Contents Welcome Sea Shanties The RNLI
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Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club Treverva Male Voice Choir Wareham Whalers
The Groups
The Programme
Aberfal Oggymen 7 Alan Whitbread 8 Bosun’s Call 9 Cadgwith Singers 11 Cape Cornwall Singers 12 Cape Horn Shanty Choir 13 Charlotte & Spong 14 Dutch Uncle 15 Falmouth Shout 17 Fisherman’s Friends 19 Flash Jack 20 Hobson’s Choice 21 Hughie Jones 22 La Bordee 23 Mariners Away 25 Many a Mickle 26 Naze Shanty Crew 27 Nordet 28 Rum & Shrub 29 Shake a Leg 31 Sheringham Shantymen 33 Scheepsfolk 34 Stamp & Go 35 Tavy Tars 36 37 Thraw’d Together Pirates of St Piran 39 The 5 Men Not called Matt 40 The Vagrants Crew 41
Friday Saturday Sunday Map of the venues
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43 44 & 45 46 47
The Songs A Sailor Ain’t a Sailor Ain’t a Sailor Any More All for Me Grog Bully In The Alley Drunken Sailor Hanging Johnny John Kanaka Leave Her Johnny A Drop of Nelson’s Blood New York Girls Bound for the Rio Grande Sammie’s Gone Away Sloop John B South Australia Spanish Ladies Trelawney
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Official Programme & Song Book Suggested donation £4.00 In Aid of the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland
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Welcome Welcome to the World renowned Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival 2012. We have a huge variety of groups performing this year: from here in Cornwall, from across the UK and also internationally. This year we dedicate the festival to that great character that was the Reverend Barrington Bennetts who opened, supported and participated at the Festival for many years. I would firstly like to say a big thank you to all the voluntary work of the Festival Committee throughout the winter starting in September to prepare everything that is required making this great event a success. I would also like to thank the performers, the venue providers, Skinner’s Brewery for their support as festival main sponsor and the group sponsors and advertisers. If you are purchasing the printed programme then you are helping the RNLI save lives at sea and around the coasts, an essential service for us here in Cornwall given our extensive and popular coastline. Falmouth Town Council has been very supportive over the years and this continues with annual grant funding and Town Management support. In addition for 2012 the Falmouth Business Improvement District has financed a brand new vibrant logo and the Committee has also created a brand new website: www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk. Please do visit it. I hope you enjoy the festival and please feel free to join in with the shanties, we have included some of the lyrics within this programme. Do pencil in the date for 2013 and we hope to see you then! Richard Gates Chairman, Falmouth International Sea Shanty Committee & Falmouth Town Manager
Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival 2013 14 - 16 June For sponsorship, advertisements & group enquiries: info@falmouthseashanty.co.uk
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Sea Shanties
The RNLI
Welcome!… to the town of Falmouth … to the Sea Shanty Festival and to the interesting and highly enjoyable world of Maritime Music.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is delighted to once again be chosen as the festival’s charity, especially in these challenging economic times. Despite the downturn we still need to continue funding a service that ensures volunteer lifeboat crews remain on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and lifeguards are on our main holiday beaches throughout the summer season. Our heartfelt thanks go to the organising committee, to event sponsors Skinner’s Brewery and to all those venues and sea shanty groups that make this event the exciting and free maritime experience that it is.
When many people hear the words “Sea Shanty” their thoughts turn to schooldays and the “What shall we do with a Drunken Sailor?” type of song of those days, but that is very far from the reality of Maritime Music. But first, there are one or two myths to dispel - the word shanty is really only applied to a song used for working, to help keep the all important rhythm when hauling on a rope or any task needing the men to work together as a team. Many of the other songs you will hear are “forebitters” sung when the crew were off duty and on deck - and I would like to say relaxing - but in truth there was very little relaxation time! It is also fun to note that this was the only way crew could complain - a verbal complaint would often result in a flogging - but when sung it could be explained away as referring to another ship! The other great myth to dispel is that shanties were sung in the Royal Navy. They never were!! all orders were relayed by the Bosun - using his whistle - which is the source of the superstition about whistling in a theatre (if you want to know the full story catch me over the weekend and I will tell you). But often the Navy crews were a rich source of forebitters - when thoughts turned to wives and girlfriends and anything other than the long stretches of ocean. Many songs about the sea and ships are still being written and others updated - the greatest collector of most of the traditional shanties was in fact the last working shantyman - Stan Hugill, who always said that “volume was far more important than tonal quality - because when your voice had to reach the top of the main mast only volume matters” So for those of you who say “I can’t sing” remember Stan’s words and join in the songs - it is great fun. This is just a very brief glimpse into Maritime Music but while you are here take the opportunity to ask any questions, the artists and support staff are always delighted to help. Please remember this festival is for you so while you are here support the town, whose council have been working for months to ensure that you have a really enjoyable stay. Support the artists who have travelled here to sing - so please repay their efforts by joining in the songs, but most of all support the RNLI whose work is so vital … if I may I will end this with a short story - some years ago at a similar festival in Ostend a man came up to The Chantey Cabin and emptied his pockets into the RNLI collecting box and turned to us and said “when you have been floating in the sea for many hours the lifeboat is a wonderful sight” - what more can we say?
In a moment of coincidental timing last year and no we didn’t set this up, the Falmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat launched to assist a 60 foot yacht that was dragging its anchor just off Custom’s House Quay and right in front of the crowd watching the festival’s opening ceremony. What better way to introduce what the charity does, than to strap a casualty vessel alongside the lifeboat and move it to the safety of a pontoon in the confined waters of the inner harbour, in a strong north westerly wind and in front of the very crowd who were supporting an event that in turn, supports us? In fact last year (2011) the Falmouth RNLI lifeboat station was the second busiest in Cornwall, with the volunteer crews launching 93 times and assisting 85 people. Across the south west lifeboats launched 1,586 times and rescued 1,571 people. But these figures don’t do justice to the extraordinary commitment of the many volunteers who ensure the RNLI is always available to help; last year our volunteer lifeboat crews in the south west spent 13,375 hours at sea rescuing people. They spent a further 24,006 hours at sea training. That’s a collective gift to the RNLI of 37,380 volunteer hours! Volunteers are the lifeblood of the RNLI, but so too are the public donations we rely on to continue our work so thank you for your support. RNLI lifeguards play a vital role in Falmouth too, patrolling Gyllyngvase Beach between May and September. Last year they dealt with 162 incidents and assisted 173 people. There are many RNLI connections within the festival not least of which is former RNLI Coxswain Alan Barnes who sings with the Falmouth Shout shanty group. Keep your eyes peeled and see just how many RNLI shirts and badges you notice as you rove around the various venues. The RNLI are proud to be at the heart of such an amazing event and say ‘merasta’ (thank you) to one and all! www.rnli.org.uk Tamsin Thomas RNLI Media Relations Manager (South West)
Jan Lardner The Chantey Cabin
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Aberfal Oggymen Aberfal Oggymen are a small group of Cornish lads who love a pint of Knocker, a large oggy and a proper singsong. The boys can often be found in the Chainlocker with pint in hand, continuing to uphold the singing traditions of the Western Man with their repertoire of old and new Cornish songs. Formed in Autumn 2010 we’re 11 ugly Cornishmen who regularly get together and irritate people with their pub singing... but generally manage to make a bit of money for charity...so far we’ve raised over £1500 for various groups and have probably drunk at least that in beer since then! We’d probably describe ourselves as Cornish Male Voice and we’re constantly looking to expand our repertoire without compromising our deep Cornish roots of which we’re all very proud. We do 3 part harmonies and have 3 Bass, 6 Tenors and 2 Top-Tenors.
www.oggymen.com
Aberfal Oggymen sponsored by The Chainlocker
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Alan Whitbread
Bosun’s Call
My first love is for traditional English song and music but my repertoire also includes some great songs from other traditions and more recent compositions. While I learnt my trade as an unaccompanied singer, I now also relish playing one of my English concertinas, both on its own and accompanying my singing.
The members of Bosun’s Call are normally Ken Stephens and Geoff Payne who hail from the South Coast of England. Unfortunately Geoff Payne is unable to attend the festival this year so Ken will be accompanied by Fiona Murfitt.
I enjoy the formality of singing at festivals & folk clubs and I am happy to go a long way for my singing. For instance, at Easter 2007, I sang at the Canterbury Folk Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand. Not only that, I relish the rough and tumble of pub singing, where I mostly perform well-known songs, such as Drunken Sailor, Leaving of Liverpool, Lincolnshire Poacher, My Grandfather’s Clock and You are My Sunshine. I have also played cabaret spots at formal dinners, singing such rousing songs as Jerusalem, Over the Hills and Far Away and Swing Low Sweet Chariot.
They have played in USA, Poland, Holland and Norway among other venues. In the UK they have been to Tall Ships Events, the National Maritime Museum and are regulars on HMS Warrior 1860. Ken’s song “Drowned horses of Homeland” was adopted for the Dutch Lifeboats 150 Anniversary year.
My particular joy is singing sea songs & shanties. This has led me to sing solo at numerous maritime/shanty festivals: eg at Falmouth, Harwich, Hull & Scarborough and at Enkhuizen in the Netherlands. In addition, I was a member of the nowdefunked Shellback Chorus and, along with three other shantymen, I have recently set up a new crew called Sharp As Razors (see sharpasrazors.com). Asa result, I have sung at folk & maritime festivals all over the UK, as far apart as Edinburgh, Lancaster, Ellesmere Port, Great Yarmouth, Upton-upon-Severn, Bude & Portsmouth, as well as in the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA. My interest in morris dancing has meant that I am a member of several teams. In recent years this has led me to play and sing at a number of large international festivals, including in China, Estonia, Inner Mongolia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and the USA. The English concertinas I play are my pride and joy, being a Lachenal extended treble Edeophone with metal ends dated c1920 and a Wheatstone Baritone with wooden ends dated c1903
www.alanwhitbread.co.uk 8
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Cadgwith Singers The Cadgwith Singers started many years ago in the Pub at Cadgwith with Buller and Hartley. The singing has changed over the years and many of the original singers are now gone, sadly missed, and their voices too. Their parts have been passed on to others who keep the traditional songs going. The songs are also changing a little. What has not changed is the Friday night gathering to sing -wellanything and everything really but always in the same unrehearsed and unique style. Long may this tradition continue.
These days the Cadgwith Singers are to be found singing in clubs, pubs, theatres and rugby matches all over Cornwall, wherever there is a convivial atmosphere and an audience that enjoys the unique, full blooded style of singing that never fails to please. Further afield there have been tours to various S.W. Counties, London, Ireland, France, and the Czech Republic. All this from a group of people who just get together for the pure enjoyment of singing, and as their leader David Muirhead has said “You must remember we’re not a choir, we’re just a group of friends who just get together to sing the songs we love to sing”.
Cadgwith Singers sponsored by The Quayside Inn
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Cape Cornwall Singers
Cape Horn Shanty Choir
Cape Cornwall singers were formed early in 1997 in an attempt to resurrect the singing tradition in the local pubs around St Just. A very familiar sound at weekends and especially during St Just Feast, singing in the town had declined in recent years due mainly to the closure of our local tin mines.
Cape Horn Shanty Choir was started in 1975 by retired sailors who had been around Cape Horn one or more times on merchant sailing vessels, and who were members of the Club of Cape Horners. However none of them are with us today.
The first of many public appearances came in April 1997, followed by a guest appearance at the Tall Ships concert at Falmouth Castle in July and the Cornish Gorsedd in September of 1998. Brief television appearances, the release of our first CD/cassette tape “Our Beautiful Land” followed by our 2nd CD “Men of Cornwall” in 2000 and the local radio exposure have kept Cape Singers in the public eye. Much of our success is due to the efforts of singer songwriter Harry Glasson who continues to write many of our most popular songs about Cornwall, our People and our traditions.
The choir now has 26 male members, and our home town is Bergen on the west coast of Norway. All members have a genuine interest in maritime history, and especially in the period of the white sails. Our aim is to revive and perform the songs from that period. The repertoire consists of traditional shanties and sea songs from the period of the sailing ships. The language is mainly English but we also have songs in Norwegian, Dutch and German language. Cape Horn Shanty Choir performs at marine events such as the Tall Ships Races, on shanty festivals in Norway and abroad, and on more local events in and around Bergen.
www.shantykoretcapehorn.no
The Singers have been on many “tours”, the first being the Isles of Scilly in April 1998. In October 1999, we sailed from Swansea to Cork and on to Listowel for 3 days, then on to Kenmare. On our return to Cornwall we had a request to sing at the Kernewek Lowender (world’s largest Cornish) festival in South Australia, so in May 2001 26 singers with their wives and friends set off for Australia. We followed up our 1999 Irish trip with a long weekend in Dublin in the autumn of 2002. 2003 saw the release of our third CD “Along the Shore” featuring, once again, a stunning title track by Harry Glasson. In the autumn of that year we travelled to Brittany to sample some French culture. 2004 saw a successful trip to Maesteg in South Wales in October.
www.capecornwallsingers.co.uk
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Charlotte & Spong
Dutch Uncle
Charlotte and Spong are a couple who sing sea shanties and songs of the sea in harmony, accompanied on the concertina, mandolin, guitar and fiddle. They have played at a variety of events on the Victorian warship ‘HMS Warrior’ in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and entertained tall ships enthusiasts with Victorian magic lantern shows at the National Maritime Museum. Nearer home in Brighton they have played for local fishermen at their ‘Blessing of the Nets’ Festival and for Brighton Children’s Festival at the Fishermen’s Museum.
Hans Weehuizen is a member of the group Dutch Courage but he will be performing alone in Falmouth this year as Dutch Uncle. The other members of Dutch Courage are unable to be at the festival this year due to work commitments.
Mostly Charlotte and Spong perform on dry land, but they have performed aboard a London barge and an RAF motor launch at the Harwich Shanty Festival. Richard once played for a ‘dance between decks aboard a Dutch Merchant Navy training vessel in Rotterdam Harbour. To his disappointment he found out the following morning that this impressive-looking 3-master has a concrete bottom and does not now leave the harbour.
Hans started performing sea songs and shanties 20 years ago in a big shanty choir called The Compagnie Zangers. He formed the group Dutch Courage 10 years later. During the last 5 years he has also been active in the group Enkhulzen 4 + 1.
Charlotte and Spong have played abroad in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Richard’s first Channel crossing was on the ‘Falaise’, which he was told saw service for the Dunkirk evacuations before becoming a ferry. As they are frequent cross-Channel ferry users and their luck may run out sometime Charlotte and Spong are fervent supporters of the RNLI.
http://www.musicfinders.co.uk/Sea/sea.htm
The Dutch and English songs will be varied with tunes on the one row squeezebox. Hans will also be running his workshop “How to Play the Bones”. The Bones are the oldest instruments that were used on board the Tall Ships during the singing. Generally they were made of whale bones. The workshops are great fun to do and very informative. Look for the time and place in the Festival programme.
www.howtoplaythebones.com
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www.dutchcourageseasongs.nl
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Falmouth Shout The founders and organisers of the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival since its inception in 2004 up to 2011, ‘The Shout’ is a group of friends who came together to enjoy singing shanties, sea songs and Cornish songs, and to revive the tradition of singing such songs in and around Falmouth. We also sing to raise funds for charities, notably the RNLI, which is the recipient of all the funds raised during the Festival.
The group’s name originates from the involvement of several members in Falmouth’s lifeboat station, notably that of our Skipper, Alan Barnes MBE, who was Coxswain for 14½ years. The name also reflects our early efforts! We are unusual in that around half our members are female, adding an extra dimension and harmonies to our repertoire. Current CD: ‘Falmouth for Orders’ (official CD, Falmouth Tall Ships Regatta 2008)
www.falmouthshout.com
Falmouth Shout sponsored by Blue Flame
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Fisherman’s Friends
Discovery Quay, Falmouth
The Fisherman’s Friends are shanty singers from Port Isaac on Cornwall’s rugged, panoramic north coast, who have delighted visitors and locals there for more than 15 years.
are delighted to sponsor
The Fisherman’s Friends Come  and  eat  at  the  stay cafĂŠ  for  a  wide  variety  of  choice  -  from  all  day  Full  English  Breakfasts  to  mouthwatering  Paninis  all  lovingly Â
made  with  the Â
 ingredients.
If  you  fancy  something  sweet,  why  not  try  one  of  our  Homemade  Cakes,  Â
Roskillys  Ice  Creams,  or  a
Traditional  Cornish  Cream  Tea. We  also  serve  alcoholic  and  soft  drinks, Â
hot  beverages.
Part  of
Cornish Cottage Holidays
Down on the harbour front of the tiny fishing village of Port Isaac, the authentic sound of the shanty can be heard loud and clear via the mighty, brawny chorale of The Fisherman’s Friends. At around eight in the evening during the summer months, tourists and locals gather to hear this ten-man group mesh their voices in an incredibly rousing and joyful set of shanties and Cornish folk songs. There’s no gang leader, no choir master and no holds barred in the singing of The Fisherman’s Friends. And fisherman’s friends they truly are – each and every member of this unique group are or have been fishermen, lifeboatmen and coastguards (as well as builders, artisans, hoteliers, and shop keepers) in Port Isaac. They’ve known each other since childhood and learnt their powerful brand of Cornish harmony singing at the local Methodist chapel – now the pottery of Fisherman’s Friend Billy Hawkwins (baritone), where the group get together with a crate of ale and a good deal of bonhomie to rehearse their repertoire and try out new songs.
www.portisaacsfishermansfriends.com
Fisherman’s Friends sponsored by Stay CafÊ 19
Flash Jack
Hobson’s Choice
Flash Jack is a new singing group formed by combining previous members of the late lamented shanty crew ‘Hanging Johnny’, with other well established singers & musicians.
Probably the most inland sea shanty group in Europe, Hobson’s Choice are delighted to make their maiden voyage to Falmouth for 2012.
We strive to keep alive the traditions established by ‘Hanging Johnny’ over many years, but perform a different balance of songs, with the emphasis on ballads as well as shanties. We hope that fans will be pleased that we have maintained the honourable tradition of comic songs & parodies established by our illustrious predecessors! Our repertoire now also includes songs from a woman’s perspective, sung by Rosie Longhurst, one of the very welcome, well established, singers who have joined us, & ballads from the land, reflecting the strong links which have always existed between songs from costal districts & the songs sung by the seafarers from those areas. We now have other musicians & singers available to ‘the company’’ & this gives us the flexibility to fit the number of performers to the needs of each gig, ranging from a small club or private event, to the large stage of a festival or theatre.
www.flash.englishfolkmusic.com
Based in rural Herefordshire, the ‘buoys’ started off as a walking group but turned to pub singing when the nights got too dark! Sponsored by Shropshire brewery Hobson’s, the lads have been singing mainly in pubs and village halls on a Thursday night. Raising over £10,000 for charities in the three seasons they have been singing locally, it’s time to stand up and be counted in Falmouth! Bringing rollicking shanties, stunning ballads and humour by the bucketful, the ‘new buoys on the block’ are a gig not to be missed! Bearing in mind that the large majority of the group had never sung outside of the bathroom until three years ago, this is an opportunity to witness a transformation of hidden talent. Come on and join the party. You know it makes sense!
www.hobsonsbrewery.co.uk
HOBSONS’ CHOICE Putting some welly into Shanty!
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Hughie Jones
La Bordée
Hughie Jones was born in Liverpool in July 1936 to a music teacher mother and father whose career ranged from cowboy to joiner to professional tango dancer to professional snooker player and then finally a joiner again.
La Bordée are a group of 30 singers and 5 musicians with a passion for songs of the sea, a tribute to the maritime world surrounding them. They performed their first concert in 1998 and quickly evolved to become the excellent group playing today. They are from the small harbour of Trévignon near Trégunc, a charming little town in Southern Brittany between Concarneau and Pont-Aven.
Hughie plays guitar, banjo, and ukulele and was taught harmonica by the legendary blues man Sonny Terry. He is married to Christine, a banjo player, and has a grown up daughter and son who is also a musician. Hughie was a member of The Spinners folk group until their disbandment at the end of 1988. The band made over 30 LP’s and dozens of compilations were produced on the Fontana, Phillips, and EMI labels. Many of these are now available on CD. He has produced a book of his songs, yarns and remembrances called Hughie’s Ditty Bag. These songs can be heard on the companion CD of the same name, produced by Fellside Recordings. It features friends, including ‘Count’ John McCormick on bass. The CD Luv Stuff followed and includes his son Dan helping out on a selection of traditional love songs. Hughie’s Fellside partnership continued with Seascape, a 75 minute collection of pure sea songs backed by old musical friends. A recital at New York’s Snug Harbor was recorded to become the fourth solo CD. His latest CD Liverpool Connexions features mostly maritime works and a fair sprinkling of Liverpool characters too.
In their 12 years of existence they have gathered a a repertoire of over 90 songs. They sing classic songs of the sea including traditional English and French songs, working songs and songs of dance as well as several songs written by members of the group. They have played concerts throughout France as well as performing in international festivals in Brittany and Ireland. La Bordée have also regularly supported to charitable organisations such as SNSM (the French equivalent of the RNLI), the Red Cross and the League against Cancer. Every year they organise meetings with other choirs from different parts of France and up to now have recorded 4 CD’s.
www.labordee.fr
His work now centres particularly on sea song and this has given him a platform at home and abroad. However his repertoire of land based songs gained through forty years professional performance guarantees good entertainment for any audience.
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Mariners Away Mariners Away were formed in November 2007 with their first performance early in 2008 for a Sail Cruising Association meeting at the Kings Arms,South Zeal, Devon.
Situated at the mid point on the Mariners Way which runs from Bideford to Dartmouth, the Kings Arms was one of the hostelries offering hospitality to sailors using this well known and documented coast to coast path. Mariners Away sing shanties and songs of the sea derived from Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and Fishing traditions. They meet every Thursday, alternate weeks, at their home port the Kings Arms, South Zeal and sing at ‘away ports’ on the other Thursdays and some weekends. Since the 2011 Falmouth Festival they have sung again in south Brittany, the Dartmouth Shanty Festival and for the summer ball at RNAS Culdrose. They also appeared at the Baring Gould Folk Festival and the Dartmoor Folk Festival when the sang with Mick Groves of Spinners fame and also performed live on Radio Devon. Previously the group also recorded shanties and performed on Richard Hawley’s BBC Radio 2 four programme series entitled ‘The Ocean’. Later this year Mariners Away will perform at the Port Magee Shanty Festival in Co. Kerry, Ireland.
www.marinersaway.org.uk
Mariners Away sponsored by Five Degrees West 25
Many a Mickle
Naze Shanty Crew
When four close friends sing together, something special happens. We are four singers - two English men and two Scots women - who live in Brittany, France. In early 2010 we joined together to form Many a Mickle and between us we have more than 90 years of singing traditional songs.
The Naze Shanty Crew was formed in November 2000 as the Royal Marine Shanty Crew, after the landlord and locals of the Royal Marine public house in Walton-on-the-Naze were impressed by the “Shantymen Kap Hoorn” who appeared at the Walton Folk Festival in September 2000. From this beginning they have performed at various festivals and events both in England and Holland.
We sing acapella in close harmony. That is, we use no accompaniment, but just the power and variety of our four voices singing in harmonies that may surprise you. We sing the songs of the sea - not just the shanties that were used to set the rhythm of work aboard, but also the forebitters, those songs sung by sailors in their off-watch time. Songs of lost love, of complaint about life on board, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes bitingly cynical. And we also sing the songs of those left on shore, songs of fear for those gone away, songs of celebration for a naval victory, songs of love, life and loss. And we also sing French songs, from Brittany, Quebec, Louisana… In 2011 Many a Mickle recorded their first CD, “What Fortunes Guide a Sailor?” You can find the CD on itunes, or listen to samples on the Many a Mickle website at manyamickle.com.
www.manyamickle.com
In 2006, the landlord and their founding member sold the Royal Marine, and the new landlord did not want to be associated with them! With this change, the name was changed to the Naze Shanty Crew, taking the name from the famous “Naze” part of Walton-on-the-Naze. The Naze Shanty Crew is a mixed group of men and women, all from the Tendring Peninsular in Essex. The songs are mostly traditional shanties and sea songs, although folk and other types of song have been known to creep in on occasions.
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Nordet
Rum & Shrub
The creation of the group Nordet starts in the beginning of the 1990s, the crew was formed of 3 Lorient sailors. This group evolved in the course of the stopovers and sea fortunes to arrive at the ideal crew, marrying traditional Breton, “a cappella” songs, working songs of diverse horizons of the Atlantic coast, to the North of Scotland, without forgetting the masterful traditional or contemporary compositions. The Nordet’s sailors are neither novices in the maritime domain, nor in the musical domain; three of them work in the shipbuilding and the fourth is stringed-instrument maker. They all play traditional instruments with great panache without forgetting their voices which they use with virtuosity. They have been singing since their adolescence in all the festivals along the coast of Brittany and display a mixture of humour and reverence.
We are a group of traditional singers from Cornwall renowned for lively singing of shanties, songs of the sea and a wide range of folk songs. We have been singing together for over 21 years and are equally at home on a concert stage, on a boat or quay, or in a bar- we just like singing so listen out for us, join in and enjoy.
Nordet has performed in many European venues and festivals, most recently in Ireland. The group officially represented France several times, notably in The Netherlands during the International Shanty Festival for the 400th anniversary of the Dutch-India Company. Their talent exposes itself everywhere you wish it and they invite you to come to share their enthusiasm and use their breath to animate your shows. Nordet performed at last year’s Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival
http://nordet56.free.fr
The name Rum and Shrub is taken from one of Cornwall’s best kept secrets and is our favourite throat ‘medicine’ – Shrub being an alcoholic cordial reputed to have been enjoyed by smugglers to disguise the salty taste of their contraband - Rum being rum. It is taken 50:50 in careful quantities to ensure clarity of voice - if not head! We have performed at many events in Wales, Brittany, Germany and the USA such as: Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Brest, Vegesack, New York and Mystic Seaport. We also have sung at many major English festivals as well as appearing at just about every festival and show in Cornwall, including Falmouth’s very own International Sea Shanty Festival where we were delighted to be invited to open the very first festival by singing on the foredeck of the Falmouth Lifeboat which was moored in Custom House Quay Basin – an amazing evening. So, enjoy the wide variety of singing styles and material and remember – we’re all here to support our lifeboats so please give generously!
www.rumandshrub.co.uk
Rum & Shrub sponsored by Provedore Tapas Bar www.provedore.co.uk 28
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Shake a Leg Maritime songs and stories, humour and harmony are the key to a performance by “Shake a Leg”. Formed in 2007 to bring together, from across the West Country, eight great singers who all share a love of songs-of-the-sea coupled with their love of entertaining. Although shanties and work-songs form a strong part of their repertoire Shake a Leg are a refreshing change from other shanty sides by being equally split with the women’s voices equalling the men’s. Entertainment and variety are guaranteed with contemporary and musical-hall songs rubbing alongside the more traditional material. Solo performers in their own right their strong lead voices set against chilling harmonies and unusual arrangements led an member of the audience at Falmouth Shanty Festival to say, “You are different from the other groups, you make the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up.” Although they sing many songs unaccompanied a Shake-a-Leg performance includes instruments as diverse as Hurdy Gurdy, flute, banjo, guitar, violin, mandolin, whistle, harmonica, viola and bodhran! If you fancy some of that, and want to know where their name comes from - you will just have to hear them to find out!
Shake a Leg sponsored by The Front
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Sheringham Shantymen The Sheringham Shantymen support the RNLI in a myriad of ways as well as performing at lifeboat stations around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Shantymen purchased a ‘D’ Class Lifeboat for the RNLI at Wicklow in 2007 named ‘The Sheringham Shantymen’. They have travelled widely throughout the UK; France, Germany, Virginia USA, Ireland & Holland. They have entertained at Maritime Festivals at Bristol, Lincoln, Ipswich, Southampton and Portsmouth as well as the International Boat Show at Earl’s Court, ‘The Big Breakfast Show’, Children in Need, & ‘Blue Peter’ for which they have ‘the badge’. The Shantymen were invited to sing on the BBC’s the One Show in 2010 and Ade In Britain in 2011. Since 1990 the group has completed over 1,000 public performances, made three videos and recorded 5 CD’s, the sales of which have enabled them to donate thousands of pounds each year split between the RNLI and local charities. Perhaps the most memorable experience of 2011 was performing again at the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival. The Shantymen have attended this festival since its inception and witnessed the organisers develop perhaps the best shanty festival in the country.
www.shantymen.com
Sheringham Shantymen sponsored by The Falmouth Hotel
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Scheepsfolk
Stamp & Go
Scheepsfolk are a maritime folk group originally from North Holland, Den Helder aan Zee, can often be found playing and singing on traditional wooden sailing ships or on the harbor wall. The name Scheepsfolk means shipcrew, it is an ancient Dutch word.
Stamp and go are a group of six singers from Perranporth and Bolingey in Cornwall who got together about four years ago after finding a shared love of singing in harmony and in pubs! They sing songs, mostly with a maritime or Cornish theme including several original numbers about their local area.
The group is made up of four enthusiastic crewmembers, all of who began their journey over the world’s great oceans in the straits of Texel, the most southerly island off the north coast of Holland. Our repertoire is a mixture of lively sea songs and beautiful ballads as well. Accordion, guitar, banjo, bodhran, wooden percussion, harmonica and bones accompany our authentic songs. We regularly perform at maritime festivals and nautical events in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and other European venues.
www.scheepsfolk.nl
Stamp and Go on the preserved lifeboat Thomas McCunn at the Longhope Lifeboat Museum on Hoy in Orkney
Stamp and go have become regulars at festivals and events in the south west and have travelled as far afield as Lorient in Brittany and the Orkney Isles to perform their music. They have made many friends with their lively and enthusiastic singing and have just completed their second CD Sail Away which was released in February.
www.stamp-and-go.co.uk
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Tavy Tars
Thraw’d Together
The Tavy Tars are a group of singers and musicians who enjoy performing sea shanties, other traditional music, and also some contemporary songs. They all live in and around Bere Ferrers, a small village on the banks of the River Tavy in West Devon.
Thraw’d Together is a group of eight men with a passion for singing, with a gentle blend of voices throwing out close harmonies we sing a variation of songs from sea shanties, traditional and local songs to our own material.
The Tars formed in 2003 to sing a shanty or two for the newly established Tamar and Tavy Gig Club. From that event they continued to build their repertoire, performing regularly in West Devon and also across the South West in festivals including Dartmouth, Exmouth and Bristol. Particular high spots in 2011 were singing on the schooner Kathleen and May, and the trading ketch Irene.
To keep our close harmonies we can be found practicing at Porkellis most Thursdays. We have sung with several local groups including Cape Singers, Fisherman’s Friends, Rum and Shrub and a local brass band, we are quite at home singing in a pub, on a stage or on the quay side, and can usually be found with a glass in our hand to help the vocal chords. We like to raise money for a different local charity each year and support other charities with our singing.
The Tars repertoire includes traditional shanties plus a variety of songs by Show of Hands, Stan Rogers, Gordan Lightfoot, Ewan McColl and others, mostly with a sea theme. We have strong links with the RNLI, regularly performing at their events in Plymouth, and have enjoyed fundraising for them at the Falmouth Shanty Festival for the last 5 years.
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www.tavytars.co.uk
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The Pirates of St Piran We are an 18th-century pirate re-enactment group based in and around St. Austell. We perform dramatic presentations, sword-fighting displays and storytelling, plus make educational school visits and sing an impressive repertoire of sea shanties. You will find us most Sundays in summer on the tall ships in Charlestown, Cornwall (courtesy of Square Sail Shipyard Ltd) and at many other pirate-themed events throughout the year, all over the county and beyond. As well as having fun, we fundraise for nominated charities. The pirates have gathered and donated thousands of pounds since the group formed four years ago. This year, we are supporting the RNLI, Children’s Hospice Southwest and the Cornwall Air Ambulance Service. Photograph by Matthew Fox
In true piratical style we beg, borrow and steal traditional songs and shanties, bend them to suit our purposes and perform them in our own piratical manner. We also sing our own original shanties. This is our third visit to the Falmouth International Shanty Festival, one of our favourite weekends of the year. We look forward to sharing a song and a beer with friends old and new while enjoying some tasty fish and chips. To find out more, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us at www.piratesofstpiran.co.uk to read the pirate characters’ stories, see us in action and buy our music. And if you are ready to unleash your inner pirate, email info@piratesofstpiran.co.uk. Arrr! **STOP PRESS** Our new (and first double) CD is available NOW from www.piratesofstpiran.co.uk
The Pirates of St Piran sponsored by The Harbour Lights
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The 5 Men Not called Matt
The Vagrants Crew
We are the 5 men and are long term friends who have sung and performed independently and together in folk clubs, festivals and charity events for many years. We all live around the Northampton & Milton Keynes district. We are folk club and event organisers, singers, musicians, song writers and a published poet.
Recruited on the high seas nearly 30 years ago, Vagrants Crew has become a fixture at folk and maritime festivals near and far.
Our repertoire is varied; we do traditional and modern materials with a strong emphasis on fun and harmony. We are equally at home singing sea shanties, music hall material, songs of toil and battles won and lost! Not forgetting songs of love old and new. We are power singers who can turn up the volume when needed or be a bit on the gentle, sentimental side now and again. From left to right (drawing above) we are: Tim Hague, Brian Peckett, Andy Powell, Steve Holden and John New. When one of us is unavailable either Ivor Sayer or Dan Hynds step in. Both are very accomplished singers in their own right and bring us back up to volume. We are a pretty scattered bunch hailing originally from the North East, Kent, Northamptonshire & Buckinghamshire. We love running sing arounds at events and are very happy to get involved, if needed. If you are looking for some good old fashioned fun and entertainment, you could do worse than give us a try.
Mainly made up of family members the ‘Crew’ has changed and grown over the years and Pete (The Captain) is now the only remaining original member. Locally, the band is well known for its fund-raising work for charity, especially the RNLI, and it is the official shanty group to the Angle Lifeboat crew. CD’s: Up from the Deep Old Voyages New Ways New CD Half & Aft available late April. The Vagrants Crew are: Peter Pearce…….......... Guitar, melodeon, vocals Val Canton…….............. Tambourine, vocals Tonie Jones……............ Melodeon, vocals Phil White………........... Percussion, vocals Phil Warren (Wilf)…....... Percussion, spoonerisms, vocals Phil Jones………........... Whistles, Didgeridoo, vocals Mike Cook………........... Melodeon, vocals Colin Gregory……......... Mandolin, fiddle, flute, vocals
www.vagrantscrew.com
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Festival Programme
Friday 15 June
Customs House Quay 6.30pm - 7pm Opening Ceremony - all groups Falmouth Shout 7pm - 8pm 8pm - 9pm Scheepsfolk 9pm - 10pm Hughie Jones 10pm - 11pm Shake a Leg Events Square 7pm - 8pm Capehorn Shanty Choir 8pm - 9pm The Pirates of St Piran Shipwrights (Chainlocker) 7pm - 8pm Nordet 8pm - 9pm Naze Shanty Crew 9pm - 10pm Capehorn Shanty Choir 10pm - late Aberfal Oggymen Quayside Inn 8pm - 9pm Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle 9pm - 10pm Nordet The Front 7pm - 8pm Sheringham Shanty Men 8pm - 9pm Five Men not called Matt 9pm - 10pm Wareham Whalers 10pm - late La Bordée Five Degrees West 8pm - 9pm Shake a Leg 9pm - 10pm Mariners Away 10pm - late Sheringham Shanty Men Seaview Inn Thraw’d Together 8pm - 9pm Five Men not called Matt 9pm - 10pm Watersports Centre Alan Whitbread and Charlotte & Spong 8pm - 9pm 9pm - 10pm Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club Vagrants Crew 10pm - late Provedore Tapas Bar & Cafe Rum & Shrub 8pm - 9pm King Charles the Martyr Church 8pm - 9pm Aberfal Oggymen 9pm - 10pm Falmouth Shout Five Degrees Below 7pm - Late Free Sessions
Programme for all three days correct at time of going to print
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Festival Programme
Saturday 16 June
Customs House Quay 12pm - 1pm Tavy Tars 1pm - 2pm Mariners Away 2pm - 3pm Naze Shanty Crew 3pm - 4pm Sheringham Shanty Men 4pm - 5pm Wareham Whalers 5pm - 6pm Scheepsfolk 6 pm - 7pm Capehorn Shanty Choir 7pm - 8pm Aberfal Oggymen 8pm - 9pm La Bordée 9pm - 10pm Cape Cornwall Singers 10pm - 11pm Cadgwith Singers Events Square 12pm - 1pm Falmouth Shout 1pm - 2pm Wareham Whalers La Bordée 2pm - 3pm 3pm - 4pm Hughie Jones 4pm - 5pm Mariners Away Tavy Tars 5pm - 6pm 6 pm - 7pm Naze Shanty Crew 7pm - 8pm The Pirates of St Piran 8pm - 9pm Nordet The Moor 12pm - 1pm Sheringham Shanty Men 1pm - 2pm Hobson’s Choice 2pm - 3pm Vagrants Crew The Pirates of St Piran 3pm - 4pm Shipwrights (Chainlocker) 12pm - 1pm Hughie Jones 1pm - 2pm Flash Jack 2pm - 3pm Scheepsfolk 3pm - 4pm Shake a Leg 4pm - 5pm Aberfal Oggymen 5pm - 6pm Many a Mickle 6 pm - 7pm Five Men not called Matt 7pm - 8pm Cadgwith Singers 8pm - 9pm Vagrants Crew Rum & Shrub 9pm - 10pm 10pm - 11pm Stamp & Go Quayside Inn 4pm - 5pm Flash Jack 5pm - 6pm Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle 6 pm - 7pm Seaview Inn Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club 8pm - 9pm Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle 9pm - 10pm
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Festival Programme
Saturday 16 June
The Front 12pm - 1pm Nordet Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club 1pm - 2pm 2pm - 3pm Five Men not called Matt 3pm - 4pm Stamp & Go 4pm - 5pm Falmouth Shout 5pm - 6pm Vagrants Crew 6 pm - 7pm Rum & Shrub 7pm - 8pm Mariners Away 8pm - 9pm Hobson’s Choice Many a Mickle 9pm - 10pm 10pm - 11pm Shake a Leg Five Degrees West 12pm - 1pm Capehorn Shanty Choir 1pm - 2pm Aberfal Oggymen 2pm - 3pm Many a Mickle 3pm - 4pm Rum & Shrub 4pm - 5pm Hobson’s Choice La Bordée 5pm - 6pm 6 pm - 7pm Cape Cornwall Singers 7pm - 8pm Wareham Whalers 8pm - 9pm Tavy Tars 9pm - 10pm Naze Shanty Crew 10pm - 11pm The Pirates of St Piran Watersports Centre 2pm - 3pm Capehorn Shanty Choir Nordet 3pm - 4pm 4pm - 5pm Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle Alan Whitbread and Charlotte & Spong 5pm - 6pm 6 pm - 7pm Shake a Leg 7pm - 8pm Stamp & Go 8pm - 9pm Scheepsfolk 9pm - 10pm Five Men not called Matt 10pm - 11pm Flash Jack Falmouth Hotel 7pm - 10pm Falmouth Shout and Sheringham Shanty Men Provedore Tapas Bar & Cafe Dutch Uncle 8pm - 9pm Trelissick National Trust Gardens Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle 12am – 2pm Alan Whitbread and Charlotte & Spong 2pm – 4pm Five Degrees Below 5pm - Late Free Sessions The Matthew – National Maritme Museum Cornwall Pontoon 6pm – 9pm Free Sessions
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Festival Programme
Sunday 17 June
King Charles the Martyr Church Sheringham Shanty Men 10am - 11pm Customs House Quay La Bordée 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm The Pirates of St Piran 2pm - 3pm Flash Jack 3pm - 4pm Treverva Male Voice Choir Events Square Capehorn Shanty Choir 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm Aberfal Oggymen 2pm - 3pm Scheepsfolk 3pm - 4pm Falmouth Shout 4pm - 5pm Sheringham Shanty Men 5pm - 6pm Fishermen’s Friends The Moor Falmouth Shout 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm Naze Shanty Crew Shipwrights (Chainlocker) 12pm - 1pm Thraw’d Together Alan Whitbread and Charlotte & Spong 1pm - 2pm 2pm - 3pm Hughie Jones The Front 12pm - 1pm Five Men not called Matt 1pm - 2pm Shake a Leg Mariners Away 2pm - 3pm Five Degrees West Hughie Jones 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm Nordet 2pm - 3pm Wareham Whalers Watersports Centre Many a Mickle 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm Vagrants Crew Thraw’d Together 2pm - 3pm Falmouth Hotel Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club 2pm - 3pm Bosun’s Call and Dutch Uncle 3pm - 4pm
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Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club
Treverva Male Voice Choir
Tower Hamlets Ukulele Club is a new collective of musicians/singers formed on the basis of having been inspired by last year’s Sea Shanty Festival.
Situated in the small village of Treverva, inland from the Port of Falmouth, you will find Treverva Chapel, home to the Treverva Male Voice Choir formed in 1936 by the late Edgar Kessell who was director for some 20 years.
The group consists of experienced musicians who are forming in response to the challenge of doing the 2012 festival proud. A number of the group are sailors, some are artists, but all sing well and hold dear the tradition of the sea shanty. The group’s musical focus is upon close harmony of the voice and the use of the ukulele for accompaniment.
The choir has sung in unusual venues helping to raise many thousands of pounds for charity, including Christmas Carols, underground in a tin mine, 35,000 feet above the Atlantic on route to California, on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral and for the last 3 years involved with the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival. John Adams current MD, joined the Choir in 2006 as a top tenor, having spent 45 year in the music industry, he was in the Royal Artillery Band studying the flute. Appointed Musical Director in 2010 still plays the flute for fun on a regular basis, doing the occasional recital. Terry Reed joined the Choir in 2007 as accompanist and promoted to Deputy MD in 2011; Accompanist Ruth Bray graduated from Southampton University with a BA and Master’s Degree in Music Performance. Ruth has been associated with the Choir for many years from the age of 16, before becoming full time accompanist on her return from University.
www.trevervamalevoicechoir.btck.co.uk 48
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Wareham Whalers Wareham Whalers formed in 2004. The plan was to create a shanty crew to encourage the tradition of sea songs in the Purbeck area of Dorset. Originally it was considered nothing more than a hobby, but soon we were performing in public. From the beginning it was decided to give any money raised to charity, and Wareham & Purbeck Branch of the Muscular Sclerosis Society was chosen to be the main recipient. MS now has a brand new converted minibus which can be seen in and around the area, emblazoned with the Whalers’ logo.
Preston Goldburn Solicitors Pendennis Court Falmouth Business Park Bickland Water Road Falmouth Cornwall TR11 4SZ
Tel: 01326 318900 Fax: 01326 311275 Email: legal@prestongoldburn.com www.prestongoldburn.com
However, there is a long weekend the Whalers look forward to more than any other ... being part of the RNLI fund-raising event that is the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival.
www.wareham–whalers.org.uk
Wareham Whalers sponsored by Preston Golburn
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A Sailor Ain’t a Sailor Ain’t a Sailor Any More
All for Me Grog
My 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, aboard a man of war. And now I find a sailor ain’t a sailor any more.
Chorus: And it’s all for me grog, me jolly, jolly grog. All for me beer and tobacco. For I’ve spent all me tin on the lasses drinking gin, Now across the western ocean I must wander.
Chorus: Don’t haul on the ropes, don’t climb up the mast. If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last. Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore. A sailor ain’t a sailor ain’t a sailor any more.
Where are me boots, me noggin, noggin boots? All gone for beer and tobacco. For the uppers are worn out and the toes are kicked about And the soles are looking out for better weather. Chorus
The killick of our mess, he says we got it soft, wasn’t like this, in his day when he was ‘up aloft’ We love our bunks and sleeping bags, but what’s a hammock for? A swinging from the deckhead or lying on the floor
Where is me shirt, me noggin, noggin shirt? All gone for beer and tobacco. Though the collar is worn out and the front is knocked about The tail’s still sticking out for better weather.
Chorus They gave us an engine, the first went up and down, with some more technology, the engine went around. We know of steam and diesel, but what’s a main yard for? A stoker ain’t a stoker with a shovel any more
Chorus Now I’m sick in the head and I haven’t been to bed, Since I came ashore with me plunder. I see centipedes and snakes and I’m full of pains and aches. So I think I’ll steer a course for way out yonder.
Chorus Chorus They gave us an aldis lamp so we could do it right. They gave us a radio, to signal day and night. We know our codes and cyphers, but what’s a semafore? A bunting tosser doesn’t toss the bunting any more. Chorus Two cans of beer a day, and that’s your bleeding lot. They gave us the extra one because we swapped the tot. So get on your civvies clothes and find a pub ashore A sailor’s still a sailor, just like he was before. Chorus
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Bully In The Alley
Drunken Sailor
Chorus So – Help me Bob, I’m a bully in the alley. Way – Hey, bully in the alley! So – Help me Bob, I’m a bully in the alley. Bully on the Shimbo now!
What shall we do with the drunken sailor? What shall we do with the drunken sailor? What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Earl-eye in the morning
Well – Sally is the girl who comes from our alley, Way – Hey, bully in the alley! Well – Sally is the girl from Shimbo alley. Bully on the Shimbo now!
Chorus: Hooray an up she rises Hooray an up she rises Hooray an up she rises Earl-eye in the morning
Chorus
Put ‘im in the longboat ‘til he’s sober
When I get to St Lou’ well, I’ll go-and-see my Sally Way – Hey, bully in the alley! I’ll throw-her a-line – make fast in the alley. Bully on the Shimbo now! Chorus Well I made damn sure that I’d-tied-up-at-her quay, Way – Hey, bully in the alley! She told-me-that her heart was set on me! Bully on the Shimbo now! Chorus
Tie ‘im to the rail when she’s yard arm under Put ‘im in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him Take an’ shake an’ try an wake ‘im! Shave ‘is belly with a rusty razor Keel-haul ‘im, keel-haul ‘im Give ‘im a lick of the bosun’s nine tails That’s what we’ll do with a drunken sailor
Well Sally, she’s a bright Mulatto beauty! Way – Hey, bully in the alley! And Sally is a gal who surely knows her duty! Bully on the Shimbo now! Chorus Well, its time to leave and I’m going-to-slip my cable, Way – Hey, bully in the alley! I’ll go-and-see my Sally as often as I’m able. Bully on the Shimbo now! Chorus (quietly) Chorus (loud)
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Hanging Johnny
John Kanaka
Oh they calls me Hangin’ Johnny Away boys away They sez I hangs fer money So hang boys hang!
I thought I heard the old man say. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. Today today it’s a holiday. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
They sez I hangs fer money But hangin’ is so funny At first I hanged me daddy And then I hanged me mammy Oh yes I hanged me mother Me sister and me brother And then I hanged me granny I hanged her up quite canny I hanged me sister Sally I hanged the whole damn family I’d hang the mate and skipper I’d hang em by the flipper
Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. We’ll work tomorrow but no work to day. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. We’ll work tomorrow and we’ll earn our pay WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. We’re bound away at the break of day. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. We’re bound away for Frisco bay. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
I’d hang a ruddy copper I’d give ‘im the long dropper
Them Frisco girls they got no combs. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. They comb their hair with herring back bones. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
A rope, a beam, a ladder I’d hang yez all together
Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
We’ll hang and haul together We’ll hang for better weather
Just one more heave and that’ll do. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. For we’re the crew to pull her through. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
One of the most popular halyard shanties. Life was hard, brutal and death was never far away. Sentimental verses were never sung. Many verses were needed to hoist the t’gallants, so everybody they had any grouse about was ‘hung’!
Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. I thought I heard the old man say. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. To day to day it’s a holiday. WHU!! John Kanaka-naka tulai - e. Tulai - e Oh tulai - e. John Kanaka-naka tulai - e.
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A Drop of Nelson’s Blood
Leave Her Johnny Oh the work was hard and the wages low. Leave her Johnny leave her. I guess it’s time for us to go. And it’s time for us to leave her.
The Old Man swears and the Mate swears to. Leave her Johnny leave her. The crew all swear and so would you. And it’s time for us to leave her.
Chorus
Chorus
Leave here Johnny, leave her Oh leave her Johnny leave her. Oh the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow And it’s time for us to leave her.
The starboard pump is like the crew. Leave her Johnny leave her. It’s all worn out and will not do. And it’s time for us to leave her.
I thought I heard the old man say. Leave her Johnny leave her. Tomorrow you will get your pay. And it’s time for us to leave her.
Chorus: So we’ll roll the old chariot along An’ we’ll roll the old chariot along. So we’ll roll the old chariot along An’ we’ll all hang on behind! Oh, a spell up in the crows nest wouldn’t do us any harm etc.
Chorus
Oh, a night watch below wouldn’t do us any harm etc.
The rats have gone and we the crew. Leave her Johnny leave her. It’s time be damned that we went to. And it’s time for us to leave her.
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm etc
Chorus Chorus The winds blew foul and the seas run high Leave her Johnny leave her. We shipped ‘em green and none went by And it’s time for us to leave her.
Well I pray that we shall ne’er more see. Leave her Johnny leave her. A hungry ship the likes of she. And it’s time for us to leave her.
Chorus
Chorus
The Mate was a bucko and the Old Man a Turk. Leave her Johnny, leave her. And the Bosun was a beggar with the middle name of work. And it’s time for us to leave her.
Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm And we’ll all hang on behind.
Oh a nice Plum Duff wouldn’t do us any harm etc Oh a nice fat cook wouldn’t do us any harm etc. Oh a night upon the shore wouldn’t do us any harm etc. Oh, a night with the gals wouldn’t do us any harm etc. Oh, a night in Bodmin gaol wouldn’t do us any harm Oh a spot of keel haulin’ wouldn’t do us any harm etc. Oh, a prayer from the Rev. wouldn’t do us any harm etc. Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm A drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm A drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm And we’ll all hang on behind.
Chorus Nelson’s body was brought back to England preserved in a cask of brandy. Whether or not, as was rumoured, the cask was tapped by an ingenious tar on the voyage home, the sailor’s rum ration was thereafter referred to as ‘Nelson’s Blood’!
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Bound for the Rio Grande
New York Girls As I walked down the Broadway One evening in July I met a maid she asked my trade And a sailor boy says I
I kissed her hard and proper Before her flash man came I said fare well, you wicked Girl I know your little game
Our ship went a-sailing out over the bar Away O Rio And we pointed her bow to the bright Southern Star And we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
Chorus: Then away, you Santee, My dear Annie. Oooh! you New York girls. Can’t yer dance the polka?!
Chorus
Chorus: Then away boys, away, Away O Rio, So fare thee well my bonny young gals, and we’re bound for the Rio Grande.
To Nelligans I took her I did not spare expense I bought her a slap up supper Cost me damn near ninety cents Chorus And later that same evening She said take me home you may But when we reached her lodgings She to me did say Chorus My fancy man’s a Yankee With his hair cut short behind He wears a brass band Jacket And he sails in the Blackball Line Chorus He’s homeward bound this evening And with me he will stay So kiss me dear for much I fear You’ll have to sail away Chorus
I wrapped me glad rags round me And to the docks did steer I’ll never court another maid I’ll stick to rum and beer Chorus I joined a Yankee blood-boat And sailed away next morn Don’t ever fool around with girls You’re safer off Cape Horn Chorus
Oh the anchor is weighed and the sails they are set, And the maids we are leaving, we’ll never forget, Chorus So it’s pack up your donkey and get under way, And our wives and our sweethearts will draw our half pay. Chorus We’ve a bully good ship and a bully good crew, We’ve a bully good mate and a good skipper, too. Chorus Farewell Mary Ellen and don’t look so glum On white stocking day you’ll be drinking hot rum Chorus So its goodbye to Jenny and goodbye to Sue, And you fair Falmouth lassies, its goodbye to you, Chorus Now fill up your glasses and sing fare thee well, To all the young lasses who love us so well, Chorus And now the chain’s up, so the bosun did say, Heave up to the hawsepipe, the anchor’s aweigh. Chorus O say, was you ever down in Rio Grande? It’s there that the river runs down golden sands….
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Sammie’s Gone Away
Sloop John B
Chorus: Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work, I say! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work, I say! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war
We sailed on the sloop John B My grandpappy and me Around Nassau town we did roam Drinking all night Got into a fight Well I feel so broke up I want to go home
I wish I was a gunner, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! I wish I was a gunner, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! Chorus I wish I was the bos’n, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! I wish I was the bos’n, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! Chorus I wish I was the captain, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! I wish I was the captain, on board a man o’war! Whu!! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war! Chorus I wish I was a hero on board a man o’ war Etc They’re all bloody heroes on board a man o’ war Etc Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work, I say! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work, I say! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work, I say! Sammie’s gone away, on board a man o’war
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Chorus So hoist up the John B’s sail See how the mainsail sets Call for the Captain ashore Let me go home, let me go home I wanna go home, yeah yeah Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home The Captain’s a wicked man, Gets drunk whenever he can He kicks us around and he knocks us about Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home Chorus
So hoist up the John B’s sail See how the mainsail sets Call for the Captain ashore Let me go home, let me go home I wanna go home, let me go home Why don’t you let me go home (Hoist up the John B’s sail) Hoist up the John B I feel so broke up I wanna go home Let me go home The poor cook he caught the fits And threw away all my grits And then he took and he ate up all of my corn Let me go home Why don’t they let me go home This is the worst trip I’ve ever been on So hoist up the John B’s sail See how the mainsail sets Call for the Captain ashore Let me go home, let me go home I wanna go home, let me go home Why don’t you let me go home.
The first mate he got drunk And he broke in the Cap’n’s trunk The constable had to come and take him away Sheriff John Stone Why don’t you leave me alone, yeah yeah Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home
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South Australia
Spanish Ladies
In South Australia I was born, Heave away, haul away, South Australia, round Cape Horn, We’re bound for South Australia.
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies, Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain. For we’ve received orders to sail for old England, We hope in a short time to see you again.
Chorus: Haul away you rolling King, Heave away, haul away, Haul away you’ll hear me sing, We’re bound for South Australia.
Chorus: We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true Cornish sailors We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt sea Until we strike sounding in the channel of old England. From the Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.
As I went out one morning fair, Heave away, haul away, Was there I met Miss Nancy fair, We’re bound for South Australia.
We hove our ship to, with the wind from the Sou`west boys. We hove our ship to, deep sounding to take. In forty five fathoms with a fine sandy bottom, We filled our main tops’l, up channel to make.
Chorus
Chorus
I shook her up, I shook her down, Heave away, haul away, I shook her round and round the town, We’re bound for South Australia.
The first land we sighted it was called the Dodman. Next Rame Head off Plymouth, Start, Portsmouth and Wight. We sailed on by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover, And then we bore up for the South Foreland Light.
Chorus
Chorus
Now there’s one thing that grieves my mind, Heave away, haul away, To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind, We’re bound for South Australia.
Now let every man drink up his full bumper. And let every man drink up his full glass. And let us be jolly and drown melancholy. Each drink to the health of his true-hearted lass.
Chorus
We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true Cornish sailors We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt sea. Until we strike sounding in the channel of old England. From the Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.
As we went down around Cape Horn, Heave away, haul away, You’d wish to God you’d never been born, We’re bound for South Australia. Chorus And now we’re in Van Diemen’s Land, Heave away, Haul away, With a bottle of whiskey in our hands, We’re bound for South Australia. Chorus
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Trelawney A good sword and a trusty hand! A merry heart and true! King James’s men shall understand What Cornish lads can do! And have they fixed the where and when? And shall Trelawney die? Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why! Chorus: And shall Trelawney live? And shall Trelawney die? Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why! Out spake their Captain brave and bold: A merry wight was he: ‘If London Tower were Michael’s hold, We’d set Trelawney free! ‘We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land: The Severn is no stay: With “one and all,” and hand in hand, And who shall bid us nay? Chorus And when we come to London Wall, A pleasant sight to view, Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all: Here’s men as good as you. ‘Trelawney he’s in keep and hold, Trelawney he may die: But twenty thousand Cornish bold Will know the reason why Chorus
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