189 - Blow, Boys, Blow (C) - 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 The Harry Tate Ship.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 228, 229).


Blow, Boys, Blow (C)


Blow,me boys, I long ter hear yer,
   - BLOW, boys, BLOW!
Blow,me boys, I can't git near yer,
   - BLOW, me bully boys, BLOW!

                      *2*
Oh, a yankie ship came down the river,
Her masts all bent, her sails a-shiver.

                      *3*
How d'yer know she's a Yankee clipper?
By the Stars an' Bars that fly above her.

                      *4*
How d'yer think wuz skipper of her?
Why, Slimey Joe wuz the skipper of her?

                      *5*
An' who d'yer think wuz chief mate of her?
Why, Boss-eyed Bill the Bowery Bastard.

                      *6*
Who d'yer thinks the second greaser?
Why, Santander Jim the 'Frisco bludger.

                      *7*
The third wuz Sam the Slippery Dodger,
He'll ride yiz down like yiz ride a spanker.

                      *8*
The bosun wuz a big buck [nigger] bugger,
His handle wuz Joe the 'Frisco Digger.

                      *9*
The sails wuz just a jobbin' tailor,
The chips wuz not a Blackwall sailor.

                      *10*
The cook wuz Jack the Boston Booty,
The steward had to learn his dooty.

                      *11*
Her sides wuz old an' her sails wuz rotten,
His charts the Old Man had forgotten.

                      *12*
Scotchmen hangin' in her riggin'.
Oh, can't yiz her them banjoes pingin'?

                      *13*
The crew wuz anything but frisky,
They'd never crossed the Bay o' Biscay.

                      *14*
What d'yer think they had for dinner?
Nanny goat's horns an' a Chinaman's liver.

                      *15*
She sailed away for Kingston City,
Never got ther, the more's the pity.

                      *16*
Blow today an' blow termorrer,
Blow for that ol' ship in sorrer.