Stanley Slade, the Bristol Shantyman recorded these words in the 1950's.

Stanley Slade was The last of the "professional" shanty-men to have sailed before the mast, having an exceptionally loud voice, he was later employed employed upon the early sailing-steamships to entertain the passengers with his more bawdy verses.

Every time there was a radio broadcast of sea-shanties by professional singing groups like the West of England Male Chorus, Stanley would march into Broadcasting House in Whiteladies Road, Bristol, and would indulge in some fairly strong seafaring language. So, when Peter came to the West of England BBC in 1949, to develop folk music programmes in the region, he was requested to go and see Mr Slade and use some diplomacy to explain the need for the BBC to consider its broad spectrum of sensitive listeners.


Running Down To Cuba. Stanley Slade.

We're bound to Cuba for a load of sugar
Way me boys for Cuba
We'll make 'er run you limejuice bugger
Runnin' down to Cuba

Way me boys for Cuba
Runnin' down to Cuba

Running down with a press of sail
Slinging the water over the rail

Oh my god how the winds do blow
And our old man he cracks on so

I got a sister nine foot tall
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall

I got a sister and her name is Jane
You can guess where she give me a pain

Give me a gal, can dance fandango
Kiss like a melon and sweet as a mango

Running down me bucko boys
Let's all haul and make some noise

Loading sugar on the homeward go
Oh Mister Macey told me so