187 - Blow, Boys, Blow (A) - Halyard Shanty


Another shanty with the word "Blow" is fine old tops'l halyard shanty "Blow, Boys, Blow". This shanty has three patterns:
(a) The Guinea Slaver;
(b) The Buck Ship (A Yankee China Clipper);
(c) The Harry Tate Ship (English skit on Yankee Packets);
This version (The Guinea Slaver), Stan Hugill obtained from Australian seamen, ex-"Manuerwa" and "Silver Pine".
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 226, 227).


Blow, Boys, Blow (A)


Say, wuz ye niver down the Congo River?
   - BLOW, boys, BLOW!
Ohh! yes I've bin down the Congo River,
   - BLOW, me bully boys, BLOW!

*2*
Congo she's a mighty river,
Where the fever makes the white man shiver,

*3*
A yankee ship came down the river,
As she rolls down her tops'ls shiver.

*4*
Yonder comes the "Arrow" packet,
She fired her guns an' I heard the racket.

*5*
Yonder comes a Creole lady,
I guess she's got a - creol - [.........] baby.

*6*
Who d'yer thinks the skipper of her?
Who, ol' Bully Pete, the - creol - [...........] lover.

*7*
Who d'yer thinks the skipper of her?
Why, Saccrappa Joe wuz the chief mate of her.

*8*
Who d'yer think wuz second mate of her?
Saccrappa Jim was the second mate of her.

*9*
Sacrappa Jim he's a rocket from hell, boys,
He'll ride yiz down like yiz ride a spanker.

*10*
What d'yer think they had for breakfast?
Why, the starboard side o' an ol' sou'wester.

*11*
What d'yer think they had for dinner?
Belayin'-pin soup an' a squeeze through the wringer.

*12*
What d'yer think they had for supper?
Oh, handspike hash an' a roll in the scuppers.

*13*
What d'yer think they had for carger?
Why, black sheep that have run the Embarger.

*14*
Blow me, boys, an' blow for ever,
Blow me down to the Congo River.