BILLY O'SHEA

Oh, we all got drunk in Dublin City
Ch: Fall down, me Billy
We all got drunk and oh, what a pity
Ch: Fall down, Billy O'Shea

Full Chorus:
Fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away for Americay
Fall down, Billy O'Shea

We all got drunk on the Rogerson's quay
And when we awoke we were all at sea

Oh, we're not sailors, Captain Drew
And a bit unhappy to work for you

The Captain said, "I've a cure for that"
"And here for a start is a dose of the cat"

He sent him up to the top mast yard
When he hit the deck, well, he hit it hard

We wrapped him up in a canvas sail
And we lowered him gently o'er the rail

Over the side and down he goes
He's gone to Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose

Farewell, farewell, farewell, me Billy
For I am bound for Americay


I first heard about this shanty on the Mudcat Café Forum. Click on the thread below to see the discussion.

Shanty:Billy O'Shea

In addition to the lyrics found at the Mudcat postings I bought a recording of the song by the Whigamaleeries on their cassette titled Tall Ships and Graeme Knights was kind enough to provide me with the melody and lyrics he sings (I also bought a copy of his cd Echoes from Afar that has Billy O'Shea on it as soon as it was released). As it turned out I liked Dan Milner's melody better but the lyrics I sing are compiled from all the versions I found. According to Pete MacNab's post in the thread on Billy O'Shea there was originally no full chorus. By the way, I highly recommend Graeme Knight's recording Echoes from Afar. In addition to some great singing by Graeme the album features a stellar chorus which includes Johnny Collins, Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman, among others.

Radriano