Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate

Subject: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From:
Date: 30 May 02 - 02:03 AM

I am looking for the lyrics of a nice old song chorus is like this:

Long we tossed on the rolling main Now we're save a shore Jack Don't forget yer old shipmate folderderol etc.

Who can help me?

Jan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: IanC
Date: 30 May 02 - 05:14 AM

Haven't found lyrics (yet) but it's on "Roast Beef of Old England" here on Amazon, with sound clips and some reviews. Doesn't seem to be on DT.

I'll keep looking

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: IanC
Date: 30 May 02 - 05:15 AM

Sorry, here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 30 May 02 - 06:23 AM

You will find "Yer Old Shipmates" on a recording by Jim Mageean. It is on the LP, "Of Ships And Men". Recorded way back in 1978.

I am not sure this recording is available now?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: IanC
Date: 30 May 02 - 06:52 AM

Found a review of the "Roast Beef" CD in this mudcat threa on Sailor Songs, which I had previously missed out on, so I'm grateful for being pointed that way.

:-)
Ian

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 12:40 PM

CDNOW also has a sound sample here. Funny thing: I got to this page through a link from AMG but I wasn't able to find it using CDNOW'S own search engine. Hmm.

Anyway, I transcribed what I could from the two sound samples. Unfortunately, even with the additional lyrics, putting them into Google didn't come up with anything more. I've put the doubtful parts in Italics (and highly doubtful they are, too).

DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE
(Traditional)

Safe and sound at home again. Let the waters roar, Jack.
Safe and sound at home again. Let the waters roar, Jack.

CHO: Long we tossed on the rolling main. Now we're safe ashore, Jack.
Don't forget your old shipmate. Folly rolly rolly rolly rye doe.

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound before ye's gone or nigh (?), Jack,
Was there ever chummies now, such as you and I, Jack? CHO.

We have worked the selfsame gun. Wad erect a vision (?)
Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission. CHO.

[As sung by Jerry Bryant & Starboard Mess on "Roast Beef of Old England," Essay CD #5001, 2000.]

[p.s. I don't know what a sponger is, but I'm pretty sure that's what he sings.]

Subject: Lyr Add: YER OLD SHIPMATE
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 04:42 PM

Not a bad shot Jim. Here's the version from Jim Mageean's recording on Of Ships And Men (where a 25 years younger Mick Pearce can be heard in the backing singers):
^^
YER OLD SHIPMATE

Safe and sound back home again, Let the waters roar, Jack.
Safe and sound back home again, Let the waters roar, Jack.

 Chorus:
 Long we've tossed on the rolling main, Now we're safe ashore, Jack.
 Don't forget yer old shipmate. Fol-de-dol de-rol de-rol de-ri-do.

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound, Four years gone or nigh, Jack,
Was there ever chummies now, such as you and I, Jack?

We have worked the selfsame gun, Quarter-deck division,
Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission.

Often times have we laid out, Time of danger fearing.
Tugging out the flapping sail To the weather rearing.

When the middle watch was on And the time went slow, boy,
Who could tune a rousing stave, who like Jack and Joe, boy.

There she swings, an empty hulk, Not a soul below now.
Number seven starboard mess Misses Jack and Joe now.

But the best of friends must part, Fair or foul the weather.
Hand yer flipper for a shake, Now a drink together.


Jim's notes say "The song was collected by Richard Runciman Terry in Blyth, Northumberland...". According to the Roud broadside index there is a version of Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate in Firth: Naval Songs & Ballads (1908) pp.337-338.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 05:02 PM

Nice of you to neaten up this thread, Mick.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 05:11 PM

Charley -

I've started browsing the revamped Unanswered Requests link. It's much easier to look through than the old thread. 2 done already today. I could have them all cleared up within 5 years! (if only I recognised any of them)

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: GUEST,Jan
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 06:23 PM

Have just looked up my copy of Jim Mageen's LP it was released via Greenwhich village- they may be able to help you If you cannot get a copy email me [e-mail]

May you always run before the wind

Subject: Lyr Correction: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: JWB
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 10:09 PM

Despite the supposed solidification of folk songs that recorded music creates, the folk process is alive and well because it's still human ears listenting to human voices. Case in point, the lyrics to this song as posted in this thread. Having just come from a viewing of the movie "Master and Commander", in which a bit of this song is sung, I'm moved to add to the confusion.

This is the way I sing "Old Shipmate" now that I've learned that Jim Mageean got the first verse wrong on his LP. I copied his mistake on my CD "Roast Beef of Old England", and interestingly enough, so do the folks in the movie (wonder what their source was).

DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.
One more time with glad refrain let the chorus soar, Jack.

Chorus
Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.
Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound, four years gone, or nigh, Jack.
Was there ever chummies, now, such as you and I, Jack?

We have worked the self-same gun, quarterdeck division.
Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission.

Oftentimes have we laid out, toil nor danger fearing,
Tugging out the flapping sail to the weather earring.

When the middle watch was on and the time went slow, boy,
Who could choose a rousing stave, who like Jack or Joe, boy?

There she swings, an empty hulk, not a soul below now.
Number seven starboard mess misses Jack and Joe now.

But the best of friends must part, fair or foul the weather.
Hand yer flipper for a shake, now a drink together.


Back in 6/02 Jim Dixon said he didn't know what a sponger is: for the record, it's the person who swabbed out the cannon after it was fired to make sure there were no sparks left in the barrel which might ignite the next charge prematurely.

Now, truth be told I've never seen the lyrics in print -- haven't gotten ahold of Firth yet. Ain't it grand, though, that we can still have mondogreens (sp?) in this age of recordings?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 11:38 PM

Hey there,

I'm not a member of this site, I was just looking for the lyrics to this song and happened upon it. I'm a sailor with the U.S. Navy and I thought I'd shed some light on some of the more "nautical" lyrics. JWB was right about the sponger. It isn't hard to guess that the rolling main is none other than the Spanish main. I don't know how many sailors read this post, but if you were there-you know about standing watch every day. The watchstanders on the bridge, gun mounts, and elsewhere stand a rotating 24 hour watch. The watch from 0000-0400 or midnight to four is called the "mid watch" and it's the most boring watch of the day. So Jack and Joe kept everyone entertained. "Now she stands an empty hulk" refers to their old ship of course who's been decommisioned or otherwise abandoned. Starboard mess refers to the messdecks or "galley" where all the sailors congregated at meal hours. That's my two cents, I hope it helps someone get more out of the song.

-Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:25 AM

Here's the version from Firth's Naval Songs And Ballads, 1908.

DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE

We're the boys that fear no noise
Whilst thundering cannons roar,
And long we've toiled on the rolling wave,
And now we're safe on shore.
  Don't forget your old shipmate,
  Fol de rol.

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound,
Four years gone, to-night, Jack,
Were there ever chummies known,
Such as you and I, Jack?

We have served the self-same gun,
Quarter-deck division,
Sponger I, and loader you,
Through the whole commission.

Oftentimes have we laid out,
Toil nor danger fearing,
Hauling out the flapping sail
To the weather ear-ring.

When the middle watch was on,
And the time went slow, boy.
Who could tune a rousing stave,
Who like Jack or Joe, boy?

There she swings an empty hulk,
Not a soul below now;
Number seven, starboard mess,
Misses Jack and Joe now.

But the best of friends must part,
Fair or foul the weather;
Tip us your flipper for a shake,
Now a drink together;


Source: Firth: Naval Songs and Ballads, 1908

Firth's notes say: "By R.C.Saunders. Communicated by Sir J.K.Laughton"

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't forget yer old shipmate
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 08:13 AM

Mick-

Thanks for posting the version in Firth.

It does make me wonder if there isn't an older version that goes back to the Napoleonic Period; I don't find anything like it in Dibdin's Sea Songs

Charley Noble.