Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...

Subject: played his ukulele as the ship went down
From:
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 10:47 PM

Can anyone, please, give me difinitive information re. the composer of: "The Wreck of The Nancy Lee" (alternate titles: "The Captain Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went Down" or "He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went Down"?

I need to credid this on some CD "liner" notes, so I'd like to get it right. Thanks, Tom Lewis.

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:34 AM

My book of "101 Comedy Hits for Buskers" says words & music by Arthur Le Clerq, Copyright 1932 Campbell, Connelly & Co Ltd.

Sounds like a fun CD!

LFF

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:20 AM

Hey, Freddie - can you post the lyrics? Heck, post as many as you like! sounds like a great book.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 07:01 AM

Hi Tom

For some strange reason, that tune has found its way into the repertoire of various Australian bush bands. Perhaps we should be singing it as well. I promise to listen very carefully to your new CD.

Cheers

Bruce

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 07:40 AM

G'day Bruce,

Yes, there does seem to be a recent willingness in Australia to look at the early 20th century material, the sort of thing the surviving old players like to play ... rather than the clearly 'folky' 19th century bushranger, convict, goldminer, shearer & drover songs.

He Played His Ukelele as the Ship Went Down is popular with old players like Dave Matthias of Forbes - who taught it to Rob Willis - whose "Carrawobitty Tapes" circulated a lot of popular old music to ear players in the last decade or so.

Good tunes a good tune ...

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: Lyr Add: HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP...^^
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 08:15 AM

Well, I can't refuse a gent like Joe, can I? Here it is:

HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT DOWN
Arthur Le Clerq, Copyright 1932 Campbell, Connolly & Co Ltd.

Yo ho, my lads, yo ho,
I'll tell you the tale of a sailor,
Who sailed the Bay of Biscay-o,
As the Captain of a whaler;
Of his gallant deed you all should know,
Yo ho, my lads, yo ho:

I'll tell the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got ship-wrecked at sea,
The bravest man was Captain Brown,
For he played his Ukulele as the ship went down;
All the crew were in despair,
Some rush'd here and the others rush'd there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair,
And he played his Ukulele as the ship went down.

The Bosun said to Stoker Jim,
"You'll have to teach me how to swim"
The Stoker answered with a frown,
"We can learn together as the ship goes down"
The Captain said to Fireman Mose,
"Get straight in to your Fire-man's clothes,
And while you stand and play your hose,
I'll play my Ukulele as the ship goes down."

And that is the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got ship-wreck'd at sea,
And Captain Brown who was in command,
Now plays his Ukulele in the Mermaid Band.

This song is sometimes "sung" by Sam Spoons, formerly of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and presently of the Bill Posters Will Be Band. Bill Posters are well worth going to see if you're in London and fancy a night of 20s/30s Comedy Jazz.

LFF^^

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 02:05 PM

Thanks a lot, Freddie - now if there's a tune or background information anybody can furnish, that would also be helpful.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 02:21 PM

Wow....this thread has just 'transported' me back probably about 35 years, back to being a young lad...

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:56 PM

Well, I have the sheet music which I'll happily scan and forward if anyone wants it; I had a look at the ABC music program and I think it would take me a little while to master!

LFF

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 11:40 PM

I'll see what Long Firm Freddie's tune sounds like - if there is much variation, I might post the version collected here in Australia (but I suspect there won't be much in it, since there must be lots of sheet music out there).

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From:
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 08:46 PM

Thanks for all the assistance everybody! A couple of "hits" on my Google search show the song as having been recorded in 1931?????? Still, I reckon I'll credit the provenance as: Arthur Le Clerq, Copyright 1932 Campbell, Connelly & Co Ltd.

Believe it or not, this song will be on my next CD which is a collaberation with a POLISH SEA-SHANTY GROUP!!!!

I did my recording in Calgary. They did theirs in Schtetin. The CD will be titled: POLES APART.

Geddit?

Cheers, Tom

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 06:05 PM

Another verse:

The captain's wife was on board ship,
She thought she would enjoy the trip,
She could swim so she would not drown,
So they tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.

The figurehead was made of pine,
A trophy from the Cunard Line,
went,
Everywhere that figurehead went,
'Til they hit the dock at Bristol and her nose got bent.

The pets on board were all scared stiff,
The cats meowed and the monkeys sniffed,
The old green parrot hung upside down,
Saying "Pretty Polly's scared!"
As the ship went down.

The crow's nest fell and killed the crow,
The crew rushed up from down below,
The captain sang vo-do-deo-do,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.


Origin: dubious, as performed by the Barthholomew Jug Band, Devon, UK in the 1980s, but who knows where we got it from... could have been the Bonzo's version.

Jo Taylor
(back after a long intrusion of 3D life...)

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 06:07 PM

Should have been 'more verses', and there's an extraneous 'went' in the figurehead verse!

Jo Taylor

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 06:27 PM

Jo....the 'Vo-do-deo-do' gives it away....pure Vivian Stanshall, that!

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 07:08 PM

Yep, probably! But also... we did only two Bonzo numbers(the above and Jollity Farm). Many tunes harvested from 1920s/30s novelty recordings ("This song is in two parts, because the record was...") and other sources included the phrase - Washington: "crazy words, crazy tunes, she'll be driving me crazy soon with her vo-do-do-deo, vo-do-do-deo-do". Our publicity flyers said "Pedlars of pandemonium and vo-do-deo-do vendors". -

Think it's bedtime!

Jo

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 08:42 PM

*S*

Subject: RE: Help: played his ukulele as the ship went dow
From: Madam Gashee
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 03:59 AM

Looking forward to the new release Tom. Which Polish group?

Subject: Tune Add: HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP...
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 02:22 AM

G'day again,

I got around to popping the dots from the sheet music, scanned by Long Firm Freddie, into my MusicTime program ... then the collected dnace tune version from Dave Matthias, Forbes, NSW, Australia.

Dave's is an interesting, if predictable variation. All the introductory and final tune has been dropped and Dave just plays the verse tune - with a few interesting elaborations ... probably to suit the dance. Here are the MIDItxt files for each version - both set in the key of 'F', since the sheet music is in that key and Dave would have played it on his old "Top Notcher" button accordion in the same key (despite it being set in 'G' in most instances I have seen ... to suit current preferences).

Here is the original, with the repeat for the full length of verse:

MIDI file: ukuleleo.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Tempo: 200 (300000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0720 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0288 0 65 064 0072 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0672 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0288 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 69 080 0288 0 69 064 0072 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 76 080 0192 0 76 064 0048 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0288 0 72 064 0072 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0672 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0288 0 62 064 0072 1 63 080 0096 0 63 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0288 0 72 064 0072 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 0096 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 1776 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0288 0 72 064 0072 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0672 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0225 0 69 064 0015 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0288 0 62 064 0072 1 63 080 0096 0 63 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0288 0 72 064 0072 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0450 0 62 064 0030 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0288 0 65 064 0072 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0288 0 69 064 0072 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0225 0 69 064 0015 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0225 0 67 064 0015 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0450 0 65 064 0030 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 73 080 0192 0 73 064 0048 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0288 0 69 064 0072 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 72 080 0288 0 72 064 0072 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 0096 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 67 080 0384 0 67 064 0096 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 76 080 0096 0 76 064 0024 1 77 080 0192 0 77 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:4/4
Q:1/4=200
K:C
C8|F3FF2C2|F6A2|c2^A^AA2GG|A2F4E2|A3AA2E2|
A2A2A2cd|e2d2c2c2|c2A4GA|^A2^A2G2G2|E2E2C2G2|
c3cc2G2|c6c2|A2c2F2AA|G2^A2D3^D|E2G2D2E2|
F2c2c3^A|A2c2F2A2|G2^A2D2GA|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F4|
D2F2A2d2|^A2^A2A4|D2F2A2dc|BBG2c2c^A|A2c2F2AA|
G2^A2D2GA|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F4|-F8|F6G2|-G8|c8|
-c3cc2G2|c6c2|A2c2F2A2|G2^A2D3^D|E2G2D2E2|
F2c2c3^A|A2c2F2A2|G2^A2D4|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F3F|
D2F2A2d2|^A2^A2A3F|D2F2A2dc|BBG2c2c^A|A2c2F2A2|
G2^A2D2G2|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F4|C2DEF2GA|^AAG2c2^c2|
d2dd^A2AA|^A2^A2A3G|F2F2A2d2|B2G2c3A|c2A2F2GA|
^A2G2E2C2|DFEGFAG^A|A2F2F4|C2DEF4|D2EFG4|
FGA^Accde|f2F2F3/2||

and here is the Dave Mattias dance tune version:

MIDI file: ukulelem.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Tempo: 200 (300000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0720 1 72 080 0113 0 72 064 0007 1 70 080 0113 0 70 064 0007 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0225 0 69 064 0015 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0225 0 62 064 0015 1 67 080 0113 0 67 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0113 0 67 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0113 0 70 064 0007 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0225 0 65 064 0015 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0225 0 69 064 0015 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 62 080 0225 0 62 064 0015 1 67 080 0113 0 67 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0113 0 67 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0113 0 70 064 0007 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0450 0 65 064 0030 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0113 0 70 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0384 0 67 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0225 0 70 064 0015 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0450 0 65 064 0030 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0113 0 70 064 0007 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0384 0 67 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 70 080 0225 0 70 064 0015 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 70 080 0096 0 70 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0450 0 65 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:4/4
Q:1/4=200
K:C
c7^A|A2c2F2A2|G2^A2D2GA|^A2G2E2C2|FEFAc2c^A|
A2c2F2A2|GA^AGD2GA|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F2c^A|A2c2F2A2|
G2^A2D2GA|^A2G2E2C2|FEFAc2c^A|A2c2F2A2|GA^AGD2GA|
^AAGFECDE|F2F2F4|C2F2A2c2|^A2^AAG4|C2E2G2^A2|
A2F2c4|C2F2A2c2|^A2^AAG2GA|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F4|
C2F2A2c2|^A2^AAG4|C2E2G2^A2|A2F2c4|C2F2A2c2|
^A2^AAG2GA|^AAGFECDE|F2F2F15/4||

Enjoy,

Bob Bolton

Subject: Lyr Add: HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 11:32 PM

From the Leslie Sarony recording at YouTube (my transcription, but aided by other versions that have been posted at Mudcat):


HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT DOWN
(Arthur LeClerq)

(Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho!)

Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho!
I'll tell you the tale of a sailor
Who sailed the bay of Biscay-o
As the captain of a whaler.
Of his gallant deeds you all should know.
Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho!

I'll tell the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea.
The bravest man was Captain Brown,
For he played his ukulele as the ship went down.
All the crew were in despair.
Some rushed here and the others rushed there,
But the captain sat in the captain's chair,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

(Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho!)

The pets on board were all scared stiff.
The cat meowed and the monkey sniffed.
The old green parrot hung upside down
Saying, "Scratch a polly-polly" as the ship went down.
The crow's nest fell and it killed the crow.
The starboard watch was two hours slow,
But the captain sung, "Vo-doh-de-oh-doh,"
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

(Yo-Ho, my lads, yo-ho!)

The skipper shouted fore and aft:
"I'll have no slackers aboard this craft.
So understand," said Captain Brown,
"I want everybody present when the ship goes down.
The cook's gone mad and the bosun's lame.
The rudder has gone and the deck's aflame.
My G-string's flat, but all the same,
I shall play me ukulele when the ship goes down."

They struggled on against the storm.
The cold, cold wind was far from warm,
So all the crew and Captain Brown
Played ring-a-ring-a-roses as the ship fell down.
They shouted, "Women and children first!"
The engineer came up and cursed.
Then all of a sudden, his boiler burst,
So he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

He shouted, "Man the rafts!
With chains and a rope you bind 'em."
The bosun searched both fore and aft,
But dashed if he could find 'em.
At the mercy of that raging sea
Was the good ship Nancy Lee.

"Have faith in me!" the captain cried.
To this remark the crew replied:
"You can trust us, Captain Brown,
To finish off the rum before the ship goes down."
The skipper shouted back: "No chat!
I'll do my best, then after that,
D'you mind if I pass round the hat,
As I play me ukulele as the ship goes down?"

The mate said, "It's OK with me.
The shipwreck suits me to a T.
I owe ten bob to Captain Brown,
And I'll never have to pay him if the ship goes down."
The pessimistic cook said he
Was sure the crew very soon would be
Playing a harp. Said Brown, "Not me!
I shall play me ukulele as the ship goes down."

When they reached the lifeboat, how they cursed!
The second mate had got there first.
The cook said, "I'll be last to drown,
'Cause I'm climbin' up the riggin' as the ship goes down."
Soon it was a total wreck.
The captain stood on the burning deck.
The flames leapt up all around his neck
And burnt his ukulele as the ship went down.

The captain's wife was on the ship,
And he was glad she'd made the trip.
As she could swim, she might not drown,
So he tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.
They sprung a leak just after dark,
And through the hole came a hungry shark.
It bit the skipper near the water mark
As he played his ukulele when the ship went down.

The mate had a saxophone.
The cook had a trombone.
The drummer had an old tin,
And another had a violin.
The bosun had a banjo.
The stoker had a piccolo.
"You can play what you like," said Captain Brown.
"I shall play me ukulele as the ship goes down."

And that is the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea,
And Captain Brown who was in command,
Now plays a ukulele in the mermaid band.


Words and music by Arthur LeClerq.
Published by Campbell, Connelly & Co., Ltd., 1932.
As sung by Leslie Sarony.

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 16 Jul 14 - 02:25 PM

Can't believe I have found these words from over 70 years ago when my Grandmother had a wind up gramophone and this one record. All of us kids used to laugh at the words how it took me back.
Wish I could get the music as I play the piano.
I was back in my Granny's kitchen briefly

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Jul 14 - 05:23 PM

The 78 recording I have has the following bit which I can't see in the above versions

The Captain issued from the store
A bar of soap to every four
He said 'Now wash yourselves ashore
I shall play me ukulele etc.

Also between each verse there is a short musical interlude of such as bits of Rule Britannia, vamping etc.

I sang a shortened version with all the best bits when I had a backing band for a short while in the 90s. I took the liberty of substituting 'concertina' for 'ukelele' as that's what I play.

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 16 Jul 14 - 09:47 PM

So... does Joe Offer know this song yet??

I remember hearing someone at a Getaway singing it, and the fun is infectious.

It must be done.

Dani

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 09:08 AM

Ya know, no matter how many verses you add, you can't make drowning funny, especially drowning when you know it's going to happen.

So I composed a happy ending. You can have it for free. I abjure all copyright.


The cabin boy then gave a shout
"The Royal Lifeboat's come about!"
Said they, "Now lads, don't dive or leap.
The water's only two feet deep."
They'd brought with them a squeezebox.
The cabin boy played bones,
and we wrote this gallant ditty
of cheating Davy Jones.

Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho!

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 09:21 AM

Tom, You got me curious so I went looking on Youtube for the song and found this wonderful version done by you. Tom Lewis - He Played His Ukulele As The Ship Went Down

It brought back memories of seeing you at Cobourg's Folk At The Forum and, a few months later, You dropped in at our jam in Ted's house in Port Hope and camped out in your trailer in his drive.

Subject: RE: Origin: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 03:47 PM

I think Ken Sweeney did a version of this at the Mystic Sea Music Festival in June, 2014. Instead of just the ukelele, though, he used a variety of instruments such as "tin sandwich" (harmonica) moving from one instrument to another throughout the song. He brought the down the roof on the boat shed when he did this, but Ken has a way of doing that.