129 - What is in the Pot A-boiling - Halyard Shanty


This shanty in my opinion is definitely pulling shanty, the construction verses, and choruses clearly show it, however, Stan Hugill did not specify this clearly, but he left underscored words on choruses in music notation. According to this notation, we can be sure this song is a halyard shanty. Stan Hugill took this song from Cecil J. Sharp's "Folk Song Society Journal (England Folk Song and Dance Society)" 1916: Vol 5 Iss 20. From Cecil Sharp's description, this sung has been sung by Mr. H. C. Alison (Of Perth Scotland), at Stratford-On-Avon, Aug. 29th, 1914. In my reconstruction, I will sing this shanty as a halyard.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 166).



What is in the Pot A-boiling


What is in the pot a-boiling?
   - O row, HEAVE and go!
Two sheep's spunks and an apple dumpling,
   - O row, HEAVE and go!