Forecastle Songs and Ballads

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

All For Me Grog

---

As sung by Captain Jesse Schaffer

It's all for me grog, me jolly, jolly grog, All gone for beer and tobacco. Spent all me tin on the lassies drinking gin, And across the western ocean I must wander. Where are me boots, me noggy noggy boots, They've all gone for beer and tobacco. The leather's kicked about and the soles are all worn out, And my toes are looking out for better weather. Where is me shirt, me noggy noggy shirt, It's all gone for beer and tobacco. The collar's all worn out and the front is kicked about, And my tails are looking out for better weather. Where is me bed, me noggy noggy bed, It's all gone for beer and tobacco. I lent it to a whore and now it's all a-wore, And the springs are looking out for better weather. Where is me wench, me noggy noggy wench, She's all gone for beer and tobacco. Her lips are all worn out and her front is kicked about, And her tail is looking out for better weather. I feel sick in the head and I haven't been to bed, Since first I came ashore with me plunder. I see centipedes and snakes and I'm full of pains and aches, And I think that I should push out over yonder.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Banks of Sacramento

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Sing and heave, and heave and sing,
To me hoodah! To my hoodah!
Heave and make the handspikes spring.
To me hoodah! To me hoodah!

And it's blow, boys, blow,
For Californi-o.
For there's plenty of gold,
So I've been told,
On the banks of the Sacramento.

From Limehouse Docks to Sydney Heads,
To me hoodah! To my hoodah!
Was never more than seventy days.
To me hoodah! To me hoodah!

And it's blow, boys, blow,
For Californi-o.
For there's plenty of gold,
So I've been told,
On the banks of the Sacramento.

We cracked it on, on a big skiute,
To me hoodah! To my hoodah!
And the old man felt like a swell galoot.
To me hoodah! To me hoodah!

And it's blow, boys, blow,
For Californi-o.
For there's plenty of gold,
So I've been told,
On the banks of the Sacramento.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Ben Backstay

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Ben Backstay was a boatswain,
A very jolly boy,
No lad than he more merrily
Could pipe all hands ahoy.
And when unto his summons
We did not well attend,
No lad than he more merrily
Could handle a rope's end.

Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido.

It chanced one day our captain,
A very jolly dog,
Served out to all the company
A double share of grog.
Ben Backstay he got tipsy,
Unto his heart's content,
And being half-seas over,
Why overboard he went.

Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido.

A shark was on the larboard bow:
Sharks don't on manners stand,
But grapple all they come near,
Just like your sharks on land.
We heaved Ben out some tackling,
Of saving him in hopes;
But the shark he bit his head off,
So he couldn't see the ropes.

Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido.

Without his head his ghost appeared
All on the briny lake:
He piped all hands aloft and said;
"Lads, by me warning take:
By drinking grog I lost my life,
So lest my fate you meet,
Why, never mix your liquors, lads,
But always drink them neat."

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Five Gallon Jar

As sung on Stan Hugill In Concert At Mystic Seaport, with the addition of verse 3, which was patterned after a verse from Shanties from the Seven Seas, also by Stan Hugill
In Frisco town, there lived a man,
Whose name was Larry Marr,
And in the days of the Cape Horn trade,
Oh, he used his big stone jar.

In the old Virginia lowlands, lowlands, low,
In the old Virginia lowlands, low.

In Larry's place, way on the coast,
There lived old Larry Marr.
Missus and Larry would prime the beer,
In that old five-gallon jar.

The pair they played the shanghai game,
Was known both near and far.
They never missed a lucky chance,
To use that old stone jar.

Now a hell-ship she, was short of hands,
Of full red-blooded tars.
Missus and Larry would prime the beer,
In that old five-gallon jar.

Shellbacks and farmers, just the same,
Strolled into Larry Marr's,
And sailed away around Cape Horn,
Helped by the five-gallon jar.

In Frisco town, their names is known,
As is the Cape Horn bar,
And the stuff they sell out to old Jack,
From the big five-gallon jar.

From the Barbary Coast keep clear me boys,
And from old Larry Marr's,
Else damn soon Shanghaied you'll be,
By Larry's five-gallon jar.

Shanghaied away in a skys'l ship,
Around Cape Horn so far,
Goodbye to all the boys and girls,
And Larry's five-gallon jar.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Blow, Ye Winds

Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord
'Tis advertised in Boston, New York and Buffalo,
Five hundred brave Americans, a-whaling for to go, singing

Blow, ye winds in the morning, And blow, ye winds, high-i!
Clear away your running gear, And blow, ye winds, high-o!

They send you to New Bedord, that famous whaling port,
And give you to some land-sharks to board and fit you out.

They send you to a boarding-house, there for a time to dwell;
The thieves they there are thicker than the other side of hell!

They tell you of the clipper-ships-a-going in and out,
And say you'll take five hundred sperm before you're six months out.

It's now we're out to sea, my boys, the wind comes on to blow;
One half the watch is sick on deck, the other half below.

But as for the provisions, we don't get half enough;
A little piece of stinking beef and a blamed small bag of duff.

Now comes that damned old compass, it will grieve your heart full sore.
For theirs is two-and-thirty points and we have forty-four.

Next comes the running rigging, which you're all supposed to know;
'Tis "Lay aloft, you son-of-a-gun, or overboard you go!"

The cooper's at the vise-bench, a-making iron poles,
And the mate's upon the main hatch a-cursing all our souls.

The Skipper's on the quarter-deck a-squinting at the sails,
When up aloft the lookout sights a school of whales.

"Now clear away the boats, my boys, and after him we'll travel,
But if you get too near his fluke, he'll kick you to the devil!"

Now we have got him turned up, we tow him alongside;
We over with our blubber-hooks and rob him of his hide.

Now the boat-steerer overside the tackle overhauls,
The Skipper's in the main-chains, so loudly he does bawl!

Next comes the stowing down, my boys; 'twill take both night and day,
And you'll all have fifty cents apiece on the hundred and ninetieth lay.

Now we are bound into Tonbas, that blasted whaling port,
And if you run away, my boys, you surely will get caught.

Now we are bound into Tuckoona, full more in their power,
Where the skippers can buy the Consul up for half a barrel of flour!

But now that our old ship is full and we don't give a damn,
We'll bend on all our stu'nsails and sail for Yankee land.

When we get home, our ship made fast, and we get through our sailing,
A winding glass around we'll pass and damn this blubber whaling!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Captain Kidd

Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, hear our cries,
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold, tho' you seem uncontrolled
Don't for the sake of gold, lose your souls.

My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd,
My name was Robert Kidd, God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sail'd.

My parents taught me well, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well, when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well, to shun the gates of hell,
But against them I rebell'd, when I sail'd.

I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd,
I cursed my father dear, and her that did me bear,
And so wickedly did swear, when I sail'd.

I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd,
I made a solemn vow to God I would not bow,
Nor my self one prayer allow, as I sail'd.

I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd,
I'd a bible in my hand by my father's great command,
And sunk it in the sand, when I sail'd.

I murdered William Moore, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I murdered William Moore, as I sail'd,
I murdered William Moore, and left him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore, as I sail'd.

And being cruel still, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
And being cruel still, as I sail'd,
And being cruel still, my gunner I did kill,
And his precious blood did spill, as I sail'd.

My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd,
My mate was sick and died, which me much terrified,
When he call'd me to his bedside, as I sail'd.

And unto me he did say, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
And unto me he did say, as I sail'd,
And unto me he did say, take warning now by me,
There comes a reckoning day, you must die.

You cannot then withstand,, when you die, when you die,
You cannot the withstand, when you die,
You cannot then withstand the judgment of God's hand,
But bound then in iron bands you must die.

I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd,
I was sick and nigh to death, and I vow'd at every breath,
To walk in wisdom's ways, as I sail'd.

I thought I was undone, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I thought I was undone, as I sail'd,
I thought I was undone and my wicked glass had run,
But health did soon return, as I sail'd.

My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd,
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot,
Damnation's my just lot, as I sail'd.

I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd,
I steer'd from sound to sound and many ships I found
And most of them I burned, as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships from France, to them I did advance,
And took them all by chance, as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of Spain, I fired on them amain,
Till most of them were slain, as I sail'd.

I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold and dollars manifold,
With riches uncontrolled, as I sail'd.

Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I saw and brave men they were,
Ah! they were too much for me, as I sail'd.

Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last, and into prison cast
And sentence being passed, I must die.

Farewell the raging main, I must die, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, to Turkey, France, and Spain,
I ne'er shall see you again, I must die.

To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die, and must die,
To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die,
To Newgate now I'm cast, with a sad and heavy heart,
To receive my just desert, I must die.

To Execution Dock I must go, I must go,
To Execution Dock I must go,
To Execution Dock will many thousand flock,
But I must bear the shock, I must die.

Come all you young and old, see me die, see me die,
Come all you young and old, see me die,
Come all you young and old, you're welcome to my gold,
For by it I've lost my soul, and must die.

Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, and shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Ebenezer

Traditional
I shipped on board of the Ebenezer,
Every day 'twas scrub and grease her,
Holy stone her and scrape her down,
And if we growl they blow us down.

Get along boys, get along do,
Handy me boys, so handy.
Get along boys, get along do,
Handy me boys, so handy.

The old man was a drunken geezer,
He could not sail the Ebenezer.
Learned his trade on a Chinese junk,
Spent most time down in his bunk.

The first mate's name was Dickie Green, sir,
The cruelest brute that you've ever seen, sir,
Walking the deck with a bucko roll,
May the sharks have his body and the devil have his soul.

Boston Buck was the second greaser,
He used to ship in Lime juice ships sir,
The limey packets they got too hot,
He cursed them all and he jumped the lot.

We sailed away before a breezer,
Bound away for Valparaiser,
Round Cape Horn we lost her sticks,
The molly-hawks picked up the bits.

The Ebenezer was so old,
She knew Columbus as a boy,
It was pump her bullies night and day,
To help her get across Liverpool Bay.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Greenland Fishery

Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord
'Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty-three
And of June the thirteenth day,
That our gallant ship her anchor weighed,
And for Greenland bore away, brave boys,
And for Greenland bore away.

The lookout in the crosstrees stood,
With his spyglass in his hand.
"There's a whale, there's a whale, there's a whalefish," he cried,
"And she blows at every span, brave boys,
And she blows at every span."

The captain stood on the quarter-deck,
And a fine little man was he.
"Overhaul! Overhaul! Let your davit-tackles fall,
And launch your boats for sea, brave boys,
And launch your boats for sea."

Now the boats were launched and the men aboard,
And the whale was in full view;
Resolv-ed was each seaman bold
To steer where the whalefish blew, brave boys,
To steer where the whalefish blew.

We struck that whale, the line paid out,
But she gave a flourish with her tail;
The boat capsized and four men were drowned,
And we never caught that whale, brave boys,
And we never caught that whale.

"To lose the whale," our captain said,
"It grieves my heart full sore;
But oh! to lose four gallant men,
It grieves me ten times more, brave boys,
It grieves me ten times more."

"The winter star doth now appear,
So boys, we'll anchor weigh;
It's time to leave this cold country,
And homeward bear way, brave boys,
And homeward bear away."

Oh, Greenland is a ful place,
A land that's never green,
Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow,
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys,
And the daylight's seldom seen.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Heart of Oak

David Garrick, 1759
Come cheer up my lads, it's to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honor we call you, as free men, not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves.

Heart of oak are our ships,
Heart of oak are our men.
We always are ready,
Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer, again and again.

Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer,
To climates unknown did courageously steer.
Through oceans to deserts, for freedom they came,
And dying, bequeathed us their freedom and fame.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

High Barbary

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
There were two lofty ships from old England came,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
One was the Prince of Luther, and the other Prince of Wales,
Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

"Aloft there, aloft!" our jolly boatswain cries,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"Look ahead, look astern, look aweather and alee,
Look along down the coast of the High Barbaree."

There's nought upon the stern, there's nought upon the lee,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
But there's a lofty ship to windward, and she's sailing fast and free,
Sailing down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

"Oh, hail her, Oh, hail her," our gallant captain cried,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"Are you a man-o'-war or a privateer," said he,
"Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree."

"Oh, I am not a man-o'-war nor privateer," said he,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"But I'm a salt-sea pirate a-looking for my fee,
"Cruising down the coast of the High Barbaree."

Oh, 'twas broadside to broadside a long time we lay,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Until the Prince of Luther shot the pirate's masts away,
Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

"Oh, quarter, Oh, quarter," those pirates then did cry,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
But the quarter that we gave them - we sunk them in the sea,
Coming down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Homeward Bound
a.,k.a. Good-Bye, Fare You Well

The homeward-bound shanty "Good-bye, Fare You Well" was sung at the capstan. Stan Hugill calls it "the most popular homeward-bound shanty of them all."
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Oh, fare you well, I wish you well!
Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well!
Oh, fare you well, my bonny young lassies,
Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

Oh, don't you hear our old man say
Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well!
We're homeward bound this very day?
Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

We're homeward bound, and I hear the sound,
Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well!
So heave the capstan and make it spin round.
Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

Our anchor's aweigh and our sails they are set,
Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well!
And the gels we are leaving we leave with regret.
Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

She's a flash clipper packet and bound for to go;
Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well!
With the gels on the tow-rope she cannot say no.
Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Lass of Mohea

Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord
As I walked out one morning in May,
For my recreation my thoughts far away,
Whilst I lay me down at full length on the grass,
Oh, who should come near but a fair Indian lass.

She sat down by my side and gently pressed my hand
Saying "You are a stranger in this our distant land.
Then come to the parson's and there marry me,
And I'll teach you the language of the little Mohea."

Then sun was fast rising from off the salt sea
When I wandered off with this lass of Mohea.
Together we wandered, together we roved,
Till we came to her hut in the coconut grove.

This pretty Kanaka was modest and kind,
She acted her part with a virtuous mind,
And being a stranger far away from my home,
I'll never forget her wherever I roam.

'Twas early one morning, one morning in May,
That to this fair maiden these words I did say:
"I'm going to leave you, so farewell, my dear,
My ship's sails are loosed and home I must steer."

Oh, the last time I saw her 'twas down on the strand,
And as our boat passed by her, she waved her hand,
Saying "When you get back to the ones that you love
Pray think of the lass in the coconut grove."

Since then I'm safe landed on my own native shore,
And my friends and relations flock round me once more
And though many I look at, not one can I see
That I can compare with the lass of Mohea.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Little Fishes

Lyrics from `Shipshape & Bristol Fashion' Sea Songs by Erik Ilott
I'm singing this song to the one I love best,
And her picture is tattooed all over my chest.

Hay ho little fishes, don't cry, don't cry.
Hay ho little fishes, don't cry, don't cry.

I've a picture of her mother also on my back,
And on my stomach flies the Union Jack

There are fish in the sea there's no doubt about it,
Just as fine as the ones that ever came out of it.

Little fish when he's caught he fights like a bull whale,
That thrashes the water with his mighty tail.

The ship's underway and the weather is fine.
The skipper's down aft hanging out other lines.

The crew are asleep and the ocean's at rest,
And I'm singing this song to the one I love best.