Lyr Add: On Board The Susianna (Steve Belsey)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: On Board The Susianna (Steve Belsey)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 26 Jul 21 - 04:35 PM

Updates - over the last year I have made some minor changes to some of the verses which makes it flow better....

verse 2

To stay on deck, to the Captain, I unfurl'd my cunning plan, sir.

verse 3

As he slept in his bed, I cut off his head, and he's been 'all's well!' since then, sir.

verse 5

No more he'll shout - he's inside out, on board The Susianna.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: On Board The Susianna (Steve Belsey)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 04:25 AM

The back story

In my days with the Shanty Crew we used to reenact the crossing the line ceremony with yours truly playing the part of King Neptune. Our version had three songs - Rio Grand as a call on, Paddy West, and finishing with Drunken Sailor. It was originally about half an hour, but as the Crew line-up changed over time time so did the play, getting shorter and shorter.

At the time the song was written, I was going to the Players Theatre Club in London on a regular basis (2-3 times/week) plus going to the bar after Shanty Crew rehearsals.

in 1998, while watching the Christmas Pantomime for the umpteenth time, I got the idea of extending the Shanty Crew ceremony to a full one-hour review with more dialogue, more characters and, most importantly a song for each character.

Although the play itself was completed some time ago, the only missing bit (still) being a song or recitation for Queen Amphritrite.

On Board the Susianna was a new song written specifically for the doctor. The full ship's manifest is:

Narrator - inspired by Henry V. No song.
King Neptune - Marri-ed to a Mermai-ed + additional verse.
Queen Amphritrite - song or recitation needed.
Lawyer - Parody of when I was a LAd (Gilbert and Sullivan) - unfinished.
Doctor - On Board the Susianna.
Paddy West - Paddy West
Barber - Sweeney Todd the Barber (att: Weston)
Cook - The Yarn of the Nancy Bell (W S Gilbert)

I live in hope to one day actually finish it, and even see it performed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: On Board The Susianna
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Aug 20 - 04:34 PM

Steve sang this today at the singaround. Great song!

Subject: Lyr Add:ON BOARD THE SUSIANNA (Steve Belsey)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 10:42 AM

Found this sorting through some papers today

ON BOARD THE SUSIANNA
(Steve Belsey)

Oh, once I was a carpenter, and well I knew my trade, sir
When work was scarce, a bob I'd earn, plying my hand as a tailor.
But late one night, oh pity my plight, cos I drank a drop too much, sir
Woke up next morn, before the dawn, on Board The Susianna.

    I'm a sailor bold, on the ocean cold, if you should ask my trade, sir.
    I'm chips and sails and the doctor too, on board The Susianna.

At the sailing trade, well I'm afraid, I didn't fare so well, sir
My legs did freeze below my knees, when I went aloft to furl, sir.
To stay on deck, to the captain, I did tell my cunning plan, sir
To be chips and sails, and the doctor too, on board The Susianna.

Then the captain bold, he caught a cold, how he did splutter and sneeze, sir,
As he slept in his bed, I cut off his head, and he hasn't coughed since then, sir.
When madness took a jolly tar, my services were called for
With my saw, somehow, he's 'armless now, on board The Susianna.

The bosun played a banjo, such a sound you've never heard, sir
He'd play wit a grin such a hideous din, as I tried to sleep in my bunk, sir.
One day when he came up to me, with a splinter in his finger
I cut off his hand, now he's left the band, on board The Susianna.

Now the mate he had a problem which I'll not describe, I beg, sir
Cos he got the runs when they fired the guns, so I cut off his leg, sir.
And the pusser stout he got the gout, oh how he did complain, sir
Now he's inside out, no more he'll shout, on board The Susianna.

For the rest of my life, a doctor I'll be, a-sailing on the oceans,
With the tools of me trade, I've got it all made, I need no pills or potions.
If you're at sea and you need me, I'll help you if I can, sir
If you feel sick, I'll cure you quick, on board The Susianna.

    I'm a sailor bold, on the ocean cold, and now you know my trade, sir.
    I'm chips and sails and the doctor too, on board The Susianna
    On board the Susianna
    On board the Susi-a-a-a-a-na.

(c) Steve Belsey 1998