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Sea Shantys
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rollin' Down to Old Maui


It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo
And we don't give a damn when the gale is done
How hard the winds do blow
We're homeward bound from the Arctic Sound
With a good ship taut and free
And we don't give a damn when we drink our rum
With the girls of Old Maui


Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground
Rolling down to Old Maui


Once more we sail with a Northerly gale
Through the ice, and wind, and rain
Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands
We soon shall see again
Six hellish months we passed away
On the cold Kamchatka sea
But now we're bound from the Arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui


Once more we sail the Northerly gale
Towards our Island home
Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done
And we ain't got far to roam
Our stans'l booms is carried away
What care we for that sound
A living gale after us
Thank God we're homeward bound


How soft the breeze through the island trees
Now the ice is far astern
Them native maids, them tropical glades
Is awaiting our return
Even now their big, brown eyes look out
Hoping some fine to see
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales
Rolling down to Old Maui


We'll heave the lead where old Diamond Head
Looms up on old Wahu
Our masts and yards are sheathed with ice
And our desks are hid from view
The horrid ice of the sea-caked isles
That deck the Arctic sea
Are miles behind in the frozen wind
Since we steered for Old Maui


And now we're anchoured in the bay
With the Kanakas all around
With chants and soft aloha-oos
They greet us homeward bound
And now ashore we'll have good fun
We'll paint them beaches red
Awakening in the arms of an island maid
With a big fat aching head
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Roll the Woodpile Down - as sung by Nola Johnston at the VFSS shanty workshop, Nov 30, 1988


Away down south where the cocks do crow
Way down in Florida
The gals they all play the old Banjo
And we'll roll the woodpile down


Rollin', rollin', rollin' the whole world round
That brown gal o' mine's down the Georgia line
And we'll roll the woodpile down


When I was a young man in my prime
I'd clench them yeller girls two at a time


We'll roll 'em high and we'll roll 'em low
We'll heave 'em up and away we'll go


It's rouse and bust 'er is the cry
A black man's wage is never high


Oh, one more heave, and that'll do
For we're the bullies to kick her through
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Rio Grande - Andrew Draskoy's version


O say was you ever in Rio Grande?
Way, you Rio
It's there that the river runs down golden sand
For we're bound to the Rio Grande


And away, boys, away
Way, you Rio
Sing fare you well my pretty young girls
For we're bound to the Rio Grande


Oh, New York town is no place for me
I'll pack up my bag and go out to sea


So it's pack up your donkey and get under way
The girls we are leaving can take our half pay


We'll sell our salt cod for molasses and rum
And get home again 'fore Thanksgiving has come


Sing good bye to Nellie and good bye to Sue
And you who are listening, good bye to you


And good-bye, fare you well, all you ladies of town
We've left you enough for to buy a silk gown


Now you Bowery ladies we'd have you to know
We're bound to the south'ard, O Lord, let us go!


Our good ship's a-going out over the bar
And we'll point her nose for the South-er-on Star


Oh say was you ever in Rio Grande?
Oh was you ever on that strand?
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Roll the Old Chariot Along - as sung by Donkey's Breakfast


Well a night on shore wouldn't do us any harm (x3)
And we'll all hang on behind
And we'll roll the old chariot along (x3)
And we'll all hang on behind


Well a nice watch below


Well a nice glass of beer


Well night with the girls


Well a big pot of gold
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sally


Oh Sally she'n the gal that I love dearly
Way, sing Sally oh
Sally she'n the gal that I love dearly
Hilo Johnnie Brown stand to your ground


Oh Sally she's the gal that I splice nearly
Her lips is red and her hair is curly


Oh Sally she'n my 'Badian beauty
Sally gal she know her duty


Oh Sally she'n my bright mulatta
Sally gal she do what she ought to


Oh seven long years I courted Sally
But I don't care for her dilly dally


So I signed onboard of a New Bedford whaler
When I come home she was married to a tailor
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Santayana - as sung by Michael Pratt, at the VFSS Shanty Workshop Nov 30 1988


Santayana fought for Spain
Heave away Santayana
He fought for Spain and he gained his name
All on the plains of Mexico
And it's heave her up and away we'll go
Heave away Santayana
Heave her up and away we'll go
All on the plains of Mexico


Oh Santayana gained the day
And General Taylor he ran away


Oh General Taylor ran away
At Molly del Rey he gained his fame


When I was a young man in my prime
I'd kiss them pretty girls two at a time


But now I'm old and going grey
Oh rum's my sweetheart every day
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shallow Brown - as learned from Jasmine Jones


Oh, I'm going to leave her
Shallow, oh shallow brown
Oh, I'm going to leave her
Shallow brown, shallow brown


Bound away for St. Georges
Bound away for St. Georges


Master's going to sell me
Master's going to sell me


Sell me for the dollar
Great big Spanish dollar


Oh, me clothes is all in order
And me packet leaves tomorrow


Fare thee well my Juliana
Fare thee well my Juliana


Oh, I'm leaving in the morning
Oh, I'm leaving in the morning
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Strike the Bell - a pumping shanty


Aft on the poopdeck
Walking about
There is the second mate
So sturdy and so stout
What he is thinking of
He only knows himself
Oh, we wish that he would hurry up
And strike, strike the bell


Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's going to blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it is fell
We wish the you would hurry up
And strike, strike the bell


Down on the maindeck
Working at the pumps
There is the larboard watch
Ready for their bunks
Over to windward
They see a great swell
They're wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell


Aft at the wheel
Poor Anderson stands
Grasping the spokes
In his cold, mittened hands
Looking at the compass
The coarse is clear as hell
He's wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell


For'ad in the fo'c'sle head
Keeping sharp lookout
There is Johnny standing
Ready for to shout
"Lights' burning bright, sir
And everything is well"
He's wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell


Aft the quarterdeck
The gallant captain stands
Looking to windward
With his glasses in his hand
What he is thinking of
We know very well
He's thinking more of shortening sail
Than strike, strike the bell
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

South Australia


In South Australia I was born
(To me) heave away, haul away
In South Australia round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia
Haul away you rolling kings
To me heave away, haul away
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia


As I walked out one morning fair
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair


I shook her up and I shook her down
I shook her round and round the town


I run her all night and I run her all day
And I run her until we sailed away


There ain't but one thing grieves me mind
To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind


And as we wallop around Cape Horn
You'll wish to God you'd never been born


In South Australia my native land
Full of rocks and thieves and fleas and sand


I wish I was on Australia's strand
With a bottle of whiskey in my hand
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sugar in the Hold - as sung by Jon Pfaff


I wish I was in Mobile Bay, screwing cotton all of the day
But I'm stowing sugar in the hold below,
Below, below, below


Hey, ho, below, below
Stowing sugar in the hold below
Hey, ho, below, below
Stowing sugar in the hold below


The J.M. White, she's a new boat
Stem to stern she's mighty fine
Beat any boat on the New Orleans line
Stowing sugar in the hold below


The engineer shouts through his trumpet
"Tell the mate we got bad news.
Can't get steam for the fire in the flue"
Stowing sugar in the hold below


The captain's on the quarter deck
Scratchin' 'way at his old neck
And he cries out, "Heave the larboard lead"
Stowing sugar in the hold below
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tom's Gone to Hilo


Tommy's gone on a whaling ship
Away to Hilo
Oh, Tommy's gone on a damn long trip
Tom's gone to Hilo


He never kissed his girl goodbye
He left her and he told her why


She'd robbed him blind and left him broke
He'd had enough, gave her the poke


His half-pay went, it went like chalf
She hung around for the other half


She drank and boozed his pay away
With her weather eye on his next payday


Oh Tommy's gone and left her flat
Oh Tommy's gone and he won't come back
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whiskey-O - as sung by Donkey's Breakfast


Whiskey-o, Johny-o
Rise her up from down below
Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o
Up aloft this yard must go
John rise her up from down below


Now whiskey is the life of man
Always was since the world began


Now whiskey gave me a broken nose
And whiskey made me pawn me clothes


Now whiskey is the life of man
Whiskey from that old tin can


I thought I heard the first mate say
I treats me crew in a decent way


A glass of whiskey all around
And a bottle full for the shanty man


(Spoken: Up she blew!)
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whiskey Johnny - Andrew Draskoy's version


Whiskey is the life of man
Always was since the world began


Whiskey-o, Johnny-o
John rise her up from down below
Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o
Up aloft this yard must go
John rise her up from down below


Whiskey here, whiskey there
Whiskey almost everywhere


Whiskey up and whiskey down
Whiskey all around the town


Whiskey killed me poor old dad
Whiskey drove me mother mad


My wife and I do not agree
She puts whiskey in her tea


I had a girl and her name was Lize
She puts whiskey in her pies


Oh whiskey straight, and whiskey strong
Give me some whiskey and I'll sing you a song


If whiskey comes too near my nose
I tip it up and down she goes


Some likes whiskey, some likes beer
I wisht I had a barrel here


Whiskey made me pawn me clothes
Whiskey gave me this broken nose


Oh the mate likes whiskey, the skipper likes rum
The sailors like both but me can't get none


Whiskey is the life of man
Whiskey from that old tin can


I thought I heard the first mate say
I treats me crew in a decent way


If whiskey was a river and I could swim
I'd say here goes and dive right in


If whiskey was a river and I was a duck
I'd dive to the bottom and never come up


I wisht I knew where whiskey grew
I'd eat the leaves and the branches too


A tot of whiskey all around
And a bottle full for the shanty man
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whup Jamboree - trad cotton screwing shanty


Whup Jamboree, whup jamboree
Oh a long-tailed sailor man comin' up behind
Whup Jamboree, whup jamboree
Come an' get your oats me son


The pilot he looked out ahead
The hands on the cane and the heavin' of the lead
And the old man roared to wake the dead
Come and get your oats me son


Oh, now we see the lizzard light
Soon, me boys, we'll heave in sight
We'll soon be abreast of the Isle of Wight
Come and get your oats me son


Now when we get to the black wall dock
Those pretty young girls come out in flocks
With short-legged drawers and long-tailed frocks
Come and get your oats me son


Wel,, then we'll walk down limelight way
And all the girls will spend our pay
We'll not see more 'til another day
Come and get your oats me son
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Salty Dog
Sailing Master
Posts: 10060



191991 Gold -

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Wild Goose Shanty


Did you ever see a wild goose
Sailin' o'er the ocean
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh, heigh
They're just like them pretty girls
When they gets the notion
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh, heigh


The other mornin'
I was walkin' by the river
When I saw a young girl walkin'
With her topsails all a-quiver


I said pretty fair maid
And how are you this mornin'?
She said "None the better
for the seeing of you."


Did you ever see a wild goose
Sailin' o'er the ocean
They're just like them pretty girls
When they gets the notion
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