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Halyard and Long-Drag Shanties
Alabama
Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord |
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When the Alabama's keel was laid,
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The Black Ball Line
As sung on the album Stan Hugill In Concert At Mystic Seaport
In the Black Ball Line Oh! I served me time,
Timme way-ay-ay a Rio!
In the Black Ball line, I served me time,
Hurrah for the Black Ball line!
Hey, Black Ball ships are good and true,
Timme way-ay-ay a Rio!
They are the ships for me and you.
Hurrah for the Black Ball line!
Hey! There was once a Black Ball ship,
That fourteen knots an hour could clip.
Oh! They carry you where the winds don't blow,
They carry you through the frost and snow.
Oh! If you want to join a good gold mine,
Just take a trip to Liverpool.
To Liverpool the packet school,
To Liverpool that Yankee school.
Hey! Yankee sailors you'll see there,
With red-topped boots and close-cropped hair.
Oh, in the Black Ball line, oh I served me time,
In the Black Ball line I wasted me prime. -
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Blow the Man Down
The Black Ballers were fast packet ships of the American Black Ball Line that sailed between New York and Liverpool in the second half of the nineteenth century. A sailor would arrive in America within four weeks of leaving England, and the return trip was usually less than three weeks. The faster the ship, the quicker a sailor would get paid, and the quicker he would be back to England, so naturally many sailors wanted to sail on the Black Ballers. Sea life in those days was ruled by the whip, and the captains of the Black Ballers had a reputation for being particularly brutal. When a sailor said that a man was blown down, it meant that he was knocked to the ground. Blow th' Man Down is a song about the unfair beating of sailors aboard these ships.
There seem to be three main variations on this popular chantey, all sung to the same melody. In the best known version, a flying-fish sailor, just in from Hong Kong, is mistaken by a policeman for a sailor off a Black Baller. Insulted, the sailor blows down the policeman, and subsequently goes to jail. According to Hugill, a flying-fish sailor was "a John who preferred the lands of the East and the warmth of the Trade Winds to the cold and misery of the Western Ocean."
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Lyrics from Songs of the American Sailormen
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Lyrics from Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
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Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships
In a more recent version, the singer meets a pretty young damsel on Paradise Street:
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Lyrics from Songs of the American Sailormen
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Lyrics from Capstan Bars
In the oldest version, the singer describes the merriment of all the unknowing non-sailors signing up on a Black Baller, and how harsh the conditions become as soon as the ship's "clear of the land."
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Lyrics from Capstan Bars
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Lyrics from Songs of the American Sailormen
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Lyrics from Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
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Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships -
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Cheer'ly Man
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Oh, Nancy Dawson, hio!
Cheer'ly man;
She's got a notion, hio,
Cheer'ly man!
For our old bosun, hio!
Cheer'ly man,
Oh! hauley, hio!
Cheer'ly man.
Oh, Betsy Baker, hio!
Cheer'ly man;
Lived in Long Acre, hio,
Cheer'ly man,
Married a Quaker, hio.
Cheer'ly man,
Oh! hauley, hio!
Cheer'ly man.
Oh, the ladies of the town, hio!
Cheer'ly man,
All soft as down, hio,
Cheer'ly man,
In their best gown, hio.
Cheer'ly man,
Oh! hauley, hio!
Cheer'ly man.
Oh, haughty cocks, hio,
Cheer'ly man,
Oh, split the blocks, hio,
Cheer'ly man,
Oh, stretch her luff, hio.
Cheer'ly man,
Oh! hauley, hio!
Cheer'ly man. -
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The Dead Horse Shanty
"...The custom of 'burying the dead horse,' observed in many sailing ships, has been rarely remarked upon. Except to the few seamen employed, it had little significance; certainly no geographical or classical significance. It was but the occasion on which the first month's sea service had been completed, and the seaman, having dissipated his advance of one month's pay, felt himself free of debt. His outlook on the matter was artless. His creditor, tailor or boarding-house master, who had cashed his 'month's advance note,' was living in affluence on the proceeds while he, the seaman, was the 'horse' supporting the creditor in indulgence!
"...The crowd aboard would stage a celebration. A hatch or grating, on which a dummy figure clothed in discarded rages of attire was placed, would be dragged aft by all hands, to exaggerated lusty pulls - that moved the grating no more than an inch or two at each affected strain. On completion of the exploit, the grating and its burden hauled aft to the cabin door, it was expected that an earnest of further payment in the shape of a bottle or two would be tendered by the master. The figure was then unlashed, three cheers were given, and the dummy was cast overboard."
-David Bone, Capstan Bars
Lyrics from Capstan Bars, by David Bone
I say, old man, your horse is dead.
An' we say so, an' we hope so!
I say, old man, your horse is dead.
Oh! Poor old Man!
One month a rotten life we've led.
An' we say so, an' we hope so!
While you lay on y'er feather bed.
Oh! Poor old Man!
But now th' month is up, ol' turk.
An' we say so, an' we hope so!
Get up, ye swine, an' look for work.
Oh! Poor old Man!
Get up, ye swine, an' look for graft.
An' we say so, an' we hope so!
While we lays on an' yanks ye aft.
Oh! Poor old Man!
An' yanks ye aft t' th' cabin door.
An' we say so, an' we hope so!
An' hopes we'll ne-ver see ye more.
Oh! Poor old Man! -
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The Drunken Sailor
a.k.a. Early in the Morning
"... 'Early in the morning' must be of fairly recent date, for only in a comparatively large ship could there be room on deck for 'walking' a light sail aloft, the operation at which it was generally used. It was not a chanty often sung. I remember it chiefly as a showy accomplishment when all hands were employed on deck and there was an atmosphere of high good humour with us. Perhaps a day when, after long voyaging, we had taken a pilot aboard to con us into port and were wishful to impress him by our activity as real deep-watermen. We called it 'man-o'-war fashion' as we stamped along the deck, handing the halyard."
-David Bone, Capstan Bars
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Put him in th' long boat and make him bail her,
Put him in th' long boat and make him bail her,
Put him in th' long boat and make him bail her,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Throw him in th' bilge and make him drink it,
Throw him in th' bilge and make him drink it,
Throw him in th' bilge and make him drink it,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Put him in his cabin and stop his liquor,
Put him in his cabin and stop his liquor,
Put him in his cabin and stop his liquor,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Trice him up in a runnin' bowline,
Trice him up in a runnin' bowline,
Trice him up in a runnin' bowline,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Put 'em to bed with the Captain's daughter,
Put 'em to bed with the Captain's daughter,
Put 'em to bed with the Captain's daughter,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Stick him in the crow's nest till he's sober,
Stick him in the crow's nest till he's sober,
Stick him in the crow's nest till he's sober,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Hang him from the yard arm till he's sober,
Hang him from the yard arm till he's sober,
Hang him from the yard arm till he's sober,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
Throw him in the brig until he sobers,
Throw him in the brig until he sobers,
Throw him in the brig until he sobers,
Early in the morning.
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Way-a hay-a, up she rises,
Early in the morning.
That's what you do with a drunken sailor...
Early in the morning! -
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Hanging Johnny
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
They call me Hanging Johnny,
Away-i-oh;
They call me Hanghing Johnny,
So hang, boys, hang!
First I hung my mother,
Away-i-oh;
Then I hung my brother,
So hang, boys, hang!
Hang and haul together,
Away-i-oh;
Hang for better weather,
So hang, boys, hang! -
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Highland Laddie
Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill
There wuz a laddie come from Scotland,
Hieland laddie! Bonnie laddie!
Bonnie laddie from fair Scotland,
Me bonnie Hieland laddie O!
Way hay an' away we go!
Hieland laddie, bonnie laddie!
Way hay an' away we go!
Me bonnie Hieland laddie O!
Where have ye been all the day?
Hieland laddie! Bonnie laddie!
Where have ye been all the day?
Me bonnie Hieland laddie O!
Way hay an' away we go!
Hieland laddie, bonnie laddie!
Way hay an' away we go!
Me bonnie Hieland laddie O!
I did not see ye doon the glen,
I did not see ye near the burn.
'Nay, I wuz no doon the glen,
Nay I wuz no near the burn.
But I went to seek a road to fortune,
Thought I'd find a road to fortune.
I joined a ship an' went a-sailin',
Sailed far north an' went a-whalin'.
Shipped far north on a Dundee whaler,
Shipped far north as a whalin' sailor.
Bound away to Iceland cold,
Found much ice but not much gold.
Greenland is a cold country,
Not the place for you and me.
Thought it was a way to fortune,
But whalin's not the road to fortune.
Wisht meself in Bonnie Scotland,
Back agen in Bonnie Scotland.
We caught some whales an' boiled their blubber,
Oil an' fat choked every scupper.
We'll soon be homeward bound to Scotland,
Homeward bound to Bonnie Scotland.
I'll be glad when I get hame,
I'll give up this whalin' game.
Oh, Hieland Laddie went a-sailin',
Oh, Hieland Laddie went a-whalin'. -
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Huckleberry Hunting
Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord
Oh, the boys and the girls went a-huckleberry hunting,
To me way aye aye aye aye i yah!
Oh, the boys and the girls went a-huckleberry hunting,
And sing high-low, my Ranzo Ray!
Then a little girl ran off, and a boy he ran after,
To me way aye aye aye aye i yah!
And the little girl fell down and he saw her little garter.
And sing high-low, my Ranzo Ray!
He said, "I'll be your beau if you'll have me for a feller,"
To me way aye aye aye aye i yah!
But the little girl said "No, for my sweetheart's Johnny Miller."
And sing high-low, my Ranzo Ray! -
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A Long Time Ago
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
A long, long time, and a long time ago,
To me way hay, ohio;
A long, long time, and a long time ago,
A long time ago.
A smart Yankee packet lay out in the bay,
To me way hay, ohio;
A-waiting for a fair wind to get under way,
A long time ago.
With all her poor sailors all sick and all sore.
To me way hay, ohio;
For they'd drunk all their limejuice, and could get no more,
A long time ago.
With all her poor sailors all sick and all sad,
To me way hay, ohio;
For they'd drunk all the limejuice, and no more could be had,
A long time ago.
She was waiting for a fair wind to get under way,
To me way hay, ohio;
She was waiting for a fair wind to get under way,
A long time ago.
If she hasn't had a fair wind she's lying there still,
To me way hay, ohio;
If she hasn't had a fair wind she's lying there still,
A long time ago. -
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Reuben Ranzo
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
Oh, Reuben was a tailor,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
He shipped on board a whaler,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
But he could not do his duty,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
No, he could not do his duty,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
And they gave him nine and thirty,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
Yes, lashes nine and thirty,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
Now, the captain being a good man,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
He took him in the cabin,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
And he gave him wine and water,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
Rube kissed the captain's daughter,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
He taught him navigation,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
To fit him for his station,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
Now, Ranzo he's a sailor,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
He's chief mate of that whaler,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.
He's married the captain's daughter,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo;
And sails no more upon the water,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo. -
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Roll and Go
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
There was a ship - she sailed to Spain,
Oh, roll and go!
There was a ship came home again,
Oh, Tommy's on the topsail yard!
What d'ye think was in her hold?
Oh, roll and go!
There was diamonds, there was gold.
Oh, Tommy's on the topsail yard!
And what was in her lazareet?
Oh, roll and go!
Good split peas and bad bull meat.
Oh, Tommy's on the topsail yard!
Many a sailorman gets drowned,
Oh, roll and go!
Many a sailorman gets drowned.
Oh, Tommy's on the topsail yard! -
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Roll The Cotton Down
Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay
Come roll that cotton, roll it down,
Oh, roll the cotton down;
Come roll that cotton, roll it down.
Oh, roll the cotton down.
I thought I heard our old man say,
Oh, roll the cotton down;
He'd sail away to Mobile Bay
Oh, roll the cotton down.
A dollar a day is a white man's pay,
Oh, roll the cotton down;
Ten dollars a day is a black man's pay,
Oh, roll the cotton down.
Mobile Bay is no place for me,
Oh, roll the cotton down;
I'll sail away on some other sea,
Oh, roll the cotton down. -
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2014 is the Chinese Year of the Horse
February 17, 2026 at 12am to February 5, 2027 at 12am – where & how you choose
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Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries had its humble beginnings as an idea of a few artisans and craftsmen who enjoy performing with live steel fighting. As well as a patchwork quilt tent canvas. Most had prior military experience hence the name.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries.
Vendertainers that brought many things to a show and are know for helping out where ever they can.
As well as being a place where the older hand made items could be found made by them and enjoyed by all.
We expanded over the years to become well known at what we do. Now we represent over 100 artisans and craftsman that are well known in their venues and some just starting out. Some of their works have been premiered in TV, stage and movies on a regular basis.
Specializing in Medieval, Goth , Stage Film, BDFSM and Practitioner.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries a Dept of, Ask For IT was started by artists and former military veterans, and sword fighters, representing over 100 artisans, one who made his living traveling from fair to festival vending medieval wares. The majority of his customers are re-enactors, SCAdians and the like, looking to build their kit with period clothing, feast gear, adornments, etc.
Likewise, it is typical for these history-lovers to peruse the tent (aka mobile store front) and, upon finding something that pleases the eye, ask "Is this period?"
A deceitful query!! This is not a yes or no question. One must have a damn good understanding of European history (at least) from the fall of Rome to the mid-1600's to properly answer. Taking into account, also, the culture in which the querent is dressed is vitally important. You see, though it may be well within medieval period, it would be strange to see a Viking wearing a Caftan...or is it?
After a festival's time of answering weighty questions such as these, I'd sleep like a log! Only a mad man could possibly remember the place and time for each piece of kitchen ware, weaponry, cloth, and chain within a span of 1,000 years!! Surely there must be an easier way, a place where he could post all this knowledge...
Traveling Within The World is meant to be such a place. A place for all of these artists to keep in touch and directly interact with their fellow geeks and re-enactment hobbyists, their clientele.
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