1. |
The Wellerman
02:09
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There was a ship that put to sea,
And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down,
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow.
Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the bletherin's done,
We'll take our leave and go.
She had not been two weeks from shore
When down on her a right whale bore.
The captain called all hands and swore
He'd take that whale in tow.
No line was cut, no whale was freed;
The Captain's mind was not of greed,
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;
She took the ship in tow.
For forty days, or even more,
The line went slack, then tight once more.
All boats were lost (there were only four)
But still the whale did go.
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on;
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone.
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all.
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2. |
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This dirty town has been my home since last time I was sailing
But I'll not stay another day, I'd sooner be out whaling
Oh Mighty Zeus, send down a goose
With wings as sharp as razors
To cut the throats of them there blokes
Who sells bad beer to sailors
Paid off me score and them ashore, me money soon was flying
With Judy Lee upon my knee in my ear a lying
With my newfound friends, my money spent just as fast as winking
But when I make to clean the slate, the landlord says, "KEEP DRINKING"
With me money gone and clothes in pawn and Judy set for leaving
Six months of pay gone in three days, but Judy isn't grieving
When the crimp comes round, I'll take his pound
and his hand I'll be shaking
Tomorrow morn sail for the Horn just as dawn is breaking
For one last trip from port I'll ship but next time back I'm swearing
I'll settle down in my hometown, no more ill go seafaring
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3. |
Admiral Benbow
02:21
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Come all you seamen bold, and draw near, and draw near.
Come all you seamen bold, and draw near,
It's of an admiral's fame, and Benbow was his name,
How he fought all on the main you shall hear, you shall hear.
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight,
Brave Benbow he set sail in a fine and pleasant gale,
But his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright.
Said Kirby unto Wade "We shall run, we shall run!
Said Kirby unto Wade "We shall run
For I value not disgrace, nor the losing of my face,
But the enemy I'll no face with their guns, with their guns."
Benbow fought the French, fought the French, fought the French
Benbow fought the French, fought the French
Oh Benbow fought them down 'til the blood came trickling down
'Til the blood came trickling down where they lay, where they lay.
Benbow lost his legs by chain shot, by chain shot.
Benbow lost his legs by chain shot
"Let a cradle now in haste on the quarterdeck be placed,
That the enemy I may face 'til I die, 'til I die."
The surgeon dressed his wounds, Benbow cried, Benbow cried
The surgeon dressed his wounds, Benbow cried
"Let us tack about once more, we will drive them to the shore,
For the enemy I don’t care for their noise, for their noise."
And there bold Benbow lay crying out, crying out:
And there bold Benbow lay crying out
Brave Benbow lost his legs, and on his stumps he begged,
"Fight on my English lads, 'tis our lot, 'tis our lot."
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight.
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight
Brave Benbow he set sail in a fine and pleasant gale,
But his captains all turned tail in a fright, in a fright.
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4. |
Banks of Newfoundland
02:26
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Me bully boys o' Liverpool, I'll have you to beware,
When ye sail in the, packet ships, no dungaree jumpers wear;
But have a big monkey jacket all ready to your hand,
For there blows some cold nor'westers on the Banks of Newfoundland!
We'll scrape her and we'll scrub her
With holystone and sand,
And we’ll think of them cold nor'westers
On the Banks of Newfoundland.
There was Jack Lynch from Ballynahinch, Mac Murphy and some more,
I tell ye where, they suffered like hell on the way to Baltimore;
They pawned their gear in Liverpool and they sailed as they did stand,
And there blows some cold nor'westers on the Banks of Newfoundland.
The mate he stood on the fo'c'sle head, and loudly he did roar:
“Now rattle her in, my lucky lads! We're bound for America's shore!
Go wash the mud off that dead-man's face and heave to beat the band,
For there blows some cold nor'westers on the Banks of Newfoundland!”
And now we're off the Hook, me boys, and the land is white with snow,
But soon we'll see the pay table and have the night below;
And on the docks, come down in flocks, them pretty girls will say,
Saying, “It's snugger with me than out to sea on the Banks of Newfoundland.”
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5. |
Spanish Ladies
02:39
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Farewell and adieu, to you Spanish ladies
Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain
For we've received orders to sail for old England
And I hope in a short while we'll see you again
We'll rant and we'll roar like true roving sailors
We'll rant and we'll roar the rest of our lives
We'll drink and be merry and drown melancholy
Here's a health to our company of sweethearts and wives
We hove our ship to with the wind at south-west, boys
Hove our ship to, to strike soundings clear
We let go our topsail and bore right away, boys
Straight up the Channel our course we did steer
The first land we made was called the Deadman
Ramshead off Plymouth, off Portsmouth, the Wight
We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover
Then bore away for the South Foreland Light
Then let every man drink up his full bumper
Let every man drink up his full glass
We will be jolly and drown melancholy
And drink a good health to each sweetheart and lass
For we may never see those fair ladies again
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6. |
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One morning a young man was walking his way,
When he saw a fair maid come along the highway.
He said to this fair maid, "If you do not mind,
I will talk with you On this fine morning"
The young maid she told a sorrowful tale,
How the landlord was cruel and forced her away
And she had just left on that very same day
Then the young man he turned and he told her
"Won't you come with me now?
And I will look out for you always.
The young man he stood and he said to the maid
He said, "Come with me now and we'll plunder the main"
For he had a plan that the two could be free
To seek out their fortunes together.
They boarded a ship that would take them away
And they plundered the sea as the ship it did sway.
As she manned the cannon and manned the helm
they had felt that their troubles were over.
The two sailed so far with good fortune their goal
And in no time at all had gold in great store
They gathered their crew but they knew it wouldn't last.
They would treasure the time of their freedom
When one morning that young man was walking his way
When he saw the kings soldiers come along the highway.
He cried to them, “You may hang me on high
But the fair maid will continue our fortune”
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7. |
Santiana
02:25
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Haulin' down the river from Liverpool
Haul away Santy Anno
Around Cape Horn to Frisco Bay
Along the plains of mexico
Oh Santiana made his name
Away Santianna
At Molly Del Ray he gained his fame
Along the plains of Mexico
Santiana fought where he stands,
Away Santiana,
10,000 men with his own two hands
Along the plains of Mexico
The mighty army that he led
Away Santiana,
He fed them whiskey instead of bread
Along the plains of Mexico
His army fought on sea and land.
Away Santianna
He didny lose a single man
All across the plains of Mexico
when soldiers fired on that man
Away Santiana
He took 100 bullets, and still he stands
Along the plains of Mexico
For Mexico, he won his war,
Away Santiana
Uncle Sam troubled them no more
Along the plains of Mexico
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8. |
Whup Jamboree
01:22
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The pilot he looks out ahead
With a hand in the chain, heaving on the lead,
And the old man roars to wake the dead,
Come and get yer oats, me son!
Whup Jamboree, whup jamboree, a long-tailed sailor come up behind
Whup Jamboree, whup jamboree, Jenny get yer oats, me son
Oh, now we pass the Lizard lights
And the Start, me boys, will heave in sight.
Soon we're abreast of the Isle of Wight,
Come and get yer oats, me son!
Oh when we get to the Blackwell Docks.
Them pretty young girls come down in flocks,
With their short-legged drawers and long-tailed frocks,
Come and get yer oats, me son!
Well now my lads be of good cheer
For the Irish Coast it does draw near
Soon we'll sight the old Cape Clear
Jinny get your ring-tail warm
Now, my lads, we're all in dock,
We'll be off to Dan Lowrie's on the Spot;
And now we'll have a good roundabout,
O Jenny get your oat-cake done.
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9. |
Barrett's Privateers
02:18
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Oh, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque came from the king
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
God damn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
On the 96th day we sailed again
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
Then at length we stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
But with one big ball, the Yank stove us in
So here I lay in my 23rd year
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
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10. |
Row Bullies Row
02:45
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From Liverpool to 'Frisco a-rovin' I went,
For to stay in that country it was my intent
But girls and strong whiskey like other damn fools,
I soon was transported back to Liverpool, singin'
Row, Row, bullies, row!
Them Liverpool girls they have got us in tow
I shipped on the Alaska lying out in the bay,
A-waitin' for a fair wind to get under way
The sailors all drunk and their backs is all sore
Their whiskeys all gone and they can't get no more, singin'
Along comes the mate with his jacket of blue
A-lookin' for work for the sailors to do
It's "Ship tops'l halyards!"he loudly does roar sayin'
"Lay aloft Paddy, ye son-o'-a-whore!", singin'
One night off Cape Horn we were crossing the line,
When I think on it now we sure had a good time
She was divin' bows under, her sailors all wet,
She was doin' twelve knots with her mainskys'l set, singin'
Here's a health to the Captain where'er he may be,
He's a friend to the sailor on land or on sea
But as for our first mate, that dirty ol' brute,
I hope when he dies straight to hell he'll sky hoot, singin'
And now we've arrived at the Bramleymoor Dock
Where the fair maids and lassies around us will flock
Me whiskey's all gone and me six quid advance
And I think it's high time for to git up and dance, singin'
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11. |
Go to Sea Once More
03:59
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When first I landed in Liverpool, I went upon a spree,
Me money alas I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be,
And when that me money was all gone, 'twas then I wanted more,
But a man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
Once more, boys, once more, go to sea once more,
For a man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
And as I walked the streets about, I met with the Rapper Brown,
I asked him for to take me on and he looked at me with a frown,
He said last time you was paid off with me you could no score,
But I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance and I'll send you to see once more.
Once more, boys, once more, send you to sea once more,
I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance and I'll send you to see once more.
He shipped me on board of a whaling ship bound for the arctic seas,
Where the cold winds blow through the frost and snow and Jamaica rum would freeze,
But worse to bear, I'd no hard weather gear for I'd spent all money on shore,
'Twas then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more.
No more, boys, no more, go to sea no more,
'Twas then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more.
So come all you bold seafaring men, who listen to me song,
When you come off them long trips, I'll have you not go wrong,
Take my advice, drink no strong drink, don't go sleeping with them whores,
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.
No more, boys, no more, go to sea no more,
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.
Once more, boys, once more, go to sea once more,
For a man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
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The Bog Standards Glasgow, UK
Glasgow buskers playing sea shanties and other fun folk music
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