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Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth
DigiTrad:
CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH
CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH (2)
CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH (3)
Related threads:
Chord Req: While Cruising Round Yarmouth (5)
Tune Req: While Cruising Round Yarmouth (17)
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Subject: Cruisin'round Yarmouth From: janhuttinga@wxs.nl Date: 03 Apr 99 - 04:16 AM I am looking for the lyrics of Ewan MacColl's "Cruisin'round Yarmouth" Can anyone send me the lyrics to janhuttinga@wxs.nl thanks in advance folks Messages from multiple threads combined. |
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Subject: ADD: Cruising 'round Yarmouth ^^ From: Matthew Bram Date: 03 Apr 99 - 06:33 AM I have 2 or 3 versions, but I don't know which version (if either) belongs to him. CRUISING 'ROUND YARMOUTH While cruisin' Round Yarmouth one morning in May, I spied a flash clipper, her sails blowing free. "I'm a fast going packet, ah me kind sir" said she. "I'm ready for cargo for me hold is quite free," singing Chorus: Fal de ral laddie, rye fal de ral dey Fal de ral laddie, rye fal de ral dey Now what country she come from, I cannot tell much, But by her appearance I took her for Dutch. Well her flag wore its colors; her masthead was low. She was round in the quarter and bluff in the bow, singing (Chorus) So I threw her a rope and I took her in tow, And yardarm to yardarm a-towin' we go. Well we both towed together to the Swan With Two Hay. We both towed together through Trafalgary Bay, singing (Chorus) Then she took me upstairs and her tops'ls she lowered. In her neat little parlor, she soon had me moored. Well she laid in her fores'ls, her stays'ls and all, With her lily white hand on me reef tackle fall, singing (Chorus) Well I says, "Pretty fair maid, it's time to give o'er, For betwixt wind and rapture, you've run me ashore, For me shot locker's empty; me powder's all spent, And I can't fire a shot for I'm choked at the vent, singing (Chorus) Here's a luck to the girl with the long, curly locks. Here's a luck to the girl who runs Jack on the rocks. Here's a luck to the doctor who eased all his pain. He's squared his main yard; he's a-cruisin' again, singing...^^ |
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Subject: RE: Cruisin'round Yarmouth From: Sandy Paton Date: 03 Apr 99 - 06:18 PM For what it's worth department: My business partner in Folk-Legacy Records, namely Lee Haggerty, had an uncle (an admiral in the US Navy) who sang (?) an American version of this that I have never seen printed. He knew it as "Cruising 'Round Norfolk." Unfortunately, he could remember only a small part of it and, like my partner, he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. I'm curious if any of you experts out there have run across the Norfolk version anywhere. Sandy |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 24 Dec 99 - 07:51 AM CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH While Cruising round Yarmouth one day for a spree, I met a fair damsel- the wind blowing free. I'm a fast going clipper-- my kind sir said she, I'm ready for cargo my hold it is free. Chorus: Singing fal the ral laddie right fal the ral day fal the ral laddie right fal the ral day What country she came from I could not tell such, by her appearance I thought she was Dutch. Her flag wore rich colours- her masthead was low, She was round in the quarter and bluff at the bow. Chorus I gave her the rope and I took her in tow, From yardarm to yardarm a-towing we go. We towed on together till we came to the head, We both towed together through Trafalgary bay. Chorus We towed on till we came to the House of Expire, we gave her old horse with plenty of ire, I lift up her hatches found plenty of room, and into her cabin I stuck my jib- boom. Chorus She took me upstairs and her topsails she lowered, in a neat little parlour she soon had me moored, She laid in her foresails her staysails and all, with her lily white hand on my reef tackle fall. Chorus I said pretty fair maid it's time to give o'er, betwixt wind and water you've run me ashore. My shot lockers empty and powders all spent, I can't fire a shot cause it's choked at the vent. Chorus Here's luck to the girl with the black curly locks, here's luck to the girl who run Jack on the rocks, Here's luck to the doctor who eased all his pain, he's squared his mainyards- he's a cruising again......... Check the date time for these songs to make sure they were popular in the late 1700's because most were used in a variety of forms over the years. Let us know the book or story mate, we would like to view the finished product, Yours-Aye. Cordially. Dave ^^ |
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Subject: Cruisin round Yarmouth From: DADGAD Date: 16 Oct 00 - 08:18 PM Please - anyone got the words to this - I recall beginning - 'While criusing round Yarmouth one day for a spree, I met a fresh packet the wind blowing free . . .etc Thanks, Gerry Forrester Devon |
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Subject: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST Date: 18 Dec 01 - 07:38 PM I sang this song many years ago and have long since forgotten the words. Tried finding it to no avail. All I can rem. is: While cruising round Yarmouth one day for a spree I met a fresh packet the wind blowing free . . . etc etc Anyone out there recall this please. Bests - Gerald Dunoon Scotland |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: breezy Date: 18 Dec 01 - 07:54 PM Im a fast going clipper and that you can see, I'm ready for cargo me hold is quite free, ch--sing fol the rol laddie sing fol the rol day ,sing fol the rol laddie sing fol the rol day.,, . Im sure some one will help us out with this little gem that could do with a revival, lets get it up again!Help |
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Subject: ADD: Cruising Round Yarmouth^^ From: Bat Goddess Date: 18 Dec 01 - 08:06 PM Here's how Curmudgeon sings it: Chorus: And I falderal laddie, I falderal day, Falderal laddie, I falderal day. The country she come from I couldn't tell which. I gave her me hawser and took her in tow I said, "Pretty fair maid, it's time to give o'er |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Snuffy Date: 18 Dec 01 - 08:12 PM I've heard most of them verses sung to Blow The Man Down. WassaiL! V |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 18 Dec 01 - 11:06 PM We have three texts now, but no provenance for any, and not a single tune! The only traditional sets I know of were sung by Sam Larner and Harry Cox, but I don't know whether or not any of these derive from them. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Susanne (skw) Date: 19 Dec 01 - 07:02 PM The version by Louis Killen (c. 1965) I have is very close to the lyrics posted by Bat Goddess above. However, I can't find out which album it comes from, and therefore don't have any notes. All I know is, It isn't from the album 'Ballads and Broadsides', nor from any Topic album. Can anyone help, perhaps, and lead us to the notes? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Gerald - Scotland Date: 19 Dec 01 - 08:42 PM Ah thanks much Bat Goddess - that's the one. I have the tune and now the words again. Old friends reunited. Many thanks for this. Cyril Tawney taught it to me in the 60's in Devonport and is good to recall it again. It is a good song - bawdy but in the best possible taste. Thanks again friend. Gerald. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Art Thieme Date: 19 Dec 01 - 11:12 PM Bert (A.L.) Lloyd was the one I first heard doing this song on one of the several great albums of whaling soings he did with Ewan MacColl. Mr. Lloyd was rarely on pitch---but his renditions of so many songs are the ones I will always remember best and carry on with me. And he did some great versions of Aussie songs---as that was where he hailed from. He and Ewan did the wonderful series for Riverside Records (later on Washington Records) of Child's British Ballads collections. Many LPs that I doubt have been re-issued on CD yet. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Date: 19 Dec 01 - 11:27 PM "Blow, Boys, Blow" with A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl has been re-issued as a CD and should be easily found; it includes a version quite close to Curmudgeon's version of "Crusin' Round Yarmouth." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Uncle Jaque Date: 19 Dec 01 - 11:38 PM That's pretty much the one I got from "Will" PRIEST of Baltimore, MD. The tune was not "Blow the Man Down", although I can see some similarities I suppose. His version had a few variances in the lyrics as well - ".. What Country she hailed from I couldn't tell much: By the set of 'er Colors I'd say she was Dutch; 'Er tops'l hung slack an' 'er stays'l 'ung low; She was round at the counter an' bluff at th' bow..." (I like to use a few select hand gestures with the delivery of this particular line };^{)~ ) Will admonished that this one was not to be sung "With little ears about", and we suppose that in gentele' society we would do well to excersize appropriate discretion. I have similarly been asked to refrain from the practice of stomping the deck with my sea-boots on in time to such a lustilly-bellowed Chantey while at tea-parties and the like. Somehow Mrs. Clarke finds such behavior to be rather embarrassing to her, although I can't imagine why. It does tend to rattle the china a bit, we suppose. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Ian Date: 20 Dec 01 - 04:19 AM The version I learned gave verse three as:
I threw her a line and I took her in tow
In a neat little harbour she soon had me moored and a penultimate verse
Here’s a curse on the girl with the dark wavy hair |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: curmudgeon Date: 20 Dec 01 - 10:38 AM i've been singing this fine old forebitter for nigh on forty years now, thus explaining the possible shifts a song can take on over a perriod of time I first got it from "Blow Boys Blow", MacColl and Lloyd, as pointed out by Art. But is was sung by MacColl rather than Lloyd. However, Bert did the notes wherein he points out that this song originated with the "flying fish" sailors of the East India trade. He further asserts that the song was later taken up by Western ocean packet sailors who made it into a shanty, "Blow the Man Down." He concludes, "The present version, which pulls no punches, is from one of the best of English folk singers, Harry cox of Catfields, Norfolk." Next, turn to The Singing Island, MacColl-Seeger. The version here printed is the same song, but with a different tune and slightly different lyrics. In the list of credits, this song is cited as, "From the singing of Sam Larner, Winterton, Norfolk - 1958." The tune I use is the one MacColl recorded. op cit., and is an incestuously close cousin to Logie O' Buchen. Cheer'ly Men, and Ladies too -- Tom |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Bat Goddess Date: 20 Dec 01 - 03:07 PM We just recently caught the tune proximity to "Logie o' Buchan". I decided to trot the song out again in an attempt to make it a permanent part of the repertoire, and gave Tom a concertina break between verses. We sort of looked at each other in recognition at the same time. I finished the song and we marvelled at the sudden connection. I mean, Tom's been singing "Cruising 'Round Yarmouth" for 40 years and I've been doing "Logie o' Buchan" off and on for about 10. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Susanne (skw) Date: 20 Dec 01 - 05:43 PM Art, as far as I know Bert Lloyd was as English as they come, although he spent several years in Australia and may have started collecting there. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,scarykitty Date: 06 Mar 08 - 01:26 PM Mike Stanley does a nice version on "Songs of the Sea: The National Maritime Museum Festival of the Sea." (And generally in tune!) The tune is not any version of "Blow the Man Down" I know, though there are some similarities. I'm not sure where you can buy this cd, but if you're on Rhapsody Music Service, you can listen to it in its entirety. :-) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: r.padgett Date: 07 Mar 08 - 11:24 AM She took me upstairs and invited me in In her neat little parlour she soon had me moored She lowered her for'sls her stay'sls and all Her lily white hand on me reef tackle fall The watch being ended I said May give o'er Betwixt wind and water youve run me ashore Me shot lockers empty me powders all spent i cant fire as shot cos its choked at the vent Here's good luck to the girl with the dark curly locks Here's luck to the girl who ran Jack on the rocks Here's ahealth to the doctor who eased all his pains He's squared his main yard now he's cruising again Ray |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Snuffy Date: 07 Mar 08 - 01:13 PM Compare and contrast: While cruisin' Round Yarmouth one morning in May, I spied a flash clipper, her sails blowing free. "I'm a fast going packet, ah me kind sir" said she. "I'm ready for cargo for me hold is quite free," singing Chorus: Fal de ral laddie, rye fal de ral dey Fal de ral laddie, rye fal de ral dey -------------------------------------------- As I was a-cruisin' down Paradise Street, To me way hey, blow the man down A Liverpool packet I happened to meet. Gimme some time to blow the man down "I'm a fast moving clipper, me good sir" said she. To me way hey, blow the man down "I'm ready for cargo: me hold it is free," Gimme some time to blow the man down --------------------------------------------- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,John the Gardener Date: 31 Aug 11 - 05:37 AM Hey Snuffy Years ago, back in the 60s, I had an old Topic Folk Sampler L.P. which included your second version (set in Liverpool instead of Yarmouth). It was sung by, of all people, Harry H. Corbett, the actor who played Harold Steptoe, and a jolly fine job he made of it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Dave Hanson Date: 31 Aug 11 - 07:23 AM Not it, Harry H sang ' Blow The Man Down ' on the topic album, and a better version you won't find. Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth From: reynard Date: 25 Oct 11 - 09:24 AM I learned this from Harry Cox but his words need a bit of renovation. Reading the above I'm convinced that "parlour" should be "harbour". This is my shot at that verse: She took me upstairs and her topsail she lowered. In a neat little harbour she soon had me moored. I lift up her hatches, found plenty of room, And into her bilges I stuck my jib-boom. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH (from Harry Cox) From: Jim Dixon Date: 27 Oct 11 - 11:17 PM This is nearly the same as CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH (3) in the DT, but I have listened carefully to the recording and made a couple of corrections, which I have boldfaced. There are a couple of lines that don't make sense to me, although I don't know how to improve them; they are marked with "(?)". CRUISING ROUND YARMOUTH As sung by Harry Cox on "Sea Songs & Shanties: Traditional English Sea Songs & Shanties from the Last Days of Sail" 1. While cruising round Yarmouth one day for a spree, I met a fair damsel, the wind blowing free. "I'm a fast-going clipper, my kind sir," said she. "I'm ready for cargo; my hold it is free." CHORUS: Singing fal-the-ral-laddie, right fal-the-ral-day. Fal-the-ral-laddie, right fal-the-ral-day. 2. What country she came from I could not tell which. By her 'pearance I thought she was Dutch. Her flag wore rich colours; her masthead was low. She was round at the quarter and bluff at the bow. 3. I gave her the rope and I took her in tow. From yardarm to yardarm a-towing we go. We towed on together till we came to the head. We both towed together through Trafalgary Bay. 4. We towed till we came to the House of Expire(?). We gave her old horse with plenty of ire(?). I lift up her hatches, found plenty of room, And into her cabin I stuck my jib boom. 5. She took me upstairs and her topsail she lowered. In a neat little parlour she soon had me moored. She laid in her foresails, her staysails and all, With* her lily-white hand on my reef-tackle fall. 6. I said, "Pretty fair maid, it's time to give o'er. Betwixt wind and water you've ran me ashore. My shot locker's empty and powder's all spent. I can't fire a shot for it's choked at the vent." 7. Here's luck to the girl with the black curly locks. Here's luck to the girl who ran Jack on the rocks. Here's luck to the doctor who eased all his pain. He's squared his main yards; he's a-cruisin' again. [* sic. "Let" would make more sense here.] [Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd sing nearly the same lyrics, but they omit verse 4 altogether. I'm guessing it's because they couldn't make sense of lines 1-2 either. Or maybe line 4 was a bit too graphic.] |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 11 Dec 13 - 06:57 PM We towed on together till we came to the head, We both towed together through Trafalgary bay. We towed on till we came to the House of Expire, We gave her old horse with plenty of ire. Every one of these consecutive lines is somehow balled up. I doubt they went arm in arm to the "head" (lavatory). More likely it was to a pub called "The Head." Similarly, they may have gone on "to the Trafalgar Bay," possibly another pub. (The historical pronunciation, TRAFlgar, would scan even better. Compare J. E. Carpenter's song, "The Launch of the 'Trafalgar'" (1841): "For still old England, on the deep, holds sov'reign sway afar, And proudly keeps the name and fame she won at Trafalgar— She won at Trafalgar, She won at Trafalgar; And proudly keeps the name and fame she won at Trafalgar." "The House of Expire" is meaningless, but "House of" at least suggests a third resort. "The house of 'The Spire'"? At least it's conceivable. I can suggest nothing for "gave her old horse with plenty of ire," though "plenty of fire" might have figured in somehow. If "fire" (wink wink) was involved, perhaps the whole couplet is misplaced, belonging with the action to come or its medical sequel. Perhaps others have suggestions? Or folkified versions? |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Jim Carroll Date: 12 Dec 13 - 03:36 AM A somewhat coy version of this became popular in 1950 recorded by popular singer Guy Mitchell under the title 'One of the Roving Kind' – almost certainly the earliest broadcast version of the song. Authorship was claimed by "Jessie Cavanaugh" and "Arnold Stanton" (both names are pseudonyms used by music publisher The Richmond Organisation), but is obviously a straight lift from the original with the 'dirty bits' taken out. It reached the top ten in the hit parade in both Britain and America. Jim Carroll One of the Roving Kind As I cruised out one eve-e-ning upon a night's career I spied a lofty clipper ship and to her I did steer I heisted out my sig-a-nals which she so quickly knew And when she saw my bunting fly she imme-diately hove to-woo-woo (She had a dark and a-rovin' eye-uh-eye and her hair hung down in ring-a-lets) (She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind) I took her for some fish and chips and treated her so fine And hardly did I realize she was the rovin' kind I kissed her lips, I missed her lips and found to my surprise She was nothin' but a pirate ship rigged up in a dis-guy-eye-ise (She had a dark and a-rovin' eye-eye-eye) And her hair hung down in ring-a-lets (She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind) So, come all ye good sailor men who sail the wintry sea And come, all ye apprentice lads, a warnin' take from me Beware of lofty clipper ships, they'll be the ruin of you For 'twas there she made me walk the plank and pushed me under, too-ooh-ooh (She had a dark and a-rovin' eye-uh-eye and her hair hung down in ring-a-lets) She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind (She was a nice girl, a proper girl but) One of the rovin' kind (yo-ho!) |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 12 Dec 13 - 09:45 AM Similar theme, Jim; quite distinct song. Comparable songs go back to the 17th century. The two forms in question are from the 19th. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 12 Dec 13 - 05:56 PM There was indeed a pub called the Trafalgar Tavern in Yarmouth, in Victoria Road, and the King's Head situated in Row 139 (rows being narrow streets between fishermen's cottages in the old part of the town) Both pubs are now closed. There were over a hundred pubs there at the time of this song. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 12 Dec 13 - 05:59 PM ...and the Two-Necked Swan used to be in Market Place. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 12 Dec 13 - 06:48 PM Splendid info, Eliza. Thanks so much! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Dennis Lawther Date: 20 Nov 16 - 11:54 AM Jim Dixon "with her lily white hand on my reef tackle fall" makes sense because a fall is the hauling end of a tackle (Ashley Book of Knots) (ie fall is a noun not a verb. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,padgett Date: 20 Nov 16 - 02:24 PM MacColl recorded Sam Larner and this song appears in his Singing Island song book Ray |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: GUEST,Jim McLean Date: 25 Jul 24 - 10:06 AM Susanne (skw) Just come across this post and no doubt by now you know the song was recorded by Louis Killin on the 1963 LP Hootenanny recorded in May in London during an overnight special recording for Decca. I was there. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: meself Date: 25 Jul 24 - 11:50 AM Back to the term 'head' - also, of course, a coastal geographical feature, as well as a possible reference to a pub, or both. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: The Sandman Date: 28 Jul 24 - 03:45 PM THE song was not Ewans, as far as i recollect it was collected from the fine traditional singer Harry Cox " We towed till we came to the House of Expire(?)." We gave her old horse with plenty of ire(?" should be "we gave her old house plenty of fire" it makes plenty of sense, its a reference to entering her vagina[ the house of expire] and giving her a dose of fire[ clap V. D.] MacColl AND Lloyd possibly did not understand HIS NORFOLK ACCENT, this song is a double entendre song |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: The Sandman Date: 28 Jul 24 - 04:19 PM the reference to fire aka venereal disease, is subsequently born out in a later verse which mentions [good luck to the doctor who eased all his pain, hes squared his mainyards and his cruising again] |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 30 Jul 24 - 10:51 AM Not the "origin" of the familiar song, but the earliest instance I've seen of sex described in terms of a naval battle. Even the vocabulary is similar. From Richard Head's picaresque "The English Rogue, Part I" (London, 1665), still worth reading for its details of English vagabond life in the 17th century: “I went to Whetstone-Park, where I saw my Mad-dame standing at the door: her frequent trading, and those many shots she had received between wind and water in the service, had so altered her countenance, and disproportioned her body, that I knew not whether this Frigat was English or Flemish built: but at last, hailing whence she was, I boarded her, and made her lawful prize: mistake me not, I rummag'd not in her Hold, fearing she was a Fire-ship.” More notes to come. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 01 Aug 24 - 03:31 PM Perhaps the earliest known lines in English (well, Scots) to employ, in detail, the metaphor of a woman as a ship (not the other way round) are those of satirist Robert Sempill entitled "The ballat maid vpoun Margaret flemyng callit the flemyng bark In Edinburt," most likely written in the 1560s. Sempill's target, Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl, was a member of the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Born around 1530, she was the considerably older sister of Mary Fleming, one of balladry's "Four Marys." Sempill's poem claims she was notoriously promiscuous and mercenary. The poem extends to 64 lines. Sempill describes in not-always coherent detail as an older but still desirable "bark" needing men to board and control her and keep her afloat. Here's a sample (my prose translation): "See that her hatches are handled right,...and she'll sail a whole winter's night without heeling over....Bring your tackle smartly to her stern: she will not fail to lay your mast....But if she leaks, get men of skill to plug the holes low in her hull." However, the poem contains no battle imagery and no diseases. That differentiates it from the later Richard Head and the "fireship" balladists. More later. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Charley Noble Date: 01 Aug 24 - 08:48 PM My on take on this lovely old song, updated for the port city of Portland, Maine: Words by Charlie Ipcar ©2002 Tune: traditional "Cruisin' Round Yarmouth" Widgery Wharf G------------C----G-----------Em While cruisin’ ’round Portland one day for a spree, -G---------------------------------D I spied a fair damsel the wind blowin’ free; -G-------------------Em I buttoned me jacket and hove way me chew, ---C-------------------G And drew along side, her bunting to view. Chorus: G--------------------------Em Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day, ----G------------C---G---D--------G Sing fal-de-ral, lad-dies, sing fal-de-ral-day! I said, “Pretty fair maid, where are you bound?” She replied with a wink “The Old Port of Town; To Widgery Wharf where me Friendship Sloop bides, If you’d like to board her, I’ll lay you ’longside.” (CHO) She tossed out a line and took me in tow, To Widgery Wharf like a shot we did go; We clewed up our tops’ls and rounded up neat, And moored fore and aft, below Union Street. (CHO) Now that sloop sure looked sharp, her fiddlehead neat, And I admired her lines as I trimmed all her sheets; She was round in the counter and broad at the beam, Such a weatherly craft I seldom had seen. (CHO) I checked out her cuddy and found lots of room, And there deep inside I stowed me jib-boom; We rode out the weather, the waves breaking free, Hove to in her harbor, as snug as could be. (CHO) Now, Widgery Wharf is a place I know well, Since I’ve swallowed the anchor, in a bait shack to dwell; Where I spend all me days a-mending fish gear, But all of me nights in the arms of me dear. (CHO) |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 01 Aug 24 - 09:02 PM Thanks, Charley. I added it to my locker full of texts it when you first posted it long ago. Good job! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Charley Noble Date: 03 Aug 24 - 04:43 PM I was thinking that I added it about when I composed it but I thought it fit in well with this tread too. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 08 Aug 24 - 10:02 AM The earliest inkling we have of an actual song describing a female pickup as a boat of some kind is a mere title. Samuel Rowlands's satirical pamphlet "A Whole Crew of Kind Gossips" (1609) gives a list of "baudy songs" known to a real or imagined friend of his, who Rowland claims learned them from prostitutes. Among these is a song called "The Pinnace rigd with silken saile." A "pinnace" was a boat used to carry messages, supplies, etc., from ship to ship or ship to shore. It became a slang term for a prostitute, possibly because a pinnace sailed around the harbor all day and was available for public hire. Regrettably no copy of "The Pinnace" survives. (A text circulated in the mid-nineteenth century by the Shakespearean critic John Payne Collier has proved to be Collier's forgery.) Several surviving songs related to the "Yarmouth" theme appeared during the seventeenth century, though none is really the "same song." Stay tuned. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 09 Aug 24 - 12:30 PM A tune called "Watton Town's End" was mentioned in 1662. It appeared for the first time in the third edition of Henry Playford's "English Dancing Master," which suggests it was either recent or recently popular. The extant broadsides of the following are later, dated to 1685, but as it's the only song titled "Watton Town's End," it seems likely to have been published after 1660 (not 1610 or 1612 as is sometimes said). Of course, the song might have been suggested by the title of the tune - as the broadside suggests. A "frigate" in the seventeenth century was any sort of armed warship. As a synonym for "streetwalker" or "woman" it survived into later songs, as will be seen. This is the earliest song of the group to involve naval metaphors and venereal disease, as in the contemporaneous prose passage from Richard Head (1665). "Effigies" (singular) meant a portrait or likeness. The broadside features a picture of a gentleman, but he looks quite healthy. The use of the latinate word suggests an educated audience for the song. “Watton” is in Norfolk, but Watton-at-Stone and Harpenden are just north of London, about six miles apart, . All spelling errors are in the original: Watten towns-end, Or, A Nosegay of Pleasure which grew in the garden of Venus tune is Watten towns end, or lame leg next the wall. As I came up to Arpendeen and straight to Watten Town And there I met a prety wench, that look’d like Lay me down. At Watten Towns-end, at Watten Towns end, At every Door there stands a Whore, at Watten Towns end. The Frigat's Name was Thunder-Bolt, her Sailes were all of Silk; Her Tacklen was of Silver twist, her colour like the Milk. At Watten Towns end, &c. Her Planks were all of Ivory, her Bottom beaten-Gold: Her Deck was Alabaster pure, she looked brisk and bold. At Watten Towns end, at Watten Towns end, At every Door there stands a Whore, at Watten Towns end. HEr Head was guilded o're and o're, her Wanton Flag did flye: And I was mad to be on Board, so much a Fool was I, At Watten towns end, at Watten towns end, At every Door there stands a Whore, at Watten towns end. She seem'd a stately Pleasure-Boat, with tempting good attire: But little knew that (under Deck) her Gun-Room was in Fire. At Watten towns end. I lodg'd with her, I laid her down, I slept with her all night: I supp'd upon a Coney-Fatt, whose Gravey was delight At Watten Towns end, &c. She gave to me a Syrrup sweet, was in her Placket-Box; But e're three Minutes went about, it proved the French-POX. At Watten towns end, &c. This Fire-Ship she did blow me up, as my Effigies shows, And all may read upon my Face the loss of Teeth and Nose, At Watten towns end, &c. Now as I walk along the streets, they gaze upon my face, And every one that looks at me, salutes me with disgrace At Watten towns end, &c. By me beware then Gentlemen, From King to Country Clown, And when you see a pretty Wench, Remember Lay me down. At Watten towns end, at Watten towns end, At every door, there stands a Whore, at Watten towns end. FINIS Printed by P. Brooksby, at the Golden-Ball, in Pye-Corner. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 12 Aug 24 - 11:21 AM Probably the next in line was "The City Caper: Or, The WHETSTONES-PARK Privateer," printed like "Watten towns-end" for Philip Brooksby, some time in the 1670s. (All spelling oddities are as in the original.) Several songs of the period were written to the tune of "Captain Digby's Farewell." A "caper" is an escapade and a "pickaroon" is a pirate. "Mobled" means "muffled." Whetstone Park, in the borough of Camden, was notorious for gambling and prostitution: The City Caper: Or, The WHETSTONES-PARK Privateer Being a true relation how a small she Pickaroon lately sail'd from the park, and Crusing abroad in the night, seiz'd on a rich Marchant-man, whom she tempted to board her, and then she disabl'd his Ship, took all his Cargo, spoil'd his Tackle, and burnt his Rudder, &c. Tune of, Captain Digby's farewel. The Jenny a small Pickaroon in the Park Last night went a Crusing abroad in the dark, Her impudence was her commander in chief, Her haven is Lust, and her Pilot a Thief: As swift as a fish she did glide by the Strand, well rig'd and well trim'd but she lackt to be man'd In her mouth a whole teer of Damme's there lies, Granadoes were shot out of her rowling eyes. The rustling silk of her Petticoat Sails The wind had full blown with it's wantoning gales that wind which their meeting with contrary wind Sometimes doth create hurricanes behind: Carreen'd and new painted most curiously, Her uppermost Deck did appear to the eye, The curls of her Tower so like streamers do wave Men of War to engage her they seem far to brave. But look on her Stern, she is right for the trade, Her Lading betwixt wind and water was laid, A Loof and a Loof and most stedy she steard, Yet often to alter her courses apear'd, To Star-board and Lar-board, a baft and before She glances an eye and she creeps by the shore, To look what unconvoyed Vessels there came, That might help to add to her pilfering game. At length from her main-top she gladly espies A merchant-man far a head passing her by, Or'e fraighted was he, and ready to sinck, His Hull was so much over-stowed with drink She strait makes all Sails she was able, and plies Her Oars to come up to so welcome a prize, Though's head was so light, she was lighter than he And had in an instant brought him by the Lee. Her mobled hood she turn'd up for a Flag, Sometimes she shears off & sometimes she doth lag She hauld him with horns, but the dulpated Owl, Would not understand her, unless she fell foul: At last a salute with a Gun, in its poures, Your servant she cry'd and he answering yours: She boldly bore up, and for sometime they ride, Yard-arm to Yard-arm, and each side by each side. The battel between them now warmer was grown, And the grapling Irons were mutually thrown, She gave him her broad-side of kisses so strong, There was no hope left of his holding out long: Yet on her design better colour to lay, She pretended to tack, as if stearing away, Then seeming disabled to bear up again, She offers her self unto him to be tane. He sees her lye by, and then grows the more bold, To venture aboard, and to rumidge her hold, She freely receives him astern and invites, Him for to taste of her Cabin delights: From prow unto poop he did grope her all or’e, And finding her Gun to be full Cannon bore, For his Amunition he swore was at large, And threatned to give her forthwith a due charge, She flung off her Glove as a Flag of defiance, And scorn’d to accept of his terms of complyance, Come bully, quoth she, I will stand thy fierce shot For already I've taken full many a knock, With that below Deck then he thundred in, And she for to tumble and toss did begin, As if that a tempest had rocked her pillow, And danced her vessel aloft on a billow. A calm then succeeded this storming her honour, He soon had unladed his Cargo upon her, Before hand he gave her his contracted Guinies, And thought he ne'r sail’d in so pleasant a Pinnace, But quickly that fancy he curst when he found, How damnable deep she had run him on ground, For just in the fury and heat of the job, He ransackt Placket, she rifled his Fob. With Watch, Gold and jewels she slipt out of door Poor Voyager ne'r was so jilted before, His Cargo was lost, and his main-mast was torn His Tackling she spoil'd, and his Rudder did burn Hence learn you young gallants that venture to see The danger of such Pickaroons for to flee, For vessels rich guilded with proud Silken Sails, Oft Fire ships do prove & bear death in their tails. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 13 Aug 24 - 10:39 AM From the mid to late 1670s comes "The Gentlemans Song that he sent his Lady into the Country." The heart of it is as follows: I steering my coast one night in the dark I met with a Frigot that saild towards the Park She hoisted up sail and away she did run I see her cast Anchor at the Prince in the Sun. I gave her a Guinny to enter her Fort She presently yielded to come to the sport, But finding me lasie strait bid me begone I gave her a shot, but she fird my Gun. And thus I was conquerd and forct to retire For she gave me a Clap against my desire, she makes me go stradling with swelling my eggs you may drive a wheel-barrow between my 2 legs. All spelling [sic]. "Fort" might make more sense as "Port," but the black-letter text is unusually clear. These verses are much more modern in style and spirit. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 14 Aug 24 - 09:41 AM Between 1680 and 1682 there appeared "The Seaman's Frolick, or A Cooler for the Captain." Despite the raucous choruses This is explicitly advertised as a morally instructive tale for sailors: You Seamen bold that plough the Ocean Main To read this Song do not at all disdain: But rather learn thereby how to avoid, The whores increase which many hath destroy’d. To a New Tune; Or, Come no more there, etc. "Increase" means increase in numbers, and a "cooler" is anything that dampens one's ardor. The elaborate refrains suggest a stage or street performance origin. Stanza 1 in full (all spelling sic): Captain Robert is gone to Sea And I lov’d him well, and I lov’d him well, With all his merry, merry company Ther’s them can sing and say Captain Robert is gone to Sea, The Girls for his return doth pray : And shall we never, never while we live come no more there, We’l come no more there brave boys we’l come no more there : And we shall never, never, while we live come no more there. The most relevant lines are: Our Captain did a small pinnace board... While we his merry men sung and Roar'd.... She did abide him many a shot... But under deck she proved too hot.... It prov'd to him a sad mishap... For by report he got a clap.... Therefore brave Seamen all beware... All that you meddle with such ware.... When as as [sic] you desire to range,... Cast Anchor in no harbor strange.... To be continued. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Steve Gardham Date: 14 Aug 24 - 04:04 PM ' Fort' is fine, Jon. More usually associated with land battle euphemisms but it works here as well because sailors often assailed forts. Captain Roberts, as I'm sure you know, continued being reprinted with other Captain names and went into oral tradition as 'The Bold Benjamin-o' 'Brave Admiral Benbow's gone to sea, oh, me boys, oh.' |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Cruising round Yarmouth From: Lighter Date: 15 Aug 24 - 11:37 AM Thanks for that, Steve. But if I were a 17th century rakehell, I'd probably sing "port." In "The Seamans Wives ranting Resolution, OR, Make use of time, while time serves" (1681), an adulterous wife gloats over putting cuckold's horns on her seafaring husband's head. There isn't much naval imagery, but here it is: Little thinks my own Good-man, that my Sails are spread Jo, Little thinks my own Good-man that my Sails are spread Jo, We will do the best we can In the Rear and in the Van. Couragio, etc. It's no accident that such songs began to proliferate during the new literary freedom of the Restoration. |
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