199 - Poor Old Reuben Ranzo (Cecil Sharp) - 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.
This version comes from Cecil J. Sharp - "English Folk-Chanteys" (1914), is in Sharps's book in the chapter "Pulling Chanteys" on page 37. Here oryginal comment from Sharp's book:

No. 32. POOR OLD REUBEN RANZO.
Sung by Mr. John Short, at Watchet. This chantey is a very generally known one, and versions of it are to be
found in all the chief Collections. Who Reuben Ranzo was no one seems to know; Mr. Whall suggests that " Ranzo " may be a corruption of " Lorenzo."   

* It is possible that English chanteymen learned the name from Scandinavian sailors, for I am told that Danish
sailors often sing about Daniel Rantzau (1529-69), who commanded the Danish forces in the seven-years (or three- crown) war with Sweden (1563-70).      
Mentioned in "Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 242).


Poor Old Reuben Ranzo. (Cecil Sharp)


O poor old Reuben Ranzo,
   - RANZO, boys, RANZO!
O poor old Reuben Ranzo,
   - RANZO, boys, RANZO!

*2*
O ! Ranzo was no sailor.
O ! Ranzo was no sailor.

*3*
He shipped on board a whaler.
He shipped on board a whaler.

*4*
He shipped with Captain Taylor.
He shipped with Captain Taylor.

*5*
The man that shot the sailor.
The man that shot the sailor.

*6*
He could not do his duty.
He could not do his duty.

*7*
He couldn't boil the coffee.
He couldn't boil the coffee.

*8*
The Captain being a good man.
The Captain being a good man.

*9*
He taught him navigation.
He taught him navigation.

*10*
We took him to the gratings.
We took him to the gratings.

*11*
And gave him nine and thirty.
And gave him nine and thirty.

*12*
O! That was the end of Ranzo.
O! That was the end of Ranzo.