Lyr Add: The Deep South Sea - before 1916

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Deep South Sea - before 1916
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Oct 17 - 04:42 AM

I found out on the weekend that Waltzing Matilda (created 1895) was sung in the 2nd Boer War (1899) & by the First World War had attracted a lot of parodies. I knew it has been sung in WW1 & WW2 but hadn't realised it left our shores earlier.

sandra

The Songs the Diggers Really Sang by Warren Fahey aka Mudcatter Bodgie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Deep South Sea - before 1916
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 17 - 11:18 AM

Wow!

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Deep South Sea - before 1916
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 29 Sep 17 - 08:58 PM

Love it!

Subject: Lyr Add: The Deep South Sea-pre1916
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Sep 17 - 12:45 AM

I've been sorting through the archives of Australia's oldest folk club, the Bush Music Club & found this i n the July 1969 Club Newsletter, page 4, and have posted a jpg on BMC's blog

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Bill Frost heard an old Norwegian seaman (about 60 years old) sing this song about 1916. It was at Jervis Bay when ship building was still being carried out there. No need to mention the tune ...

The Deep South Sea

Who'll come a whalin, Who'll come a whalin,
Who'll come a whalin in the deep south sea,
You'll sleep mighty deep if you stop balin,
You'll sleep mighty deep in the deep south sea.

Who'll sign on for a three year sea trip,
Who'll sign on to come a-whalin with me,
Who'll sign on for a lay in a whaleship,
Who'll come a-whalin in the deep south sea.

Down comes the skipper-girl in a fur coat,
Down come the harpooners, one, two, three,
Down comes the mate, crew of the whaleboat,
The best boats crew in the deep south sea.

Down come the idlers, to idle all the day,
Chips, sails and smithy, one, two, three,
Last up the topmast, first on the short lay,
Who'll drown the idlers in the deep south sea.

Up swam the right whale, long as the topmast,
You'll never boil me for my blubber cried he,
Up jumped the cookie, waited till whale passed,
Speared the right whale in the deep south sea.

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ps. for those who do not know, the song is based on Australia's most iconic song, Waltzing Matilda.