The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #167430   Message #4154933
Posted By: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
13-Oct-22 - 03:39 PM
Thread Name: Maritime work song in general
Subject: RE: Maritime work song in general
Another from the wiki. There are several snippets in the Advent thread but nothing with the notes to the lyrics and the usual nauticus clamour for ambiance:

“Send the hands aft, Mr. Spunyarn, to loose the mainsail.” The tyers were speedily cast off, and the sail adrift.

“Man the main and peak haulyards;–– away aloft, and ride them down."

In an instant a dozen of the men and boys were at the mast-head, catching hold of the running part of the haulyards, hanging by their hands, descending by their weight, and hoisting the sail much quicker than by any other means.

“Belay that,” said the mate, when the sail was properly set. “Heave short, Mr. Spunyarn,––keep a range of the cable on deck. Here, you cook! where's Scaldings, the cook? let him take down the chain. How does the cable grow, Mr. Spunyarn?"
        “Two points on the starboard bow, Sir.”
        “Port your helm, Mr. Blowhard."
        “Hard-a-port, Sir,” exclaimed the gunner, who was at the helm.
        “Heave away, lads !"
        “She's short, Sir,” bawled the boatswain.
        “Very well, Mr. Spunyarn; man the jib and fore haulyards––hoist away––keep the starboard fore-sheet to windward.”

The handspikes were again manned, and in a few minutes the anchor was at the bows, catted and fished.

“Heave diwn the bob-stay––there, belay that––all hands sweat up the jib.”

On board a well-disciplined man-of-war, no person except the officers is allowed to speak during the performance of the various evolutions. When a great many men are employed together, a fifer or fiddler usually plays some of their favourite tunes; and it is quite delightful to see the glee with which Jack will “stamp and go,” keeping exact time to “Jack's the lad,” or the “College Hornpipe.” On board a revenue cruiser for want of music, it is customary for one of the men to give them a song, which makes the crew unite their strength, and pull together. The following is a specimen of this species of composition:

O, haul pulley, yoe.
[Chorus, piano.]
Cheerly men,
O long and strong, yoe, O.
Cheerly men,
O, yoe, and with a will,
Cheerly men,

        [Grand Chorus, forte.]
        Cheerly, cheerly, cheerly, O.

A long haul for widow Skinner,
Cheerly men,
Kiss her well before dinner,
Cheerly men,
At her, boys, and win her,
Cheerly men,
Cheerly, cheerly, cheerly, O.

A strong pull for Mrs. Bell,
Cheerly men,
Who likes a lark right well,
Cheerly men,
And, what's more, will never tell,
Cheerly men,
Cheerly, cheerly, cheerly, O.

O haul and split the blocks,
Cheerly men,
O haul and stretch her luff,
Cheerly men
Young Lovelies, sweat her up,
Cheerly men,
Cheerly, cheerly, cheerly, O.

For time out of mind this song has been attached to revenue cutters, and sometimes the burden is not celebrated for its decency.”
[R.B., A Cruise of a Revenue Cutter, The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, Pt.I, 1834]

Instrumental = Sailor's Hornpipe
Accompanied, chanted, sung, &c = Jack's the Lad
Lyr Req: Sailor's Hornpipe

Fwiw: I would mark Spunyard, Blowhard &Co. as copper-bottom hokum, but that's just me.