The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116445 Message #2500835
Posted By: Charley Noble
24-Nov-08 - 07:51 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: London Pool (C. Fox Smith)
Subject: Lyr Add: London Pool (C. Fox Smith)
Here's a shanty based on one of the earlier poems of Cicely Fox Smith, composed in 1904 before she traveled to Victoria, British Columbia. It seems to work well to a traditional shanty tune but I've done substantial reworking of her lyrics. The original poem follows (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):
C-------------------F---------C London Pool's in London town, F---------C------G Whiskey for me Johnny-o! C----------------------F--------C Where the tall ships anchor down – F---------C------G-------C Whiskey for me Johnny-o! -------------G--C--G---C Oh to haul the an-chor chain, G---------------C---F------C-G Heave-a-pawl and heave a-gain, C---------G7--------F-----C Hear the capstan's old re-frain – F-------------C-------G-----C Down from London Pool, O!
London Pool's a crowded place, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Ships and crews of every race – Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Oh to shake the tops'ls free, Sheet 'em home so cheer-i-ly, Free-and-by to the open sea – Down from London Pool, O!
London Pool's a gallant sight, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Work all day and roar all night – Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Oh to shake our heels and go, Where the Channel winds do blow, Hail the lights of long ago – Down from London Pool, O!
London Pool's in London town, Ay, boys! O boys! London Pool's in London town, Where the great ships anchor down! O to shake the canvas free, Hear the cordage cheerily Whistling to the open sea Down from London Pool, O!
London Pool's a crowded place, Ay, boys! O boys! London Pool's a crowded place, Crafts and crews of every race! O to hear the clanking chain Trail along the wharf again, – Hear the tautening ropes astrain Down from London Pool, O!
London Pool's a gallant sight, Ay, boys! O boys! London Pool's a gallant sight, Toil by day and glare by night! O to shake our heels and go, – Feel the four free winds ablow, Hail the lights of long ago Down from London Pool, O!