Blog

Up She Goes

1. And he kissed her on the face – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   And he kissed her on the cheeks – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   No more, no more – We go to sea no more
   As soon as we reach the town tonight
   We’re leaving for the shore.
2. And he kissed her on the neck – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   And he kissed her on the lips – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   No more, no more – We go to sea no more
   As soon as we reach the town tonight
   We’re leaving for the shore.
3. And he kissed her on the arms – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   And he kissed her on the legs – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   No more, no more – We go to sea no more
   As soon as we reach the town tonight
   We’re leaving for the shore.
4. And he kissed her on the knees – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   And he kissed her everywhere – And the crew began to roar:
   Oh, oh, up she goes – We’re bound for Baltimore
   No more, no more – We go to sea no more
   As soon as we reach the town tonight
   We’re leaving for the shore.

Unst boat song

Starka virna vestalie,
Obadeea, obadeea.
Starka virna vestalie,
Obadeea monye.
Sterke winden uit het Westen,
Het wordt afzien, het wordt afzien.
Sterke winden uit het Westen,
Het wordt afzien mannen.
Stala, stoita stonga raer,
Oh, whit says du da bunschka baer;
Oh, whit says du da bunschka baer;
Litra mae vee, drengie.
Alle hens aan dek geroepen,
Reef het grootzeil, zet de stormfok;
Alle hens aan dek geroepen;
Als ze maar blijft drijven.
Saina papa wara,
Obadeea, obadeea,
Saina papa wara,
Obadeea, monye.
Laten we om bijstand vragen,
Het wordt afzien, het wordt afzien,
Laten we om bijstand vragen,
Het wordt afzien mannen
Tussenspel, daarna 2 keer, 1e keer zacht
2e keer krachtig.
Starka virna vestalie,
Obadeea, obadeea.
Starka virna vestalie,
Obadeea monye.
42

Three score and ten

Me thinks I see a host of craft,
spreading their sails a-lee
As down the Humber they do glide,
all bound for the Northern Sea.
Methinks I see on each small craft,
a crew with hearts so brave
Going out to earn their daily bread
Upon the restless waves.
Chorus:
And it’s three score and ten
boys and men were lost from Grimsby town.
From Yarmouth down to Scarborough
many hundreds more were drowned.
Our herring craft, our trawlers,
our fishing smacks as well,
They long did fight that bitter night
And battled with the swell.
Me thinks I see them yet again,
as they leave the land behind
Casting their nets into the sea,
the fishing shoals to find.
Me thinks I see them yet again
they’re all on board all right,
With their nets rolled up and their decks cleaned off
And the side-lights burning bright.
Chorus:
Me thinks I’ve heard the captain say
“Me lads we’ll shorten sail”
With the sky to all appearances
Looks like an approaching gale
Me thinks I see them yet again
Midnight hour is past
The little craft is battling there
Against the icy blast
Chorus:
October’s night left such a sight,
T’was never seen before:
There was masts and yards and broken spars,
come a washed up upon the shore.
There were many a heart in sorrow,
Many a heart so brave.
There was many a fine and hearty lad,
That met a watery grave.

The Old Calahan

Last night when I felt so lonely and so blue
I was playing that old time blues
The blues of old Calahan.
Well he was born in Kentucky, far away
He would be soon the famest man
Kentucky ever knew.
(Everybody now)
I took my guitar and my old country fiddle
Played me a song of the old Calahan
He once was a star in the days of the Union
We all know him as the old Calahan.
(Come on now)
Well he was poor with no penny to his name
There was sorrow and there was pain
But no one was to blame.
He went to town, just a guitar in his hands
He made fortune and he got fame
At last he made the grade.
(Everybody now)
I took my guitar and my old country fiddle
Played me a song of the old Calahan
He once was a star in the days of the Union
We all know him as the old Calahan
(Play this song now).
Last night when I felt so lonely and so blue
I was playing that old time blues
The blues of old Calahan.
So I can tell you wherever, my best friends
When you’re lonely, when you’re blue
Just play it like I do.
(And everybody once more)
I took my guitar and my old country fiddle
Played me a song of the old Calahan
He once was a star in the days of the Union
We all know him as the old Calahan
(Woohoo)
(Yeahoo)
We all know him as the old Calahan.
(Come on everybody, sing it once more, yeah come on)
I took my guitar and my old country fiddle
Played me a song of the old Calahan
He once was a star in the days of the Union
We all know him as the old Calahan.

Last Shanty Words & Music by Tom Lewis

Well me father often told me, when I was just a lad,
A sailor’s life was very hard, the food was always bad,
But now I’ve joined the navy, I’m on board a man-o-war,
And now I find a sailor ain’t a sailor any more!
Chorus:
Don’t haul on the rope, don’t climb up the mast,
If you see a sailing-ship it might be your last,
Get your ‘civvies ready for another run-ashore,
A sailor ain’t a sailor, ain’t a sailor any more!
The ‘killick’ of our mess, he says we’ve had it soft,
It wasn’t like this in his day, when he was up aloft,
We like our bunks and sleeping-bags but what’s a hammock for?
Swinging from the deckhead or lying on the floor?
Chorus:
They gave us an engine that first went up and down,
Then with more technology the engine went around,
We’re good with steam and diesel but what’s a mainyard for?
A stoker ain’t a stoker with a shovel any more!
Chorus:
They gave us an Aldiss Lamp, we can do it right,
They gave us a radio, we signal day and night,
We know our codes and ciphers but what’s a ‘sema’ for?
A ‘bunting-tosser’ doesn’t toss the bunting any more!
Chorus:
They gave us a radar set to pierce the fog and gloom,
So now the lookout’s sitting in a tiny darkened room,
Loran does navigation the Sonar says how deep,
The Jimmy’s 3 sheets to the wind, the Skipper’s fast asleep.
Chorus:
Two cans of beer a day, that’s your bleeding lot!
But now we gets an extra two because they stopped The Tot,
So, we’ll put on our civvy-clothes and find a pub ashore,
A sailor’s still a sailor, just like he was before!

The Irish Rover

On the Fourth of July, 1806
We set sail from the sweet Cove of Cork
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the Grand City Hall in New York
‘Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged fore and aft
And oh, how the wild winds drove her
She stood several blasts, she had twenty seven masts
And they called her The Irish Rover
We had one million bales of old billie goats’ tails
We had two million buckets of stones
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
We had four million packets of bones
We had five million hogs and six million dogs
Seven million barrels of porter
We had eight million bags of the best Sligo rags
In the hold of the Irish Rover
There was awl Mickey Coote who played hard on his flute
When the ladies lined up for a set
He was tootin’ with skill for each sparkling quadrille
Though the dancers were fluther’d and bet
With his smart witty talk, he was cock of the walk
And he rolled the dames under and over
They all knew at a glance when he took up his stance
That he sailed in The Irish Rover
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
And a chap from Falkirk who was scared stiff of work
And a chap from Westmeath called Malone
There was Slugger O’Toole who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
There was Dudey O’Claire who was strong as a bear
As the skipper of the Irish Rover
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost its way in the fog
And that whole of the crew was reduced down to two
Just myself and the Captain’s old dog
Then the ship struck a rock, boy! What a shock
The bulkhead was turned right over
Turned nine times around and the poor dog was drowned
I’m the last of The Irish Rover
The Irish Rover
Object 1

Spanish Ladies

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England
But we hope in a short time to see you again
We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors
We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues
Then we hove our ship to with the wind from sou’west, boys
We hove our ship to, for to make soundings clear;
We got soundings in ninety-five fathom, and boldy
Up the channel of old England our course we steer.
Now the first land we made it is called the Deadman,
Than, Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight;
We passed by Beechy, by Fairleigh and Dungeness,
And hove our ship to, off South Foreland Light.
Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,
All in the Downs, that night for to meet
Then standby your stoppers, let go your shank-painters
Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.
Now let every man drink off his full bumper
Let every man toss off his full bowls;
We’ll drink and be jolly; and drown melancholy,
So here’s good health to all true-hearted sou

South Australia

1. Down-east gals ain’t get no combs
   Ch.: Heave a-way! Heave a-way!
   They comb their hair wi’a whale-fish-bone,
   Ch.: An’ we’re bound for South Australia!
   Full Chorus: Heave a-way, me bul-ly, bul-ly boys,
   Heave a-way! Heave a-way!
   Heave a-way, why don’t ye make some noise?
   An’ we’re bound for South Australia!
2. Yankee gals don’t sleep on beds,
   Ch.: Heave a-way! Heave a-way!
   They go to sleep on codfish’s heads,
   Ch.: An’ we’re bound for South Australia!
   Full Chorus: Heave a-way, me bul-ly, bul-ly boys,
   Heave a-way! Heave a-way!
   Heave a-way, why don’t ye make some noise?
   An’ we’re bound for South Australia!
3. Cape Cod gals have got big feet,
   Codfish’s rows is nice an’ sweet.
4. Quaker gals don’t wear no frills,
   They’re tight an’ skinny as a halibut’s gills.
5. Glou’ster gals make damn fine cooks,
   They’re good at catching sprats on hooks.
6. Nantucket gals are very fine,
   They know how to bait a codfish line.
   73

SING AT THE WHEEL

Sing at the wheel, while you may
Heel yo ho, boys together.
Sing at the wheel, white you may
Pull her round and let her go
The spindrift flying from her shoulders
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Heel yo ho, boys together.
Sing at the wheel while you may
Yonder shine the lights o’home,
And yo-nder wait the hands o’welcome
Sing atthe wheel, while you may
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Heel yo ho, boys together.
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Fire o’peat and cream and crow-die
And tea and toast and candles burning
Sing at the wheel while you may
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Heel yo ho, boys together.
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Then at night-time song and tale
And dan-cing lads and girls together
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Sing at the wheel, while you may
Heel yo ho, boys together.
Sing at the wheel, while you may

Shenandoah

1. Oh, Missourah she’s a mighty water
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   The redskin camp lies on her border,
   Away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
2. O Shenandoah wuz a redskin maiden,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   And a white man loved that redskin maiden,
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
3. Oh, the white man loved the Indian maiden,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   With trade-goods his canoe was laden.
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
4. The chief refused the trader’s dolllars,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   My daughter ye shall never follow.
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
5. At last there came a Yankee skipper,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   Who winked his eye and flipped his flipper.
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
6. He sold the chief some fire-water,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   And stole the gal across the water.
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!
7. O Shenandoa, I love yer daughter,
   Away ye rollin’ river!
   I’ll take her sailing cross yon rollin’ water.
   An’ away we’re bound to go,
   ‘Crosst the wide Missourah!

Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Santy Anna

1. O have you heard the latest news ?
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   The Yankees they took Vera Cruz.
   All on the plains of Mexico !
2. O Santy Anna fought for fame,
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   He fought for fame and gained his name
   All on the plains of Mexico !
3. Old Santy Anna had a wooden leg,
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   He used it for a wooden peg.
   All on the plains of Mexico !
4. Brave General Taylor gained the day,
   Heave away! Santy Anna !
   And Santy Anna ran away,
   All on the plains of Mexico !
5. O then we smashed them up and down;
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   We captured all the Mexican ground.
   All on the plains of Mexico !
6. The ladies there I do adore,
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   I always want to be ashore.
   All on the plains of Mexico !
7. You’ve loved me dear and you’ve taught me well,
   Heave away ! Santy Anna !
   I’d rather be here than frying in Hell,
   Al1 on the plains of Mexico !
   solo: Dirk

Sailor

Sailor stop your roaming
Sailor, leave the sea
Sailor, when the tide turns
Come home safe to me
As you sail across the sea
All my love is there beside you
In Capri or Amsterdam
Honolulu or Siam
To the harbour of my heart
I will send my love to guide you
As I call across the sea
Come home to me
Seemann (Lolita)
Seemann, lass das Träumen, Denk nicht an zu Haus
Seemann, Wind und Wellen, Rufen dich hinaus
Deine Heimat ist das Meer, Deine Freunde sind die Sterne
Über Rio und Shanghai, Über Bali und Hawaii
Deine Liebe ist ein Schiff, Deine Sehnsucht ist die Ferne
Und nur Ihnen bist du treu, Ein Leben lang.
Seemann; lass das träumen, Denke nicht an mich
Seemann, denn die Fremde wartet schon auf Dich
Deine Heimat ist das Meer
Deine Freunde sind die Sterne
Über Rio und Shanghai
Über Bali und Hawaii
Deine Liebe ist ein Schiff
Deine Sehnsucht ist die Ferne
Und nur Ihnen bist du treu
Ein Leben lang.

Rolling down to the old Maui

(Verse)
It’s a damn tough life, full of toil and strife, we whaler-men undergo
And we don’t give a damn when the gale is done, how hard the
Winds did blow
For we’re homeward bound from the Arctic ground with a good ship, taut and free
And we won’t give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls
Of old Maui
(Chorus)
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
(Verse)
Once more we sail with the northerly gale through the ice and wind and rain
Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands, we soon shall see again
For six hellish months we’ve passed away on the cold Kamchatka sea
But now we’re bound from the Arctic ground, rolling down to old Maui
(Chorus)
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
(Verse)
Once more we sail with the northerly gale, towards our island home
Our whaling done, our mainmast sprung, and we ain’t got far to roam
Our stu’n’s’l booms is carried away, what care we for that sound?
A living gale is after us, thank God we’re homeward bound!
(Chorus)
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
(Verse)
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 day to see
Our baggy sails, running ‘fore the gales, rolling down to old Maui
(Chorus)
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
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

When the Alabama’s keel was laid
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Twas laid in the town of Birkenhead
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
Down the Mersey way she rolled then
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Liverpool fitted her with guns and men
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
From the Western Isle she sailed forth
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To destroy the commerce of the North
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
To Cherbourg port she sailed one day
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To take her count of prize money
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
Many a sailor lad he met his doom
Roll, Alabama, Roll
When the Kearsarge it hove in view
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
Til a ball from the forward pivot that day
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Shot the Alabama’s stern away
O Roll, Alabama, Roll
Off the three mile limit in sixty-five*
Roll, Alabama, Roll
The Alabama went to her grave
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Rio Grande

Oh, say were you ever in Rio Grande?
Oh, you Rio!
It’s there that the river runs down golden sand,
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
You Bowery ladies, we’d have you to know
Oh, you Rio!
We’re bound to the Southward, Oh Lord, let us go!
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
So it’s pack up your donkey and get under way.
Oh, you Rio!
The girls we are leaving con take our half-pay.
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
We’ve a ship that is strong and a jolly good crew
Oh, you Rio!
A brass-knuckled mate and a rough skipper too.
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
We’ll sell our salt cod for molasses and rum.
Oh, you Rio!
And get back again ‘fore Thanksgiving has come.
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
Good-bye, fare you well, all you ladies of town.
Oh, you Rio!
We’ve left you enough for to buy a silk gown.
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, you Rio! Oh, you Rio!
Sing fare ye well, my pretty young gel’
For we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
14

Piet zonk voor Schevening

1. A+B: Piet zonk voor Schevening’ in d’onstuimige baren.
   Men zegt: hij is de weg van alle vlees gevaren.
2. A: Mij dunkt dat het is: de weg van alle vis!
   B: Piet zonk voor Schevening’ in d’onstuimige baren.
   Men zegt: hij is de weg van alle vlees gevaren.
   3, A: Piet zonk voor Schevening’ in d’onstuimige baren.
   Men zegt: hij is de weg van alle vlees gevaren.
   B: Mij dunkt dat het is: de weg van alle vis!
3. A: Mij dunkt dat het is: de weg van alle vis!
   B: Mij dunkt dat het is: de weg van alle vis!
   49
   vers 1: allen
   vers 2: B begint opnieuw met Piet
   vers 3: A begint weer met Piet
   vers 4: B verhoogt van C via E naar G voor 2e
   stem

Pay me the money down

1. Your Money young man is no object to me,
   Pay me the money down!
   Oh, money down, oh, money down,
   Pay me the money down!
2. I went for a cruise, boys, around the town,
   Pay me the money down!
   I there met a gal called Sally Brown,
   Pay me the money down!
3. I put me arm around her waist,
   Pay me the money down!
   Sez she, ‘Young men, yer in great haste.
   Pay me the money down!
4. ‘My price for love is half a crown,
   Pay me the money down!
   An’ money down, ‘t is real money down.’
   Pay me the money down!
5. Oh, the Yankee dollar some gits for their pay,
   Pay me the money down!
   Will buy us rum, boys, for many a day.
   Pay me the money down!
6. A dollar a day is a white man’s pay,
   Pay me the money down!
   Stowin’ cotton all the day.
   Pay me the money down!
7. Oh, if I had silver dollars galore,
   Pay me the money down!
   I’d pack me bags and stay on shore.
   Pay me the money down!
8. I wisht I had ten thousand pound,
   Pay me the money down!
   I’d sail this ol’ world, around an’ around.
   Pay me the money down!
9. I wisht I wuz Ol’ Stormy’s son,
   Pay me the money down!
   I’d build a ship o’ a thousan’ ton.
   Pay me the money down!
10. We’d stay at the ports where we wuz in,
    Pay me the money down!
    Drinkin’ beer an’ whisky an’ gin.
    Pay me the money down!
11. When the ship it ties up an’ the voyage is through,
    Pay me the money down!
    I wants me pay, sir, every sou.
    Pay me the money down!

Padstow’s Farewell

It’s time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It’s our sailing time.
Get some sail upon her,
Haul away your halyards,
Haul away your halyards.
It’s our sailing time.
Get her on her course now,
Haul away your foresheets,
Haul away your foresheets,
It’s our sailing time.
Waves are surging under,
Haul away down Channel,
Haul away down Channel,
On the evening tide.
When your sailing’s over,
Haul away for Heaven,
Haul away for Heaven,
God be by your side.
It is time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It’s our sailing time

The Nipper (Ian Geddes; Original tune (in C) by Tom Lewis)

Now way back when I was a nipper,
Before them steam ships came along.
Great clippers were driven by power of wind
Sails blossomed aloft to the lilt of a song
Anchors were weighed by sailors
Sometimes took half of the crew
There were songs for that capstan-work also
Aye, Jack Tar knew a shanty or two
Now sometimes there might be a fiddle
Or a sailor pounding a drum
But you never would get the end of the song
‘Cos the singing would stop when the hauling was done
Phonograph invented by Edison
With a windlass attached to the side,
Replaced “foo-foo bands” formed in the fo’c’sle
And the old sailor songs nearly died
For a while there were whole generations
Who never heard “Blow The Man Down”
The “Drunken Sailor” was often performed
Not knowing ’twas sung as the capstan was turned
Today we’ve revived the shanties
They’re twice as much fun as back then
‘Cos we don’t have to stamp round no capstan
And we sing them right up to the end