059 - A Long Time Ago (Cecil Sharp Version)

This song was very popular in English and American Ships. It was probably, in the nineties of XIX century of the most-used halyard shanty of them all. Even the German and Scandinavians popularized versions in their own tongues. This song was sung as halyard shanty. This version is a Cecil Sharp version from the book "English Folk-Chanteys" - 1914. Unfortunately, it has only three verses. The last five bars make it possible capstan shanty.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 103).



A Long Time Ago (Cecil Sharp Version)

Away down south where I was born,
   - To my WAY - ay - DAY, ha!
Away down south where I was born,
   - A LONG time a-GO

   - twas a long, long time and a very long time,
   - A LONG time a-GO

*2*
O! early on a summer's morn.
O! early on a summer's morn.

*3*
I Made up my mind to go the sea.
I Made up my mind to go the sea.