Title: "Tiddy High O" , "Tiddy I O"

Print: Hugill; Sharp
Performers: as below

Notes:
Yet another duet (duel?) between two extant versions, Hugill's and Sharp's. Hugill's is from Tobago Smith; Sharp's is from "Mr. Rapsey, at Bridgewater" in 1906. The lyrics of these samples suggest the interaction between British and Caribbean sailors via the rum and sugar trade. Hugill seems certain that it is of Caribbean origin and picked up by Bristol sailors, but from the texts alone I don't see any reason why it couldn't just as be the other way around. Though the style of singing in the two cultures would certainly differ, from this plain notation it could easily be English or a folksong of the Anglophone Caribbean -- based on what I've heard of folk songs of Jamaica and Trinidad, this is a very common sort.

In any case, it does have status of semi-rarity. I note no recordings by old shellbacks, including Hugill. When it does appear to have surfaced in the revival, there seems to have been a trend in singing it amongst UK groups between the late 80s and mid 90s. The Bristol Shantymen (1988) were the first I see, and theirs comes obviously from Hugill's text. Then: Hanging Johnny (from Plymouth, 1996), The Keelers (Newcastle, 1993), Landlocked (Doncaster, 1995), the Portsmouth Shantymen.

The Carpenter collection does have one "Tally-i-o" that might be related. Recorded from James Wright, who was at sea from 1860s to 1910s. Says, 'Heard in Accrington, a Liverpool ship, in Calcutta         45-50 years ago. Nigger cook. Used for a chantie.'
It's on the Folktrax CD. Perhaps someone with that could say if there is any similarity.

Gibb