From Doerflinger, "Shantymen and Shantyboys" (N.Y.: Macmillan, 1951):


"An almost perfect work song is ‘Reuben Ranzo’ with its swinging solo lines building up to a savage release of power in the refrains.

         REUBEN RANZO (I) [From Richard Maitland, b. ca.1860]]

Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
Oh, Ranzo was no sailor,
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!

But he was a Boston tailor.
He went on a visit to New Bedford.

He was shanghaied in a whaler.
He could not do his duty.

So they put him to holy-stoning.
They took him to the gangway.

They tied him on the grating,
And they gave him five and forty.

The captain’s youngest daughter,
Begged her father for mercy.

The captain loved his daughter,
And he heeded her cries for mercy.



REUBEN RANZO (II) [From Captain Patrick Tayleur, b. ca.1856]

O, poor old Roving Ranzo, Hey!
Ranzo, boys, a Ranzo!
O, poor old Roving Ranzo,
Ranzo, boys, a Ranzo!

Now Ranzo he was (Aw, Ranzo was) no sailor,

So pore [sic] old Roving Ranzo.

Now (So) they shipped him on board of a whaler.

Now the captain he liked Ranzo.

So the captain taught him how to read and write.

He taught him navigation.

When he got his first mate’s papers.

He became a terror to whalers!

He was known all over the world as

As the worst old bastard on the seas!

He would take his ship to Georgiay.

And there he’d (he would) drag for sperm whale.

He lost the only ship he had,
His first and last and only ship.

Was the Morgan, and she’s known everywhere.

Now (Oh) he’s gone to hell and we’re all glad!

Now, I’ve told you he was no sailor.

He was a New York tailor.

Whether (Oh, whether) a tailor or sailor.

He sure became a Ranzo!"


(The Charles W. Morgan was launched in 1841 and retired from the sea in 1921. As most of us know, you can go on board her at Mystic Seaport Museum. South Georgia whaling barely existed before about 1905.)