166 - As I Went A-Walking Down Ratcliffe Highway - Capstan Shanty

Here is the old forebitter "Ratcliffe Highway", which was sometimes sung at the pumps and the capstan. This version mentioned by Stan Hugill comes from William Doerflinger's "Shantymen and Shantyboys" (1951). Doerflinger mention about is that the same stanza words were sung in the halyard shanty "Blow the Man Down". Captain Tayluer believed this song was composed about 1840 by an East India trader.
In Doerflinger's book, this song is placed in chapter "Deep-Water Songs", but I will reconstruct it as a capstan shanty.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 201).



As I Went A-Walking Down Ratcliffe Highway - Forebitter


    *introductory verse*

Now, Come all you young sailors and listen to me,
Sure I'll tell you a story all about the high sea,
Well it ain't very short, nor it's not very long,
It's of a Flyin' Fish sailor bound 'ome from 'Ong Kong.

   - With you fol the did-dle lol did-dy, fol de did-dle lol did-dy,
   - fol the did-dle lol did-dy, hay, hay, hay,
   - fol the did-dle lol did-dy, fol de did-dle lol did-dy,
   - fol the did-dle lol did-dy, hood-le dum day!

                            *2*
Now as we went a-walking down Rat'liffe Highway,
Well, a flash-lookin' packet we chanced for to see,
She was bowling along with the waind blowing free,
And she clewed up her courses and waited for me.

                            *3*
Now, she 'ad up no flags did she show;
She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow.
Were she did 'ail from I could not tell,
But I threw out my flipper and we're both bound to hell!

                            *4*
Now, into a snug little corner, oh soon we did moor,
Just be'ind the little table around the door.
We eat there and drank till we nearly did bust,
Then she let out first with her Irishman's roar,    etc...

                            *5*
I'll bring you silk dresses and all that I know,
Fine gold rings and stones from the islands, you know.
I'll bring you home plenty of money to spend,
If you'll only wait till I do return,


(Final chorus, slower)