Subject: Lyr Add: MOTHER RACKETT'S (Oscar Brand) From: cnd Date: 22 Aug 15 - 12:30 AM Off of the 1956 LP, "American Drinking Songs" (Riverside RLP 12-630) by Oscar Brand, with Erik Darling, is the song "Mother Rackett's." The back liner offers the following insight about the song: "6. MOTHER RACKETT'S: Early Americans of the post-Indian variety brought the "Sailor's Hornpipe" along with them for dancing purposes. In the manner of the day, some sea-legged singer added words to the hasty melody. Mother Rackett's was probably one of the hostelries along the English docks which supplied bed and bawd for bell-bottomed tars." Interestingly enough, the name "Mother Rackett's" is mentioned in both ROLLING DOWN TO SAILORTOWN and SAILOR'S HORNPIPE. It also shares the same chorus as SAILOR'S HORNPIPE. MOTHER RACKETT'S (Traditional) In '61 we was near to done when we run aground in a blindin' sun The ship was saved while the captain raved; he blasted her off with a Gatling gun We'll have another drink before the boat shoves off, we'll have another drink before the boat shoves off We'll go to Mother Rackett's and we'll pawn our monkey jackets And we'll have another drink before the boat shoves Now '62 we was near to through for the mainsail went, and the mizzen, too So we sowed our pants to the top topgallant, we made it to home as good as new We'll have another drink before the boat shoves off, we'll have another drink before the boat shoves off We'll go to Mother Rackett's and we'll pawn our monkey jackets And we'll have another drink before the boat shoves Now in '63 for the company, we was loaded down with cans 'a tea We said it may be grand for the lovers on the land, But it's good old grog for the boys at sea We'll have another drink before the boat shoves off, we'll have another drink before the boat shoves off We'll go to Mother Rackett's and we'll pawn our monkey jackets And we'll have another drink before the boat shoves |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mother Rackett's (Oscar Brand) From: Lighter Date: 25 May 20 - 08:20 PM Doerflinger collected the chorus only. Brand evidently wrote the rest. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mother Rackett's (Oscar Brand) From: cnd Date: 27 May 20 - 02:34 PM It certainly appears to be made up by him. I haven't found any evidence it relates to the Civil War, as the dates and military references seem to allude. Most information I've found write that Mother Rackett's was probably a bar in Hong Kong around 1875; though it could be possible Brand simply combined two songs with similar themes/rhythms, the complete lack of any evidence makes it hard to accept as genuine. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mother Rackett's (Oscar Brand) From: Lighter Date: 27 May 20 - 04:29 PM Brand was a facile lyricist and wit and the stanzas are in his style. |
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