Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman

Subject: CORRECTION - the Dying Ranger
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:18 PM

DT songfile dyrangr
known in the south as Dying Ranger in Doerflinger as The Dying Soldier

DT file missing the first verse:

The sun was sinking in the west and fell in ling'ring rays
Through the branches of a forest wher a wounded soldier lay.
On the banks of the Potomac /neath the southron sultry sky,
Far from his loved New England home, they've laid him down to die.

tune in DT

Subject: Lyr Add: BYRONTOWN
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:41 PM

BYRONTOWN
(from the singing of Jerry Hanley via the singing of Jared MacLean)
(collected by Louise Manny)
(Doerflinger - 'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' - pp260-262)

Oh, in By-ron-town of high re-nown,
That's where I do be-long,
And to speak my mind on wo-men-kind,
Now, I've com-posed a song.
And I hope with me you'll all a-gree,
Mind, what I say is true,
And young la-dies gay I will be-tray,
And give them all their due.

Now the first of all, there's big and small,
As you may understand;
The tall and slim, the thick and thin,
All in our glorious land.
The black and white, they lace up tieght
Our young men to beguile.
There's the young and ould, the hot and cold,
There's every shade and style.

Now, these girls you'll meet upon the street,
the seem so blithe and gay,
With a form and face that would disgrace
The blooming flowers in May.
And a ruby lip some nice young slip
They seem so gay and shy;
And they'll kindly speak and look so meek
Saying; I'm Mother's pride and joy.

Now, such thoughts as these, they do me please,
And set my heart on fire.
To be some man's wife, yes, all through life,
It is their whole desire.
But love has blinded all mankind,
From the days of Adam down,
so that's the way in the State of Maine,
Likewise in Byrontown.

Oh, it's now you know, to a dance they'll go,
Next day they can scarcely crawl,
And if our young men could see them then,
In love they'd never fall.
Like a lousy pup, they're all used up,
Their sex they do degrade;
They should lead their life as no man's wife,
But die a poor old maid.

They rise at nine, or dinner time
To get their morning meal.
Oh, Mother dear, I feel so queer.
You don't know how I feel!
My head does ache, it will surelye break;
My back it pains again.
I wished last night I was in my grave,
And the grass growing over me green!

But they'll marry a man, that's if they can,
And to keeping house they'll go.
They'll pile on style, yes, all the while,
Let the wages be high or low.
A loaf or cake they cannot bake;
You would laugh to see their pies,
They'd declare the flour was old and sour,
And the dough it would not rise.

It's an organ grand you must pursue,
All for your lady bright,
And a sewing machine to hem and seam
To keep her hands so white.
And a great big hat, sure she'll sport that,
No matter what you say,
And a brand new shawl she'll have next fall,
When you your debts can't pay.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ANCHOR'S AWEIGH
From: MMario
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:12 PM

THE ANCHOR'S AWEIGH
(from the singing of Patrick Tayluer)
(Doerflilnger - 'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' p167)

Oh the anch-or's a-weigh, the anch-or's a-weigh,
Fare-well, fare you well, my own true love

At last we part-ed on the shore,
as the tears rolled gent-ly from her eyes.
Must you leave me now, she did say,
That I face this all a-lone?

Oh the anch-or's a-weigh, the anch-or's a-weigh,
Fare-well, fare you well, my own true love

Subject: Tune Add: THE ANCHOR'S AWEIGH
From: MMario
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 02:42 PM

N-The Anchor's Aweigh
C-
A-
T-
S-72
K-F
B-6/8
F-
H-
M-5R-5 C-4 C-8 F-5 F-4 F-8 F-5 R-4 F-0_a-0 c-5 c-4 c-8 a-5 R-8 a-8_c-8
L-Oh, the anch-or's a-weigh, the anch-or's a-weigh, Fare-
H-
M-4d-5 d-8_b-8 G-8 F-8_D-4_C-4 D-8 a-5 G-4_F-8 F-5 R-4 C-8
L-well, fare you well, my own true love. At
B-4/4
H-
M-1B-5 F-8 a-0_G-0 F-8 D-8 F-8
L-last we part-ed on the
B-3/4
H-
M-4C-4 R-8 C-0 C-0 F-8 a-8 c-5 c-8 d-0_b-0 G-8 E-2 R-8 C-8 F-5 F-8 d-8 c-8
L-shore, As the tears rolled gent-ly from her eyes. Must you go leave me
H-
M-2c-8 b%0 b%0 b&5 G-0 G-0 T34aa-8_d-8 c-8_c-4 T34ab%8_a-8 b-8
L-now, she did say, That I x face this x all a-
B-6/8
H-
M-5c-5 R-8 C-8 C-8 F-5 F-4 F-8 F-5 R-4 F-0_a-0 c-5 c-8_a-8 a-8 a-5 R-8 a-8_c-8
L-lone? Oh, the anch-or's a-weigh, the anch-or's a-weigh, Fare-
H-
M-4d-5 d-8_b-8 G-8 F-8_D-4_C-4 D-8 a-5 G-4_F-8 F-5 R-5
L-well, fare you well, my own true love.

Subject: Tune Add: BYRONTOWN
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 10:43 AM

N-Byrontown
C-
A-
T-
S-120
K-F
B-4/4
F-
H-
M-4R-3 F-9 G-0 a-4 a-0_G-9 F-4 G-4 G-4 c-8_G-8 G-8 R-8 C-4 F-4 G-8_F-8 D-5 D-8
L-Oh, in By-ron-town of high re-known, That's where I do be-
H-
M-4D-2 R-4 D-9 E-0 F-4 F-4 F-8 R-8 a-0_c-9 c-0 c-5_c-0 a-8 R-8 c-4 d-4 c-8_a-8 F-4 G-4
L-long. And to speak my mind on wom-en-kind, Now, I've com-posed a
H-
M-4a-2 R-4 D-9 E-0 F-4 F-4 F-4 a-0_c-9 c-4 c-8_a-8 a-8 R-8 c-4 d-4 c-0_a-9 F-4 G-4
L-song. And I hope with me you'll all a-gree, Mind, what I say is
H-
M-4a-4 R-4 R-4 F-9 G-0 a-4 a-0_G-9 F-4 G-4 a-4 c-4 a-8 R-8 C-4 F-4 G-0_F-8 R-0 D-5 D-8
L-true. And young la-dies gay I will be-tray, and give them all their
H-
M-1D-4 R-3
L-due.

Subject: Lyr Add: CALL JOHN THE BOATMAN
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 10:53 AM

CALL JOHN THE BOATMAN
(from the singing of Patrick Tayluer)
(Doerflinger - 'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' - p 173)

Call John the boat-man, call, call a-gain.
For loud roars the remp-est and fast falls the rain.
John-ny is a good man, he sleeps so ver-y sound,
His oars are at rest and his boat is a-ground
Red rolls the riv-er, so ra-pid and so deep;
Well the loud-er you call him, the fast-er he'll sleep!

Subject: Tune Add: CALL JOHN THE BOATMAN
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 11:09 AM

N-Call John The Boatman
C-
A-
T-
S-138
K-D
B-6/8
F-
H-
M-5G-5 G-4 G-8 b-5 G-5 G-5 F-4 E-8 F-5 R-4 F-8 G-5 b-4 b-8
L-Call John the boat-man, call, call a-gain, For loud roars the
H-
M-5b-5 E-4 F-8 G-5 F-4 F-8 E-5 R-5 E-4 E-8 E-4 E-8 E-5 E-4 E-8
L-tem-pest and fast falls the rain. John-ny is a good man, he
H-
M-5E-4 E-8 D-4 C-8 B-5 R-4 B-8 E-5 E-4 E-8 E-5 E-4 E-8 E-5 D-4 C-8
L-sleeps so ve-ry sound, His oars are at rest and his boat is a-
H-
M-5B-5 R-5 b-5 b-4 a-8 G-5 E-4 E-8 b-4 b-8 b-4 c-8 d-3
L-ground. Red rolls the riv-er, so rap-id and so deep
H-
M-5R-5 d-4 d-8 e-5 G-4 a-8 G-5 b-4 b-8 b-5 a-4 a-8 G-5 R-5
L-Well the loud-er you call him, the fast-er he'll sleep!

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 04:31 PM

That's most of it - I've shipped a "new" index off to Joe - that has links for most of the songs - either here in this thread or the DT - a few in the forum.

There are a VERY few with no link - I should be able to get to them sooner or later; but I am *way* behind on stuff I've promised Philippa, and Bronson, and...

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: MMario
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 09:17 AM

I've started putting the midi's up on the Mudcat Midi page

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: MMario
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 01:24 PM

tune posted for "We'll have another drink before the boat shoves off" in another thread - see link above.

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:30 PM

re: Anything attributed to Larry Gorman can be expanded upon by contacting Sandy Ives (died 2009) at the University of Maine, Orono. He established the department of folklore and department survives.

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 05:50 PM

A version of "Poor Old Man," collected by P. A. Hutchison in the late 1800's has been posted in 97546: Old Hoss
It is not combined with the 'floated in' "round Cape Horn" verses.

Subject: Lyr Add: LUMBER (Cicely Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 11:47 AM

It's curious that no work songs have been collected related to loading or unloading lumber aboard the ships. This was very hard work, calling for a team effort, threading the larger beams through the bow or stern ports.

The only thing I've turned up is a poem by C. Fox Smith, appropriately titled "Lumber", which commemorates the experience as she observed it many times in Victoria, British Columbia, in the early 1900s. Here's her poem:

Words by Cicely Fox Smith ©
In ROVINGS, Elkin Mathews, London, UK, © 1921, pp. 33-34.

LUMBER

If I'd got to choose alone
One of all the freights I've known –
All my cargoes live and dead,
Bacon pigs and pigs of lead,
Cattle, copra, rice and rails,
Pilgrims, coolies, nitrates, nails,
Lima beans and China teas –
What do you think my pick would be?

If I'd got to name the best –
Take just one and leave the rest
Out of all the ports I've known –
Coral beaches white as bone,
All the hot lands and the cold,
Nights of stars and moons like gold,
Tropic smells and Spanish wine,
Whispering palm and singing pine,
All the isles of all the sea –
Where do you think I'd want to be?

Loading lumber long ago
In a ship I used to know,
With the bow-ports open wide
In her stained and rusted side,
And the saws a-screaming shrill
At the Steveston lumber-mill;
Where the Fraser floods and flows
Green and cold with melting snows,
And the tow-boats' wailing din,
As the booms come crawling in,
Fills the echoing creeks with sound,
And there's sawdust all around,
Deep and soft like drifted snow;
Nowhere much a man can go,
Nothing much to see or do,
Mouldiest burg you ever knew…

But I'd give the years between –
All I've done and all I've seen,
All the fooling and the fun,
All the chances lost and won,
All the good times and the bad,
All the memories sweet and sad,
Far and near, by shore and sea,
I would give them all to be
Loading lumber years ago
With the lads I used to know –

Loading lumber all day long
Stacks of scented deals among –
Loading lumber at the mill
Till the screaming saws were still,
And the rose-red sunset died
From the mountains and the tide,
And the night brought out its stars,
And the wind's song in the spars
Of that ship I used to know –
Loading lumber, long ago.

Notes: Cicely Fox Smith was based in Victoria, British Columbia, for much of the time that she was on the West Coast of Canada, roughly 1904 to 1913. She describes in vivid detail her experience there walking the docks, watching the sunsets, admiring the ships, listening to the yarns of ship-keepers and other sailors, and nosing around the waterfront. The Village of Steveston is located in Richmond, BC, adjacent to Vancouver where she likely visited. Curiously, there is no record of a "Steveston Mill" in Steveston Village. There were an abundance of Salmon canneries but apparently no lumber mill. However, there was a major railhead for shipping out lumber, and maybe that was the source of the poet's apparent confusion.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: shipcmo
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 07:11 AM

It appears that the program "MusicEase" will accomodate MMario's "Songwriter" notation.

Subject: RE: Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 May 11 - 04:39 PM

shipcmo sent me a pack of MIDI files, converted from the SongWright files MMario posted above. You'll note that MMario has posted links to a number of MIDI files above, so some of these may be duplicates of tunes MMario has already posted. Most seem to be at least somewhat different from the MMario MMidis. Here they are, all together.
Thanks, shipcmo.
-Joe-

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• Click to play-TheAlabama

• Click to play-ComeDownYouBloodRedRoses

• Click to play-TheFemaleWarrior

• Click to play-GimmeDeBanjo

• Click to play-HangingJohnny

• Click to play-HelloSomebody

• Click to play-JackTar

• Click to play-JohnDamaray

• Click to play-LetGoTheReefTackle

• Click to play-ALongTimeAgo(1)

• Click to play-ALongTimeAgo(3)

• Click to play-ALongTimeAgo(4)

• Click to play-ALongTimeAgo(6)

• Click to play-PaddyGetBack

• Click to play-PoorOldMan

• Click to play-Ranzo(I)

• Click to play-Ranzo(II)

• Click to play- RiseMeUpFromDownBelow

• Click to play- RollTheCottonDown(1)

• Click to play- RollTheCottonDown(2)

• Click to play-ShalloBrown

• Click to play-SoHandy

• Click to play-susiana