176 - Blow The Man Down (Terry Version) - Halyard Shanty


Here is one of the most favorite shanties is the tops'l halyard shanty "Blow The Man Down".
This version has been collected by Richard Runciman Terry in his "The Shanty Book Part I" (1921), here is what description of this shanty says:
"This is the shanty which is perhaps the best known among landsmen. "Winchester Street" is in South Shields, and in the old days was the aristocratic quarter were only persons of high distinction --such as shipowners, and "South-spainer" skippers--lived..."
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 212, 213).


Blow The Man Down (Terry Version)


Oh blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down.
   - To me WAY-ay, BLOW the man down!
Oh blow the man down, bullies, blow him a-way.
   - Oh GIMME some time to BLOW the man down.

                      *2*
We went over the Bar on the thirteenth of may.
The Galoper jumped, and the gale came away.

                      *3*
Oh the rags they was gone, and the chains they was jammed,
And the skipper sez he, "Let the weather be hanged".

                      *4*
As I was a-walking down Winchester Street,
A saucy young damsel I happened to meet.

                      *5*
I sez to her, "Polly, and how d'you do?"
Sez she, "None the better for seein' of you".

                      *6*
Oh, it's sailors is tinkers, and tailors is men.
And we're all of us coming to see you again.

                      *7*
So we'll blow the man up, and we'll blow the man down.
And we'll blow him away into Liverpool Town.