Lyr Req/Add: Swim, Sam! Swim! (Weston/Lee)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Swim Sam (Weston/Lee)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Sep 11 - 08:59 AM

Oxford University has the sheet music, described thus:

SWIM, SAM! SWIM!
Words and music by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee; sung by Jay Laurier.
London: Francis, Day & Hunter, ©1917.

First line: Sammy was a sailor.
First line of chorus: Swim, Sam! swim.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Swim Sam (Weston/Lee)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Sep 11 - 06:36 PM

This song was a favourite of the estimable Maughans (John and Cheryl) at the Tree Inn Folk Club, near Bude, until the mid-90s. I don't go to their present singalongs at the Welly in Boscastle, as I'm a bit more of a tune man (OK yer buggers - I can't sing for toffee!), but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were still singing it down there on Wednesdays.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Swim Sam (Weston/Lee)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 10:00 PM

Apparently written and copyrighted by 1917, if you were curious.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Swim Sam (Weston/Lee)
From: GUEST,Sweet Burlap
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 06:03 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8cSOAUiAOU

a youtube video of a 78 playing Sam Carson singing Swim Sam, Swim

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 02:40 AM

Best to start a new thread for this one, Eden, though thanks for reminding me of Swim Sam by bringing this thread back up to the top.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: GUEST,Eden
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 11:55 PM

I was curious when I came across this thread if anyone had the lyrics to a Regal Slip song I learned as a child.
It's only a snippet of a song in the first place but I only remember the first verse.

Over the hills and the mountains
Through the frost and snow
I went down to the fountain
By myself all alone

Then there's one more verse after that and a repetition of the first stanza. I can't find it anywhere and any help would be much appreciated.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: GUEST,Cryptic
Date: 31 May 08 - 07:17 AM

Has anyone ever heard this one:
O She was so good and so kind to me
Just like one of the family
I'll never forget my Mary
She was ...
She was ...
Sheeeeeeeeee was so good and so kind to me
Just like one of the family
I'll never forget my Mary
She was ...
She was ...
Sheeeeeeeeeeee was etc., ad nauseum.

We thought it was hilarious when we were kids.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: GUEST,Cryptic
Date: 31 May 08 - 07:10 AM

My Father used to sing this and a host of other ditties when he was in a good mood on our regular Sunday Afternoon Drives, way back in the 1940's. [A post-WWII tradition, long before Television].
It's interesting to see the first verse, which Dad never sang, and the last verse, which I probably just don't remember.
Dad had a huge repertoire of what I believe could have been mild Music Hall songs. When he was at school his teacher used to select a child to 'perform' and as Dad considered himself a no-talent person, he researched a lot of amusing, tongue-twisting songs, which he sang in a deadpan totally tuneless fashion, to the delight of all.
Thank you so much for providing the extra words for me!
MY kids will be delighted.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 03:48 PM

Hi Lucius, having kids can excuse anything. With my 2 I couldn't even see straight for the fist 10 yrs. Next time though please stop me.

Barry

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: Lucius
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:38 PM

Hey Barry, we have met years ago at a NH Mudcat gathering, I had just moved to New England, so it was probably around 1996. It helped that David Jones pointed you out--by name, I should have come over and re-introduced myself, but blame it on my fallen graces, as I've been too busy with my kids to be properly social with anyone but Morris dancers (is that an oxymoron?)

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 09:47 PM

Hi Lucius, I agree David did a wonderful job of it at NEFFA. Sorry to have missed you there, wished we had met.

Barry

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Swim Sam
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 07:43 PM

This thread did have a crosslink to the MIDI for The Lady Leroy, but I think that was a mistake. Please let me know if my correction was mistaken.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: nutty
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 07:38 PM

Graham and Eileen Pratt do a wonderful version of the song and have now reissued the Vinyl as a CD (see recordings). See Bandstand by Regal Slip on their site

CLICK HERE

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: Lucius
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 07:29 PM

Refresh...Actually, if anyone can point me to the printed score or a decent recording, I'd be glad to come back with a MIDI. David Jones did this at NEFFA 2007, it was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Subject: RE: ADD: Swim Sam (Weston & Lee)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:49 PM

Can someone post the tune (or a MIDI) to "Swim, Sam" / "Sammy was a sailor"?

Subject: RE: ADD: Swim Sam (Weston & Lee)
From: GUEST,The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:33 AM

Flash - "I've only come down for the day" was recorded by Dave and Al Sealey (Cosmotheka)back in the 70's - I think it was on an album called "Wines and Spirits". I do perform it occasionally, and, as you say, it's about as politically incorrect as it gets. The curious thing is, it generally causes much amusement and little offence...unless, of course, you are sensitive about your speech impediment, wooden leg or lunacy.
Chris N

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: rich-joy
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 08:36 PM

The Weston & Lee partnership produced many other fun numbers too, some of which have been the subject of Mudcat thread discussions ... (sorry, I don't have the time to research that at present!!!)


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: GUEST,Gary Keep
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 06:38 PM

Hi,

Swim Sam is a favorite of our group, Dogwatch Nautical Band. Always good for entertaining kids at museum gigs and adults who have been drinking at more adult oriented events.

Nice to learn some of the songs heritage/origins. It certainly falls into the catagory of silly sea songs with the like of Capitol Ship, the Bold Fisherman, Barney Buntline, etc.

Gary

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: Flash Company
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 11:09 AM

Curiosity strikes again, I know it's a long time ago, Julia, but where did you hear it?
Thing is, I knew a guy who sang this, also another song of similar vintage called 'I'm only down here for the day', which was about as politically incorrect as you could get!

FC

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: GUEST,Anne
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 08:23 AM

Hi -just decided to see if anyone had put the words of Swim Sam on the net. My husband's father used to sing it to him and his brothers and sisters years ago when they would go swimming in Skerries in Ireland. Nice to see it there -Bruce will be pleased

Subject: RE: Swim Sam
From: Hawker
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 07:15 PM

Great song, learned it myself last year.
Did you know that Regal Slip is Pils Lager backwards!
Lucy

Subject: Lyr Add: SWIM, SAM! SWIM! (Weston/Lee)^^
From: GUEST,GUEST, Rich-Joy
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 03:11 AM

Can't believe no-one's answered this yet! Julia, I have it on a 1981 REGAL SLIP record "Bandstand" - from the UK - being Graham and Eileen Pratt (now back in circulation, I believe), Sue Edwards, and Ron Taylor. I think Swim Sam,Swim may be an old music hall song; they credit it to Bert Lee and R.P.Weston. This was a great favourite in the Darwin, (Australia) folkscene, sung by the likes of Tony Suttor and Paul Lawler!!

1. Sammy was a sailor, a sailor big and broad
Shipped on board a whaler and tumbled overboard
Shouted : "Someone save me!"
Someone said : "Go Hang!
- The sharks are sniffing round you!"
Then his shipmates sang:

ch. Swim Sam, Swim Sam, Swim Sam
Show them you're some swimmer
Swim like a snow-white swan, Sam
You know how the snow-white swan swam,
Six sharp shivering sharks
Are gonna snap your limb
But a swim well-swum is a well-swum swim
So Swim Sam, Swim Sam, Swim!

2. Sammy swum with vigour, the race had just begun
Sharks all eyed his figure,"All jelly!" shouted one
Some old portly porpoise, bobbed up in the foam
And shouted : "If you want to catch the last boat home:"

3. Sharks all sang the chorus and said while in the brine
"Ragtime ditties bore us, but By Gum! this is fine!"
They spluttered with their "S's", until they got lock-jawed
And Sammy left them singing as he climbed on board :
^^

I think there's something else you're supposed to do when you post lyrics isn't there??? (sorry)

line breaks added by a
joeclone

Subject: Swim Sam
From: Julia
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:00 PM

I just heard a hilarious song that had a chorus with "Swim, Sam, Swim" in it. Does anyone have this? Thanks