The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126347 Message #2855983
Posted By: Charley Noble
04-Mar-10 - 12:22 PM
Thread Name: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
[1845] "American Journal of Music" "Ho, O, heave O" / "Row, Billy, row"
I'm wondering if "Row, Billy, row" is a mishearing or typo of the capstan shanty "Row, Bullies, Row" aka "Liverpool Judies" or "The Tow-Rope Girls." Hugill says it probably dates to the 1840's "since it was popular in the Western Ocean Packets." Hugill also suggests this might have been a rowing shanty used by Whalers, given its frequent reference to rowing rather than heaving or rolling. At any rate it seems likely that the American Journal is referring to the same song.