Lyr Req: blow the man down

Subject: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: GUEST,billy bob
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 08:04 AM

hi guys thanx for the help with the last one
wonder if any one can help with this
i've done a search and can only find the 'clean' lyrics
i know snuffy does a rude version,
help?
thanx in advance
billy bob

Subject: ADD Version: BLOW THE MAN DOWN
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 08:19 AM

Here's how I sing it, Billy. I learned it from a fellow member of Shellback Chorus, but I've also heard Tony O'Neill (The Admiral) sing an identical version.

BLOW THE MAN DOWN

As I was a'cruising down Paradise Street
   To me way hey, blow the man down,
A Liverpool packet I happened to meet
   Give me some time to blow the man down

"I'm a fast moving clipper, me good sir," says she,
"I'm ready for cargo; me hold it is free."

I threw her me hawser and took her in tow
And yardarm to yardarm away we did go.

I pulled on her lanyard, her topsails she lowered,
In a neat little harbour she soon had me moored,

She lowered her mainsails her staysails and all,
Put her lily white hand on my reef tackle fall.

I opened her hatches - she'd plenty of room
And in her main locker i stowed my jib boom

I said my fair maiden it's time to give o'er,
For twixt wind and water you've run me ashore.

My shot lockers empty, my powders all spent,
I can't fire a round for I'm choked at the vent.

Here's luck to the girl with the black curly locks,
Here's a curse to the girl who run Jack on the rocks,

Here's luck to the doctor who eased all his pain,
He's trimmed his main yard, he's a cruisin' again.

And it's blow the man down, bullies
Blow him right back into Liverpool town

Also have a look at this thread Lyr Req: Cruising round Yarmouth for the same story in a different song. I've also heard these words as Ratcliffe Highway.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 08:21 AM

There are six versions in the DT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 11:39 AM

I believe that when Pete Seeger was in Liverpool some 40 years ago, he made a point of visiting Paradise Street because of the " Blow the man down" connection. That area has now been earmarked for major redevelopment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: toadfrog
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 11:59 PM

Basically, one can hardly trust any sea chantey lyrics, in English anyway, to be authentic. They got cleaned up at least twice, once so the old timers felt they could publish them and sing them around women, and once to make them politically correct. I don't really believe it was impossible to publish or at least write down the actual words to those chanteys - it was that Hugill and his colleagues were just too embarassed.   The "dirty" lyrics you hear usually sound as if made up by Oscar Brand or the boys in the Beta House, not by 19th Century British sailors.

Some of the more authentic-sounding chanteys were actually mae up by A.L. Lloyd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 12:57 AM

I hear that years ago at one of the Mystic Seaport sea music festivals, Stan Hugill held court at a session of uncensored sea chanteys and finally sang salty versions not found in his books. If there's a tape of that session floating around, it might be there!

Subject: Lyr Add: BLOW THE MAN DOWN and ROLL HIM ALONG
From: Roberto
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 02:17 AM

Three versions: Harry H Corbett's, in the classic Topic collection of Sea songs and shanties "Blow The Man Down" (meeting a flash looking packet); Alan Mills' from a Folkways recording about sea songs and shanties (meeting a Liverpool bobby); a Bahamian version from the first Rounder CD on Bahamas in the Alan Lomax Collection named Deep River of Song.

Blow the man down (I)

a) Blow The Man Down, Harry H Corbett, Blow The Man Down, Topic TSCD464 (TRL3, The Singing Sailor. Ewan MacColl, A. L. Lloyd and Harry H. Corbett, 1956?)

As I was a-walkin' down Paradise Street
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
A flash looking packet I chanced for to meet
Oh, gi' me some time to blow the man down!

Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
Blow him right back to Liverpool town
Gi' me some time to blow the man down!

She was bowlin' along with the wind blowin' free
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
She clewed up her courses an' waited for me
Oh, gi' me some time to blow the man down!

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
So I hold in all sailing cryin', well enough now!
Oh, gi' me some time to blow the man down!

Where she did hail from I really can't tell
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
But I gave her my flipper, we're both bound for hell!
Oh, gi' me some time to blow the man down!

Come all you young sailors, take warning by me
To me way, hay – blow the man down!
Never take a young Liverpool gal on your knee
Oh, gi' me some time to blow the man down!


b) Blow The Man Down, Alan Mills and The Four Shipmates, Songs of the sea, Folkways F-2312, 1951

Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
To me way hay, blow the man down!
Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow him away
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

As I was a-walking down Paradise Street
To me way hay, blow the man down!
A Liverpool bobby I chanced for to meet
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

Says he, You're a Black-Baller by the cut of your hair
To me way hay, blow the man down!
Oh, you're a Black-Baller, by the clothes that you wear
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

You've sailed in a packet that flies the Black Ball
To me way hay, blow the man down!
You've robbed some poor Dutchman of boots, clothes and all
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

O policeman, policeman, you do me great wrong
To me way hay, blow the man down!
I'm a deep-water sailor just come from Hong Kong
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

Oh, they gave me six months in Liverpool Town
To me way hay, blow the man down!
For kicking a p'liceman and blowing him down
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down

Blow the man down (II)
Roll Him Along

Roll Him Along, David Pryor "Pappie" & group, Bahamas 1935 – Deep River of Song (Coll. Alan Lomax), Rounder 11661 – 1822-2

So pull him along, le' we pull him along
Hey-ay, pull him along
Now we pull him along from this old shipyard
Give me some time to roll him along

Le' we jerk him along, le' we jerk him along
Hey-ay, jerk him along
Come and give me some time for to jerk him along
Give me some time to roll him along

Le' we kick him along, le' we kick him along
Hey-ay, kick him along
Now we kick him along from this old captain's ground
Give me some time to kick him along

Le' we roll him along, le' we pull him along
Hey-ay, pull him along
Le' we pull him along from this old shipyard
Give me some time to pull him along

Le' we slide him along, le' we push him along
Hey-ay, push him along
O come and give me a little bit of time to push him along
Give me some time to push him along


O come roll him along, le' we slide him along
Hey-ay, slide him along
Le' we slide him along down to the old seaside
Give me some time to slide him along

O le' we roll him along then we'll roll him along
Hey-ay, roll him along
Give me some time for to slide him along
Give me some time to slide him along

Le' we jerk him along, le' we kick him along
Hey-ay, slide him along
Give me a little time for to kick him along
Give me some time to kick him along

Le' we roll him along and we'll pull him along
Hey-ay, pull him along
Give me some time for to pull him along
Give me some time to pull him along

O le' we roll him along, le' we sing him along
Hey-ay, sing him along
Le' we sing him along down to the old seaside
Give me some time to pull him along

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 03:04 AM

Of the versions in DT, nr 6 is widely known in Germany, since it was published in a songbook for the use of Boy Scouts. The flash packet versions naturally weren't seen fit for this age.
The version defiling the Black Ball liner reminds me of a similar German song, the "Hamburg Fourmaster", where the shortcomings of vessel and crew are meticulously described, to the tune of the Camptown Ladies.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: kendall
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 07:59 AM

I ruffled her scuppers and battered her stern
Way hey blow the man down
And down in her galley I was done to a turn, way...

then

...he battered my rudder and loosened my stays way hey..
I slid down the stairs like a ship on the ways...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 08:10 AM

I first heard the Hamborger Veermaster 40 years ago and was very surprised that the chorus is in English (see Banks of Sacramento)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 10:31 AM

Nice verses, Kendall!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 11:23 AM

Recently, Charlie Noble posted "Hi Rio, Randy-O!" from "Roll Me In Your Arms," Randolph-Legman, in thread 56659: Hi Rio
The tune is "Blow the Man Down."
Hugill (1961, "Shanties of the Seven Seas,") noted that "Blow..." was a variant of the older chantey, "The Black Baller," or "Ratcliffe Highway" (p. 450, "Roll Me In Your Arms.").

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: kendall
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 11:35 AM

I met Stan Hugill at a festival. He asked me to tape some of my "real" sea songs for him, but he died before I got to it. I found it hard to believe that I knew any sea songs that he didn't know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man bown
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 03:59 PM

One of Kendall's verses is similar to a version of BTMD I know. It begins with the usual meeting of the couple, and progresses to her room on the third floor.

It was up in her cabin she piped me aboard,
And there on the bed I cut loose with my sword.

It was just as my cutter was forging ahead,
She cried out, "My husband!" and jumped out of bed.

He was seven foot tall with a chest like a horse,
And straight for my jawbone he plotted his course.

He rattled my rigging and loosened my stays,
I flew down the stairs like a ship on the ways.

The version ends, properly, with an admonition to avoid pretty girls at dockside.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 03:46 PM

As far as I can tell, the "My Husband!" version was first recorded on Oscar Brand's LP "Bawdy Sea Chanties" (Audio Fidelity) in 1958. All the songs on that album are credited to "Brand-Frey." Does anybody doubt that Brand wrote it? (Inspired by an actual song, of course...)

Its appearance on the otherwise excellent Jeff Warner et al. recording "Steady as She Goes!" was a big disappointment. I'd hoped for a trad version!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 04:30 PM

Well, Lighter, if we sit tight for 50 or 100 years then Brand's version probably WILL be traditional.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 04:49 PM

In an interesting cultural twist, I submit the following, sung by the marins Bretons. It does not have the same tune as the traditional English version, although it is similar; but apparently in their long, close, often adversarial realtionship, the French found certain Limey sea-songs irresistible and borrowed bits fromt hem:

From Bretagne; English version

As-tu connu le père Winslow
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Un capitaine des grandes eaux
Give me somme time to blow the man down.


2. Quand il commande son vieux bateau
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Armant en pêche au cachalot.
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

3. Il est toujours sur notre dos
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Et n'dort qu'avec un oeil de clos
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

4. Il donne à boire à ses matelots
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
A grands cooups d'barre d'anspect dans l'dos
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

5. Notre graisse aura mais pas les os
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Il prendra ceux des albatros
Give me somme time to blow the man down.
6. Il a deux fille, deux beaux brins d'peaux
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
L'une à Paris l'autre à Bordeaux
Give me somme time to blow the man down.
7. C'est pas des filles pour Jean l'matelot
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Faut pas s'frotter au père Winslow
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

8. Car au Cap Horn il fait pas chaud
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
T'aurais l'abri d'un cabillot !
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

9. Mais quand t'auras passé Rio
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Tu pourras compter ton magot!
Give me somme time to blow the man down.

10. Ce s'ra pour Nantes ou pour Bordeaux
Hardi mes fils, vire au guindeau
Adieu la barque et l'père Winslow
Give me somme time to blow the man down.


(Note: Vire au guindeau translates roughly as "Look to your winch").

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 05:00 PM

Also search on Google for 'Black Ball Line.'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Peterr
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 07:58 AM

Lyrics as posted by Roberto are, I think, just as Bert Lloyd sang them on an old CD I once had, which may or may not be relevant to toadfrog's mention of Lloyd making up lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Peterr
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 07:59 AM

Should have said EP not CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Roberto
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 05:04 PM

Peterr, the singer was not Bert Lloyd, but Harry H Corbett, although his version has been often put in collections where Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd were the most known names. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Peterr
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 06:20 AM

Roberto - well after all these years of recalling the voice of (I thought) AL Lloyd!. Alf Edwards on concertina, I'm pretty sure, plus a more or less tuneful chorusline joining in. Do-me-ama was also on the EP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Oct 19 - 07:05 PM

Daniel C. Beard, "Tom, Dick & Harry on the Coast of Maine," St. Nicholas Magazine (Aug., 1888), p. 76:
      
                A stands for anchor, that hangs at our bows,
                         Yo ho, blow the man down.

P. 77:       The whale makes a flail of the end of his tail,
                           Yo ho, blow the man down,
                While the shark on a lark makes the dog-fishes bark,
                         Oh, give us more time to blow the man down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blow the man down
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Oct 19 - 11:25 AM

Grew up with the Alan Mills version... Do the salty verses here remind anybody else of the Black Velvet Band? Also love the French one. Everyone should have a windlass.