Origins: Bold Riley (chantey)

Subject: RE: Origins: Bold Riley (chantey)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Feb 24 - 05:24 PM

Another version. I heard it called "Weather Forecast." Can anybody tell us about this version?

BOLD RILEY

We were on the beach and our money was gone
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
So we signed on this packet for to drive her along
Bold Riley-o gone away

Goodbye me sweetheart,
goodbye me dear-o
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Goodbye me darlin',
goodbye me dear-o,
Bold Riley-o gone away.

Oh the rain it rains all the day long,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
And the northern wind, it blows so strong,
Bold Riley-o gone away
CHORUS

The anchors are weighed and our rags we’ll set
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Them Liverpool judys we’ll never forget,
Bold Riley-o gone away
CHORUS

We’re outward bound for Bengal Bay
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Get bending me lads, ‘tis a hell of a way
Bold Riley-o gone away
CHORUS

Cheer up, Mary Helen and don't look so glum,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Come White-stocking Day you'll be drinkin' hot rum
Bold Riley-o gone away
CHORUS

Source: http://www.wareham-whalers.org.uk/words/Bold%20Riley.pdf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley (chantey)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 21 - 10:24 AM

I wonder if any kind soul is able to improve/correct my ABC file for Bold Riley. I'm struggling with some of the note lengths and the bar lengths.

  X:1
  T:Bold Riley
  C:Traditional
  M:4/4
  L:1/4
  K:D
  A/B/c/ | d A A F | G A F/E/D/ E2 F | G G F D | G A/ B2
  w:Oh_ the rain it rai-ns all day long---. Bold Ri-ley-o, Bold Ri--ley
  A/B/c/ | d A A F | G A F/E/D/ E2 F | G G F D | E E D2
  w:And_ the north-ern wind it blows so strong---. Bold Ri-ley-o has gone a-way.
  %Chorus%
  A B A F F3/ A B A E E2 F G G F D G A/ B2
  w:Good-bye my sweet-heart, good-bye my dear-o. Bold Ri-ley-o, Bold Ri--ley.
  A B A F F3/ A B A E E2 F G G F D | E E D2
  w:Good-bye my dar-lin', good-bye my dear-o. Bold Ri-ley-o has gone a-way.
  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: mikesamwild
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 08:21 AM

It doesn't seem to be in Stan Hugill's book as a title, maybe embedded in the text?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 10:19 AM

In Liverpool, social reformer Eleanor Rathbone campaigned to have monthly half pay collectable at the shippingoffice to support sailors families...who were otherwise forced to rely on charity for the duration of the voyage. Some single sailors nominated their 'sweethearts' who would often dress up for the day and spend the proceeds on liquor.

Subject: RE: Bold Riley
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:42 PM

I remember Bert Lloyd singing this on one of the early sea albums - He described it as a halyard shanty.
'White Stocking day' is mentioned in Sam Larner's song 'Dockyard Gate', where a sailor's wife tells her lover;

"If you come down to the dockyard gate,
And wait till I come out,
This very day we'll spend his half-pay,
And we'll drink both ale and stout".

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Bold Riley
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:00 PM

Emmie-

"whitestocking time" is when the wives of sailors got all dressed up to collect the half-pay deposited for them at the shipping office by their husbands who were off at sea.

"Bold Riley" I've always assumed was the name of the sailor who was away at sea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Bold Riley
From: GUEST,Emmie
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 01:16 PM

Does anyone know what the words mean in the song?

Is the bold Riley a type of boat or is it a sailor? What is whitestocking time!!?? I know that I am middle aged as I now want to know the meaning behind folk songs!!


BOLD RILEY

Oh the rain it rains all the day long,
Bold Riley oh, Bold Riley
And the northern winds, they blow so strong.
Bold Riley-oh has gone away!

Chorus
Goodbye, me sweetheart
Goodbye, me dear-oh,
Bold Riley oh, Bold Riley
Goodbye my darlin
Goodbye, me dear-oh,
Bold Riley-oh has gone away!

Come on Mary don't look so glum
Bold Riley oh, Bold Riley
By Whitestocking day, you'll be drinking rum.
Bold Riley-oh has gone away!

Chorus


Our anchor's aweigh and our sails are set,
Bold Riley-oh, Bold Riley
And those Liverpool girls, we'll never forget,
Bold Riley-oh has gone away!


Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Anglo
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 12:42 AM

I have only traced that setting as far back as John Jones and the Oyster Band,  and I think they originated it, basically a slower, accompanied version of the shanty popularised by Bert Lloyd. Kate Rusby often gets the credit these days. I always liked the Oysters' version and play it for all my uninformed guests :-)



Tim Van Eyken also recorded a similar version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: lamarca
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 02:43 PM

Kate Rusby's version seems a lot like the one the Oyster Band recorded on "Step Outside", both in tune and tempo - it's probably a variation that's been circulating around the British folk scene for a number of years. Don't know if it's traditional or not...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: GUEST,briony
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 03:03 PM

if there are more verses to bold riley than the ones
ms. rusby's version, i'd love to have 'em. the ones
she sings are lovely, mind you, but there just seems to
be more to the song hiding in there.
danke

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 07:53 PM

Is the Kate Rusby tune/tempo traditional ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 03:49 PM

Old Riley/ Old Rattler versions in thread 2410: Old Riley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 11:41 AM

Opening verse?
Our anchors away and the rags are well set
Bold Riley-o, bold Riley
Them girls we are leaving, we'll never forget
Bold Riley-o's gone away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 11:19 PM

I don't believe there's any aside from they're both work songs. The Old Riley who crossed the water (river) in this song (one version of many where there are no Riley's) was an escaped convict, one of many, with rattler hounding him down. Rattler was the traditionally named top dog on the southern prison farms. The dog prefered convicts to meat bones.

"Says ol rattler here's your marrow bone
You can eat it you can leave it lone.
I don't want no marrow bone
Just want the man that's long gone".

Happy Hunting, Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Venthony
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 03:14 PM

What kinship, if any, does this tune, which is new to me, have to the Weavers' tune from the 50s that goes:

Old Riley crossed the water ... Here Old Rattler, here Rattler here etc. etc.

Tony

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:18 PM

the fdifference is really just verse order. (I miseed it as well)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:09 PM

Well, the version in the DT is that one...

A slight alternative at Kate Rusby's website

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:09 PM

that's the one! thanks mmario.

Subject: Lyr Add: BOLD RILEY
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:07 PM

BOLD RILEY

Oh the rain it rains all day long,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
And the roaring wind, it blows so strong,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

Chorus
Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

Well come on, Mary, don't look glum,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Come White-stocking Day, you'll be drinkin' rum,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

(Chorus)

We're outward bound for the Bengal Bay,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley
Get bending, me lads, it's a hell-of-a-way,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

(Chorus x 2)

this is very similar to what the Pyrates Royale do...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:04 PM

the one where the chorus goes: 'bold riley o bold riley' + 'goodbye my darlin, goodbye my dearo, bold riley o bold riley'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bold Riley
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 12:58 PM

Which version are you looking for?

Subject: Bold Riley
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 12:40 PM

anyone have the words. the version in the dt isn't the one i'm looking for.