Subject: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 01 Aug 08 - 05:15 AM John Short - a.k.a. Yankee Jack was the shantyman who gave C# nearly sixty shanties - many in rare versions - and he was the sole source for Rosabella! He came from Watchet, in Somerset, and on 17th August Tom & Barbara Brown are presenting an evening all about John Short, his life history and his shanties, called SHORT, SHARP SHANTIES, actually in the Boat Museum at Watchet. Now that's what I call bringing it all back home! Admission free - but donations to the Boat Museum. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Marc Bernier Date: 03 Aug 08 - 09:41 AM Why'd they call him Yankee Jack if he came from Somerset? Is Yankee a common nickname for British sailors? |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Charley Noble Date: 03 Aug 08 - 10:05 AM Doc Tom- Love to her more about this shantyman. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 03 Aug 08 - 01:31 PM Because, Mark, he was sometimes on Northern ships(which had changed registry to Liverpool during the American Civil War in order to avoid the attention of Southern ships like the Alabama. In particular he was on the Yankee ship Levant (Liverpool reg.350303 of 1436 tons, built 1841) from 9/5/64 to 14/9/64. We've talked to men in Watchet who can remember, from when they were boys, talking to old Yankee Jack (he died in 1933) - how close is history! |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: EBarnacle Date: 03 Aug 08 - 04:35 PM Will there be an available recording or book of his work? |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Marc Bernier Date: 03 Aug 08 - 06:08 PM Thank you Guest,doc.tom. It is truly amazing how close that history can be isn't it. When I started playing fife and drum in Connecticut, a while back now, The guy in charge of our drum line had been taught to drum by a man who was a drummer in the civil war. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 03 Aug 08 - 08:17 PM The plan is for a double CD of his shanties - actually his versions of the shanties towards the end of 2009. I post more detail when we know! In the meantime, just for the record, the songs he gave C# were his versions of: Mr. Tapscott (Can't You Dance The Polka): Hundred Years on the Eastern Shore (A Hundred Years Ago): The Blackball Line: Poor Old Man (O Johnny Come To Hilo): Ranzo (Poor Old Reuben Ranzo): Lowlands (Dollar and a half a day): One More Day: The Dead Horse (Poor Old Man): Heave Away My Johnny (We're All Bound To Go): Homeward Bound (Goodbye, Fare Thee Well): Blow Boys Blow (Banks of Sacramento): Haul Away The Morning Dew: Amsterdam (A-roving): Shanadore (Shenandoah): Paddy Works on the Railway: Old Stormey (Mister Stormalong): Santy Anna (on the Plains of Mexico): Blow Boys Come Blow Together (Blow, Me Bully Boys, Blow): Haul Away Joe: (Run, Let the) Bulgine Run: Cheerly Men: Tom's Gone To Ilo: Carry Him to the Burying Ground (General Taylor): Good Morning Ladies All: I Wish I Was With Nancy: Whisky Is My Johnny: Rio Grande: Sweet Nightingale: Whip Jamboree: The Hog eyed Man: The Saucy Rosabella: Knock A Man Down (Blow the Man Down): Huckleberry Hunting (Hilo, Me Ranzo Ray): Stormalong John: Tommy's Gone: Rowler Bowler: Bully In The Alley: So Early in the Morning (The Sailor Likes His Bottle O): Boney Was A Warrior: Hanging Johnny: Johnnie Bowker: Times Are Hard & The Wages Low (Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her): Paddy Doyle: Fire! Fire! (Fire Down Below): Haul On The Bowline: Handy My Girls (So Handy): Liza Lee (Yankee John Stormalong): Roll And Go (Sally Brown): Do Let Me Go: Shallow Brown: He Back, She Back (Old Moke): Round the Corner Sally: The Bully Boat (Ranzo Ray): Lucy Long: The Bull John Run (Eliza Lee): Would You Go My Way: Billy Riley: Sing Fare You Well: |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Marc Bernier Date: 03 Aug 08 - 08:34 PM Thanks again Guest,doc.tom. I unfortunately will not be able to attend 8/17 in Watchet, as I live in other hemisphere. However am most interested in the entire project. How can I find out more about Tom & Barbara Brown's research and they're presentation. I am interested in the CD of which you speak as well. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Charley Noble Date: 03 Aug 08 - 08:36 PM Tom- That is quite a list of traditional shanties, and I'm sure I'm not the only one here who will thirst for the CD. Consider becoming a member here; it's a free service and permits other members to contact you via PM's. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,Lighter Date: 03 Aug 08 - 10:15 PM Short's name is well known among shanty pedants because of all the songs he gave Cecil Sharp. Just for the record, though, James M. Carpenter also recorded a version of "The Saucy Rosabella" from J. S. Scott about 1928. That's the only other source text I know of. Gotta get that double CD. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: The Admiral Date: 04 Aug 08 - 03:32 AM Glad to hear that you've got this project off the ground at last - and looking forward to seeing the presentation in the not too distant... Tony |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 04 Aug 08 - 05:06 AM Hi Lighter: The Carpenter version I know (for years we thought Short was the only source!) was from John McPherson, of Devonshire St., South Shields, Country Durham. U.K. (ref AFC 1972/001, MS p.03153) - certainly the text scan fits almost perfectly, but we havn't heard the tune yet. If there's another, from this J. S. Scott, please let us know the reference. The other Rosabella (Come let me join, Rosabella) - Beck, Folklore and the Sea (1973) pp.155-156 - may be related, but it's not close! Hi Charlie: Our website is at www.umbermusic.co.uk - the bits on Short will slowly be expanded! As for contact, mrs.doc.tom is a member - she's the BB member (as opposed to the BB guest!) Feel free to PM through her - we share all secrets. Tom |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: BB Date: 04 Aug 08 - 05:38 AM The Umber Music website is here and you now have the link to PM me if you wish. As we're on the same computer network, I think we'd have to keep resetting our cookies if Tom becomes a member - and I got there first! You're welcome to PM me and I'll pass everything on to the Doctor. Barbara |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,Derek Schofield in Sidmouth Date: 04 Aug 08 - 06:24 AM Google Yankee Jack Short and you'll find that they've just unveiled a statue to him in Watchet. Derek |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 04 Aug 08 - 07:32 AM I think that the Hugh Block was another ship that he sailed to and from America on. My mother, who lived in Watchet most of her life, remembered him mainly as the town crier, which he became after he retired from the sea. Apparently he could be heard over two miles away in Williton etc. Taffy Thomas had a grandmother from Watchet, I wonder if he has had any stories passed down? Watchet's main other maritime fame is fictional as it is the setting for the "Ancient Mariner". |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 04 Aug 08 - 08:36 AM Yes Hugh Block was one of his earliest ships. Watch our website (see Barb's post above) after the 17th August, when we get back from Broadstairs Folk Week (where we're also launching the our new maritime CD - Beyond the Quay)and there'll be some photos of the John Short statue in Watchet. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: Snuffy Date: 04 Aug 08 - 08:45 AM If you check the Carpenter Collection index, it appears that he collected versions from both Scott and McPherson |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: GUEST,doc.tom Date: 04 Aug 08 - 03:02 PM Thanks, Snuffy - how the hell did we miss that! If the website has worked, three photos of the statue are now up: http://www.umbermusic.co.uk and then follow the menu to S&A projects. |
Subject: RE: John Short's shanties come home From: shipcmo Date: 24 Apr 10 - 12:06 PM refresh |
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