Req: 3 Shanties from 'Swallows and Amazons'

Subject: Need Shanty Lyrics
From:
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 10:48 AM

I am looking for the lyrics of the following sea shanties referred to and sung by the children in Arthur Ransome's 'Swallows and Amazons' (1930):

1. The Whale

2. Amsterdam

3. Salt Beef (Ransome gives what appear to be two verses, starting:

Salt beef, salt beef is our relief Salt beef and biscuit bread O!)

With huge thanks in advance for help offered

Tim Johns

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Bob Hollis
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 12:05 PM

Tim, have you searched the database? There are many songs referring to whaling. One version of A'Roving is based in Amsterdam, but I don't think Susan would have allowed it.
(Have you had any response to your request for White's Small Boat Sailing yet?

Subject: Lyr Add: A-ROVIN'
From: pete
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 01:24 PM

here's the version of a'rovin that i have...
****************************************
A-ROVIN'

In Amsterdam there lived a Maid
Mark well what I do say!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
And she was mistress of her trade
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid
A-rovin', a-rovin', since rovin's been my ru-i-in
I'll go no more a-rovin' with you fair maid

One night I crept from my abode
Mark etc.
One night I crept from my abode
To meet this fair maid down the road
I'll go etc.

I met this fair maid after dark
And took her to her favorite park.

I took this fair maid for a walk
And we had such a loving talk.

I put me arm around her waist
Sez she, "Young man, you're in great haste!"

I put my hand upon her knee
Sez she, "Young man you're rather free!"

I put my hand upon her thigh
Sez she, "Young man you're rather high!"

She sore that she'd be true to me
But spent me pay-day fast and free

In three weeks time I was badly bent
Then off to sea I sadly went.

In a bloodboat Yank bound round Cape Horn
Me boots and clothes were all in pawn

Bound up Cape Stiff through ice and snow
And up the coast to Cally-o

An' then back to the Liverpool Docks
Saltpeter stowed in our boots an' socks

Now when I got home from sea
A soger had her on his knee.

******************************************

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 03:19 PM

What's a soger, Pete?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From:
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 06:38 PM

Soger = soldier

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Alex
Date: 06 Aug 97 - 11:17 PM

I remember reading "Swallows and Amazons" as a kid, but I no longer have a copy. Is there a fragment of any of the shanties quoted? Might be able to help if you can quote a couple of lines.

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Tim Johns
Date: 07 Aug 97 - 07:42 AM

I'm very grateful to Bob for his rip-roaring lines: if this isn't what the chidren sang, it's what they ought to have sung!

The first part is virtually identical with a song which I know as 'In Leicester Town' that has the young man touching various other parts of the maid's anatomy - eg

I put my hand upon her toe/She said "Young man, you're rather slow."

I put my hand upon her breast/She said "Young man, now that's the best."

Whether this was indeed the song (probably in a cleaned-up version) referred to by Ransome we may never know: he gives only the title, and no further clue.

Tim

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Tim (2)
Date: 07 Aug 97 - 07:46 AM

Oops, I misread the messages Thanks to Bob, but most to Peter!

T.

Subject: RE: Need Shanty Lyrics
From: Ted In Australia
Date: 19 Aug 97 - 08:41 AM

search the net for The Bitter End at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/alan.j.hardy/ For heaps of good chanties

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 Shanties
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 06 Jun 18 - 05:42 AM

Tune Req: Salt Beef (Swallows and Amazons)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 Shanties
From: Lighter
Date: 06 Jun 18 - 08:46 AM

What exactly is Masefield's "Sailor's Haul"?

The only ref. I can find is at the Arthur Ransome site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 Shanties
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Jun 18 - 04:58 PM

Would that be 'Mains'l Haul'? And surely 'Salt Beef' is a childfriendly alteration of 'Salt Horse'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 Shanties
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Jun 18 - 05:01 PM

See the other current thread for 'Salt Beef' which isn't any sort of a chanty, a modern composed piece.

Subject: RE: Req: 3 Shanties from 'Swallows and Amazons'
From: Lighter
Date: 06 Jun 18 - 06:00 PM

Well, there's John Masefield, "A Mainsail Haul" (London: Elkin Mathews, 1905).

But the two songs cited don't seem to be in it.