The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169238   Message #4091258
Posted By: Shogun
03-Feb-21 - 10:43 AM
Thread Name: Discovering world legacy of shanties by 'Shogun'
Subject: RE: Discovering world legacy of shanties by 'Shogun'
034 - The Plains of Mexico (C)

The three tunes what gives us Stan Hugill, they very similar, however, each has its own character. In this family of the shanties we can observe three different patterns:
   1. The unhistorical story of Santianna,
   2. The Spanish Senoritas (no mention of Santiana),
   3. The Benevolent Sailor.
This version is the belovement sailor version. These three versions (this and the previous 2 from my channel: "Santiana" A and "The Plains of Mexico (B)"), they were not necessarily sung with exactly the same text. It was common that shantyman sings a mixture of verses, or sing versions in the tune with another one. This reconstruction will be singing as a pump shanty.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 87).


The Plains of Mexico (C)

I wish I wuz Old Stormy's son,
   - Horraw Santiano!
Oh, I wisht I wuz Old Stormy's son,
   - All along the Plains o' Mexico!

                     *2*
I'd build a ship of a thousand ton,
An' load her up with Jamaicy rum,

                     *3*
I'd give ye whisky an' lots o' gin,
An' stay in the port where we wuz in.

                     *4*
Though times is hard an' the wages low,
'Tis time for us to roll 'n' go!

                     *5*
When I leave this ship I'll settle down,
An' marry a tart called Sally Brown.