Origins: Bold Benjamin-O

Subject: Origins: Bold Benjamin-O
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 05:41 AM

The sleeve notes of a recording by Royston and Heather Wood on the LP "No relation" for the song "Bold Benjamin-O" says that "there must be a great story behind this song but the song doesn't tell it". Does anyone knoew the story?

From memory the first couple of verses are:

Brave Admiral Coley's gone to sea, Oh, me boys, O,O
Brave Admiral Coley's gone to sea, O!
Brave Admiral Coley's gone to sea
Along along with his ship's company
On board the Bold Benjamin-O


Here's the mothers crying for their sons, Oh, me boys, O,0
Here's the mothers crying for their sons, O
Here's the mothers crying for their sons,
And the wives for their husbands
[That was] lost on the Benjamin-O

Subject: RE: Origins: Bold Benjamin-O
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 05:51 AM

I've found a version in the DT with more complete lyrics that suggests it should be 'Admiral Cole, he's gone to sea' rather than Admiral Coley, and gives the singer it was collected from, but the story is still missing ...

Subject: RE: Origins: Bold Benjamin-O
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 06:35 AM

According to the notes in The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, it date back to the 1850's. The singer, Mr Taunton of Corscombe in Devon learnt it from a Man-O-War's man in 1850.
It is thought to be a latter day remake of a black letter balladpublished in 1670, called "Benjamin's Lamentation for their Sad Loss at Sea" beginning
"Captain Chilver's Gone To Sea,,Br> "I, boys, O boys!"

I would presume that it is based on a true event?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bold Benjamin-O
From: masato sakurai
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 07:18 AM

Two editions are in the Bodleian Library broadside collection:

(1) The Benjamin's lamentation for their sad loss at sea, by storms and tempests
Printers: Coles, F. (London); Vere, T. (London); Wright, J. (London); Clarke, J. (London)
Date: between 1674 and 1679
Imprint: Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke
Illus. Ballads on sheet: 1
Copies: Don. b.13(5)
Ballads: 1. The Benjamin's lamentation for their sad loss at sea, by storms and tempests ("Captain Chilver's gone to sea ...")
To the tune of: The poor Benjamin
Subject: Shipwreck

(2) The Benjamin's lamentation for their sad loss at sea by storms and tempests
Printer: Onley, W. (London)
Date: between 1689 and 1709
Imprint: London: Printed by and for W.O. and sold by the booksellers
Illus. Ballads on sheet: 1
Copies: Douce Ballads 1(16a)
Ballads: 1. The Benjamin's lamentation for their sad loss at sea by storms and tempests ("Captain Chilver's gone to sea ...")
To the tune of: The poor Benjamin, O &c
Subject: Shipwreck

~Masato

Subject: RE: Origins: Bold Benjamin-O
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:40 AM

Once more the masters have beatin' me to the punch. It's a fine naval ballad with lots of possible arrangements for group singing and harmonies. I first heard it lead by Sarah Gray and Friends of Fiddlers Green in East Lansing, MI, back in the mid 1970's. The early broadside versions indicate that the ship was caught in a terrible storm rather than a battle. No one has been able to confirm the existence of a ship called the "Bold Benjamin."

One can also find a longer broadside version in John Ashton's REAL SAILOR SONGS, which was reprinted several times since its original printing in 1891.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble