Capstan, Windlass, and Pumping Shanties

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

John Cherokee

---

Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord

John Cherokee was an Indian man, Alabama, John Cherokee! He run away every time he can, Alabama, John Cherokee! Way ay yah! Alabama, John Cherokee! Way ay yah! Alabama, John Cherokee! They put him aboard a Yankee ship, Again he gave the boss the slip. They catch him again and chain him tight, And starve him many days and nights. He have nothing to drink and nothing to eat, So he just gone dead at the boss's feet. So they bury him by the old gate post, And the day he died, you can see his ghost.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Storm-Along

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Stormie's gone, that good old man,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
Stormie's gone, that good old man,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

They dug his grave with a silver spade,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
His shroud of finest silk was made,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

They lowered him with a silver chain,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
Their eyes all dim with more than rain,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

An able sailor, bold and true,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
A good old skipper to his crew,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

He's moored at last, and furled his sail,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
No danger now from wreck or gale,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

Old Stormy has heard an angel call,
To my way hay, storm along, John!
So sing his dirge now, one and all,
To my aye, aye, aye, Mister Storm-along!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

New York Girls

As sung by Captain Jesse Schaffer
Now shipmates listen unto me, I'll tell you with my song,
Of the things that happened to me, when I come home from Hong Kong.

Then away you Santy, my dear Annie,
Oh, you New York girls, can't you dance the polka.

As I walked down beside the docks, a fair maid I did meet.
She asked me for to see her home, and she lived on Bleecker Street.

Says I my dear young lady, I'm a stranger here in town,
Left my ship just yesterday, and for Boston I am bound.

Says she if you'll come with me, then you will have a treat,
For you shall have some brandy, and something nice to eat.

When we got down to Bleecker Street, we stopped at forty-four,
An' there her twenty sisters were waiting at the door.

They gave me wine that tasted fine, but it went right to my head,
Then they threw their clothes away, and they carried me to bed.

When I awoke next morning, I had an aching head.
My clothes and all money, and my lady friends had left.

Lord, I don't miss the money, as some other sailors might,
But I wish I could remember, if I had some fun that night.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

One More Day

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Only one day more, my Johnny,
One more day?
Oh, rock and roll me over,
Only one more day!

Oh, don't you hear the old man roaring?
One more day?
Oh, don't you hear that pilot bawling?
Only one more day!

Can't you hear those gels a-calling?
One more day?
Oh, can't you hear that capstan pawling?
Only one more day!

Then put on your long-tailed blue, my Johnny,
One more day?
For your pay is nearly due, Johnny.
Only one more day!

Only one day more, my Johnny,
One more day?
Oh, rock and roll me over.
Only one more day!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Paddy, Lay Back

Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill
'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December, (December)
An' all of me money it was spent (it was spent),
Where it went to Lord I can't remember (remember),
So down to the shippin' office went, (went, went),

Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back)!
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack)!
Take a turn around the capstan - heave a pawl - heave a pawl!
'Bout ship, stations, boys, be handy (be handy)!
Raise tacks, sheets, an' mains'l haul!

Alternative final line of chorus:
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn!

That day there wuz a great demand for sailors (for sailors),
For the Colonies and for 'Frisco and for France (an' for France),
So I shipped aboard a Limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur),
An' got paralytic drunk on my advance ('vance, 'vance),

Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back)!
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack)!
Take a turn around the capstan-heave a pawl - heave a pawl!
'Bout ship, stations, boys, be handy (be handy)!
Raise tacks, sheets, an' mains'l haul!

Now I joined her on a cold December mornin',
A-frappin' o' me flippers to keep me warm.
With the south cone a-hoisted as a warnin',
To stand by the comin' 0' a storm.

Now some of our fellers had bin drinkin',
An' I meself wuz heavy on the booze;
An' I wuz on me ol' sea-chest a-thinkin'
I'd turn into me bunk an' have a snooze.

I woke up in the mornin' sick an' sore,
An' knew I wuz outward bound again;
When I heard a voice a-bawlin' at the door,
'Lay aft, men, an' answer to yer names!'

'Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em,
Such an ugly bunch I'd niver seen afore;
For there wuz a bum an' stiff from every quarter,
An' it made me poor ol' heart feel sick an' sore.

There wuz Spaniards an' Dutchmen an' Rooshians,
An' Johnny Crapoos jist acrosst from France;
An' most o' 'em couldn't speak a word o' English,
But answered to the name of 'Month's Advance'.

I wisht I wuz in the 'Jolly Sailor',
Along with Irish Kate a-drinkin' beer;
An' then I thought what jolly chaps were sailors,
An' with me flipper I wiped away a tear.

I knew that in me box I had a bottle,
By the boardin'-master 'twas put there;
An' I wanted something for to wet me throttle,
Somethin' for to drive away dull care.

So down upon me knees I went like thunder,
Put me hand into the bottom o' the box,
An' what wuz me great surprise an' wonder,
Found only a bottle o' medicine for the pox.

I felt that I should skip an' join another,
'Twas plain that I had joined a lousy bitch;
But the chances wuz that I might join a worser,
An' we might git through the voyage without a hitch.

I axed the mate a-which a-watch wuz mine-O,
Sez he, 'I'II soon pick out a-which is which';
An' he blowed me down an' kicked me hard a-stern-O,
Callin' me a lousy, dirty son-o'-a-bitch.

Now we singled up an' got the tugs alongside,
They towed us through the locks an' out to sea;
With half the crew a-pukin' o'er the ship's side,
An' the bloody fun that started sickened me.

Although me poor ol' head wuz all a-jumpin',
We had to loose her rags the followin' morn;
I dreamt the boardin'-master I wuz thumpin',
When I found out he'd sent me around the Horn.

I swore I would become a beachie-comber,
An' niver go to sea no ruddy more;
For niver did I want to be a roamer ,
I'd shanghai the boardin'-master an' stay ashore.

But when we got to bully ol' Vallaparaiser,
In the Bay we dropped our mud hook far from shore;
The ol' Man he refused ter let us raise 'er,
An' he stopped the boardin'-masters comin' aboard.

I quickly made me mind up that I'd jump 'er,
I'd leave the beggar an' git a job ashore;
I swum across the Bay an' went an' left 'er,
An' in the English Bar I found a whore.

But Jimmy the Wop he knew a thing or two, sir,
An' soon he'd shipped me outward bound again;
On a Limey to the Chinchas for guanner, boys,
An' soon was I a-roarin' this refrain.

So there wuz I once more again at sea, boys,
The same ol' ruddy business over again;
Oh, stamp the caps'n round an' make some noise, boys,
An' sing again this dear ol' sweet refrain.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Randy Dandy O!

Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill
Now we are ready to head for the Horn,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
Our boots an' our clothes boys are all in the pawn,
Time rollickin' randy dandy O!

Heave a pawl, oh, heave away,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
Time rollickin' randy dandy O!

Soon we'll be warping her out through the locks,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
Where the pretty young gals all come down in their flocks,
Time rollickin' randy dandy O!

Heave a pawl, oh, heave away,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
Time rollickin' randy dandy O!

Come breast the bars, bullies, an' heave her away,
Soon we'll be rollin' her 'way down the Bay,

Sing goodbye to Sally an' goodbye to Sue,
For we are the boy-os who can kick 'er through.

Oh, man the stout caps'n an' heave with a will,
Soon we'll be drivin' her 'way down the hill.

Heave away, bullies, ye parish-rigged bums,
Take yer hands from yer pockets and don't suck yer thumbs.

Roust 'er up, bullies, the wind's drawin' free,
Let's get the glad-rags on an' drive 'er to sea.

We're outward bound for Vallipo Bay,
Get crackin', m' lads, 'tis a hell o' a way!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Rio Grande

Sung mainly when heaving up anchor, outward bound, was one of the most bracing of all shanties - "Rio Grande." It has been suggested that it refers to the famous river on the Mexican border. It seems clear, however, that it was first sung in the Brazil trade and was inspired by the port and province of Rio Grande do Sul. Most version show plainly that the Rio Grande of the shanty was not simply a river, but a port or region; one version, for example, runs, "There the Portugee girls may be found." Usually known succinctly as "Rio Grande," the southern Brazilian province and its chief port, of the same name, carried on a busy trade with the United States and Britain, outdoing in this respect all of the many other Rio Grandes on the map. A line traditional in the shanty says the river "brings down golden sand." This refers not to the gold of southern Brazil but to the shifting sand shoals in the Rio Grande estuary, which rendered access to the port so difficult that vessels of more than limited draft could enter only when the tide was favorable. (Much of the "golden sand" has been eliminated by dredging operations carried on since the eighties.) Thus the shanty really doesn't concern a river at all - the estuary, though called a "river," is the mouth of the passage connecting the Lagoa dos Patos with the open sea.
"This shanty," said Captain Patrick Tayluer, "was generally sung aboard of those little Baltimore vessels that used to run down to São Paulo and back to the United States with coffee - to São Paulo and the Rio Grande and Brazils. It was a beautiful place, and the sailors used to love it - and the song was sung by seamen all over the world."

-William Doerflinger, Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
Lyrics from Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman, by William Doerfinger
Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And we're bound to Rio Grande!

"May I come with you, my pretty maid?"
Heave away, Rio!
"Oh, may I come with you, oh, my pretty maid?"
When you're bound to Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
When you're bound to Rio Grande!

"You can please yourself, young man," she did say,
Heave away, Rio!
"You can please yourself, young man," she did say,
Because I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
Because you're bound to Rio Grande!

Now, when I can come to you with open arms,
Heave away, Rio!
Oh, when I can come to you with open arms,
When you're bound to Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And I'm bound for the Rio Grande!

God bless you, may I only hope for your hand,
Heave away, Rio!
God bless you, may I only hope for your hand,
When you're bound to the Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

Now, there is one thing that I would like to say,
Heave away, Rio!
Oh, there is one thing that I would like to say,
And we're bound to the Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And we're bound to the Rio Grande!

I pray you tell, oh, may I have your hand?
Heave away, Rio!
I pray you tell, oh, may I have your hand?
And I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

Now, if you'll come back, as you went away--
Heave away, Rio!
If you'll come back, as you went away--
We'll heave to the Rio Grande!

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

I'll marry you when I come back and we'll say,
Heave away, Rio!
Oh, I'll marry you when I come back and we'll say,
"We'll heave to the Rio Grande!"

Heave away, Rio! Heave away, Rio!
Singin' fare you well, my bonnie young gal,
And I'm bound to the Rio Grande!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

South Australia

Traditional
In South Australia I was born!
Heave away! Haul away!
South Australia round Cape Horn!
We're bound for South Australia!

Heave away, you rolling king,
Heave away! Haul away!
All the way you'll hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia!

As I walked out one morning fair,
It's there I met Miss Nancy Blair.

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

There ain't but one thing grieves my mind,
It's to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.

And as you wallop round Cape Horn,
You'll wish to Christ you'd never been born!

Up the coast to Vallipo,
Northward on to Callao.

It's back again to Liverpool,
I spent me pay like a bloody fool!

I'm Liverpool born and Liverpool bred,
Long in the arm and thick in the head.

Oh, rock and roll me over boys,
Let's get this damn job over boys.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Sally Brown

As sung by Paul Clayton on Whaling And Sailing Songs
Oh Sally Brown she's a creole lady,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sally Brown's a gay old lady,
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

Sally Brown she has a daughter,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sent me sailin' 'cross the water.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

Oh seven long years I courted Sally,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Then she said she would not marry.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

She wouldn't have no tarry sailor,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Wouldn't have no greasy whaler.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

Sally Brown I'm bound to leave you,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sally Brown I'll not deceive you.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

Sally Brown she took a notion,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sent me sailin' 'cross the ocean.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Santy Anna

"The last whaler to return to New Bedford hauled into dock to the tune of this old shanty; and it was told me by one who was present that the grim old seafarers who gathered on the pierhead to watch, shed tears unashamed as the well-remembered notes rang out across the harbor for the last time."
-Joanna Colcord, Songs of American Sailormen
Oh, San-ty Ana won th' day,
Hooray, Santy A-ana!
Oh, San-ty Ana won th' day,
All on the plains of Mexico!

An' Gen'ral Taylor ran a-away.
Hooray, Santy A-ana!
He ran away at Mo-on-te-ray
All on the plains of Mexico!

Oh, San-ty Ana fought fo-or fame.
Hooray, Santy A-ana!
Ah, San-ty Ana ma-ade his name.
All on the plains of Mexico!

Oh, San-ty Ana's dead an' gone.
Hooray, Santy A-ana!
When all th' fight-ing he had done.
All on the plains of Mexico!

We buried him with a gold-en spade.
Hooray, Santy A-ana!
An' marked th' place where he was laid.
All on the plains of Mexico!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

A-Rollin' Down the River

Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill
Oh, the Arabella set her main tops'l,
The Arabella set her main tops'l,
The Arabella set her main tops'l,
A-rollin' down the river.

A-rollin' down, a-rollin' down,
A-rollin' down the river,
A-rollin' down, a-rollin' down,
Said the bucko mate to the greaser's wife,

Oh, a pumpkin pudden an a bulgine pie,
A pumpkin pudden an' a bulgine pie,
A pumpkin pudden an' a bulgine pie,
Aboard the Arabelle!

Oh, the Arabella set her main gans'l,
The Arabella set her main gans'l,
The Arabella set her main gans'l,
A-rollin' down the river.

A-rollin' down, a-rollin' down,
A-rollin' down the river,
A-rollin' down, a-rollin' down,
Said the bucko mate to the greaser's wife,

Oh, a pumpkin pudden an a bulgine pie,
A pumpkin pudden an' a bulgine pie,
A pumpkin pudden an' a bulgine pie,
Aboard the Arabelle!

Oh, the Arabella set her main royal, etc.

Oh, the Arabella set her main skys'l,

Oh, the Arabella set her main stays'l,

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Shanghai Brown

As sung by Holdstock & Murphy on San Francisco Shanties and Sea Songs of California's Gold Rush
When first I went to Frisco boys, I went upon a spree,
My hard earned cash I spent it fast, I got drunk as drunk could be,
Before me money was all gone, or spent on some old whore,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.

No more, no more, To go to sea no more,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.

That night I spent with Sally Brown too drunk to roll in bed,
Me clothes was new me money was too, in the morn with them she fled.
A feeling sick I left the house and went down to the shore.
There I went me head all bend and the crimps at me did roar.

Did roar, did roar, the crimps at me did roar.
There I went, me head all bent and the crimps at me did roar.

The first chap I ran afoul of was Mr. Shanghai Brown.
Well I asked him neat if he'd stand the treat; he looks me up and down.
He said "The last time yer was paid off you chalked me up no score.
But I'll give yes a chance and I'll take yer advance, and send yer to sea once more."

Once more, once more, I'll send you to sea once more,
I'll give yes a chance and I'll take yer advance, and I'll send yer to sea once more."

They shipped me aboard of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic Sea.
Where them cold winds blow and the ice and snow would even make Jamaica rum freeze.
I had no clothes I had no gear, me money spent on a whore,
T'was then I swore that when on shore I'd go to sea no more.

No more, no more, I'd go to sea no more,
T'was then I swore that when on shore I'd go to sea no more.

Some times we caught them sperm whales boys and sometimes we caught none.
With a twenty-foot oar stuck in yer paw you pulled the whole day long,
And when the night it came around and yer nodded on your oar,
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.

Once more, once more, To go to sea once more,
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.

So come all you bully sailor lads and listen to me song.
If you listen to me I'll tell to you and let you know what went wrong.
Take my advice don't drink strong rum nor go drinking with no whore.
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.

No more, no more, and go to sea no more,
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

South Australia

Traditional
In South Australia I was born!
Heave away! Haul away!
South Australia round Cape Horn!
We're bound for South Australia!

Heave away, you rolling king,
Heave away! Haul away!
All the way you'll hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia!

As I walked out one morning fair,
It's there I met Miss Nancy Blair.

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

There ain't but one thing grieves my mind,
It's to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.

And as you wallop round Cape Horn,
You'll wish to Christ you'd never been born!

Up the coast to Vallipo,
Northward on to Callao.

It's back again to Liverpool,
I spent me pay like a bloody fool!

I'm Liverpool born and Liverpool bred,
Long in the arm and thick in the head.

Oh, rock and roll me over boys,
Let's get this damn job over boys.