Meaning: Blow Boys Blow

Subject: Blow Boys Blow
From: Jon W.
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 01:51 PM

Margo's question on Row Bullies Row brings up this question on a similar phrase, "blow, boys, blow" or "blow me bully boys, blow." Who are the boys and what does it mean to blow (aside from oral sex)? I have a hypothesis: The boys are the four winds - Zephyr, Borealis, and the two other guys whose names I've forgotten. Any thoughts? And while we're at it, any thoughts on the expression "blow the man down?"

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: Clifton53
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 02:01 PM

Aye, as in "Congo River", "blow me bonny boys blow". I think it is nothing more than the wind, a key component of any sailing endeavor. I'm no Jack Tar but I think blow would be the term used when the wind is in the sails and your making good time. In other words, " there was a good blow". Your theory is interesting, perhaps one of our sailing experts could shed some light on it. As far as I know, "Boys" would be the crew of the ship.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: JenEllen
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 06:40 PM

Dave...Where are you????

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 07:20 PM

"Blow the man down" is to knock a man down with your fists, hence the first & second mates were know as Blowers & Strikers & 3rd mates were Greaser, they're seamanship was second to their ability to keep sailors in line. In a West Indian version it's "kick em along bullies, kick em along, gimmie some time & we'll kick em along". Barry

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 07:25 PM

Sorry, I probably should've added that's the reference used in the Western Ocean Packet trade aboard the "blood buckets". I suspect in other songs blow just refered to the ever blowing & needed wind. Barry

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 08:26 PM

Blow Boys Blow. Blow to knock down or out physically Blow regarding "winds to blow" Blow to take a breather or rest after a hard pull (no sexual connotations)

Different ships different long splices, should'nt get to immersed in nautical nomenclature mates, theres not much book larning amongst us. I would say Blow boys Blow would mean Bully Hays was beatin us again, but on steamships it would mean rest boys rest. Aye mates it's a hard old time when yer getting yanked out o'ya hammock by Elle just to give singing lessons, Back to me rum mates, Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:12 AM

Ta Dave, so sorry to drag you from your rest'n'rum, but thanks for heeding the call. Elle

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 10:58 AM

Fer you Elle I'd lash up and stow me hammock anytime mate, Yours,Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Blow Boys Blow
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 11:54 AM

*blush*

Subject: RE: Meaning: Blow Boys Blow
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 04:02 PM

This is a better place than the thread I first posted it to.

Manchester Guardian (Aug. 17, 1905):

"One [chantey], I remember, ran as follows:-

O! where do you think this ship is bound to?
       O haul! my bully boys, haul!
O! she is bound for the coast of Guinea!
             CHORUS
O! what do you think she has for cargo?
             CHORUS
O! chains and shackles for poor niggers.
             CHORUS"

The correspondent doesn't say when he heard this, but t was presumably many years earlier. The text relates to the slave-trade verses first printed by Whall in 1910.

Collected by Robert W. Gordon from J. A. S. Spencer, perhaps in Darien, Ga., 1926:

The prettiest girl in Doboy town,
Blow, boys, blow.
Her name is fancy Nellie Brown,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Heave her high and let her go,
Blow, boys, blow.
Heave her high and let her blow,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest girl I ever knew,
Blow, boys, blow.
She wear the red morocco shoe,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest girl I ever saw,
Blow, boys, blow.
She's always riding the white horse.
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest boy in Doboy town,
Blow, boys, blow.
His name is Little Johnny Brown,
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow.

Heave her high and let her go,
Blow, boys, blow.
Heave her high and jam her low,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.



Doboy Island is on the Georgia coast, about halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla. Now deserted, it formerly supported a minor timber-lading port.


Recorded by Robert W. Gordon from A. Wilkins, place unknown, ca1931:

Oh, blow, my boys, for I love to hear you,
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh blow, my boys, for I long to hear you,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Oh, a Yankee ship droppin' down the river,
Blow, boys, blow;
It's a Yankee ship droppin' down the river,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Now, how do you know she's a Yankee clipper?
Blow, boys, blow;
Her spars and decks they shine like silver,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Oh, who do you think was the chief mate of her?
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh, Skys'l Taylor, the Frisco slugger,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And who do you think was the chief cook of her?
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh, big Black Sam, the Baltimore nigger,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And what do you think we had for dinner?
Blow, boys, blow;
A monkey's legs and a monkey's liver,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And what do you think we had for supper?
Blow, boys, blow;
The starboard side of an old sou'wester,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Subject: RE: Meaning: Blow Boys Blow
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 04:02 PM

This is a better place than the thread I first posted it to.

Manchester Guardian (Aug. 17, 1905):

"One [chantey], I remember, ran as follows:-

O! where do you think this ship is bound to?
       O haul! my bully boys, haul!
O! she is bound for the coast of Guinea!
             CHORUS
O! what do you think she has for cargo?
             CHORUS
O! chains and shackles for poor niggers.
             CHORUS"

The correspondent doesn't say when he heard this, but t was presumably many years earlier. The text relates to the slave-trade verses first printed by Whall in 1910.

Collected by Robert W. Gordon from J. A. S. Spencer, perhaps in Darien, Ga., 1926:

The prettiest girl in Doboy town,
Blow, boys, blow.
Her name is fancy Nellie Brown,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Heave her high and let her go,
Blow, boys, blow.
Heave her high and let her blow,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest girl I ever knew,
Blow, boys, blow.
She wear the red morocco shoe,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest girl I ever saw,
Blow, boys, blow.
She's always riding the white horse.
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

The prettiest boy in Doboy town,
Blow, boys, blow.
His name is Little Johnny Brown,
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow.

Heave her high and let her go,
Blow, boys, blow.
Heave her high and jam her low,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.



Doboy Island is on the Georgia coast, about halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla. Now deserted, it formerly supported a minor timber-lading port.


Recorded by Robert W. Gordon from A. Wilkins, place unknown, ca1931:

Oh, blow, my boys, for I love to hear you,
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh blow, my boys, for I long to hear you,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Oh, a Yankee ship droppin' down the river,
Blow, boys, blow;
It's a Yankee ship droppin' down the river,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Now, how do you know she's a Yankee clipper?
Blow, boys, blow;
Her spars and decks they shine like silver,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

Oh, who do you think was the chief mate of her?
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh, Skys'l Taylor, the Frisco slugger,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And who do you think was the chief cook of her?
Blow, boys, blow;
Oh, big Black Sam, the Baltimore nigger,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And what do you think we had for dinner?
Blow, boys, blow;
A monkey's legs and a monkey's liver,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.

And what do you think we had for supper?
Blow, boys, blow;
The starboard side of an old sou'wester,
Blow, my bully boys, blow.