023 - Lowlands Low (Halyards) - (WITH PRESENTATION)

Another shanty from Lowlands family, but this time is a halyard one. Stan Hugill had it from Old Smith of Tobago, a fine old coloured shantyman who given to Stan a lot of little-known shanties, it was happening in the 30s of XX century. It is a West-Indian song, according to Sharp, it comes from West Indian Trade (Sugar and Rum).
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 70,71).
In this time I did a little presentation, with yard pull, as this is a halyard chantey. According to Stan Hugill, it was two hard pulls, and after every pull, yard goes up couple inches.
Three sails have ben hoisted (those with raising up yards) to be raised in single mast: Upper Topsail, Upper Topgallant and Royal, in those sails where hoisted to the singing of "Halyard Shanties". It was one of the hardest work on the ship.


Lowlands Low (Halyards)

Our packet is the Island Lass,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
There's a lad howlin' at the main top-mast,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!


The Ol' Man hails from Barbados,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
He's got the name Ol' Hammertoes,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!


He gives us bread as hard as brass,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Our junk's as salt as Balaam's ass.
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!


The monkey's rigged in the sijer's clo'es,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Where he gottem from God 'lone knows.
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!


We'll haul 'em high an' let 'em dry,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
We'll rtice 'em up into de sky.
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!


Lowland, me boys, an' up she goes,
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!
Git changed, me boys, to her shore-goin' clo'es.
   - LOWlands, Lowlands, LOWlands Low!