymore
You may search from here to China, you'll not find a girl that's finer
That is finer than my darlin' Maggie May
ALTERNATE CHORUS (2):
Oh, Maggie, Maggie May, they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime Street any more
Oh, she robbed those lime juice sailors, and the captains of the
whalers,
That dirty robbing no-good Maggie May
ALTERNATE VERSION (1):
Now gather round you sailor boys, and listen to my plea
And when you've heard my tale you'll pity me
For I was a real damned fool in the port of Liverpool
The first time that I came home from the sea
We paid off at the home from the port of Sierra Leone
And four pounds ten a month that was my pay
With a pocket full of tin I was very soon taken in
By a girl with the name of Maggie May
Oh well I do remember when I first met Maggie May
She was cruising up and down old Canning Place
She'd a figure so divine, like a frigate of the line
So me being a sailor , I gave chase
Next morning when I awoke I was flat and stoney broke
No jacket, trousers, waistcoat I could find
When I asked her where they were she said "My very dear sir,
They're down in Kelly's knocker number nine"
To the pawnshop I did go but no clothes there I did find and
The policeman came and took that girl away
The judge he guilty found her, of robbing the homeward–bounder
And paid her passage back to Botany Bay
ALTERNATE VERSION (2):
Now you jolly sailor lads Come listen to my tale
I'm sure you will have cause to pity me
I was a damned young fool
In the port of Liverpool
When I called there on my first port home from sea
Oh Maggie, Maggie May
They have taken her away
To slave upon Van Dieman's cruel shore
Oh, you robbed so many whalers
And dosed so many sailors
But you'll never cruise 'round Peter Street no more
I was staying at the Home
From a voyage to Sierre Leone
And two-pound-ten a month was all my pay
As I jingled with my tin
I was easy taken in
By a little girl up there called Maggie May
Oh, I'll never forget the day
When I first met Maggie May
She was standing on a corner at Canning Place
In a full-sized crin-o-line
Like a frigate of the line
And as she saw I was a sailor I gave chase
She gave me a saucy nod
And I, like a silly sod
Let her take me line abreast in tow
And under all plain sail
We ran before the gale
And to the Crow's Nest Tavern we did go
Next morning when I woke
I found that I was broke
No shoes or shirt or trousers could I find
When I asked her where they were
She answers "My dear sir,
They're down in Lewis' pawnshop number nine"
So to Lewis' I did go
But no clothing could I find
And the policeman took that wicked girl away
Of robbing a homeward-bounder
And now she's doing time in Botany Bay
She was chained and sent away
From Liverpool one day
The lads all cheered as she sailed down the bay
And every sailor lad
He only was too glad
They'd sent that old whore out to Botany Bay
AUSTRALIAN VERSION:
Oh come along all you sailor boys and listen to my plea
And when I am finished you'll agree
I was a goddamned fool in the port of Liverpool
The first time that I came home from sea
We was paid off at The Hove from a port called Sydney Cove
And two pound ten a month was all my pay
Oh I started drinking gin and was neatly taken in
By a little girl they all called Maggie May
Oh Maggie, Maggie May they have taken you away
To slave upon that cold Van Diemen shore
Oh you robbed so many sailors and dosed so many whalers
Y ou'll never cruise down Lime Street any more
Twas a damned unlucky day when I first met Maggie May
She was cruising up and down old Canning Place
Oh she had a figure fine as a warship of the line
And me being a sailor I gave chase
In the morning when I woke stiff and sore and stoney broke
No trousers, coat, or waistcoat could I find
The landlady said 'Sir, I can tell you where they are
They'll be down in Stanley's hock-shop number nine'
To the bobby on his beat at the corner of the street
To him I went to him I told my tail
He asked me as if in doubt 'Does your mother know you're out?'
But agreed the lady ought to be in jail
To the hock-shop I did go but no trousers there I spied
So the bobbies came and took the girl away
The jury guilty found her for robbing a homeward bounder
And paid her passage out to Botany Bay
Maid of Amsterdam
According to the Burl Ives Song Book "This song, first appearing in 1608 in a London play by Robert Heywood became very popular with colonial sailors." Stan Hugill discounts this. He notes some scholars claim it dates to Elizabethan times. Shore version of the song are found in Great Britain, Denmark, and France.
Another song where the words differ depending on the singer, so I've included two here.
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
Mark well what I do say
In Amsterdam there lives a maid,
And this fair maid my trust betrayed.
Chorus:
I'll go no more a rovin, with you fair maid.
A roving, A roving, since roving's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving, with you fair maid.
Her eyes are like two stars so bright
Mark well what I do say
Her eyes are like two stars so bright,
Her face is fair, her step is light.
I asked this fair maid to take a walk,
Mark well what I do say
I asked this maid out for a walk
That we might have some private talk.
Then I took this fair maid's lily white hand,
Mark well what I do say
I took this fair maid's lily white hand
In mine as we walked along the strand.
Then I put my arm around her waist
Mark well what I do say!
For I put my arm around her waist
And from her lips snatched a kiss in haste!
Then a great big Dutchman rammed my bow
Mark well what I do say
For a great big Dutchman rammed my bow,
And said, "Young man, dis bin mein vrow!"
Then take warning boys, from me,
Mark well what I do say!
So take a warning, boys, from me,
With other men's wives don't make too free.
For if you do you will surely rue
Mark well what I do say!
For if you do you will surely rue
Your act, and find my words come true.
Version 2
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
Mark well what I do say
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
And she was mistress of her trade
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
Chorus:
A-rovin', a-rovin', since rovin's been my ruin-o
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
I took that fair maid for a walk
Mark well what I do say
I took that fair maid for a walk
She said: "Young man I'd rather talk"
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
I put my hand upon her thigh
Mark well what I do say
I put my hand upon her thigh
She said: "Young man you're rather high!"
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
Her lovely arms were white as milk
Mark well what I do say
Her lovely arms were white as milk
Her flaxen hair was soft as silk
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
But when I got back home from sea
Mark well what I do say
When I got back home from sea
A soldier had her on his knee
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
Marching Inland
By Tom Lewis
Lord Nelson knew the perfect way to cure your 'mal-de-mer',
So if you pay attention, his secret I will share,
To any sea-sick sailor he'd give this advice for free:
"If you're feeling sea-sick, sit underneath a tree!"
Chorus:
I'm marching inland from the shore,
over m' shoulder I'm carrying an oar,
When someone asks me:
"What - is that funny thing you've got?"
Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more,
Then I know I'll never go to sea no more!
Columbus he set-sail to find out if the world was round,
He kept on sailing to the West until he ran aground,
He thought he'd found The Indies but he'd found the U.S.A.,
I know some navigators who can still do that today.
Drake he's in his hammock and a thousand miles away,
Grenville's REVENGE is at the bottom of the bay,
Many's the famous sailor never came home from the sea,
Just take my advice, Jack, come and follow me.
Sailors take a warning from these men of high renown,
When you leave the ocean and it's time to settle down,
Never cast your anchor less than ninety miles from shore,
There'd always be temptation to be off to sea once more.
Men of the Sea
By John Conolly and Bill Meek
At the age of fifteen I shipped out from the Humber
Me very first trip for the Silver Pits bound
I was galley-boy, mess-man, the lowest of callings
But at last I was off to the trawl-fishing grounds
Chorus:
Fair Isle to Labrador
Bear Isle to Norway
And cold Greenland shore
Learning me trade with the men of the sea
Long years as a deckie I hauled for me living
And dodged on the deck through the wild Arctic gales
Knew the tight grip of fear as the cold sea swept o'er me
And I soon learned the truth of the old trawling tales
And in between trips, well, the town couldn't hold me
A two-day tycoon with me head full of rum
A girl on each arm and a pocket soon empty
Live now and pay later, there's hard days to come
Now I know every hull as it tops the horizon
I've learned all the tricks of the trawlerman's trade
Know the sea as provider, betrayer, and taker
I've got me mate's ticket, me future is made
As a skipper at last, I stand tall on the dockside
From the boy to the man to the master of men
Now the ocean is mine as we slip from the harbour
And back to the sea to start learning again
Fair Isle to Labrador
Bear Isle to Norway
And cold Greenland shore
Learning me trade with the men of the sea
Mingulay Boat Song
Verse. Heel yer ho boys
Chorus:
Let her go boys
Turn her head round, now altogether
Heel yer ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward, to Mingulay
What care we though white the Minches
What care we boys for wind or weather
Heel yer ho boys, every inch is
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.
Chorus. Heel yer ho boys
Let her go boys
Turn her head round, now altogether
Heel yer ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward, to Mingulay
Wives are waiting at the harbour
They've been waiting since break of day
Heel yer ho boys, and we'll anchor
Ere the sun sets on Mingulay
Chorus Let her go boys
Turn her head round, now altogether
Heel yer ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward, to Mingulay
Ships return now, heavy laden
Mothers holding bairns a-crying
They'll return though, when the sun sets,
They'll return to Mingulay.
Chorus x 2 to finish.
Mobile Bay
A rare shanty for two shanty men. The first line of the verse is sung by the first shantyman; then a one line chorus. The second line is sung by the second shantyman, followed by the next one line chorus. Both shantymen, and only them, then sing the third line, followed by a further chorus of one line.
1st SM From Bristol town we sailed away
Chorus: John come tell us as we haul away
2nd SM We were outward bound for Mobile Bay
Chorus: So he tell us as we sail away
Both SM. Way-hay haulie
Chorus: John come tell us as we haul away
And what do you do down Mobile Bay?
Oh, screwing cotton all the day
Way-hay haulie
And what did you see down Mobile Bay?
Oh, the girls were fair and free and gay
Way-hay haulie
And who did you meet down Mobile Bay?
Oh, a right flash girl called Saucy May
Way-hay haulie
And what did you do down Mobile Bay?
On that flash girl I blew me pay
Way-hay haulie
Oh he married her in Mobile Bay
And lived there happy for many a day
Way-hay haulie
Morning Glory
Chorus: Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, (followed by the last line of each verse)
Of all you good people
I'll tell you my story
Lordy. Lordy, Lordy I'll tell you my story
Of when I did sail
on the old Morning Glory
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy the Old Morning Glory
She was a fine whaler
A well built three master
Our captain, our skipper,
A regular bastard
He worked us, he cursed us
He showed us no mercy
A hard drinking man
In a dirty old jersey
From Russel we sailed
On the first of November
It was a fine day
As well I remember
We sailed on a course for
The great southern ocean
Where whales they sport
and make a commotion
We struck a sperm whale
With harpoons and no hafter
The whale then died
and rolled the boat after
The ride was so jolly
Until the boat foundered
For the men that were drowned
A requiem sounded
Short handed were we, So
We made for New Zealand
Dunedin that port
We jumped ship a screamin
No more did I climb
The icy cold rigging
Instead I did went
To the old cargo digging
I folded my sail
I told him my story
Of when I did sail
On the old Morning Glory.
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy the Old Morning Glory
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy the Old Morning Glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ7KGW0Psjk&list=RDcsFktGzCyBk&index=27
Mr Stormalong
There are two versions of this currently sung at the Jenny. The same words for the verses with a slightly different chorus. This first song is more of a call and response chant, whilst the second is more tuneful.
Stormies dead that good old man
Chorus: Wey storm along John
Stormies dead that good old man
Chorus: Wey hey mis-ter storm along
We dug his grave with a silver spade
His shroud of finest silk was made
We lowered him down on a golden chain
Old stormy he won't rise again
Stormies dead and gone below
Where he is now the wind don't blow
He shipped his cable off Cape Horn
Off Cape Horn where he was born
Oh I wish I was old Stormies son
I'd build me a ship of a thousand tons.
I'd fill her up with Jamaikie rum
And every shellback shall have some
A bottle of rum for each man
And all the rest for the shanty man
The tide is high and the wind doth blow
It's time for us to roll and go.
The second versions chorus is as follows;
Stormies dead that good old man
Chorus: Timme wey hey storm along John
Stormies dead that good old man
Chorus: Aye aye aye mister storm along
Extra verses, seldom sung.
We'll haul me boys to wake the dead
Old Stormies in his little bed
Old Stormy was a seaman bold
A grand old man of the days of old
An able seaman bold and true
A bloody good bosun to his crew
But now old Stormies day is done
We marked the spot where he is gone
Old Stormies gone and laid to rest
Of all the sailors he was the best
His heart was good, and kind, and soft
But now he's gone way up aloft
For fifty years he sailed the seas
In winters gales and summers breeze
Oh off Cape Horn where he was born
Our sails was ripped and our mainmast gone
He lies low in his salt sea bed
Our hearts are sore our eyes are red
He's moored at last and furled his sail
No danger now from wreck or gale
Old stormy heard the angel call
So sing his dirge now one and all
For now we'll sing his funeral song
Roll her over long and strong
Old Stormy loved a sailors song
He'll roll her over long and strong.
My Son John
My son John was tall and slim
And he'd a leg for ev'ry limb.
But now he's got no legs at all
For he ran a race with a cannon ball
Chorus:
Timme roo dum dar, faddle riddle dar
Whack fo' the riddle Timme roo dum dar
Well were ya drunk or were ya blind
When ya left your two fine legs behind
Or was it sailin' on the sea
Wore your two fine legs right down to the knee
I was not drunk, I was not blind
When I left my two fine legs behind
Was a cannon ball on the fifth of May
That took my two fine legs away
All foreign wars I'll now denounce
'Twixt the King of England and the King of France
For I'd rather my legs as they used to be
Than the king of Spain and his whole navy
I was tall and I was slim
And I'd a leg for ev'ry limb
But now I've got no legs at all
They were both shot away by a cannon ball
Chorus: Timme roo dum dar, faddle riddle dar
Whack fo' the riddle Timme roo dum dar