Discussion: Rollin' Home (sea song)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling home to Ireland , Help Skarpi Ic
From: Lighter
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 10:56 AM

Not exactly "the Scottish version," unless you mean the version created not that long ago by the Old Blind Dogs.

Their website says it contains "additional lyrics by Jim Malcolm."

Jamaican pirates were pretty much a thing of the past by 1750.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 11:23 PM

Sourdough: I think you are thinking of a version of "We'll rant and we'll roar", rather than "Rolling home".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: GUEST,Sourdough
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 03:01 AM

Isn't there a verse in the New England version about rounding Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard and then steering straight up the channel to New Bedford? I really like old verses that have such specificity in them. They ground (if you can use that verb about a sea song) the song in the same world we inhabit today.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 09:25 PM

Mackay's poem is reproduced in the Study thread, 51635: Rolling Home Study Thread

'sails filled with snow? Ugh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 09:06 PM

_Rise Up Singing_ correctly attributes it to Mackay, but gives a much abridged & somewhat changed version. It is interesting to compare two couplets that occur in both versions:

CM:
Twice a thousand miles behind us, and a thousand miles before,
Ancient Ocean heaves to bear us to the well-remembered shore;
New-born breezes swell to waft us to our childhood's balmy skies,
To the glow of friendly faces, to the light of loving eyes.

RUS:
Full 10,000 miles behind us & a thousand miles before
Ancient ocean waves to waft us to the well-remembered shore
Newborn breezes swell to send us to our childhood's welcome skies
To the glow of friendly faces and the glance of loving eyes.

I always wondered about that second line in RUS: Anyone waiting to be wafted by waves will have slow going. "Heaves to bear us" makes sense: It is as if the ocean were carrying us on its shoulders. On the other hand, I think the third & fourth lines have improved in the folk process: "Welcome" is more to the point than "balmy", and "glance" is more vivid & less hackneyed than "light".

On the whole it seems to me that that folk process has done well by this song; it has gotten rid of a lot of bombast, and added that wonderful couplet about the sails full of snow (missing from RUS as well).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 06:36 PM

Hugill quotes one by an Australian sailmaker that begins that way (Shanties from the Seven Seas) and quoted by Lighter in the DT Study-

Call all hands to man the capstan,
Set yer cable flaked and clear,
Now we're sailin' homeward bound, boys,
For the Channel we will steer.

The one in C. Fox Smith (A Book of Shanties), from an English sailor, is about the same (see thread 85881)-

Call all hands to man the capstan,
See the cable run down clear,
Heave away, and with a will, boys,
For old England we will steer.

Thread 51635: DT Study Rolling Home

C. Fox Smith thread 85881: C Fox Smith Permathread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Stringsinger
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 03:47 PM

There is the version that goes:

Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to old New England
Rolling home dear land to thee.

It uses this one posted above:

Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable running clear
Heave away an' with a will boys
For our homeland we will steer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 03:47 PM

Previously posted 01 June 07 in thread 33324, where the "Rolling Down to Old Maui" songs belong. Down to Old Maui

Not the same as the "Rolling Home" songs posted in this thread.

Not in Hugill, "Shanties from the Seven Seas," but taken from "Cahiers de chants de marins," No. 2, pp. 54-55, with score; Le-Chasse-Maree/ArMen.

Stan Hugill sings the song on Anthologie, vol. 3, "Chants des Marins Anglais," issued by the same group, Le-Chasse-Maree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: open mike
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 01:17 PM

Rolling Down to Old Maui

Traditional - Lyrics from Shanties from the Seven Seas, by Stan Hugill


It's a damned tough life, full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo.
And we don't give a damn when the gale has stopped
How hard the wind did blow.
We're homeward bound! 'Tis a grand old sound
On a good ship taut and free,
And we don't give a damn when we drink our rum
With the girls on old Maui.

Rolling down to old Maui, my boys,
Rolling down to old Maui.
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling home to old Maui.

Once more we sail with a northerly gale
Through the ice and sleet and rain.
And them coconut fronds in them tropic lands
We soon shall see again.
Six hellish months we've passed away
In the cold Kamchatka sea,
And now we're bound from the arctic ground,
Rolling down to old Maui.

We'll heave the lead where old Diamondhead
Looms up on old Wahoo.
Our mast and yards are sheathed with ice
And our decks are hid from view.
The horrid tiles of the sea-cut ice
That deck the Arctic Sea
Are miles behind in the frozen wind
Since we steered for old Maui.

How soft the breeze of the tropic seas
Now the ice is far astern,
And them native maids in them island glades
Are awaiting our return.
Even now their big black eyes look out
Hoping some fine day to see
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales
Rolling down to old Maui.

And now we sail with a favoring gale
Towards our island home.
Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done,
And we ain't got far to roam.
Our stuns'l booms are carried away
What care we for that sound?
A living gale is after us,
Thank God we're homeward bound!

And now we're anchored in the bay
With the Kanakas all around
With chants and soft aloha oes
They greet us homeward bound.
And now ashore we'll have good fun
We'll paint them beaches red
Awaking in the arms of a wahine
With a big fat aching head.


(I can hear this in a minor key..
is it the same tune as other "homeward bound" songs?
i

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: open mike
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 12:34 PM

looking for rollin' home to old maui...
i have taken the nick name Rollin' Home
as my "handle" on a motor home/r.v. forum

thanks, sorcha for the reminder about sixpence
i remember singing this at summer camp..
gotta love those girl scout songs...
i am sure we have threads which feature many of them..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling home to Ireland , Help Skarp
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 05:49 PM

The orign of this is generally given as a poem by George Mackay(1850ish?), with England being the place in queestion. it seems to have become universally sung by sailors evertwhere, with the location of the appropriate home port or county inserted for maximum effect. And then it gave rise to "Kevin Barry" but that's another story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling home to Ireland , Help Skarpi
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:30 PM

Someone (can't think who at the moment, perhaps Schooner Faire) has also done a "Rolling Home to Massachusetts" version. I'd bet there's a version for just about anywhere with a seacost.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING HOME (TO CALEDONIA)
From: Strupag
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:20 PM

Just found the Scottish version

Rolling Home
Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable running clear
Heave around and with the wheel, boys
For our homeland we must steer

Chorus (after eavh verse):
Rolling home, rolling home
Rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to Caledonia
Rolling home, dear land, to thee

From the pines of California
And by Chile's endless strand
We have sailed the world twice over
Every port in every land

And to all ye blaggard pirates
Who would chase us from the waves
Heed ye well that those who've tried us
Soon have found their watery graves

We were boarded in Jamaica
Where the Jolly Rodger flew
But our swords were hardly drawn, boys
'Ere they took a rosy hue

We return with precious cargo
And with bounty coined in gold
And our sweethearts will rejoice, boys
For they lo'e their sailors bold

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling home to Ireland , Help Skarpi Ic
From: Strupag
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:16 PM

The Scottish version was very popular in the clubs in the late 70's.
I remember in the Ullapool folk club when Archie Fisher was the guest and he sang this song.
After he sung it an old retired captain in the audience told us all that this was the favourite song on the Wool Cutters.
If this is where it originated then I can see why it went all over the place with each country having its own version.
Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling home to Ireland , Help Skarpi Ic
From: cobber
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 01:05 AM

We recorded an Australian version in 1985 for the Melbourne Maritime Museum. It was published years ago by Allans Music but with only a few changes it's almost the same as a Scottish version I have heard. I read once that there were 64 languages in which the song was sung and during the tying up of the ship, sailors would sing a verse frrom their country in their language. I can't remember the reference now but the writer talked about a ship he was on which was unusual in that as they were tying up in Melbourne, the song was sung in sixteen languages.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING HOME (TO DARLIN' DUBLIN) (Makem)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 12:53 AM

ROLLING HOME

I could feel the west wind blowing, I could hear the seabirds call
I could see you standing waving as we left the old North Wall
Many thousand miles before me on the blue and windy sea
Lonely miles and lonely hours lie between my love and me

Chorus:
Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to darlin' Dublin, rolling home my love to thee

I have sailed the Indian Ocean, walked on Egypt's burning sand
Seen New Zealand's misty mountains, worked all through Van Diemen's Land
But my heart kept ever turning to the place I'd left behind
And the girl whose love sustained me, she was always on my mind

Chorus

Call all hands to man the capstan, see the cable running clear
Pull her 'round and with a will, boys, for old Ireland we will steer
Clear your sheets and man your halyards, let the homebound breezes blow
There's a mighty welcome waiting in the land to which we go

Chorus

Words by Tommy Makem
Music traditional
copyright 1987

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 06:15 AM

It certainly got adopted and adapted. I remember being at a session in a pub in the Irish midlands when a group of German fishermen launched into a German language version of Rolling Home to dear old Hamburg to the same tune. Given that most Irish people know it only as the air of Kevin Barry , it caused no little confusion!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: GUEST,JOHN of ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 06:04 AM

There is a fine version of "Rolling Down To Old Maui" on the CD by Shipping News with Gina Dunlap et al.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 03:37 AM

At http://www.contemplator.com/sea/rolling.html you may read:

According to Hugill it was "the most famous homeward-bound shanty of all," and was popular in both English and American Ships. It is believed the shanty is based on a poem by Charles Mackay, written on board ship in 1858, but Hugill speculates that Mackay could have heard the sailors at the capstan and based his poem on the original shanty.
Many collectors state the song was a forecastle song, rather than a shanty, but there are several shanty versions and Whall cites several sources which confirm it was used as a capstan shanty.
Some versions begin with "pipe all hands." The pipe was not generally used on merchant ships.
There are also Irish versions that roll home to "Dear Old Ireland."
Burl Ives gives only three verses. Others can be found at Digital Tradition, by doing a search for Rolling Home.

[The link to Digital Tradition doesnt lead to the song but to our threads page. W.S.]

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: GUEST,Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 11:32 PM

Schooner Fare has a good version of "Rolling Home" on one of their albums.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:08 AM

Not forgetting the Welsh version:

Rolling home – rolling home
Rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to dear old Swansea
With old Ireland on our lee

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING HOME (TO CALEDONIA)
From: Roberto
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:17 AM

Rolling Home


Rolling Home, Iain MacGillivray, Jolly Jack & Friends, Rolling Down to Old Maui, Shanties & Songs of the Sea, Fellside recordings FECD 140 1999 (Original LP: Rolling Home, 1986, Fellside FE035)


Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable running clear
Heave away an' with a will boys
For our homeland we will steer

Rollin' home – rollin' home
Rollin' home across the sea
Rollin' home to Caledonia
Rollin' home, dear land, to thee

Fare-you-well you Spanish ladies
We must now bid you adieu
Happy times we spent together
Happy times we spent with you

Round Cape Horn one frosty morning
And our sails were filled with snow
Clear your sheets and sway your halyards
Swing her out and let her go

Now the way we leave behind us
Seems to know the way we go
There's a hearty welcome waiting
In that land to which we go

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home (sea song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 04:54 PM

Found Kendall Morse singing "Rollin' Home" on the Record Lady, Real Country, page 21. One of the best!
His "I Got No Use For the Women" also on p. 21
Record Lady

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Noreen
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 07:34 PM

Two different songs, Ralphie and Kendall, of the three or more Rolling Homes mentioned in this old thread. I'm sure John Tams's song hes been discussed elsewhere on the forum in the meantime, Ralphie.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: kendall
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 04:22 PM

I learned Rolling Home about 30 years ago, from Ed Trickett.The original was sung by James Mason in a movie many years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Ralphie
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 03:14 PM

For what it's worth...which isn't much, admittedly....John Tams wrote "Rolling Home" about 10 years ago, and it has been featured in productions by the English National Theatre, performed by Roy Bailey, and so, so many others that it has now become a "Trad" song..LOL...John occasionally gets the royalties....lucky him....I wish I could write a song that old... Regards Ralphie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Home
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 08:18 PM

I would like "Rolling Home to Caledonia"; I think Archie Fisher sings it and that it's based on "Rolling Home to dear old/New England" or at least the same tune?? Can anyone help, please? Tattie B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Allan S.
Date: 15 Jan 00 - 04:09 PM

Ive got sixpence from WW-2 British army or RAF

An Amreican Sailo'rs Treasury by Frank Shay pub 1948 and 1951 by Smithmark Publishers as follows p.147 under forecastle songs [THis ballad so completely English, is a great favorate on the vessels of all nations. Several attempts have been made to give it aYankee slant such as rolling home to dear old Boston, or to Newark or to any 2 syllable port.] etc.etc Hope this helps. Allan S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From:
Date: 15 Jan 00 - 09:10 AM

Well, since we're all so into it -- The guys who I heard singing this were doing it in 4, and the changes were:

[1]Rolling home, rolling home Rolling home across the [4]sea Rolling [5]home to old [1]New England Rolling home dear [5]land to [1]thee.

I can hear the melody in my head. Are the verses the same melody as the chorus? If so, I know the song now...lucky boy me.

jofield

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Jan 00 - 01:58 AM

Wasn't me that was looking... I just replied to "Rolling Home" by jofield.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barbara
Date: 15 Jan 00 - 01:46 AM

Hi Sorcha (you didn't ever live in Oregon, did you?) The song you want is in the database and is called I've Got Sixpence [CLICK HERE]
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From:
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 07:52 PM

Would like "Rolling Home to Caledonia" if poss. Thanks in anticipation. Trish

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 04:51 PM

None of these is the one I remember my dad singing...think it was a Fr. Canadian voyegeur(sp) canoe paddling song: "I've got sixpence, jolly jolly sixpence,I've got sixpence to last me all my life; I've got tuppence to spend & tuppence to lend and tuppence to send unto me wife, poor wife. No cares have I to grieve me, no pretty little girl to decieve me, I'm happy as a king, believe me as we go Rollin' rollin' home.

rollin' home (rollin' home), rollin' home (rollin' home) by the light of the silvery mo-oo-on, Happy is the day, we go our homeward way, As we go rollin' rollin' home.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 03:35 PM

Got me, Baldy. Came right up under [rolling home] for me. Maybe the DT was down at that point?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Ringer
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 01:15 PM

I tried searching the DT before I posted my post. Couldn't find it. Why not?

Didn't try searching the forum, tho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Jon W.
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 01:06 PM

Funny, I was just listening to "Rolling Home to Old Maui" from the CD "Steady As She Goes." That's a good version too. Sung by Jeff & Gerrit Warner, Louis Killen, and Fud Benson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:35 PM

Rollin down to Old Callao (sp?) is the Forebitter that I am familiar with, unfortunately not one of my favourites so I cannot remember the words. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:29 PM

jofield, sorry about that "Welcome to Mudcat" post, but if you've been coming here a year or so, howcome you didn't look that up in the database before starting the thread? For shame. I would never do that (don't pay any attention to the crossed fingers behind back)
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:21 PM

Ed Trickett's version was learned from Gale Huntington of Martha's Vinyard, who wrote "Songs the Whalemen Sang," and had a major hand in getting the Sam Henry into print. Gale sang "Rolling Home" in 2/4 time, rather than the 3/4 in which it is often found. I learned it first from Paul Clayton, sung in 3/4 (and with a number of word variations) to the tune most of us associate with the song "Kevin Barry." Caroline and I often sing Huntington's version in our March gigs, simply substituting "dear old Ireland" for "old New England." Cheap trick! Please don't squeal on us.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 10:05 AM

They're both ripping songs. "When We Go Rolling Home" can be found HERE.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:52 AM

Hi Roger, a forebitter is a foc's'le song, same thing. The bitts (like a sampson post but not structually connecte)protrude though the deck or are fastened to the it & you'd make a line fast to it,they also make a very comfortable seat. See Ya, Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:23 AM

Please enlighten me.

I know chantey's are worksongs and f'ocsle songs are songs that sailors might sing at the end of the day for their own entertainment.

What is a forebitter?

Roger in Baltimore (landlocked in Carroll County)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Rana
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:08 AM

Bald Eagle, That would be the one I've heard - which is tremendous. First heard it sung by the late David Parry (of Friends Of Fiddlers Green fame). It for me was the definitive version. Roy Bailey came and was describing it and was taken aback by the vigour of the chorus. I seem to recall him mentioning something like "Oh, you know it". Another point in the back of my mind is that this song was featured in some play in England about the empty hay carts rolling home, though my memory may be playing me tricks.

Rana

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Ringer
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:00 AM

Isn't there one beginning "Round goes the wheel of fortune...", with a chorus

Rolling home, (when we go) Rolling home, (when we go)
Rolling, Rolling, when we go rolling home.

I think recorded by the Ripley Wayfarers, though I've only ever heard it in a session (and a splendidly singable song it is, too)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: kendall
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 08:43 AM

Ed Trickett recorded this for Folk Legacy, I recorded it for Outer Green, and there is no telling who else did it. Very well known song. It was, of course, originally Rolling Home to OLD England with a different tune. I remember James Mason singing it in an old black and white movie. It is definitly not a chanty, probably a f'ocsle song or a forebitter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: JamesJim
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:18 AM

Have used this in concert as an Irish song: "Rolling Home to dear old Ireland."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:14 AM

I know Archie Fisher's version "Rolling Home To Caledonia" if you want the lyrics to that one...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: SeanM
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:03 AM

From the sources I've seen, this may or may not have been a shanty. Hugill feels that it was definitely used as a sea song, starting circa 1850-ish, but waffles a bit as to whether it was a shanty or forebitter based on a period poem... Others seem to feel that though it undoubtedly became a 'sea-song' after a while, that it originally started as a landsmen's song.

Either way, it IS one of my all-time favorite songs.

M

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 11:23 PM

Enter [rolling home] into the search, with the sqaure brackets & you'll find a few version already in the DT> Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rollin' Home
From: Barbara
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 11:22 PM

Hi Jofield, welcome to Mudcat. To access the database here , type a few key words into the blue search box upper right, and click on go. I used [rollin* home] and got this list here. The asterisk gets you both "rollin' and rolling, and the brackets tell the search engine to look for both words. There are several versions of Rolling Home on that list, so click on the various options to find the one you want.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Rollin' Home
From: jofield
Date: 13 Jan 00 - 11:03 PM

I was visiting with some musician friends on Carriacou in the Grenadines, W.I., and they sang a great repertoire of songs: Jimmie Rodgers, C&W, etc., as well as one sea-chanty sounding tune with this in the chorus:

Rollin' home, rollin' home,

---- ---- ---- ---- [can't remember]

Rollin' home to old New England...

I think it was a whaling song, taught to these guys by their aged mother (who was there), but it could well have been learned of an old 78-rpm record.

Ring a bell to anyone?