Here's a mini review of one of my favorite songs from this CD (full lyrics above):

Barry's Notes-

Neil got this double pull halyard shanty from Tommy O'Sullivan while recording at sea on the Unicorn back in the early 80's. It was collected by both Bullen & Hugill, who says it's a pure "Negro ditty".

Coal Black Rose

Oh, me Rosie, coal black rose,
Don't ye hear the banjo
Ping-a-pong-a-pong?
Ch: On, me Rosie, Coal Black Rose!

I'd run across a version of this song in SHANTIES OF THE SEVEN SEA by Stan Hugill but it didn't come to life until Neil led it at the recording session (I was doing a very fresh harmony). It's full of dynamic energy and yet it's a work song for rapidly hauling up a jib or other light sail. Neil's timing and accent is perfect and when we were doing the song one lost all sense of time, and place! How Neil avoided getting tangled up in his rapid-paced delivery of tongue-twisting words is another miracle.

The song probably can be tracked back to the minstral hall but the West Indies shanty singers certainly put it to work. I believe there is an old thread about this song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble