Shanties, Sea Songs, and all that kind of stuff.
Randy Dandy O
Now we are ready to head for the Horn
Weigh, hey, roll an' go!
Our boots an' our clothes boys are all in the pawn
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Chorus
Heave a pawl, oh, heave away
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Oh, man the stout caps'n and heave with a will
Weigh, hey, roll an' go!
Soon we'll be drivin' her 'way up the hill
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Heave away, bullies, ye parish-rigged bums
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
Take yer hands from yer pockets and don't suck yer thumbs
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Heave a pawl, oh, heave away
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
We're outward bound for Vallipo Bay
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
Get crackin', me lads, it's a hell of a way!
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Heave a pawl, oh, heave away
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Heave a pawl, oh, heave away
Weigh, hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
Ranzo Rae
Or Ray or Hilo Me Ranzo Ray
We're homeward bound from China, oh aboard a Limey liner
Timme Ranzo ranzo, away away
We'll soon be getting out to walk the girls about
Timme Hilo me Ranzo Rae
We've ploughed the whole world over soon we'll be at Dover
We've ploughed the ocean over like a proper deep sea rover
Oh we'll pass the cliffs of Dover and soon we'll be in clover
We'll anchor in the downs for we're bound for London Town
We're bound for Valpariser with a load of rusty razors,
We're bound for Venezuela with a load of drunken tailors,
We're bound for Santiager with a load of German lager,
We're bound for Buenos Aires for a load of green canaries,
We're bound for San Francisco with a cargo of Nabisco,
We're bound for Yokahama with a load of grand pianos,
We're homeward bound from China on board a Limey liner,
We're puttin' on them lartail blues to waltz them girls around, timme
We're loaded down with curios from China and the Indies, oh
We'll soon be seeing all them girls, the girls we so adore, timme
We've sailed the whole world over like a proper deep sea rover,
We'll pass the cliffs of Dover, and then we'll be in clover,
``We'll eat and drink and have our fun'' says every drunken Johnny,
Them girls are waiting on the pier and soon they'll have our money,
Ratcliffe Highway
As I was a rollin' down the Highway one morn
I spied a flash packet from old Wapping town
As soon as I see'd her I slacked me main brace
I hoisted me stuns'ls and to her gave chase
Chorus:
Oh me riggin' is slack
and me ratlin's are frayed
I rattled me riggin'
down Ratcliffe Highway.
Her flag was three colours, her masthead was low,
She was round at the corner and bluff at the bow,
From larboard to starboard and so she rolled free,
She was sailing at large, she was running free.
I fired me bow chaser, the signal she knew,
She backed her main top'sls and for me hove to.
I lowered down me jolly boat and rowed alongside,
I found madam's gangway was open and wide.
I hailed her in English, she answered me clear,
I'm from the Black Arrow, bound for the Shakespeare.
So I wore ship with her, and what do you know?
I slipped her me hawser and took her in tow.
I tipped her me flipper, me tow rope and all,
She then let her hand on me reef tackle fall.
She then took me up to her lily white room,
And in her main rigging I fouled me jib boom.
I entered her cubby hole, and swore damn your eyes,
She was naught but a fire ship rigged up in disguise.
She had a foul bottom from stem post to fore,
Between wind and water she ran me ashore.
She set fire to me riggin' as well as me hull
And away to the lazeret I had to scull.
With me helm hard a starboard as I rolled along
Me shipmates called 'hey Jack, your main yard is sprung'.
Now I'm safe in harbour, me moorings all fast,
I lays here quite snug boys till all dangers past.
With me main yard all square boys and parceled and tarred.
Wasn't that a stiff breeze boys that sprung me main yard.
Here's a health to the girl with the black curly locks,
Here's a health to the girl who ran me on the rocks.
Here's a health to the quack boys, who eased me from pain,
If I meet that flash packet I'll board her again.
Reach for the Gin
By Mike Sparks
Chorus:
Reach for the gin! The water's pouring in.
Reach for the lifebelt! It's sink or swim.
Call for the coastguard! I think it's getting worse.
The ocean to a sailorman is nothing but a curse.
1. I went to the boat show. Now you really should have come.
Walking round the cruisers there, I thought I heard Drake's drum.
I heard wind in the rigging and calls of shanty men.
I went and got me chequebook out and bought one there and then.
2. I signed up at the yacht club and got it safely moored.
The Commodore he hailed me and asked to come aboard.
He spoke of a regatta, whatever that might be,
And he seemed to think I'd want to take my vessel out to sea.
3. I said that going sailing wasn't anything I'd planned.
I hadn't got instructions and no books of maps to hand.
I didn't know port from starboard and I couldn't tell east from west.
He seemed to think this made me somewhat better than the rest.
4. I hoisted up my sails and I headed out to sea.
The watchers on the pier head were all waving vigorously,
And I was smiling at them as we hit that fishing smack,
And they were still there waving as the lifeboat towed us back.
5. I'll go no more a-sailing, of that you can be sure.
I'll just stay here safely tied up by the clubhouse door,
Waving at the others sailing out and sailing in,
Sitting on my quarter-deck a-drinking of the gin.
Rio Grande
O say was you ever in Rio Grande?
Chorus: Weigh, for Rio!
It's there that the river flows down golden sand
Chorus: An' we're bound for the Rio Grande
Chorus:
And away, bullies, away
Weigh, for Rio!
Sing fare-ye-well my Liverpool girls
An' we're bound for the Rio Grande
Oh fare well to Sally and farewell to Sue
And on the pier head it's farewell to you.
We're a bully good ship with a bully good crew
But we don't like the grub and we're damned if we do
Oh fare ye well all ye ladies of town
We've left ye enough for to buy a silk gown
Oh man the old capstan and run her around
We'll heave up the anchor in this bully good sound
Chorus x two to finish.
Roll Down
By Peter Bellamy
Sweet ladies of Plymouth, we're saying goodbye
Chorus: Ro-o-o-oll down!
But we'll rock you and roll you again bye and bye
Chorus: Walk her round, my brave boys and roll down!
Chorus:
And we will ro-o-o-oll down!
Walk her round, my brave boys and roll down!
Now the anchor's aweigh and the sails are unfurled
And we're bound for to take her half-way round the world
In the wide Bay of Biscay the seas will run high
And the poor sickly transports they'll wish they could die
When the wild coast of Africa it do appear
The poor nervous transports they'll tremble with fear
When the Cape of Good Hope it is rounded at last
The poor lonesome transports they'll long for the past
When the great southern whales on our quarter do spout
The poor simple transports they'll goggle and shout
And when we arrive off Australia's strand
The poor weary transports they'll long for the land
And when we set sail for old England's shore
The poor stranded transports we'll see them no more
Then sweet ladies of Plymouth we'll pay all your rent
And go roving no more till our money's all spent
Roll Northumbria
The Dreadnoughts
Choruses in brackets
Twas late 65 at the old wall sea yard
She was commissioned to haul the black tar
And built the Northumbria there on the bar
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
For when the Egyptians they closed the Red Sea
And call came on high from the powers that be
To build a royal monster right down on the key
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll, me boys
Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
Carpathia, Vengeance, celestial call
She was the tanker to out-size them all
From the banks of the Merci to the port of the Laul
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
And fair Princess Anne threw a bottle of wine
And watch as the giants set down in the Tyne
What lay ahead could no mortal divine
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll, me boys
Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
So come all ya good workmen, beware the command
That comes down on high from the desk of a man
Who's never held steel or torch in his hands
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
For atop a wild breaker, the cracks in her frame
Spilled her black guts all across the wild Maine
And she limped away through an ocean of flame
(Roll, Northumbria, Roll, me boys
Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
(And it's one for the hot sun above
Two for the empire we love
And it's three for the fire that burns down below
Roll on Northumbria
Roll, Northumbria, Roll)
Roal the Coal
Down in the belly of a deep sea tramp
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
Down in the dust and dirt and damp
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
Clang of the shovel on the stoke hold floor
Bang of the slice on the furnace door
And the fireman's share of the oceans roar
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
When the chief keeps hollerin' cos he want more steam
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
With a big sea followin' aft and abeam
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
A the blasted starboard bunker's crammed
We've a list to the port and the shute is jammed
And the old man wishing us dead and damned
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
She rocks and rolls and moves like a skimmer
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
When it's piled up close stay clear of the lee
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
Black diamonds move when they're piled up slack
Move it lovely, watch your back
There's many merry trimmers who've not come back
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
Swansea is the best for steam
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
And the black country nuts are a fireman's dream
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
When it's piled in the hold and up to the door
But chief's in there and he scream for more
Look up and hist fist'll put you down once more
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
​
When you're ashore in the clubs and bars
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
They know you're a trimmer by the deep blue scars
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
Stayin' on a farm is what you dream
But you'll be there when they want more steam
Yer bone and muscle are a bloody machine
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
Oh a fireman's work is the work for me
Chorus: Roll the coal Geordie
In bilge and cinders up to yer knee
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
And if you ain't too young, and you ain't too old
And if the heat don't kill yer and you don't catch cold
It's a job nobody would swap for gold
Chorus: Roll the coal me hearties
Roll the coal Geordie
It's a job nobody would swap for gold
Chorus: Roll the coal along.
Roll the Cotton Down
Way down south where I was born
Chorus: Roll the cotton down
We'd pick that cotton on a summer's morn
Chorus: Roll the cotton down.
Chorus:
Roll the cotton
oll the cotton Moses
Roll the cotton
O roll the cotton down
​
Way down south before the war
We'd have great times on the Mississippi shore
When sun don't shine, then the hens don't lay,
If the picker don't work, then the boss don't pay,
Now Curly goes on the old rantan,
Oh Curley's just a Down-East man.
Roust 'em up from down below,
and haul away for your Uncle Joe.
Wake up you bitch and let us in,
Wake up you bitch we want some gin.
A big wind blows from the west-northwest
I know a little girl who's gonna get no rest.
One more heave and that's do
For we're the bullies for to kick her through
Roll the Woodpile Down
Away down South where the cocks do crow
Chorus: Way down in Florida
Them girls all dance to the old banjo
Chorus: And we'll roll the woodpile down
Chorus:
Rollin! Rollin!
Rollin the whole world round
That brown gal of mine's on the Georgia line!
And we'll roll the woodpile down!
When I was a young man and in my prime
I chased them yeller girls two at a time
But now I'm old and turning gray
Them young girls all turn the other way
Old Curly goes on the old ran tan
'Cos Curly he's just a down east man
Oh rouse and bust her is the cry
A sailors wage is never high
Well rouse 'em up from down below
Well rouse ;em up and let 'em go
Just one more pull and that will do
For we're the boys to kick her through
Extra verses
Oh, what can you do in Tampa bay?
But give them yellow girls all your pay
Them Cardiff girls ain't got no frills
They're skinny and tight as catfish gills
Oh, why do them little girls love me so?
Because I don't tell all I know
Roller Bowler
As I roved out one morning
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
As I roved out one morning I met a Dou Dou fair
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
Chorus:
T-me, Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
The first time that I saw her
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
The first time that I saw her, That saucy gal of mine
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
​
But when she found that I was skint
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
But when she found that I was skint She left me standing there
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
She winked & flipped a flipper
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
She winked & flipped a flipper she thought I was a mate
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
I squared me yards an' sailed away
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
I squared me yards an' sailed away An' to the ship I went
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
​
The last time that I saw her
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
The last time that I saw her Was down the waterside
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
​
Oh you ladies short & ladies tall
Chorus: Away you roller bowler
Oh you ladies short & ladies tall I love you one & all
Chorus: And away, you roller bowler
Rolling Home
Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable running clear
Heave away and with a will, boys
For old England we will steer.
Chorus:
Rolling home, rolling home
Rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to dear old England
Rolling home dear land to thee.
And we'll sing in joyful chorus
In the watches of the watches of the night
And we'll sight the shores of England
When the grey dawn brings the light
Up aloft in the rigging
Blows the loud exhulting gale
Like a birds wide outstretched pinions
Spreads on high each swelling sail.
And the wild waves cleft behind us
Seem to murmur as they flow
There are loving hearts that wait with you
In the land to which you go
Many thousand miles behind us
Many thousand miles before
Ancient oceans have to waft us
To the well remembered shore.
Cheer up, Jack, bright smiles await you
From the fairest of the fair.
And her loving eyes will greet you
With kind welcomes everywhere.
Chorus x 2 to finish.
Rolling Up,  Rolling Down
Oh! I once was a rigger and I worked like hell.
Chorus: Rolling up. Rolling down.
But now I'm sailing with the OCL
Chorus: And go Rolling down the river.
Chorus:
Rolling up. Rolling down.
We'll all get drunk in Tilbury town
Twenty four hours to turn around.
And go Rolling down the river.
​
When first I saw a TEU.
Chorus: Rolling up, Rolling down
I wondered where they stowed the crew
Chorus: To go rolling down the river.
​
Well cargo comes in TEUs.
A 20 foot box, boys, filled with booze.
​
There's a Tilbury girl called Kettle Jane.
First on the boil then off again.
​
She's got a mate called Teapot Anne.
She gets well brewed, she likes a man.
​
Tilbury girls go round in pairs,
You won't catch them unawares.
​
Down on the dock-gates where the work is done,
You can pick 'em up, one by one.
​
Well, we're the boys to see her through.
So to hell the Channel and the TEU.
Let's roll down the river.
Rosabella
One Monday morning in the month of May
One Monday morning in the month of May
I thought I heard the old man say
The Rosabella will sail today
​
Chorus:
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm going on board, right down to board
The saucy Rosabella
She's a deep water ship with a deep water crew
She's a deep water ship with a deep water crew
You can stick to the coast but we're damned if we do
Aboard the Rosabella
Chorus:
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm going on board, right down to board
The saucy Rosabella
All around Cape Horn in the month of May
All around Cape Horn in the month of May
It's around Cape Horn is a bloody long way
On board the Rosabella
Chorus:
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm going on board, right down to board
The saucy Rosabella
Those Liverpool girls do make me grieve
Those Liverpool girls do make me grieve
They spent my money and I must leave
On board the Rosabella
Chorus:
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm goin' on board the Rosabella
I'm going on board, right down to board
The saucy Rosabella
Round the Corner Sally
We're - leaving sunny Mexico,
Chorus: Round The Corner, Sally!
Around Cape Horn we're bound to go,
Chorus: Round The Corner, Sally!
Chorus:
Round The Corner is a long, long way,
To Valipo and Callao Bay,
Round The Corner we must roam,
We don't care if we never go home.
Was you ever off Cape Horn,
Where your arse is never warm?
There's ice and snow and sleet and rain,
You'll meet them coming back again.
When we reach those Pacific seas,
We'll drop in to Madam Gashee's.
Them Spanish gals will make you smile,
You'll want to stay for a long, long while.
It's up aloft this yard must go,
Mr. Mate has told us so.
Chorus:
Round The Corner is a long, long way,
To Valipo and Callao Bay,
Round The Corner we must roam,
We don't care if we never go home. x3
​
Row On
Versions 1 and 2
Version 1
Dark clouds are on the summer sky,
There's thunder in the wind.
Row on, row on and homeward hie,
Nae give one look behind.
Chorus (after each verse):
Row on, row on, another day
May shine with brighter light.
Ply, ply the oars and haul away,
There's dawn beyond the night.
Bear where thou goest these words of love,
Say all that words can say.
Changeless affection strength may prove,
But speed upon the way.
Like yonder river would I glide
To where my love would be,
My barque would soon outsail the tide
That flows towards the sea.
Row on, row on, God speed the way,
Thou canst not tarry here.
Clouds gather round the closing day,
Tomorrow may be clear.
Version 2
Clouds are upon the summer sky,
There's thunder in the wind.
Pull on, pull on and homeward hie,
Nor give one look behind.
Chorus (after each verse):
Row on, row on, another day
May shine with brighter light.
Ply, ply the oars and haul away,
There's dawn beyond the night.
Bear where thou goest the words of love,
Say all that words can say.
Changeless affection, strength to prove,
But speed upon the way.
Like yonder river would I glide
To where my heart would be,
My barque should soon outsail the tide
That hurries to the sea.
But yet a star shines constant still
Through yonder cloudy sky,
And hope as bright my bosom fills
From faith that cannot die.
Row on, row on, God speed the way,
Thou canst not linger here.
Storms hang about the closing day,
Tomorrow may be clear.
(repeat first verse)
Ruben Ranzo
Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo,
Chorus: Ranzo, boys, Ranzo,
Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo
Chorus: Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo.
Oh, Ranzo was no sailor,
So he shipped aboard a whaler.
Oh, Ranzo was no beauty,
And he couldn’t do his duty.
Because he was so dirty
They give him five and thirty
Aye, the skipper gave him thirty,
But his daughter begged for mercy
She took him to her cabin,
To try and ease his achin’.
She gave him bread and water,
And a bit more than she oughta.
She gave him education,
And she taught him navigation,
Well, Ranzo’s got his papers
He’s a terror to the whalers
She made him the best sailor,
Aboard a Yankee whaler.
Now he’s known wherever them whalefish blow
As the hardest bastard on the go!
Running Down to Cuba
Running down to Cuba for a load of sugar
Chorus: Way me boys to Cuba
Run her out you lime juice squeezer
Chorus: Running down to Cuba
Chorus:
Way me boys to Cuba
Running down to Cuba
The captain he will trim the sails
Green water running over the rails
Oh my god how the winds do blow
Running on south from the ice and snow
I gotta sister nine foot tall
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
I got a girl can dance fandango
Round as a melon and sweet as a mango
I gotta girl called Lisa Jane
She likes to do it now and again
I know a girl named Lindy Lou
There's nothing that that girl won't do
Load that sugar and home we go
Mr Mate he told me so