To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2355
18 messages

Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version

23 Jul 97 - 10:07 AM (#9335)
Subject: lyrics childrens' Barnacle Bill
From: searching

I know there are childrens' lyrics to this folk song but all I ever find are the bawdy ones. Is there anyone out there who has the lyrics from the grammer school version which I think was around in the "60s? Thanks for the help.


23 Jul 97 - 10:57 AM (#9348)
Subject: Lyr Add: BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR
From: Gene

BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR - Traditional arrangement

Who's a-knocking at my door? (3x)
Cried the fair young maiden.
It's me, my love, it's only me
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.
It's me, my love, it's only me
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.

Where were you for seven years? (3x)
Cried the fair young maiden.
I've been to sea to see the sea
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.
I knew that you would wait for me
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.

I detect a whiff of rye (3x)
Cried the fair young maiden.
I only had a nip or two
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.
I'm only drunk with love for you
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.

Come and meet your son of six (3x)
Cried the fair young maiden.
A sailor's pay won't do for three
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.
Farewell, I'm off across the Sea
Cried Barnacle Bill, the Sailor.


29 Jul 97 - 10:40 AM (#9751)
Subject: RE: lyrics childrens' Barnacle Bill
From: searching

Gene, Thanks for the lyrics. These are not quite the ones I remembered for the children's song but perhaps the lyrics are endless.


30 Jul 97 - 04:17 AM (#9834)
Subject: RE: lyrics childrens' Barnacle Bill
From: hjackson@junction.net

another lyric i remember is....

i'm skinny and rough but a hell of a tough (says barnacle bill the sailor... etc.)

i think it's one of the lines popeye actually sings.


04 Aug 97 - 05:14 PM (#10042)
Subject: Lyr Add: BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR
From: Becky

Hi; I got this version out of an old school music book, that was from the California State Department of Education, Sacramento, 1958. Says the song was 'Adapted by W. S. Williams'.

"Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my door?
Who's that knocking at my door?"
Cried the fair young maiden.
"It's me myself and nobody else," cried Barnacle Bill the sailor.
"It's me myself and nobody else," cried Barnacle Bill the sailor.

"I'll come down and let you in,
I'll come down and let you in,
I'll come down and let you in,"
Cried the fair young maiden.
"I'm me myself and nobody else," cried Barnacle Bill the sailor.
"I'm me myself and nobody else," cried Barnacle Bill the sailor.


and exactly how it's written' unless I made a typo I didn't catch..

Hope this is what you're for! :-) (ewww that looks funny), Becky


04 Aug 97 - 07:17 PM (#10056)
Subject: RE: lyrics childrens' Barnacle Bill
From: searching

I still think there are more children's lyrics - one was: "It's only me from over the sea", cried Barnacle Bill the sailor. Ah well! Thanks to Hijackson and Becky.


08 Apr 16 - 01:53 PM (#3784247)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: GUEST,Chris Garvey

Who's that knocking at my door?"
Cried the fair young maiden.
"Fair maid, it's me. I'm home from the sea."
cried Barnacle Bill the sailor.
"If you love me, say 'It's I'"
Cried the fair young maiden.

All I can remember from a song book at a Catholic school about 1959.


08 Apr 16 - 06:44 PM (#3784289)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Steve Gardham

In the cartoon it's a duet between Bluto and Olive, and it could possibly have been this version that became popular with children.


08 Apr 16 - 09:40 PM (#3784312)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: FreddyHeadey

Thanks for the Popeye Bluto & OliveOyl clues.
They're singing nearly all the way through this.

Popeye the Sailor - Beware of Barnacle Bill 


[Olive Oyl]
Popeye, dear, we cannot wed.
Popeye, dear, we cannot wed.
Popeye, dear, we cannot wed.
I love another sailor.

[Popeye]
Who's the guy who won your heart?
[Olive Oyl]
It's Barnacle Bill the sailor.
[Popeye]
Who's the guy who thinks he's smart?
[Olive Oyl]
It's Barnacle Bill the sailor.
[Popeye]
Why, that false heart and flattering tongue.
He courts them all, both old and young.
He courts them all but marries none,
Your Barnacle Bill the sailor.

[Olive Oyl]
But he's strong and handsome, too.
But he's strong and handsome, too.
But he's strong and handsome, too.
My Barnacle Bill the sailor.

[Popeye]
I'll twist his toes
And squeeze the nose
Of Barnacle Bill the sailor!
I'll mop the place
With his false face,
That Barnacle Bill the sailor!
I'll grab him by his dirty neck,
And when I'm through he'll be a wreck.
I'll sweep and smear and swab the deck
With Barnacle Bill the sailor!

[Knock! Knock!]
[Olive Oyl]
Who's that knocking at my door?
Who's that knocking at my door?
Who's that knocking at my door?
Tell the fair young maiden.

[Barnacle Bill]
It's only me from over the sea.
It's Barnacle Bill the sailor.
I've come to take you away with me.
I'm Barnacle Bill the sailor.

Hurry before you get me sore.
I'll rare and tear and rant and roar!
Hurry before I bust in the door!
It's Barnacle Bill the sailor!


[Olive Oyl]
Here I come to let you in.
Here I come to let you in.
Here I come to let you in.
My Barnacle Bill the sailor.

[Barnacle Bill]
No one ever challenges me!
[Popeye]
Says Barnacle Bill the sailor.
[Barnacle Bill]
I'm the terror of the sea!
[Popeye]
Says Barnacle Bill the sailor.

[Barnacle Bill]
A fe and a fi and a fo and a fum!
Yo he ho and a bottle of rum!
Before your silly old day is done!
[Popeye]
Says Barnacle Bill the sailor.

[Olive Oyl]
Popeye, dear, I love you best.
Popeye, dear, I love you best.
Popeye, dear, I love you best.
When will we get married?

[Popeye]
I've changed me mind, so you can wed
Your Barnacle Bill the sailor.
You're nothing but a cabbage-head.

Every dame's a selfish cat.
They only turn and leave you flat.
Just the way you did to that
Poor Barnacle Bill the sailor.

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070917193505AAYAzL4 


09 Apr 16 - 12:27 PM (#3784414)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Steve Gardham

Wonderful stuff!


10 Apr 16 - 02:06 AM (#3784489)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: jody

It's only me from over the sea
I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree


10 Apr 16 - 06:40 PM (#3784659)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Ged Fox

Who's that knocking at my door etc

It's only me from over the sea, said B B the B,
I've just come home from Portugee aboard a British whaler

Have you brought my kangaroo etc

Yes I've brought your kangaroo, said B B the B,
And a polly parrot too, said B B the B

I'll come down and let you in etc.


11 Apr 16 - 04:07 AM (#3784726)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: FreddyHeadey

NB There are two sets of lyrics in the DT

BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR 

BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR (2) (Luther, Robison) 

and several other threads if you click the forum box in the search.
(BLANK SEARCH BOX)


11 Apr 16 - 09:24 AM (#3784752)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: clueless don

The theme of this thread on Barnacle Bill seems to be "lyrics that are suitable for children". But "children's version" could also refer to the lyrics that children actually learn. In my own case, that was a version with bawdy/vulgar lyrics. In particular, in the version I learned as a child he was "Barnacle Bill the Bastard".


11 Apr 16 - 10:22 AM (#3784756)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Rex

This is a video of Glenn Ohrlin and Brigid Reedy singing Barnacle Bill. It was observed that their ages were 72 years apart, Brigid being 10 at the time. They made for a wonderful duo and played several times before Glenn passed away early last year. Look for Barnacle Bill 12 minutes into the video. As Glenn says in the intro here, "Don't worry boys, it ain't the Barnacle Bill you learned in the Army." I was fortunate to be there.

Rex

Glenn Ohrlin and Brigid Reedy singing Barnacle Bill the Sailor.


13 Apr 16 - 08:19 PM (#3785172)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Louie Roy

refresh


13 Apr 16 - 09:52 PM (#3785187)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: Louie Roy

I don't know if this is what you wanted but this is the words I learned in the 1930sEvery verse starts with a question repeated 3 times such as 1st verse    (Whose that knocking at my door cried a young maiden) It's only me from over the sea said Barnacle Bill the sailor. I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree says Barnacle Bill the sailor I'll sail the sea until I croak I fight and swear drink and smoke but I can't swim a bloody stroke says Barnacle Bill the Sailor

2nd Verse 3 x Are you young and handsome sir cried a fair young maiden)
I'm old and rough dirty and tough says Barnacle Bill the sailor
I drink my gin and dip my snuff says Barnacle Bill the sailor
I drink my whiskey when I can whiskey from n old tin can for whiskey is the life of man says Barnacle Bill the sailor.

3rd
3rd Verse 3 x(I'll come down and let you in cried a fair young maiden)
Well hurry before I break the door says Barnacle Bill the sailor. Ill puff and fuss rant and roar says Barnacle Bill the sailor. I'll spin you yarns and tell you lies I'll drink your wine and eat your pies I'll kiss your cheek and black your eyes says Barnacle Bill the sailor.

4th Verse
(3x Tell me that we soon shall wed cried a fair young maiden)
I've got me a wife in every port says barnacle Bill the sailor and handsome gals is who I court says barnacle Bill the sailor. With my false heart and flattering tongue I court them all both old and young I court them all but marry none says barnacle Bill the sailor

There is one more verse but my foggy mind won't let me remember
5th verse
When shall I see you again cried a fair young maiden
Never again I come no more tonight I'm sailing from this shore says Barnacle Bill the sailor??????????????


16 Aug 18 - 09:47 AM (#3944342)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barnacle Bill, children's version
From: GUEST,Guest

Fascinating insights into the Barnacle Bill song in this monograph:

Who's That Knocking at My Door

I learned (a very clean) version from my mother and I had no idea of its antiquity.

A great read!