181 - Blow. Ye Winds (A) - Capstan Shanty


It was some controversies related to this song, Captain Whall says it was a song of the midshipmen's berth rather than that of the fo'c'sle. Miss Joanne Colcord gives it as a whalers' song, but R R Terry has it as a capstan shanty, same give it us, Stan Hugill. Also intriguingly Terry says it is the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty. In the case that this shanty was the only instance of a sea song being sung as a shanty, Stan Hugill however, pointed out examples of sea songs such as "Rolling Home" or "High Barbary". They were all popular sea-songs that the end of the day finished as a shanty. Cecil Sharp also gives this song as a shanty probably from the same shantyman as Terry - Mr. Short of Watchet, Somerset.
This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 219, 220).


Blow. Ye Winds (A)


As I walked out one morning fair, to view the meadows round,
'Tis there I spied a pretty lass come trip-pin'o'er the ground,

   - Singin' blow, ye winds, in the mornin',
   - Blow, ye winds, high-ho!
   - See all clear yer runnun' gear,
   - An' blow, me bully boys, blow!

                     *2*

My father has a milk-white steed an' he is in his stall,
He is a clever circus horse, he can balance on a ball,

                     *3*

When we goes in the farmer's yard an' sees a great big duck,
We catch him an' we wring his neck, if we have any luck.

                     *4*

As I wuz out a-walkin', close by the riverside,
'Tis there I spied a naked lass a-swimmin' in the tide.

                     *5*

Oh, as I wuz out a-walkin' all in the pale moonlight,
'Tis there I spied a yaller gal, her eyes they shone so bright.

                     *6*

As I wuz out a-walkin' down Paradise's Street,
It's there I met a flash chowlah, who said, 'Will ye stand treat?'

                     *7*

She took me arm an' I took hers an' off we rolled away,
We steered into the Dewdrop Inn, where I could blow me pay.