Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)

Subject: Lyr Add: LET HER GO BY / GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, ...
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 02:12 PM

LET HER GO BY
(Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye)

1.
I'm going away to New Orleans!
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
I'm going away to New Orleans!
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
Oh, let her go by!
2.
She's on her way to New Orleans!
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
She's bound to pass the Robert E. Lee,
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
Oh, let her go by!
3.
I'll make dis trip and I'll make no more!
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
I'll roll dese barrels, I'll roll no more!
Good-by, my lover, good-by!
Oh, let her go by!
4.
An' if you are not true to me,
Farewell, my lover, farewell!
An' if you are not true to me,
Farewell, my lover, farewell!
Oh, let her go by!

"Sung on leaving port..." Cincinnati levee songs.
B. A. Botkin, ed., 1955 (1978), "A Treasury of Mississippi River Folklore," p. 591. Bonanza Books.

Barry Finn was looking for crossover work songs (thread 99707), and mentioned "Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye!"
I could no proper Mudcat information, although this song had been sung, in some version, by almost everyone. If versions have been posted, I couldn't find them, although some are mentioned.

Ebbie, (thread 19244, 15 Mar 00) mentioned the variant "Sailing Down the River," with the chorus:
Bye, baby, bye-o
Bye, baby, bye-o
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.
I remember singing this as a child in New Mexico in the 1930's; we had no idea it had been a work song.

The Traditional Ballads Index mentions a T. H. Allen as composer(?) and the date 1882, but I have not found information on this.

99707: Crossover Worksongs
19244: Ebbie's post

Sometime today, I will post the variant from "Windjammers."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 03:41 PM

Q-

I'm sure this thread will attract Barry's attention. His song by this title describes a greenhorn being "welcomed" by his new crew mates.

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:47 PM

GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE (chantey)
^^
Solo
A farmer boy stands on the deck,
Chorus
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.
Solo
He's eatin' peanuts by the peck,
Chorus
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye,
Good-bye, aye, good-bye, my lads,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.

He came on board in his Sunday clothes,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.
In his Sunday hat and his Sunday hose,
etc.
(Add chorus Good-bye, etc., to the following solo lines).

He should a'stayed with his mules and plow,
He thinks the rudder's in the bow.

He walks the deck with farmer's feet.
He don't know a halyard from a sheet.

He thinks himself a hell of a tar,
As he pushes around a caps'n bar.

He thinks himself the old ship's match,
He don't know his stern from the after hatch.

He thinks from evenin' till morning light,
In his warm bed he'll dream all night,

The mate will say, "Wow, mister Jack,
This chair'll be easier on your back!"

When the night winds blow and the seas they roar,
He'll curse the day he left the shore.

When the green seas roll across our deck,
He'll pray the Lord for to save his neck.

When the old ship rolls all day 'n' night,
It'll turn him green and blue and white.

When he has to go aloft at night,
He'll soil his drawers in his awful fright.

At him the Old Man looks so grim,
He thinks his eyes is a'gettin' dim.

He'll know aloft from down below,
Before we sight old Buffalo.

Coll. from Captain Thomas Hylant of Buffalo and George Leach of St. Clair, Michigan. "...frequently used on grain boats in Chicago and Milwaukee when all hands worked the capstan kedging a vessel out of her loading dock or raising anchor preparatory to towing out of the harbor for a down trip to Buffalo."

With music, pp. 46-47, I. H. Walton and Joe Grimm, 2002, "Windjammers, Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors." Wayne State University Press.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 10:22 PM

In Canada, the popular "Family Herald and Weekly Star" (now defunct) published "Goodbye, My Lover, Goodbye," seven times between 1911 and 1958, and 2-3 times with music. Edith Fowke compiled a list of all songs published in the weekly and it was printed in the Canadian Journal for Traditional Music, 1979.
She gave the alternate title, "The Ship Goes Sailing Down the Bay," with author T. Allen.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, MY LOVER, GOODBYE
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:31 AM

The version of this shanty I got from Richard Adrianowicz (Radriano) & Peter Kasin (Chanteyranger) from their CD "Boldly from the Westward." You can see their notes & words + more at Goodbye My Lover Goodbye. Pretty much what Q has posted above.

Here's the prison version from Bruce Jackson's "Wake Up Dead Man" collection

GOODBYE, MY LOVER, GOODBYE

She loaded down with convict men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye
She loaded down with convict men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

CHORUS: Well, it's bye, baby, bye
Bye, baby, bye
Bye, baby, bye
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

See that train comin' round the bend
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye
You see that train comin' round the bend
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.

He's got him on that one-way train
You know by that he ain't comin' back

One time she blowed for Bilo First
One time she blowed for Camp Eight

One time she blow for Ramsey Farm
Bow-leg is waitin' for you

Barry

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:25 PM

My guess is that this is a composed 'parlor' song, whose popularity resulted in its multiple uses as a work song.

Here is the version in Irwin and Fred Silber, "Folksinger's Wordbook," p. 152, Oak Publications, 1973. No citation.

GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE

The (F) ship goes sailing down the bay,
Goodbye, my lover, good (C7)bye,
We may not meet for many a day,
Goodbye, my lover, good (F)bye.
My heart will evermore be true,
Goodbye, my lover, good (C7)bye,
Though now we sadly say adieu,
Goodbye, my lover, good (F)bye.

Chorus:
Singing (F)by-low, (Bb)my (F)baby,
(C7)By-low, my (F)bouncing baby boy;
Singing by-low, (Bb)my (F)baby,
Good (C7)bye, my lover, goodbye, goodbye;
Goodbye, my lover, good (F)bye.

I'll miss you on the stormy deep,
Goodbye, my lover, etc.
What can I do but ever weep?, etc.
My heart is broken with regret!, etc.
But never dream that I'll forget, etc.

Then cheer up till we meet again, etc.
I'll try to bear my weary pain, etc.
Though far I roam across the sea, etc.
My every thought of you shall be, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 11:58 AM

The idea that these versions stem from a "composed parlor-song" is an interesting and plausible one, and I would love to be able to prove it, if it's true, but I have failed to find the original at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection, or The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music, or Indiana University Sheet Music Collections, or even Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads.

Part of the problem is guessing whether the spelling might be good by, good bye, goodby, good-by, goodbye, or good-bye.

Maybe GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE wasn't even the original title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:07 PM

I have been trying to come up with other possible titles- will try a few more today.
As intriguing as that "Bright River Valley" (Mohawk or whatever) song.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE! (T H Allen)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 09:00 PM

GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE!
Harvard Club San Francisco, 1909

The ship goes sailing down the bay,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
We may not meet for many a day,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
My heart will evermore be true,
Tho now we sadly say adieu;
Oh, kisses sweet I leave with you,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

CHORUS
The ship goes sailing down the bay,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
Tis sad to tear my heart away,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

I'll miss you on the stormy deep,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
What can I do but ever weep?
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
My heart is broken with regret!
But never dream that I'll forget;
I loved you once, I love you yet,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Then cheer up till we meet again,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
I'll try to bear my weary pain,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
Tho far I roam across the sea,
My ev'ry thought of you shall be,
Oh, say you'll sometimes think of me,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

"Songbook of the Harvard Club of San Francisco," Committee W. T. Reid and George H. Powers, 1909.
on line at: http://ia310115.us.archive.org/2/items/songbook00harvrich/songbook00harvrich_djvu.txt

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 11:38 AM

Any printing found from before 1909?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: GUEST,Dick Culbertson
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 11:05 AM

In Richmond, VA in early 30s, I recall it beginning:
"Oh the ship of state comes round the bend,
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye"   

And my memory fails!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 10:04 PM

Evidence is beginning to show that "Goodbye, my lover, goodbye," perhaps belongs to the Civil War period, and may be earlier.
Extracts from the Cherokee County Herald (Alabama), printed January-February, 1961.
"An article written by the late Miss Nellie Jane Watt of Cedar Bluff, Alabama, about her mother, Emma Chastillette (Williamson) Watt, during the period 1861-1865 has come to the attention of the Society and may be of interest ...in connection with the Civil War Centennial Commemoration.
LITTLE CHEROKEE REBEL written by Miss Nellie Jane Watt.
As the first steamboat of soldiers left Cherokee County, Alabama, in 1861 the whole countryside turned out to see them off to the War. It had come at last- the War Between the States. The southern men were so willing and eager to go, it left few at home. And as the boat steamed away into an unknown future older women together with young wives and sweethearts bravely tried to sing a beautiful song inspired by the war, "Goodbye, My Lover, Goodbye." ....
Cherokee County Home- "Stories from the 1860's."

http://www.rootsweb.com/~alcherok/1860stry.htm

Is this just a romantic tale?

The following bit of history shows that a parody of "Goodbye, My Lover, Goodbye" existed in the 1870's.

THE BROOKS-BAXTER WAR, by Richard Owings, reprinted from the Arkansas Times.
Extracts- In the election for 1872, two Republican candidates, Joseph Brooks and Elisha Baxter, fought for the governorship (ex-Confederates had been disenfranchised). The contest later developed into a war between forces of the two candidates, which lasted from April 15 until May 15, 1874. In several battles, more than 200 people died, many of them Black soldiers in Brooks army opposed by Baxter's mainly White troops. Some civilians also died in the fighting.
Cutting to the part of the article which refers to "Goodbye, My Lover, Goodbye"-
"Late in the afternoon of April 21, Col. H. King White, a tall, red-headed cavalry officer from Pine Bluff who had served with the Confederacy, arrived from Jefferson County by flatboat in command of a contingent of 800 black troops who had come to join Baxter's army. They marched through the city singing:

Do you see that boat comin' round the bend?
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.
She's loaded down with Baxter's men,
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.

Baxter's army had been effectively all white, while approx. 450 soldiers in Brooks' 600-man force were Black. This, of course, was the terrible time of Reconstruction.
The article is a long one; the existence of the parody is the purpose of this note, not the clashes of the time.

http://www.oldstatehouse.com/general_information/history/brooksbaxter.asp

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: GUEST,Deb
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 11:01 PM

My family handed down a lullaby version of this song. it went like this:

Steamboat's comin' around the bend.
Good-bye my lover, good-bye
It's loaded down with good girls and boys
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.

Bye-oh, my baby
Bye-oh, my baby,
bye-oh, my baby,
Bye-oh, my baby, bye-oh.

I was told it was a Negro song, sung by the slaves back in the family. This was in the southern Indiana/ Louisville area. I love this song, and have sung it to my children and grand children.

Subject: Tear My Heart
From: GUEST,C.Smith
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:48 AM

Don't tear my heart its not made of paper
Don't tear my heart I can't stand the pain
Give me your love, now and forever
Don't tear my heart, I';ll never love again

"Tear My Heart" the song from the novel of the same name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 01:05 PM

A copy of GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE!, words and music by T. H. Allen, can be seen, with musical notation arranged for piano and one voice for the verse, piano and four voices for the chorus, in College Songs: A Collection of New and Popular Songs of the American Colleges, New and Enlarged Edition, compiled by Henry Randall Waite (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1887), page 54.

The bottom of the page has the notation:
"Copyright , MDCCCLXXXII [1882], by T. B. Harms & Co."

Lyrics are identical to those posted by Q above, from the Harvard Club songbook.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: GUEST,Ashley Reynolds
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 11:23 PM

My mother from VA. sang it to me as;
See the boat go round the bend good by e my lover good bye,
it's loaded down with Tenessee men ,
good bye my lover good bye..

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 10:38 PM

See the boat go round the bend
Goodbye my lover goodbye
All loaded down with boys & men
Goodbye my lover goodbye
Bye...my baby...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,V Hein/Atlanta
Date: 04 May 12 - 11:25 AM

My mother sang, "Here comes the boat around the bend,Bye Goodbye my lover, Goodbye,"--to me as a lullabye--when I was a baby in the 1920s. She lived in Williamsport (today Innis), LA. on the Mississippi River as a youth. I sang it to my children in the 1950s

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Dave Jones
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 11:19 PM

The only version of this tune that I ever heard was one that my dad, grandpa, and uncles would sing - one verse and one verse only (or maybe it's only half a verse). The verse may have been something that was either made up by my paternal side of the family or someone that they knew who then taught it to them. It seems that it was meant to be a parody of the more serious versions that I have seen posted above, though I have NO idea what it was supposed to mean, other than just being silly. If there were more to the parody, I'd love someone to complete it for me. Singing it always made me laugh, or at least brought a smile. In a 6/8 feel (like "Irish Washerwoman") it went something like this:

The (F) elephant went down the track,
Goodbye, my lover, good (C7)bye,
(just a-) Pickin' his teeth with a carpet tack,
Goodbye, my lover, good (F)bye.

Chorus:
(F)Bye, Oh, my baby, there's
(C7)one more river to (F)cross,
(F)Bye, Oh, my baby, there's
(C7)one more river to (F)cross.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Guest Extended Family
Date: 05 May 14 - 10:27 PM

This lullaby has been sung in my family for six generations - back to my great-great grandmother, that I know of. I have been looking for the origin for years, and wondered if it was Irish or Scotch-Irish, as we have that heritage. My great-grandmother grew up around New Orleans, and my grandmother and mother grew up in Indiana.

I saw a ship go round the bend
Goodbye my lover goodbye
Twas laden down with jacks and men
Goodbye my lover goodby

By Baby, By Low
What makes you cry so
By Baby, By Low
Goodbye my lover, goodbye, goodby
goodbye my lover, goodbye

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Dick
Date: 13 Jun 14 - 06:33 PM

My mother sang this to me in much the way that Deb describes it earlier (like 2011) but with the words:
See the boat go round the bend
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.
She's loaded down with big fat men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.

Bye, Bye
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.
For she's load down with big fat men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye.

We are from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. My great-great grandfather, born in 1850 sang it to her and explain it was about the movement of men from the south up the Mississippi river. They left well fed, came back starved. At least so goes the myth. Seems as though the tune and the essence of the song have been around even longer. I have been singing it to my children and grandchildren since their birth.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: Janie
Date: 13 Jun 14 - 07:15 PM

As sung by Barry and Neil on
Finn & Haddie Fathom This   Note at the end regarding where Barry learned it. The lyrics are somewhat different from what Barry posted above, and he gives a few more source references.

Good-Bye My Lover Good-Bye

as led by Barry Finn on Fathom This © 2007
Barry Finn and Neil Downey
He came on board with his Sunday clothes,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
His Sunday hat an' his Sunday hose,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

A farmer boy stood on the deck,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He's eatin' peanuts by the peck,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

He should a-stayed with his mules an' plow,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He thinks the rudder's in the bow,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

He walks the deck with his farmer's feet,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He don't know a halyard from a sheet,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

He thinks himself a hell of a tar,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
As he pushes around the caps'n bar,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

When the night winds blow an' the seas do roar,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He'll curse the day he left the shore,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

When the green seas roll across our deck,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He'll pray for the Lord to save his neck,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

When the old ship rolls all day an' night,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
It'll turn his face green, blue an' white,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

When he has to go aloft at night,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
He'll soil his drawers in his awful fright,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

He'll know aloft from down below,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
Before we reach Buffalo,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Good-bye, good-bye, my love,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!

Barry first became familiar with this song from his friends Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianowicz's CD Boldly from the Westward - Songs of the Sea. Versions of this Great Lakes capstan shanty can be found in Colcord, Tozer and Hugill's collections. Hugill saw it as probably being of "Negro" origin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Jun 14 - 03:42 PM

No sound evidence of its existence prior to the published song of 1882 (1887).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Iesha
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 01:16 AM

My mother sang this to me as a child but she didn't sing the full song I don't think. She sang it like this:

By-Oh my baby, by-oh my baby,
By-Oh my baby, by-oh my baby by-oh

The ship was sailing down the bay
Goodbye my lover, goodbye
We may not meet for many a day
Goodbye my lover, goodbye

By-Oh my baby, by-oh my baby,
By-Oh my baby, by-oh my baby by-oh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 14 - 02:58 PM

Our grandfather sang

There comes a ship around the bend
Goodbye my lover goodbye
It's loaded down with women and men
Goodbye my lover goodbye

Bye o my baby
Bye o my baby
Bye o my baby
Goodbye my lover goodbye

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,rick
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 01:08 AM

my mom sang it to me in the 1960s

"see the boat go round the bend, its all loaded down with whiskey and gin"...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: JenBurdoo
Date: 14 Oct 16 - 03:51 PM

Thanks for this! I've been looking for the origins to this one. I learned it from Ed McCurdy's children's album (published in the late '50s, I think). There were blurbs on the back about all the songs but I don't remember what it said about this one. He sang the first and third verses, and the chorus as:

By-low, my baby,
By-low, my baby,
By-low, my baby,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Jan 17 - 11:33 PM

My Great Grand Mother sang this often in the 1970's and I'm going crazy trying to find it now.

The steamer goes round across the sea
good-bye my lover good-bye
The steamer goes round across the sea
good-bye my lover good-bye
by-low my baby
by-low my baby
by-low my baby
Good bye my lover, good bye

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 17 - 03:29 PM

My dad sang this version to me. Made me cry every time. His family is from belchertown MA English and Irish
My ship is sailing down the bay good bye my lover good bye for we'll not meet for many a day good bye my lover good bye bye baby bye oh what makes you cry so his mom sang it go him and shes from Nova Scotia Canada and English Irish also

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 19 - 01:05 PM

Thank you all for the input. My 100% Irish-heritage grandmother (born near Boston in 1894) sang this version to me circa 1950:

See the ships go 'round the bend,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.
All laden down with Tennessee man.
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.

Sing a-bye-lo my baby,
Bye-lo, my bouncing baby girl (boy).
Sing a-bye-lo my baby.
Good-bye, my lover, goodbye.
Good-bye, my lover, goodbye.

My Nana lived most of her life in New England. but she did spend a couple of years in Missouri. Also, she had a grandfather who served in the Civil War and could have brought home this song from the South.

I would love to know more about its origins, and the rest of the words to this "Tennessee" version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Apr 19 - 11:45 PM

Listening to this song in my inner ear, it very clearly sounds [based on content, not structure] as though it has related roots to Bye, Bye, my Roseanno. It could have been similarly used for a net hauling or long haul chantey.
I remember hearing it in the 50's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Apr 19 - 01:36 PM

The version I grew up with was from Ed McCurdy's children's record, which had only the first and last verses, without the last couplet, of the Ship is sailing down the bay version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Paradise runner at gmail.com
Date: 14 Dec 20 - 09:08 PM

My grandma (born 1895 of German/Alsace-Lorraine descent) sang this to me:

“Here comes the boat around the bend,
Goodbye my lover, goodbye!
It’s all filled up with working men,
Goodbye my lover, goodbye.

Bye-o my baby! Bye-o my baby.
Bye-o my baby, Goodbye my lover,
Goodbye!”

It was a comforting song but I was afraid it was too sad too.
Circa 1963-5. When I was under seven yrs old I guess.
Thanks for solving the mystery.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Kate J
Date: 24 May 23 - 01:06 AM

My grandmother sang a version of this but I never knew the origins and the “hungry” always confused me. She sang it as a lullaby. She grew up in Omaha but lived on the river road in Southern Louisiana so I’m not sure where she picked it up.

I saw the ship go round the bend.
Good night, baby, good night.
All loaded down with hungry men.
Good night, baby, good night   

Bye-lo my baby
Sleep tight my baby
Bye-lo my baby
Good night, baby, good night

She would keep repeating it til I drifted off.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Molly
Date: 09 Jul 23 - 05:05 PM

The version my parents sang to me in the rocker was possibly racist, although as they explained it, the lyrics referenced the Chinese having helped build the railroad. Their second verse is just silly.

I saw the train come round the bend
Good-bye my lover good-bye
A loaded down with Chinamen
Good-bye my lover good-bye

Singing bye-lo my baby, bye-lo my baby, by-lo my baby
Good-bye my lover good-bye.

A grasshopper sat on the railroad track
good-bye my lover good-bye
a pickin his teeth with a carpet tack
good-bye my lover good-bye

chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Serena
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 04:49 PM

The version my great-great grandmother sang to me was

I saw the ship go ‘round the bend
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye
Loaded down with big fat men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

Bye oh, bye my baby, bye
Bye oh, bye my baby, bye
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Serena
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 04:49 PM

The version my great-great grandmother sang to me was

I saw the ship go ‘round the bend
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye
Loaded down with big fat men
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

Bye oh, bye my baby, bye
Bye oh, bye my baby, bye
Goodbye, my lover, goodbye

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Good-bye, My Lover, Good-bye (T H Allen)
From: GUEST,Grandma who had a grandma
Date: 11 Mar 24 - 01:01 PM

My Ohio grandmother (born about 1885) sang:

Here comes the boat around the bend
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye,
All loaded down with women and men,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye!
Bye, baby, bye-oh,
Bye, baby, bye-oh,
Bye, baby, bye-oh,
Good-bye, my lover, good-bye.

She spent her early years traveling with a circus-- her father was the circus band leader-- so I don't know where she learned it, but the circus might have helped spread it.