128 - Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard - Halyard Shanty


Here is "Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard" a very unique variant of "Sally Brown", Has been picked up by Stan Hugill in the West Indies. This shanty was used on halyards, but only for quick light pulls on the royal halyard - one pull in each refrain. Stan Hugill also heard that it was also used for tack and sheets. On page 166, we can find an alternative final refrain, which I will try to utilize in this reconstruction.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 165).




Tommy's On The Tops'l Yard



There was a ship she sailed for Spain,
   - Oh-o-o! ROLL'n'go!
There was a ship she sailed for Spain
   - TOM-my's on the tops'l yard!

                  *2*
There wuz a ship came home again,
There wuz a ship came home again,

                  *3*
An' wha' d'yer think wuz in her hold?
An' wha' d'yer think wuz in her hold?

                  *4*
She had diamonds, she had gold.
She had diamonds, she had gold.

                  *5*
An, what wuz in her lazareet?
An, what wuz in her lazareet?

                  *6*
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.
Good split peas an, bad bull meat.

                  *7*
An' who d'yer-think wuz her Old Man?
An' who d'yer-think wuz her Old Man?

                  *8*
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.
Why Slimy Joe, the squarehead Man.

                  *9*
An' who d'yer think wuz her chief mate?
   - Oh-o-o! ROLL'n'go!
An' who d'yer think wuz her chief mate?
   - Oh-o-o! ROLL'n'go!