188 - Blow, Boys, Blow (B) - Halyard Shanty


This was a shanty in which the singer often repeated the solo lines, to string out on a long haul.
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 is the A Yankee China Clipper.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 227, 228).


Blow, Boys, Blow (B)


Blow,me boys, I long ter hear yer,
   - BLOW, boys, BLOW!
Ooooh, blow, me boys, an' I long ter hear yer,
   - BLOW, me bully boys, BLOW!

                   *2*
A yankie ship came down the river,
Her masts and yards they shine like silver.

                   *3*
How d'yer know she's a Yankee clipper?
By the blood an' guts that flow from her scuppers.

                   *4*
How d'yer know she's Yankee liner?
By the stars an' bars streamin' out behind her.

                   *5*
How d'yer know she's a Yankee packet?
She fired her guns an' we heard the racket.

                   *6*
She's a Yankee ship an' she's bound to China,
And a bunch o' bastards they have signed her.

                   *7*
How d'yer know she's bound for China?
By the flyin'-fish sailors what 'ave gone an' joined her.

                   *8*
Who d'yer thinks the skipper of her?
Why, Ol' Bully Forbes is the skipper of her.

                   *9*
Who d'yer thinks the chief mate of her?
Some ugly case what 'ates poor sailors.

                   *10*
Who d'yer think wuz second mate of her?
Saccrappa Jim was the second mate of her.

                   *11*
What d'yer think they had for breakfast?
Why, the starboard side o' an ol' sou'wester.

                   *12*
What d'yer think they had for breakfast?
Why, the starboard side o' an ol' sou'wester.

                   *13*
What d'yer think they had for dinner?
Belayin'-pin soup an' a squeeze through the wringer.

                   *14*
What d'yer think they had for supper?
Oh, handspike hash an' a roll in the scuppers.

                   *15*
What d'yer think they had for carger?
Five hundred whores from Yokohammer.

                   *16*
Ye'll wish ye all wuz dead an' buried,
An' cross the river lets all git ferried.

                   *17*
Six days work as ye are able,
On the seventh day, bullies, ye will chip the cable.

                   *18*
On this bloodboat there ain't no laybacks,
Get haulin', all ye lazy shellbacks.

                   *19*
Blow today an' blow termorrer,
Blow for this hell-ship all in sorrer.