Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie

Subject: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Bearheart
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:04 PM

Hi,

Today I came across a Soundstage show from 1974 in Chicago with Arlo, Steve Goodman and Hoyt Axton where they were doing this together acappella.(This all started because Hoyt's song I love to Sing was in my brain this morning and I couldn't get it out, so I was searching for stuff of his on youtube.) I love sea chanties and had heard other versions but not this one. Does anyone have the words to this? The only thread I could find was from catspaw, may he RIP, and he links the show on that thread. (it's just about the last thing they do in the 20+ minute segment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:16 PM

It is more commonly known as Ruben Ranzo and it can be found in the DT as Ranzo:-

Although he weren't no sailor,
Ranzo me boys, Ranzo,
He shipped aboard a whaler,
Ranzo me boys, Ranzo

if that is the version for which you are searching.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:22 PM

The segment starts at 52:00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT443tAKBU8

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Bearheart
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:26 PM

I will check the DT, Dave. Thanks, Starship, for posting the link.

There's a song swap today and I got fired up about learning it, so I tried to get the words off the youtube video.

There's one verse I'm unsure about but the rest was easy. Just took a bit of time.

The only other version I know at all is the one Kate Rusby does but this one seems to have more to it.

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Bearheart
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:32 PM

Looks like the first version (Ranzo) is closest to the one he sang though I didn't check out the tune.

There are several others riffing off the same topic so I am sure they are all related.

Kate Rusby calls her version The Wild Goose and it's pretty different from the others, though obviously also related.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:34 PM

There are a few (w/lyrics) at the following site (which is excellent btw):

https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/reubenranzo.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Reinhard
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 01:57 PM

Thank you for your praise, Starship ;-)

The Wild Goose Shanty has just been discussed here in the last days, including referring to Kate Rusby. It is quite a different song (Roud 328) to Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282),just sharing the name 'Ranzo' in the chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: r.padgett
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 02:14 PM

Wild Goose shanty is in Hugill first published 1961
a different song to Reuben Ranzo ~ with negroe connections ~ and huckleberry hunting

Wm Main Doerflinger book Shanty men and Shanty boys ~ Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman 1951 copyright has original version of Reuben Ranzo as he collected it I suspect ~ also in Hugill with umpteen collected verses noted

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 06:05 PM

Do also check out Arlo's "Reuben Clamzo".

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N920UYc3Y0

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: Bearheart
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 08:30 PM

The words I took down from the video of Arlo and friends are most like the A.L. Lloyd version mentioned in the mainlynorfolk thread above. I think the clamzo version is Arlo's parody? So said someone at the song swap.

Thanks, everyone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Reuben Ramso: Arlo Guthrie
From: r.padgett
Date: 10 Feb 20 - 02:10 AM

It is important I feel to look at the original collectors sources and not rely on Mainly Norfolk and Bert Lloyd ~ lots of changes will have occurred both before and after the collectors, collected and parodies will happen to the tune and meter of the original songs

Ray