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GUEST,Charley Noble (19 Feb 2015) Origins: Songs of Wapping, London (6) ADD Version: Ratcliff Highway 21 Feb 15


Justin-

There are quite a few songs from Ratscliffe Highway. One of my favorites was collected by Cicley Fox Smith and has been folk-processed since by a member of Two Black Sheep and a Stallion:

Adapted by Charlie Ipcar and slightly by modified Peter Outhart from an old broadside.
Tune: " With my swag all on my shoulder" From Paterson's Old Bush Songs, the tune of which is a variant of 'The Boys of Wexford',

Ratcliff Highway

Come all you jolly sail-i-ors
Come listen unto me
Avast a while, I'll make you smile
And tell you of a spree
There's many a craft in Wapping
In flying colours gay
Pirate ships, and fireships,
Along Ratcliff Highway.

Chorus:

So it's mind them fine flash frigates
In their flying colours gay
Or soon they'll clear your lockers out
Along Ratcliff Highway.

Down at the Blue Anchor
A frigate took me in tow
I was tempest toss'd, me cargo lost
I made full sail to go
Then I cruised the Mahogany Bar
And so by the next day
I lay so high and – oh so dry
Along Ratcliff Highway. (CHO)

In the Old Rose and Britannia
Such frigates there at hand
There's crooked Loo and squinty Sue
And bandy Mary Anne
There's skinny Sal the China gal
And flash Maria neat
There's bouncing Nell and brazen Belle
Who's bin through 'arf the fleet

Then in the famed King Billy
That's in New Gravel Lane
There's Jenny Jones, all skin and bones,
And ugly Molly Payne
There's bouncing Bet as black as Jet
With a bustle such a size
And shuffling Annie with her moist lips
And Sukey gravy eyes. (CHO)

Down at the Old Barley Mow
I hailed a frigate tight
Towed her away without delay
And boarded her that night
She took me watch, me money too,
Me clothes without delay;
Two bullies stout, they turned me out
Along Ratcliff highway. (CHO)

So all you jolly sail-i-ors
I'd have you bear in mind
There's pirate sort in every port
And Fireships you'll find
But if you wish to have a spree,
When you're out on the loose,
Get moored all right, so snug and tight
In the Port of Paddy's Goose.

Notes:

No Chorus twixt 3rd and 4th verse I think it works better that way


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