198 - Reuben Ranzo (II) - Doerflinger - Halyard Shanty


Now, this is a shanty built around the dirtiest "sailor" who ever shipped - Reuben Ranzo. This Halyard shanty was one of the most rousing of all of the halyard shanties. This shanty due to the some of the themes was very popular amongst whalers.
Here is the Doerflinger version, his Shantyman sends him to South Georgia, which Stan Hugill think is an anachronism since Antarctic whaling didn't commence until between the two World Wars after the South Sea cachalot became nearly extinct and new-fangled whalers began to search for a blue whale. The song that Stan Hugill mentioned is the "Reuben Ranzo (II)" on page 24 of the Doerflingers - "Shantymen And Shantyboys" (1951).
Mentioned in "Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 242).


Reuben Ranzo (II) - Doerflinger


Oh, pore old Roving Ranzo,
   - Hay, RANZO, boys, a RANZO!
Oh, pore old Roving Ranzo,
   - RANZO, boys, a RANZO!

*2*
Now, Ranzo he was no sailor.
Now, Ranzo he was no sailor.

*3*
So pore old Roving Ranzo,
So pore old Roving Ranzo,

*4*
Now they shipped him on board of a whaler!
Now they shipped him on board of a whaler!

*5*
Now the captain he liked Ranzo.
Now the captain he liked Ranzo.

*6*
So the captain taugh him how to read and write.
So the captain taugh him how to read and write.

*7*
He taught him navigation.
He taught him navigation.

*8*
When he got his first mate's papers,
When he got his first mate's papers,

*9*
He became a terror to whalers!
He became a terror to whalers!

*10*
He was known all over the world as
He was known all over the world as

*11*
As the worst old bastard on the seas!
As the worst old bastard on the seas!

*12*
He would take his ship to Georgiay,
He would take his ship to Georgiay,

*13*
And there he'd drag for sperm whale.
And there he'd drag for sperm whale.

*14*
He lost the only ship he had.
His first and last and only ship

*15*
Was the "Morgan", and she's known everywhere.
Was the "Morgan", and she's known everywhere.

*16*
Now, he's gone to hell and we're all glad!
Now, he's gone to hell and we're all glad!

*17*
Now, I've told you he was no sailor.
Now, I've told you he was no sailor.

*18*
He was a New York tailor.
He was a New York tailor.

*19*
Whether a tailor or a sailor,
Whether a tailor or a sailor,

*20*
He sure became a Ranzo!
He sure became a Ranzo!