Lyr Add: Brandy-O

Subject: Lyr Add: Brandy-O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Nov 25 - 06:12 PM

BRANDY-O (Sea Chanty)

Brandy good for sailor man.
Brandy O,
When early in the morning.
Brandy O.

Early in the morning
Gin us a drop of brandy.
Brandy good for sailor man.
Brandy O.

Early in the morning
Brandy O,
Gin us a drop of brandy,
Brandy good for sailor man,
Brandy O.

Reel 99B12-17 No.5
Sung by Mr. Sandy Stoddard,Lower Ship Harbour, and recorded by Helen Creighton, August 1952.

Mr. Stoddard learned this at Turk’s Island where his ship was loading salt. Women used to carry salt on their heads in baskets and dump it in the vessel. They would sing this chanty all day.

When logging in Nova Scotia most of the loggers were seamen,and they would sing to any chanties, but mostly those used at sea. Windlass and capstan had the same operation. They used the capstan wherever they had a boom. Fifteen men would sing. It was heavy heaving, and music was needed to liven it up.

https://archives.novascotia.ca/pdf/creighton/Mf289-450.pdf

https://archives.vwml.org/songs/RoudFS/S266464

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCfE-XLueGo