Origins: Essiquibo River

Subject: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 08:18 AM

Is there anyone out there who can anyone help me with the complete lyrics to this song, and maybe even the history behind it? And am I right in thinking that it uses the same music as the shanty "John Kanaka"?

I'll be very grateful for any assistance!

Cheers

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Troll
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 09:13 AM

This is, to the best of my knowledge, a Carribean shanty. The Essequibo river is in,I think, Surinam. I could be wrong,but it's one of those countries in that area. I'm geographly impared.

Essequibo river is the king of rivers all.

boddy tanna na we are somebody-o

Essequibo river is the king of rivers all.

Boddy tanna na we are somebody-o

Somebody-o Johnny,somebody-0

Boddy tanna na we are somebody-o

Essequibo captain is the king of captains all etc.

Bo'sun, Mate, Cookie, Sailor, etc

Essequibo Judy is the queen of judies all etc.

Yes, the tune is a variant of John Kanaka. I learned it from a man who was living on a 30-foot sloop with his wife and daughter. He knew a lot of shanties, some of which I had never heard. Essequibo River was one of them.

troll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 10:12 AM

Check out DigiTrad for "Essiquibo"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 10:12 AM

It's in 'Shanties of the Seven Seas' by Stan Hugill. But then, what isn't...

Subject: Lyr Add: ESSIQUIBO RIVER
From: GUEST,rhj
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 12:16 PM

ESSIQUIBO RIVER

The Essiquibo River is the king of rivers all,
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo River is the king of rivers all,
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo captain is the king of captains all,
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo captain is the king of captains all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo bosun is the king of bosuns all,
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo bosun is the king of bosuns all,
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo maidens are the queen of maidens all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo maidens are the queen of maidens all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo sallies are the queen of sallies all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo sallies are the queen of sallies all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo sailor is the king of sailors all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo sailors is the king of sailors all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

The Essiquibo River is the king of rivers all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
The Essiquibo River is the king of rivers all
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.
Somebody, oh, somebody, oh
Buddy ta-na-na, we're somebody, oh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Abby Sale
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 02:42 PM

It's in east central Guyana

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 10:07 PM

Both of these are halyard shanties & Hugill got both from the same shipmate & shantyman Harding the Barbarian. Hugill says, as far as he knows neither have ever been in print, though Dana refers to John Kanaka in his Two Years Before The Mast (1840) as being sung by a Hawaiian & Hugill thinks that there's a possibilty that the refrain is Samoan & that Essequibo River is either from the West Indies or Guiana. Myself, I don't see much of a connection aside from being used for the same line. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 10:28 AM

Wow! Thanks everyone!

Martin Simpson (on his "Collection", 1994) sings an additional verse which begins "When we get to Georgetown..." and the rest of it I can't make out.

Has anyone come across this verse - which would definitely site the song as being from Guyana?

Many thanks

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 02:47 PM

Times Atlas and Gerald Durrell reckon it is in the African Ghana, rather than the Caribbean Ghiana. I'l go with them I think...

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 05:57 PM

I believe the Essequibo is on the north east coast of South America along with Georgetown (Guyana). Another South American river that's well know in shantydom is the Rio Grande. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 07:18 AM

The two additional verses that Martin Simpson includes are:

Running like the devil when we're running from the squall
Boddy tanana, we are somebody, oh
Running like the devil, or the devil take us all
Boddy tanana, we are somebody oh

When we get to Georgetown the sheets a-coming down
Boddy tanana, we are somebody, oh
.......... silver dollars and go tearing round the town
Boddy tanana, we are somebody, oh

Sadly I still can't make out the beginning of the "silver dollars" line. Any ideas from Martin Simpson fans?

I'm certain that the song is concerned with the South American Guyana, which was a British colony until comparatively recently, and Georgetown was a humming port. The Essequibo is indeed "The King of rivers all" when the rains are upon us, and flows at an incredible rate. Sir Walter Ralegh, the old sea dog himself, journeyed up it twice on two well-documented voyages on a doomed search for El Dorado. He didn't find it, but he did come back with the germ of an idea for how to run a colony (having already experienced disasters in Munster and Roanoke, Virginia) which grew and changed the face of world history.

...So the song might well have an interesting history! Bragging Elizabethans, perhaps?

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 08:34 AM

Another interesting post note...

I've been speaking to a friend of mine, who's an expert in Caribbean creole, and she told me that

"Boddy tanana, we are somebody, oh"

could well have originated from

"Boat a-turnin' now, we are somebody o'er" (i.e. turn the boat around, we're a man overboard).

This would also give the song a Caribbean provenance. It also makes sense from a nautical point of view, since the boats traditionally used to navigate the Essequibo were light, small-hulled vessels that could hug the shore without going aground on the shallows, and could avoid the strong currents midstream.

Curiously, the ruddermen often lacked their thumbs (or other fingers): if they accidentally trailed them in the water, pirahna would bite them off without the sailors feeling a thing.

Any opinions?

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: GUEST,barry Finn
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 08:35 AM

Should've added these verses that I got from the other half of Finn & Haddie (Neil Downey) about 20 yrs ago

1) "When I get through sailing over storm & swell

Going to Barbadoes live in big hotel

2) Essequibo river muddy as can be

Essequibo rive far as I/eye can see.

Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 11:59 AM

That's great Barry - thanks a lot! Seems to confirm the Caribbean theory.

What does "the other half of Finn & Haddie (Neil Downey)" refer to - a publication or a recording? If so, do you have the details?

Cheers

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 01:47 PM

Hi Chris, Neil & I perform (along with sometimers Jerry Bryant &/or Ken Sweeney), mostly prison worksongs & seashanties (mostly Afro American influenced) under the name of Finn & Haddie for probably the past 5 yrs (very unprofessionally) though we've partied & played about with each other for maybe 20 ODD yrs or better (or worst). Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 04:47 AM

Hi Barry

Sounds interesting - I've always been more drawn to folksongs like shanties and worksongs that have sprung from some kind of work ethic: hardship, fellowship, intimations of mortality - they have a very special quality.

Do you know Odea Matthew's rendition of "Something Within Me" on one of the recordings from Angola Prison? Superb - to think this was a woman who was banged up for the rest of her life, to work away, and yet it's such an inspiring song of hope and optimism.

I wrote a shanty for a show a couple of years back about the scientists and botanists on Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour. They went off to the great Terra Australis Incognita in the hope of completing the Great Chain Of Being (according to Linnaeus' theorem, they were only a few hundred species short), and ended up discovering far too many new species for the theorem to hold - thus ushering in, 80 years before Darwin, the concept of evolution. I called it Botany Bay (not to be confused with the other of the same title!) and would be happy to paste up the words for you. It's fun, and there's not too many out there about flower collectors!

All the best

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 12:24 PM

Chris, you a member here?? Oughtta be!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Troll
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 12:26 PM

MOM'CAT!!!

troll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Boarding Party (KC)
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 11:21 AM

Chris, post away!

One of the Boarding Party's interior threads was collecting songs of nautically tainted science, technology and exploration. I'd hope you'd add yours to "The Old Peacock" (1838-42 Antarctic jaunt that kicked off the Smithsonian); "The Challenger's Crew" (Mapped the ocean floor and discover the mid-Atlantic ridge); and a song celebrating the laying of the transatlantic cable.

As space science editor for Science News for many years this genre was of particular delight to Jon Eberhard. Who componse a few "in-the-tradition" space shanties such as "Solar Privateer" about mylar-powered space craft. But that's another story.

KC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 11:36 AM

KC et al-- it was an eager invite, not an admonishment!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Barry Finn
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 11:59 AM

Hi Chris

Yup I have Odea doing that on the prison Worksongs put out by Arhoolie. I couldn't possibly do it justice & the spiritual side of singing doesn't grab me like the physical. There are some great versions on that LP & their contrast to some of the Texas & Mississippi prison recordings of similar versions are very interesting. We do a similar version of "Berta".

Let's see your Cook's song, new sea songs & shanties are great to see & hear.

Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: Crowhugger
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 12:14 PM

Maybe there is more than one Essequibo River...transplanted people often bring place names with them. Like parts of Ontario where you get all mixed up thinking you're over the puddle in Scotland. 0.02 :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From: GUEST,lamarca
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 12:57 PM

Roy Harris once told me, "When all else fails, sing Essequibo River". He just makes up verses as he goes along, which I think is more in the true tradition of shanty singing than learning a fixed set of archival verses from a book. I've added Martin Simpson's when I sing it, and one of my own:

Essequibo Mary, she's the queen of Marys all
Buddy ta-na-na, etc
Goes running to the docks when she hears the sailors call
Buddy ta-na-na, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Essequibo River
From:
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 08:32 AM

I'll post up the botanical shanty tomorrow for those who are interested.

Many thanks to everyone for their very interesting contributions! Thanks Praise & KC - I'll look into the membership section above.

By the way, if I seem to have gone off on a tangent with the piranha theory above, let me explain why. Bearing in mind the possibility of "Boat a turnin' now, we are somebody o'er": if a man did go "o'er" it would then have been extremely important to "turn the boat" as quickly as possible, or it would have been too late!

Any takers?

Cheers - Chris

Subject: Lyr Add: BOTANY BAY
From:
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 07:27 AM

BOTANY BAY

Come all you young mariners lately at ease
Did you hear the great news from the Southerly seas?
The landmass of legend was recently found
And for that great terrain we are presently bound

(Chorus)
Sail away, sail away
Show your hands for the passage to Botany Bay
So let's unfurl the topmast and anchors aweigh
For the Kingdom of Sweden and Carl von Linne

Around the Canaries, Brazil and Cape Horn
Entertaining yourselves on the tropical shores
The o'er the Pacific, with fair skies above
To be greeted with flowers on the Islands of Love

From there to the Southland is but a few days
Neither monsters nor mermaids inhabit those straits
Such fancies encourage the bravehearted few
That a paradise beckons the boldest of crews

So quit these grim taverns and pox-ridden whores
Leave your debts and your wives and perpetual wars
Replenish your purses and sharpen your eyes
For where Terra Australis Incognita lies

Now if your young lass should implore you to stay
Do not harbour regrets for her pitiful ways
Such sweet-scented flowers whom we leave behind
Cannot ever compare to the ones we will find

(Chorus)
Sail away, sail away
All aboard for the passage to Botany Bay
So let's unfurl the topmast and anchors aweigh
For the glory of nature and Carl von Linne

(In memory of the gallant crew of botanists on board The Endeavour who landed at Botany Bay with Captain Cook on 29th April 1770)

Chris Hoban, © 1998