Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 12:47 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 01:14 PM

Welcome Ted,
I'm sure you'll find lots to interest you here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 07:14 AM

Would it be cheeky to draw attention to Clive Harvey's all-day ukulele workshop at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club on Saturday 19th. February? Clive (Roaring Jelly) performs at the club in the evening.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 05:20 AM

Great I have been looking for this song. My granny used to sing this when I was about 5 years old.The gramophone we had played rather is a scratchy way but I am certain it was Leslie Sarony singing it. Funny I did go to sea but very lucky my ships never went down.
Ted Bamford
PS At 84 I am new to this computer lark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,Derek Phipps
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:50 PM

Back in the early 1960's when I was less than 10 years old my Uncle Les used to sing this song to me....if he were alive today he would be around 90 years old , he was a real character and new many humerous songs like this one....any way ...the chorus he used to sing went like this...

All the crew were in dispair
Some rushed here and the others rushed there
I owe ten bob to Captain Brown
But I'll never have to pay it if the Ship goes down

"Ten Bob" is a reference to Ten Shillings in old English Money ie One Bob would have been one shilling ( 1 Shilling would be worth todays 5 pence )

It would seem that there are many variations of this song , I hope this entry of mine is of use to those looking for the complete lyrics.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 06:02 PM

Another verse went something like.
The captain issued from the store
A bar of soap to every four,
He said 'Now wash yourselves ashore,
I shall play me ukulele as the ship goes down.'

The last verse has the captain playing his uke in the mermaids' band.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:04 AM

I recently archived an audio recording of this song made by the late David Spence, at "The Drinking Gourd", in San Francisco about 1965. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:57 PM

thread.cfm?threadid=61861&messages=18

Chords on that thread.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WRECK OF THE NANCY LEE (A. LeClerq)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:55 PM

THE WRECK OF THE NANCY LEE

Words and music: A. LeClerq

(Recorded by Tom Lewis on Poles Apart)

I'll tell you the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea
The bravest man was Captain Brown,
'Cause he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

Chorus:
All the crew was in despair,
Some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The Captain said to Seaman Jones:
"You'd best put on your working clothes
While you stand and spray your hose
I can play me ukulele as the ship goes down."

The owners signalled to the crew, saying:
"Do the best that you can do.
We're only insured for half-a-crown,
We'll be out of pocket if the ship goes down."

The Captain's wife was on board ship,
And he was very glad of it
But she could swim and she might not drown
So we tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.

The crow's nest fell and killed the crow,
The starboard watch was two hours slow
But the Captain sang fal-oh-de-oh-doh
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 12:47 AM

Hi Folks
It a great fun song to sing with Mandolin.   
evrytime Nancy Lee appears on Mudcat I learn a new verse which I have never heard before.

Here is a verse so far not mentioned


The owners of the ship
They telegraphed the crew.
They said "please do the best that you can do.
The ships only insured for half a Crown       ( Old English curency
And we will be outs of pocket if the ship goes down.
Regards Pierre

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,Lyndon Bournon
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 11:44 PM

My father (Léon Bournon)knew Arthur Leclerq and his daughter Pam well, as they ran the Army Kinema Corp's cinema at Arborfield, Berks in the 1950s/60s when my father's job was to supervise the network of Army cinemas. I know that Mr. Leclerq told Dad that he'd received royalties re the song even from China.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:37 PM

I have one of the 78s and the sheet music. No-one mentioned yet the glorious musical intervals in between the verses. I used to sing a shortened version. Some fabulously silly puns. Might revive it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went...
From: GUEST,Bob Bull
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 07:11 AM

My mother used to sing me this song and I remember many of the verses that SHE sang, they include several of those already mentioned here plus;

They shouted women and children first,
The engineer came up and cursed,
And all of a sudden his boiler burst,
So he played his ukelele as the ship went down.

Mum always sang 'The captains name was Captain Brown, and he played his ukelele as the ship went down.'

He was never brave when she sang it.

I can also recall just part of a verse 'The sailors hoisted up their slacks and they all climbed up the mast.'

Many years ago in East Barnet Hertfordshire I heard a 78 being played on an old fashioned gramaphone in a junk shop. How I wish I had bought it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Wen
From: Ron Davies
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 09:47 PM

My wife Jan does this song--the Tom Lewis version--learned it from "Poles Apart"--which is a delightful CD.   She's also made up a lot of stage business to go with the song. And sings it in the park, among other places. It's a smash hit with kids--of all ages.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Wen
From: Gulliver
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 05:19 PM

Raymond Crooke has just put his version on YouTube. There are also several other old recordings. Great song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 12:51 PM

for the record, "Wreck of the Nancy Lee" and "He Played His Ukelele As the Ship Went Down" have either been slated for inclusion in the Digital Tradition, or they're already there and I just can't find them.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: Flash Company
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 10:38 AM

Two more variant verses:-

The Captain said to Stoker Jim,
You'll have to teach me how to swim,
But Jim just answered with a frown
We can both learn together as the ship goes down

Also

The Captain said to Fireman Mose,
You get in to your Fireman's clothes,
And while you stand and play your hose
I can play my ukelele as the ship goes down!

I have a feeling it was Lesley Sarony

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 09:16 AM

Just seen this. The song was also recorded by Clinton Ford and is currently available on CD (both the CD Music Hall Memories and the double CD compilation Run To The Door). HTH.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jan 06 - 01:33 AM

A site that is offering the sheet music for sale describes it thus:
HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT DOWN
Words & Music: A. Le Clerq, ©1932.

Tom Lewis recorded it under the title THE WRECK OF THE NANCY LEE. It's on his album "Poles Apart."

Leslie Sarony also recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went do
From: GUEST,vickikel
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 10:29 PM

Tom Lewis does the song-don't know if he's recorded it yet, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: GUEST,Peter Clarke
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 10:05 PM

My father used to sing this song to my sister and I, one on each knee, about 65 years ago.
I remember the tune well but unfortunately cannot write or play music.
The only part of the song I can remember him singing is:
I`ll tell you the tale of the Nancy lee,
The ship that was shipwrecked at sea.
The bravest man was Captain Brown,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.
All the crew were in despair, some rushed here and the others rushed there,
But the captain sat in his cabin chair.
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WRECK OF THE NANCY LEE (A. LeClerq)
From: Compton
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 04:14 AM

Is this the Version you know....
I have it down as "The Nancy lee"
(Clinton Ford did a great version......

I`ll tell of the tale of the Nancy lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea.
And the bravest man was Captain Brown,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.
All the crew were in despair, some rushed here and others rushed there,
But the captain sat in the Captains chair.
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The pets on board were all scared stiff,
The cat meowed and the monkey sniffed.
The old green parrot hung upside down
Saying Pretty Pretty Polly as the ship went down.
The crows' nest fell and killed the crow.
The starboard watch was two hours slow,
But the Captain sang Yo-do-dodi-o-doh,
As he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The Captains wife was on the ship,
And he was glad, she'd made the trip.
As she could swim she might not drown,
So he tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.
They all cried women and children first.
The engineer came up and cursed.
Then all of a sudden the boiler burst.
Still he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

And that was the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea.
And the bravest man was Captain Brown,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he played the uke as the ship went down
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 05:10 PM

For Olga Pulloffski, see ...

http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/o/olgapulloffskithebeautifulspy.shtml

Subject: RE: lyr:he played the uke as the ship went d
From:
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 05:09 PM

Just noticed in the thread someone knows the tune. What is it please? The one I know doesn't look like it would fit the lyrics

cheers

Rob Shaw

Subject: RE: lyr:he played the uke as the ship went d
From:
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 05:03 PM

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

This is a song that my mother remembers her mother singing (so that would be the same vintage, Grandma was born late 1890's, sadly is of course no longer with us.

All I ever heard was part of the first verse, which I have known as

"I'll tell you the story of the Nancy Lee, a ship that was shipwrecked at sea, and the finest man was Captain Brown, and he played his ukelele as the ship went down"

I've always wondered about the rest, never believed I would find it.

The tune is reminiscent of something else, I'll post what if I can figure it out, or maybe get some help to determine the notes.

Rob Shaw

Subject: Lyr Add: HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT...
From: bobby's girl
Date: 15 Jun 00 - 02:50 PM

Found it!

HE PLAYED HIS UKULELE AS THE SHIP WENT DOWN

Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho.
I'll tell you the tale of a sailor
Who sailed the Bay of Biscay-o
As the captain of a whaler.
Of his gallant deed you all should know.
Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho.
I'll tell the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea.
The bravest man was Captain Brown,
'Cause he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

All the crew were in despair.
Some rushed here and the others rushed there,
But the captain sat in the captain's chair,
And he played his ukulele as the ship went down.
The pets on board were all scared stiff.
The cat miaowed and the monkey sniffed.
The old green parrot hung upside-down
Screeching "Scratch-a-Paw Polly" as the ship went down.

The owner wirelessed to the crew:
"Do the best that you can do.
She's only insured for half-a-crown,
So I'll be out of pocket if the ship goes down."
The captain answered, "Oh, you see,
It's all up with the Nancy Lee.
You're all right, but what about me?
I shall wet my ukulele as the ship goes down."

When they heard the news at the admiralty,
They wirelessed to the Nancy Lee:
"We'd like to speak to Captain Brown,
If he isn't very busy when the ship goes down."
The captain answered, "What's to do?"
The admiralty said, "At half past two,
We shall all be listening in to you
As you play your ukulele when the ship goes down."

An Irishman said, "Begorrah! I'll fight
The very first man that comes in sight."
"You can't do that," said Captain Brown.
"You have to box the compass as the ship goes down."
He shouted, "Man the rafts.
With chains and a rope you can bind them."
The bosun searched both fore and aft,
But dashed if he could find them.

At the mercy of the raging sea
Was the good ship Nancy Lee.
She struggled on against the storm.
The cold, cold wind was far from warm,
So all the crew 'cept Captain Brown
Played "Ring Ring Roses" as the ship went down.

The captain's wife was on the ship,
And he was glad she'd made the trip.
As she could swim, she might not drown,
So he tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.
Now this is the tale of the Nancy Lee,
The ship that got shipwrecked at sea;
And Captain Brown, who was in command,
Now plays his ukulele in a mermaid band.

As I said, I can't vouch for the absolute accuracy of the words, as the chap who gave me them was about 90, and remembering them from many years ago.

Subject: RE: lyr:he played the uke as the ship went d
From: bobby's girl
Date: 15 Jun 00 - 02:14 PM

I've got a copy of the lyrics of Captain Brown somewhere, as we found them out because we dance to the tune with Royal Manor Morris. The words I've got (when I find them) were given to me by a patient at work, so I can't vouch for their absolute accuracy.

Subject: RE: lyr:he played the uke as the ship went d
From: SeanM
Date: 15 Jun 00 - 01:25 PM

Refresh

M

Subject: lyr:he played the uke as the ship went d
From:
Date: 14 Jun 00 - 08:18 PM

The Captains name was Captain Brown And he played the Ukelel as the Ship went down

and

Olga Polovska the Beatiful Spy

Can you find Lyrics? Thanks