Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 1)Go to sea no more; 2)Out from St.
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 03:03 PM

A friend of mine picked up a song called "Go to sea no more" in Newfoundland. The refrain is "I will go to sea no more" and it tells the story of a fisherman who loses his boat that was built by his father and named for his mother. If this is it I can ask him for the lyric. Regards, Keith.

Subject: Lyr Add: GO TO SEA NO MORE ^^^
From: MudGuard
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:03 PM

Here are the lyrics I have for this song.
MudGuard

GO TO SEA NO MORE

When first I landed in Liverpool I went upon a spree.
My money, alas, I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be.
And when that wee money was all gone, 'twas then I wanted more.
But a man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.

Chorus
Once more, boys, once more,
Go to sea once more.
[+ last line of the verse]

I spent a night with Angeline, too drunk to roll in bed.
My watch was new and my money too, in the morning with them she'd fled.
And as I walked the streets about the horses all did roar
Their goes Jack Spread, the poor sailor lad, he must go to sea once more.

And as I walked the streets about I met with Rapper Brown.
I asked him for to take me on and he looked at me with a frown.
He said last time you was paid off with me you chaulked no score,
But I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance and I'll send you to sea once more.

He shipped me on board of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic seas
Where the cold winds blow through the frost and snow and Jamaica rum wood freeze.
But worse to bear, I'd no hard weather gear for I'd spent all my money on shore.
'Twas then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more

So come all you bold seafaring men who listen to my song.
When you come off them long trips I'll have you not go wrong.
Take my advice, drink no strong drink, don't go sleeping with them whores.
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more
^^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 1)Go to sea no more; 2)Out from St.
From:
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 12:29 AM

The song Keith A is referring to is from Stan Rogers. That one is titled "I'll Go To Sea No More"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 1)Go to sea no more; 2)Out from St.
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 09:45 AM

Or, as in the DT,  The Jeannie C.  Of course, like the song Mudguard posted, which is also in the DT as  Go To Sea Once More, it doesn't have anything at all to do with the song Corinne is looking for!

Malcolm

Subject: Lyr Add: GO TO SEA NO MORE
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 04:57 AM

Another verse for Sea No More:

Sometimes we're catching the whales me boys
and sometimes we're catching none
With a twenty foot oar stuck into your hand
sure you'd row the whole day long
And when the shades of night come on
and you go to your weary sleep
Your backs so weak that you never would seek
a berth at sea no more
No more boys ......

This one goes just before the last verse in the version I sing.

Kris

Subject: Lyr Add: WE'LL GO TO SEA NO MORE
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 03 - 12:31 PM

while searching for a tune for We'll Go To Sea No More I found a song by that title in MUSIC FOR THE NATION: American Sheet Music

Lyrics Attributed to J. Haskin: arrangmement W. C. Peters

WE'LL GO TO SEA NO MORE

Oh, brightly shines the bonnie sun
Upon the Isle of May,
And blythly comes the morning tide
Into St. Andrews bay;
Then up gudeman,the breeze is fair;
And up my braw bairns three;
There's gode in yonder bonnie boat
That sails so well the sea!
When Tempests leave the stormy coasts
When billows leave ther shore;
When torrents climb up Ber-wick Law,
we'll go to sea no more.
We'll go to sea no more,
No More, no More.
when torrents climb up Ber-wick Law,
we'll go to sea no more.

I never lik'd the landsman's life;
the earth is aye the same;
give me the ocean for my dow'rt
My vessel for my hame,
give me the field, that no man plough;
The farm that pays no fee;
Give me the bonny life we lead,
sae gladly o'er the sea.
When sails hang flapping on the mast,
as thro the waves we roar
When, in a calm we're tempest toss'd
We'll go to sea no more,
we'll go to sea no more,
No more, No more
When in a calm we're tempest toss'd
We'll go to sea no more.

Subject: Tune Add: WE'LL GO TO SEA NO MORE
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 03 - 12:37 PM

X:1
T:We'll Got to Sea No More
N:Music for the Nation:
N:attrbuted to J Haskin /W.C. Peters
I:abc2nwc
M:2/4
L:1/16
K:G
z6D2|G3 G G3 E|E D3 D3 B,|D3 D D2 E2|D4z2G2|
w:Oh bright-ly shines the bon-nie sun, Up-on the Isle of May; And
B3 d d3 e|d2 B2 A2 G2|B3 A A3 A|A4z2D2|
w: blith-ly comes the mor-ning tide, In-to St. An-drews Bay Then
G2 zG G3 E|E3 D D3 B,|D2 zD D2 E2|D4z2G2|
w:up gude-man, the breeze is fair, and up, my braw bairns three; There's
A3 c g3 f|e d3 B2 zG|B3 A A3 G|G4z2G2|
w:gode in yon-der bon-ny boat, that sails so well the sea When
B3 d d3 e|d3 B A3 G|B d3 d2 e|d4z2B2|
w:tem-pests leave the storm-y coasts, When bil-lows leave the shore; When
B2 e3 e3 f|g3 f e2 zc|B3 B B3 ^d|e4z2d2|
w:tor-rents climb up Ber-wick Law, We'll go to sea no more. We'll
g3 g g2 d2|e4(g3 f)|e4(e3 d2)|
w:go to sea no more, no_ more, no_ more When_
B4z2(G A)|B3 A B3 G|E G3 D3 D|E3 G G2 (B A)|G6z2
w:tor-rents climb up Ber-Wick Law, We'll go to sea no_ more.

Subject: RE: We'll go to Sea No MOre
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 03 May 03 - 08:42 AM

You should hear Mainbrace sing this song. They'll be in the USA (East coast) in September).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 18 - 07:48 PM

MudGuard posted a phrase above:

"the horses all did roar"

Don't you suppose that's a mondegreen for:

"the whores they all did roar"

or something like that?

(I have a version that says: "The girls they all would roar.")

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: kendall
Date: 24 Mar 18 - 02:23 PM

One of the thousand songs I used to sing but can no longer remember,

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 25 Mar 18 - 06:10 PM

I heard it from a long-defunct west-coast (U.S.) folk group (whose name escapes me), and definitely with "whores" not "horses"! Ha!

A Google search on "when first I came to Liverpool" amuses me by showing only that The Byrds and Jerry Garcia & Dave Grisman both recorded it, the former under the title, "Jack Tarr the Sailor".

Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman have it on their fine album of traditional songs, "Shady Grove" (1996 - Acoustic Disc ACD-21). (The track was recorded in 1991.) Their album notes say that it "comes from the singing of Ewan MacColl, the great Scottish balladeer/composer, on the Riverside LP "Thar She Blows: Whaling Ballads and Songs". ... According to folk singer A.L. Lloyd's liner notes, 'Rapper Brown was a well-known Liverpool boarding master...who figures in folk song as a shanghai exper...because singers have confused him with another, more wicked, Brown who was a boarding master in Frisco.' The song is from the 1880s and was collected from sailors around the Liverpool docks in the 1930s."

OFF TO SEA ONCE MORE (at jerrygarcia.com)

MUSIC BY TRADITIONAL
WORDS BY TRADITIONAL
RELEASED OCTOBER 1996

PLAYED LIVE 7X
FIRST PLAYED 1990
LAST PLAYED 1992

ORIGINAL RECORDING
SHADY GROVE

ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS
Grateful Dawg
Grateful Dawg

RELATED SHOWS
The Warfield, 05/08/1992
The Warfield, 12/09/1991
The Warfield, 12/07/1991
Goldcoast Concert Bowl, 08/25/1991

LYRICS:

When first I came to Liverpool
I went upon a spree
Me money alas I spent too fast
Got drunk as drunk could be
And when my money was all gone
'Twas then I wanted more
But a man must be blind to make up his mind
To go to sea once more

I spent the night with Angeline
Too drunk to roll in bed
My watch was new and my money too
In the mornin' with 'em she fled
And as I roamed the streets about
The whores they all would roar
Here comes Jack Rack, the young sailin' lad
He must go to sea once more

As I was walkin' down the street
I met with Rapper Brown
I asked for him to take me in
And he looked at me with a frown
He said "Last time you was paid off
With me you jobbed no score
But I'll take your advance and I'll give ya's a chance
And I'll send you to sea once more

I hired me aboard of a whaling ship
Bound for the Artic seas
Where the cold winds blow through the frost and the snow
And Jamaican rum would freeze
And worst and bear I'd no hard weather gear
For I'd lost all my money ashore
'Twas then that I wished that I was dead
So I'd gone to sea no more

Some days we're catching whales me lads
And some days we're catching none
With a twenty foot oar cocked in our hands
From four o'clock in the morn
And when the shades of night come in
We rest on our weary oar
'Twas then I wished that I was dead
Or safe with the girls ashore

Come all you bold seafarin' men
And listen to my song
If you come off of them long trips
I'd have ya's not go wrong
Take my advice, drink no strong drink
Don't go sleeping with no whores
Get married lads and have all night in
So you'll go to sea no more


My sea song book collection leans American, so I don't know the particular British source that Lloyd was referring to. However, I find it in William Main Doerflinger's "Shantymen & Shantyboys, Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman". He gives two versions, both of which provide "nice" alternatives to "whores": people, or lasses. His notes describe the San Francisco crimps, in particular Shanghai Brown.

Off to Sea Once More (I) (p. 107)
(From Frank Vickery, mate of the schooner Avon Queen)

The first time I went to Frisco, I went upon a spree.
My money at last I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be;
I was fully inclined made up my mind I'd go to sea no more.

That night I slept with Angeline, drunk for to turn in bed.
My clothes was new and my money was, too; next morning with them she fled.
And as daily I walked the streets around you'd hear the people say,
"There goes Jack Rack, poor sailor lad, he must go to sea once more!"

The first one that I came to was a son-of-a-gun called Brown.
I asked him for to take me in; he looked on me with a frown.
He says, "Last time you were paid off with me you chalked no score!
But I'll take your advance and I'll give you a chance to go to sea once more."

He shipped me on board of whaler bound for the Arctic seas.
The wintry wind from the west nor'wet Jamaica rum would freeze!
With a twenty-foot oar in each man's hand, we pulled the lifelong day.
It was then I swore when once on shore I'd go to sea no more!

Come all you young seafaring men that's listening to my song!
I hope in what I've said to you that ther is nothing wrong.
Take my advice and don't drink strong drinks or go sleeping on the shore,
But get married my boys, and have all night in, and go to sea no more!
---

Off to Sea Once More (II) ("...the version of a Nova Scotia fishing captain")

When first I came to Frisco, boys, I went upon a spree.
I spent up all my money and got drunk as drunk could be.
But when my money was all gone, oh, then I wanted more.
When a man is blind he makes up his mind to go to sea once more.

Chorus:
Once more, once more, once more, once more, once more!
Oh, there goes Ben Breezer, poor sailor boy, must plough the sea once more!

Oh, when the shades of night came down, I went to take a bed,
But in the morning when I awoke my watch and chain was fled.
As I was passing through the street the lasses all did roar,
Saying, "There goes Ben Breezer, poor sailor boy, must plough the seas once more!"

I shipped on board of a whale ship, boys, bound to the Arctic sea,
Where the cold wind blows, and the frosts and snows, and Jamaica rum goes free.
And worst of all, I had no clothes--I spent all my money on shore.
Oh, it's then I wished that I was dead, or back once more on shore!

Some days we're catching whalefish, boys, and more days we're getting none,
With a twenty-foot oar placed in our hand from four o'clock in the morn.
But when the shade of night comes down we not on our weary oar.
Oh, it's then I wished that I was dead or back with the girls on shore!

Come all you jolly fishermen, a warning take by me!
When you come off of a very long trip, oh, don't go on no spree.
Drink no bad rum, smoke no cigars, but lay up your money in store,
And get married, my boys, and have all night in, and go to sea no more!
---

I think it's interesting that the Nova Scotia version loses the mention of the crimp.

The Mainly Norfolk web page on the song (found by googling "off to sea once more") has good notes from MacColl's, Lloyd's, and Lou Killen's versions. Lyrics are given for the version A.L. Lloyd recorded on "Leviathan!" (Topic, 1967/1998).

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 23 - 11:56 AM

The original post referred to a song from Newfoundland. Not sure if this is the right one but it has the same title and is sung by the Newfoundland group, The Irish Descendants.
Go to Sea No More
Song by The Irish Descendants
It's another day we go
Sailing o'er the blue
I look to the horizon
My thoughts drift home to you
A young man, only seventeen
Adventure couldn't wait
Set sail from home on a fishing ship
Bound for the Boston states
I shipped out on a Gloucester smack
And fished the Georges bank
The work was hard
And the wages fair
To the good Lord I gave thanks
Although I've had a good life
As good as any man
If I could change the course of time
I'd live in my homeland
My thoughts are always with you
Have you changed since I've been gone?
Oh, how I long to see you
The time has been so long
If I could get just one more chance
To walk your rugged shore
I'd trade the life I chose to make
And go to sea no more
Last night as I lay dreaming
I sailed the raging foam
My ship she took me far away
To the rocky shores of home
And I could write a thousand lines
To say just how I feel
I hope and pray that some fine day
My dreams they can be real
My thoughts are always with you
Have you changed since I've been gone?
Oh, how I long to see you
The time has been so long
If I could get just one more chance
To walk your rugged shore
I'd trade the life I chose to make
And go to sea no more
My thoughts are always with you
Have you changed since I've been gone?
Oh, how I long to see you
The time has been so long
If I could get just one more chance
To walk your rugged shore
I'd trade the life I chose to make
And go to sea no more
I'd trade the life I chose to make
And go to sea no more

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 23 - 12:00 PM

There's also the 'Jeannie C' written by Stan Rogers. It contains the line 'I'll Go To Sea No More' and is about a fisherman who loses the boat his father built and named for his mother, Jeannie. That sounds more like the story in the original post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: We'll Go to Sea No More
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Apr 23 - 12:21 PM

As Keith (the OP) passed away several years ago, I guess we will never know for sure which song he was referring to, but I’d stake my pension on it being Stan Rogers’ ‘The Jeannie C’…

THE JEANNIE ‘C’

Come all ye lads, draw near to me
That I be not forsaken
This day was lost the Jeannie C.
And my living has been taken
I’ll go to sea no more

We set out this day in the bright sunrise,
The same as any other;
My son and I and old John Price
In the boat named for my mother.
I’ll go to sea no more.

Now, it’s well you know how the fishing has been.
It’s been scarce and hard and cruel.
But this day, by God, we sure caught cod
And we sang and laughed like fools.
I’ll go to sea no more.

I’ll never know what it was we struck
But strike we did like thunder.
John Price give a cry and pitched overside
Now it’s forever he’s gone under.
I’ll go to sea no more.

A leak we’ve sprung, let there be no delay
If the Jeannie C. we’re saving.
John Price is drowned and slipped away
So I’ll patch the hole while you’re bailing.
I’ll go to sea no more.

But no leak I found from bow to hold.
No rock it was that got her.
But what I saw made my heart stop cold,
For every seam poured water.
I’ll go to sea no more.

“My God”, I cried as she went down
“That boat was like no other.
My father built her when I was nine
And named her for my mother.”
I’ll go to sea no more.

So come all ye lads, draw near to me
That I be not forsaken
This day was lost the Jeannie C.
And my whole life has been taken
I’ll go to sea no more.