008 - The Girl In Portland Street

Another shanty from "Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill,
name "The Girl in Portland Street". Curious shanty related in theme to A-rovin'. Harlow gives us this chantey under the title: "Fal-de-lal-day. This song called "whistling chantey from the fact that the first refrain was sometimes whistled. According to Stan Hugill in sailors version was always sung at pumps, and in this tempo, I will sing this song (however Harlow states this shanty was often sung at the windlass while heaving up the anchor).
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 54, 55).


The Girl in Portland Street


I met a gal in Portland Street,
Fol-de-lol, fol-de-lol, fol-de-lol, lol day, (or else repeat solo with wistle)
I met a gal in Portland Street,
With a fol-de-lol-day, fol-de-lol-day, fol-de-lol-lol-de, lol-de, lol-day!

This gal I met in Portland Street,
Was the sweetest gal I ever did meet.

Sez I, 'Me gal, ,Ow do ye do?'
Sez she, ,The worse for seein' of you.'

'Now, miss,' sez I, 'I like yer style.'
Sez she, 'Young man, just wait a while.'

'Just wait until you try an' play,
And then I’ll send ye on yer way.'

I took her hand into my own,
And we headed soon for her old home.

And in her room, not far away,
We drank until the break o' day.

I pulled her down on my lap,
Sez she, 'Young man, your face I’ll slap.'

On her ankle next I placed my hand,
Says she, for this, I will not stand.'

I pulled her dress above her knee,
Sez she, 'Young man, please let me be.'

'And why did I no further go?
Alas! her leg was cork, you know!'