Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania

Subject: Firing the Mauretania
From: Lanfranc
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 07:28 PM

I remember the chorus of this song, which I heard Redd Sullivan sing many a time, but that's about all. The only ocean liner shanty I've ever come across - does anybody know the verses?

Subject: ADD: Firing the Mauritania^^
From: radriano
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 07:40 PM

I just got these lyrics a few weeks ago from Stephen Canwright, one of the regular singers at the shanty sings held at the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. Steve is a great singer and has the honor of having recorded with Louis Killen.


Firing the Mauritania
Source: Stephen Canwright


In nineteen hundred twenty four
Found myself in Liverpool on the floor
So I went to the Cunard office door
Got a job on the Mauritania

Chorus: Oh, firing the Mauritania
She surely is a slaver
To Hell with the Mauritania

The Mauritania'a a wonderful sight
Sixty-four fires a-burning bright
But you'll shovel coal from morning to night
A-firing the Mauritania

The coal was so hard and full of slate
And that's what got to the four-to-eight
It very soon wearied the four-to-eight
A-firing the Mauritania

The eight-to-twelve were much better men
But they were weary by half part ten
So tired and weary by half past ten
A-firing the Mauritania

The fan's on the bum and fire won't draw
And that's what got to the twelve-to-four
It very soon buggered the twelve-to-four
A-firing the Mauritania

So come all you firemen, listen to me
The Mauritania spells purgatory
Stick to the coast, don't go deep sea
A-firing the Mauritania


Steve's notes: I copied this from a tape by Bermuda Quadrangle titled "A Beautiful Life." They credit Stan Hugill's "The Bosun's Locker" column in The Folksong Magazine, Vol 1, # 9, 1962. He credited collection and arrangement by Redd Sullivan of the Thameside 4, who was apparently a fireman himself.

Regards,
Radriano
^^

---

(song has been added to the DT -JRO)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 10:07 PM

How very interesting!

I came to North America twice as an immigrant. The second time as a boy of 16 on board the Queen Elizabeth ALONE, i.e. without my parents, a la Leonardo DiCapria. But the first time, I was a small boy who came with the family on the Aquitania from Southampton to Halifax. The Aquitania was a Cunard Line sister ship to the Mauretania, just to pull that into perspective. I've always wondered whether there was any musical carry over from sail to steam.

Thanks.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Lanfranc
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 05:48 PM

Many thanks, Radriano, I'll reintroduce it this side of the pond - I haven't heard anyone else sing it in years.

Redd Sullivan passed on some years ago, within weeks of his old oppo, Martin Winsor, with whom he ran the Troubadour in Earls Court, London in the sixties and early seventies of the last century.

For a while I acted as roadie and accompanist to Redd, who I remember with much affection.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 06:09 PM

I love it! Where do I find the tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Lanfranc
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 07:05 PM

You should have been on HearMe just now - I sang it. Jacko's still there and he knows it too - pop in, Naemanson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 07:50 PM

Grump! Sulk! I was too late!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Lanfranc
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 05:42 PM

Naemanson, until I get my brain in gear and work out how to get a midi together you can either (a) join me on HearMe within the next hour or so (2240 BST 1740 Mudcat time Sept 17) or (b) start with the tune to "Paddy works on the Railway" of which it is a variant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mauritania
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 08:19 PM

Hughie Jones does a good rendition of it on his Seascape CD (Fellside FECD147)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 09:28 PM

A tune, a tune, my kingdom for a tune...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 11:30 PM

G'day Joe Offer:

So ... Paddy works on the Railway works fine for the verse (and it is a good local song to the setting) ... Is there a line missing from the chorus?

Someone might have to stir up radiano.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Snuffy
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:04 AM

Hughie Jones does a good rendition of it on his Seascape CD (Fellside FECD147)

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: GUEST,Lanfranc at the orifice
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:42 AM

Still can't get my head around midi, a year after the original post. The chorus is complete, and, if we can get on to PalTalk this, I'll sing it in the snug on Thursday 13th at around 11pm BST, 6pm Mudcat(EST)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:24 AM

Damn, I've been looking for this for years. Heard a guy named Simon Spalding sing it at Mystic ten years + ago.

Some difference: He doesn't sing the line "a-firing the Mauretania". The chorus is just:

She surely was a slaaaaaver...
Ahhhh, to hell with the Mauretania.

And the third line of the second verse was "they worked us like slaves both day and night".

Can't remember, the ending might have been different too.

But I think Simon said he got the song from Mike somebody from New Zealand....

Willie-O
memory circuits failing....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Jon W.
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:34 AM

I've got this on a CD by a local band, "Yankee Clipper." I've transcribed the tune as best I can in Noteworthy Composer. The tempo changes in the chorus, I don't know if that's the way everyone does it or just this band. Anyone who wants my transcription, send me your email address in a private message and I'll send it to you in midi or NWC format, however you prefer (NWC includes lyrics to first verse).

Subject: Tune Add: FIRING THE MAURITANIA
From: Jon W.
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 01:28 PM

You know what? I just remembered about Alan Foster's software so here is MIDI and ABC, thanks to the man from Australia:

MIDI file: MAURIT~1.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: Firing the Mauritania
Text: By traditional?
TimeSig: 2/4 24 8
Key: G
Start
0000 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0046 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0142 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0062 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0062 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0062 0 67 000 0002 1 66 110 0142 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0062 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0064 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0062 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0142 0 71 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0142 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0126 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0126 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0126 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 78 110 0160 0 78 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0142 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the latest version of MIDItext and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Firing the Mauritania
M:2/4
Q:1/4=120
K:G
D2G3G2B|A2G2B3B|-Bd4DGG|-G2GB3/2AG3/2F|-F2G2A4|
DDG2GG3/2BA/2|-AG2B3c2|d4DDG2|-GGG2B3A|-AG4G3|
-GG4F5/2G/2|-G5/2A5/2B3|-Bc4d3|-df4g3|-gB4A3|
-AB4c3|-cB4A3|-AB4D3|-DD2G3GG|-GB3A2G2|-G2G7/2||

Note on performance: The last syllable of the words "Mauritania" and "slaver" in the chorus are held out about an extra beat. I put fermatas in the NWC version of this but they didn't come out in MIDI.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 03:46 PM

I'm pretty sure Barry Finn sings this song. Barry, where are you, Barry?

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Janet Elizabeth
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 12:59 PM

Hi - just found this thread and listened to the Midi. It's intersting but after the four vers-lines the tune goes completely different from the version I learned from Hugie Jones' Seascape CD. Hugie's version is different as follows

1. Several words different, particualrly there are 34 fires not 64, and the last verse calls "all TRIMMERS".

2. He collected it in Liverpool (says the sleeve) (does a CD have a sleeve?)

3. It's in strict 5/2 time. That's five very slow beats to a line. e.g.

    1          2         3      4    5
in Nineteen    100 &    Twenty Fo---ur
I   Founmeselfn Livrepool Onthe Flo--or
soI Went to    Cunards's Ofice Do---or
got Job onthe   Maure-    Ta-    Nia--a
She Really      Is a      Sla-a- Ve---er
to Hellwiththe Maure-    Ta-    Nia--a

It doesn't slow down on the end of the line - it has a definite extra, (5th) beat at the end! You can count the beats on the fingers of your hand. It works.

It's so regular that I think this version at least must be a work song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Janet Elizabeth
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 01:06 PM

Bah... the spacing didn't work, I'll try again

..... 1 ......... 2 ....... 3 ...... 4 ... 5
in .. Nineteen... 100 & ... Twenty . Fo...ur
I ... Founmeselfn Livrepool On the . Flo..or
soI . Went to ... Cunards's Office . Do...or
got a Job onthe . Maure- .. Ta.......Nia..a
She . Really .... Is a .... Sla-a....Ve...er
to .. Hellwiththe Maure- .. Ta.......Nia..a

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRING THE MAURETANIA
From: Barry Finn
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 02:01 PM

Hi Batty, I'm over here. I did sing this at one time don't remember it now. You may have heard Neil, my singing partner, singing this at the PR, we were going to record it but. I got it from Steve Canright who sang the lead & I was part of the chorus on Radiano's CD "Time Ashore Is Over". Well Steve got it from Bermuda Quadrangle which Jeff Warner was a part of, you may have heard Jeff sing this at the Press Room, I have. They, (BQ) I believe, got it from '"The Bosun's Locker" published by Stan Hugill who had it from Redd Sullivan of the Thameside"(roughly copied from notes of Radiano's CD jacket)
Here's a post from another thread on the subject of this song.

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRING THE MAURETANIA
From: radriano - PM
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 06:52 PM

FIRING THE MAURETANIA
Lead: Stephen Canright

In nineteen hundred twenty four
Found myself in Liverpool on the floor
So I went to the Cunard office door
Got a job on the Mauretania

Chorus:
Oh, firing the Mauretania
She surely is a slaver
To Hell with the Mauretania

The Mauretania's a wonderful sight
Sixty-four fires a-burning bright
But you'll shovel coal from morning to night
A-firing the Mauretania

The coal was so hard and full of slate
And that's what got to the four-to-eight
It very soon wearied the four-to-eight
A-firing the Mauretania

The eight-to-twelve were much better men
But they were weary by half part ten
So tired and weary by half past ten
A-firing the Mauretania

The fan's on the bum and fire won't draw
And that's what got to the twelve-to-four
It very soon buggered the twelve-to-four
A-firing the Mauretania

So come all you firemen, listen to me
The Mauretania spells purgatory
Stick to the coast, don't go deep sea
A-firing the Mauretania

The correct spelling of this ship's name is Mauretania. I first heard this sung by Stephen Canright at one of the Hyde Street Pier shanty sings in San Francisco. Stephen got the song from the cassette tape A Beautiful Life by the group Bermuda Quadrangle. David Jones, one of the singers in the group thinks the song was written by Redd Sullivan who, along with his partner Martin Windsor, ran a very successful folk club, The Troubadour, in London from the early 1960s to the 1980s. Jeff Warner, who sings the lead on this song, agrees with David. The times, 4 to 8, etc., refer to the 4 hours on and 4 hours off watches. In their liner notes Bermuda Quadrangle says "The Fireman's Lament" or "Firing the Mauretania" was entered in English shantyman Stan Hugill's "The Bosun's Locker" column in Spin,The Folksong Magazine, Volume 1, # 9, 1962. Hugill's notes read: "Words collected and arranged by Redd Sullivan of the Thameside 4, sometime fireman himself. Tune: variant of "Paddy Works on the Railway."

Stephen Canright, who is also the Chief Curator for the Maritime Museum in San Francisco, sent me the following notes on Firing the Mauretania:

"When I first heard this song on a tape by the Bermuda Quadrangle, I was intrigued with the idea of a stoking shanty. It seemed reasonable that a rhythmic song might ease the labor of shoveling coal into the furnaces of a big steamer. Stoking was individual work, but a song might give the lads a lilt to work to and a chance to bitch about their lives. I doubt, however, that this was actually ever sung in the boiler room of the Mauretania, especially as it turns out that she was converted to oil-fire by 1921.

The passenger liner R.M.S. Mauretania, launched in 1906, was the most famous ship of her time. Until 1930 she ran for Cunard between Southampton, England and New York City, carrying 2,500 passengers and a crew of 800. For twenty years she was the fastest passenger steamer on the Atlantic run. At almost 800 feet in length, she was for a time the largest ship in the world. Her sister-ship Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915 with heavy loss of life, helping to bring the United States into the First World War. The Mauretania was finally scrapped in 1935.

The Mauretania was a turbine steamer. She had twenty-five steam boilers, most with eight furnaces or fire boxes, for a total of 192 furnaces. The fires were fed by stokers shoveling coal, each man tending four furnaces, so that forty-eight stokers worked each watch. The stokers worked four hours on and eight hours off, whenever the ship was at sea. It was a hard and dirty job, with gaunt, black-faced men laboring like imps in the bowels of Hell. Only by about 1930 had all of the big Atlantic liners adopted oil fire, ending this backbreaking labor."

Mauretania Statistics:

Gross Tonnage - 31,938 tons
Dimensions - 232.31 x 26.82m (762.2 x 88.0ft)
Number of funnels - 4
Number of masts - 2
Construction - Steel
Propulsion - Quadruple-screw
Engines - Steam turbines by Wallsend Slipway Co. Ltd.
Service speed - 25 knots
Builder - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-On-Tyne
Launch date - 20 September 1906
Passenger accommodation - 563 1st class, 464 2nd class, 1,138 3rd class

The following Google search for "Mauretania" gives numerous links to a wealth of information about R.M.S. Mauretania:

Mauretania search

To view the Mudcat Forum thread on this song click on the following link:

Mauretania Thread


I've put together one file of all these detailed liner notes for my album which I will distribute electronically. Anyone interested can get a copy by sending me a e-mail message at:

[e-mail]

Great song
Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauritania
From: Barry Finn
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 02:07 PM

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread other wise I would've realized that most of my above post was redundant.

Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 02:52 PM

Hi, Barry - I think it's a great idea to post Radriano's background notes and corrected spelling/lyrics in this thread. I always thought that the spelling of the ship's name was with an "i." Apparently, Radriano thought that in his first post, but corrected his spelling by the time he came out with his wonderful Time Ashore Is Over CD. Here's what's said in the Encyclopedia Britannica:

Mauretania: transatlantic passenger liner of the Cunard Line, called the "Grand Old Lady of the Atlantic." It was launched in 1906 and made its maiden voyage in 1907; thereafter, it held the Atlantic Blue Riband for speed until 1929, challenged only by its sister ship, the Lusitania (sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915). During World War I the Mauretania worked as a transport and hospital ship. During its long career the ship made 269 double crossings of the Atlantic, exclusive of war work. Its last crossing was made in 1934, and it was broken up in 1935.

A second ocean liner with the name Mauretania was launched in 1938 by the Cunard White Star Line. It made its maiden voyage the following year and, like its predecessor, was noted for its luxury and service. With the outbreak of World War II, the Mauretania became a transport ship but resumed its passenger service in 1947. In the late 1950s the ship's popularity began to wane, and the Mauretania was scrapped in 1965.



---



Mauritania: officially Islāmic Republic of Mauritania , Arabic Mūrītānīyā , or al-Jumhūrīyah al-Islāmīyah al-Mūrītānīyah , French Mauritanie , or République Islamique de Mauritanie state in northwestern Africa. With an area of 398,000 square miles (1,030,700 square kilometres), it has the shape of an indented rectangle measuring about 930 miles (1,500 kilometres) from north to south and about 680 miles from east to west. It is bordered to the northwest by the Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara), to the northeast by Algeria, to the east and southeast by Mali, and to the southwest by Senegal. Its Atlantic Ocean coastline, to the west, extends for 435 miles from the delta of the Sénégal River northward to the Cap Blanc Peninsula. The capital is Nouakchott.

---

Photos here (click)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Dicko
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 12:24 PM

Can anybody here help with tracing passenger records on the MAURETANIA as i am looking for a relative and don't know where to begin ????

---

This Google Search (click) will lead you to passenger lists. Some are free, and some you have to pay for.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Girl Friday
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 08:03 PM

Mumblin Len sings this unaccompanied, having got it from the Redd Sullivan version on an LP his dad had. He's got his version on MP3 if this could be put on the thread,but we don't know how to do it. Over to Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 05 Jul 07 - 09:48 AM

"from the Redd Sullivan version on an LP his dad had."

That'll be the Martin Winsor/Redd Sullivan LP 'Troubadour Folk'. Just for the record, Redd often used to say he 'collected' it - in conversation he'd admit to writing it, or rather, to it coalesing in his brain! He was a stoker, the song is autobiographical. Great singer, and a phenominally knowledgeable man. I remember him singing 'I Live In Trafalgar Square', 'We Don't Know No-one What Don't Want No Nine Inch Nails' and other similar. I had my version of 'Bitter Withy' from him too.

Anyone remember other bits of his repertoire?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 05 Jul 07 - 10:02 AM

I learned this song years ago from the above LP - the last time I sang it was in Mystic last year. My memory of the last two verses is slightly different:

Above version: "The fan's on the bum and fire won't draw"

I have: Then the port fan broke, and the fire wouldn't draw.

Also "finished" for "buggered"....

But in both cases the earthier version has something going for it.

"So come all you firemen, listen to me
The Mauretania spells purgatory..."

I sing:
Come all you trimmers and listen to me
That Cunard ground's bloody purgatory

Though of course I might easily have mislearned or misremembered it in classic traditional style.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 05 Jul 07 - 02:24 PM

I had:
'A Cunard greyhound's bloody purgatory'.
Calling the express liners 'greyhounds' started in the days of the American clippers - see also 'Greyhounds of the Sea' Carl C. Cutler. (Stephens. 1930).
Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 05 Jul 07 - 03:01 PM

Well I did think "ground" was a strange term to use for a shipping lane. thanks for that, Tom.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,Young Buchan
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 03:25 AM

A penultimate verse I heard once; can't remember who from, but I've used it myself:
There ain't no peace for us poor damned men
Cos the 4 till 8 is round again
The 4 till 8 is round again
Firing the Mauretania

Subject: ADD Version: Firing the Mauretania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 05:09 AM

Girl Friday send this version of the lyrics, plus a terrific MP3 of a recording by Mudcatter Mumblin Len. Mumblin Len sings this unaccompanied, having got it from the Redd Sullivan version on an LP his dad had.. About the song, Girl Friday says

I learned it when I was a kid from my fathers record collection, so have no idea who wrote it. I suspect that verse two should probably read 'Twenty four fires', as sixty-four seems a trifle excessive.

Firing the Mauretania
(Mauretania Coaling Shanty)

In Nineteen Hundred and Twenty four,
Found myself on Liverpool's workhouse floor
So I went to the Cunard' office door,
Got a jab on the Mauretania.

A - firing the Mauretania,
She surely is a slaver,
Tae hell wi' the Mauretania.

Mauretania stokehold's a wunnerful sight,
Sixty - four fires all burnin' bright,
But you'll shovel the coal morn, noon, and night,
A firing the Mauretania.

The coal were hard and full of slate,
And that's what finished the Four 'til Eight.
Yes,that's what finished the Four 'til Eight.
A firing the Mauretania.

The Eight to Twelve they was better men,
But they's worn out and weary by half past ten,
So worn out and weary by half past ten,
From firing the Mauretania.

Port fans went down and the fires wouldn't draw,
And that's what knackered the twelve til four
Yes, that's what knackered the twelve til four
A firing the Mauretania.

So come all you young stokers and listen to me
That Cunard ship's Bloody Purgatory,
So stick to the coast, don't run deep - sea,
You'll be firing the Mauretania.

---

Click to play

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAURETANIA
From:
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 05:49 PM

The 'Mike' from New Zealand mentioned above would likely be Mike Stanley, no longer of NZ now in Oz I believe.
This is his version. A few variations, the most obvious, a two line chorus, not three with one missing as someone asked about.

THE MAURETANIA

Now in nineteen hundred and twenty-four
I found meself in Liverpool on the floor
So I went to the Cunard office door
And got a job on the Mauretania

    She surely was a slaver,
    Ah to hell with the Mauretania

Well the Mauretania's a wonderful sight
She's sixty-four fires they're all burning bright
And they work you hard from morning till night
Tryin' to fire the Mauretania

Now the Mauretania's coal was full of slate
And that's what buggered the four to eight
Yes that's what buggered the four to eight
Tryin' to fire the Mauretania

Now the eight to twelve were much better men
But they were knackered by half-past ten
Yes they were knackered by half-past ten
Tryin' to fire the Mauretania

Now the fan's on the bum and the fires won't draw
And that's what's beaten the twelve till four
Yes that's what's beaten the twelve till four
All aboard the Mauretania


So come all of you firemen, listen to me
A Cunard greyhound spells purgatory
So stick to the coast and don't go deep-sea
Tryin' to fire the Mauretania

Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,WOW I didnt know the great ship had a son
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 11:01 AM

WOW I didnt know the great ship had a song,,is there any way I can get a mp3 of this sent to my e-mail,,,I have never herd it before I love old ships,,

I have been searching for Queen of the sea 1936,,,by Horatio Nicholls all I can find is bits and pieces I wish some one would put together a web sight of all these great songs of all these HISTOROCAL SHIPS,,THE SONGS WERE WRITTEN SO PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEM NOT LOCKED UP IN A VAULT ,,,

I had no Idea that there was a song about the Mauretania I have been looking for mp3 that any one can send to me through my e-mail,,these classic songs are so HARD TO FIND,,,CAN ANYONE HELP ME,,, my e-mail is,,, [e-mail]   any help would be GREAT,,, thanks for this GREAT WEB PAGE Rusty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: doc.tom
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 03:31 PM

No mp3, but I did record the set I had from Redd - who wrote it - on Beyond The Quay: Wild Goose WGS358. 2008
TomB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 02:31 PM

I would like to hear this, especially as I have been told it would suit my voice.    Are there any recordings on the internet? So now I'd like to learn it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 02:54 PM

There were several recordings referenced above. I'm not sure any of them is still available for listening to on the internet.

Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianowicz know this one and will be at the Mystic Sea Music Festival next weekend. If you're coming there, I'm sure they would have more information and might even sing it for you!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 03:19 PM

Charley thanks... but I am in the UK, so that Mystic Sea Music Festival, tempting as it sounds is undoable.

I will ask the friends who want me to learn it. One of them already sings it and they wanted it harmonised. Thought I might get a head start on it, by asking here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 03:43 PM

VT - Mumblin Len does it, so get the words from him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 03:29 AM

Words I got Richard... Tune I don't. It's Mumblin Len who wants me to harmonize on his version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 08:09 AM

Virginia Tam-

You'll find it a challenging song to harmonize on. I know at least two groups who had to drop the track from their CD project because their harmonies proved too ragged to edit. But maybe you're a quicker study.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 08:09 AM

Hi Tam- we'll discuss it later- maybe see you at E G'S.

Do I have your email ? We can send you Mumblin's recording on M.P.3.

He sang it once with Tom Lewis, who only knew the chorus from singing with another chap. Perhaps this is a song that should be sung like that, rather than in harmony?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Firing the Mauretania
From: GUEST,radriano
Date: 13 Apr 17 - 02:50 PM

I purchased "The Bosun's Locker - Collected Articles 1962-1973" book recently and "The Mauritania" is not in it. Anyone know if the published book is abridged? I don't see anything indicating that.

If anyone still wants an MP3 of the version I recorded just send an email message to me at: [e-mail].