154 - South Australia (Harlow's Version) - Capstan Shanty

"South Australia", is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty had a rather poor regulation pattern and all shantymen had to improvise to make it see the job through. This version mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from Frederick Pease Harlow's "The Making of a Sailor" (1928). According to Harlows shipmate, this version was sung as anchor shanty on the very famous clipper ship Thermopylae. A couple of words about Harlow's shantyman, I know usually shantymen were anonymous artists, they turned sailors' life for better, and also made jobs easier due to using shanties, this time we don't know a surname but at least we know the name of the Harlow's, so we can call him a Shantyman Dave.
Stan Hugill gives us only the original lyrics from "The Making of a Sailor", but he forgot about the melody, so I took it myself from Harlow's book.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 194, 195).

South Australia (Harlow version)


South Australia is my native land,
   - Heave away! Heave away!
Mountains rich in quartz and sand,
   - I am bound for south Australia!

   - Heave away! Heave away!
   - Heave away, you Ruler King
   - I am bound for south Australia!

         *2*
Gold and wool, brings ships to our shore,
And our coal will load many more.

         *3*
Here's a packet anchored off the pier,
There's a bar ashore with foaming beer.

         *4*
Heave! Oh heave! and we'll all go ashore,
Where we will drink with girls galore.

         *5*
Glasses filled, we'll touch with a clink,
Heave! bullies, heave! the girls want a drink.

         *6*
I see Julia, standing on the quay,
With a dame for you and me.

         *7*
At the head of Sandridge Raiload pier,
Straight to Mother Shilling's we'll steer.

         *8*
Julia slings the sheoak at the bar
And welcomes sailors from afar.

         *9*
In the dance hall there you'll pick your girl
With golden hair and teeth of pearl.

         *10*
She will drink you while at the bar,
And call you, "Dear, my own Jack Tar."

         *11*
She'll waltz you round in a dizzy dance,
While you're half drunk and in a trance.

         *12*
Then we'll drink to Mother Shilling's name,
And drink again to the lovely dame.

         *13*
In the arms of girls we'll dance and sing,
For sheoak will be Ruler King.

         *14*
Drunk! For sheoak's gone to our head,
The girls can put us all to bed.