Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR CUT DOWN IN HIS PRIME (from Killen
From: Roberto
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 01:41 PM

Please, some help with this text, The Sailor Cut Down in his Prime, as sung by Louis Killen on A Seaman's Garland, Sailors, Ships & Chanteys, vol.2 KnockOut 1997. I can't understand where was Louis a-walking, it sounds to me like "Haslow Seawall". But please, if someone owns the CD, have a look at the whole text, and correct it. Thank you. Roberto

As I was a-walking down by Haslow (????) Seawall
Cold was the morning and dark was the day
When who should I spy but one of my shipmates
Wrapped up in flannel and cold as the clay

He called for a candle to light him to bed with
Likewise a flannel to wrap 'round his head
For his poor head was achin' and his heart it was a-breakin'
He was a young sailor cut down in his prime

So beat the drums over and play the fife merrily
Sound the dead march as you carry him along
Take him to the graveyard, fire four volleys o'er him
He was a young sailor cut down in his prime

Now, his good old mother, his dear old father
They oft times had warned him about his past life
When with those flash girls of the city he'd wander
With flash girls of the city he take (?) his delight

So beat the drums over, ecc

Now he is dead and he's laid in his coffin
Let six strong matelots (?) come and carry him along
And likewise six young girls to carry white roses
So as not to smell him as they pass along

So beat the drums over ecc

At the corner of the street two young women was standing
One to the other was heard to remark:
There goes a young sailor whose money we squandered
Whose life we have tasted (?)and wasted away

So beat the drums over ecc

At the top of his tombstone, these words they are written:
All you young seamen take a warning by me
And never go courting flash girls of the city
Flash girls of the city they've been the ruin of me

Beat the drums over and play the fife merrily
Sound the dead march as you carry him along
Take him to the graveyard, fire four volleys o'er him
He was a young sailor cut down in his prime

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From:
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 07:37 PM

Looks like this song is also linked to these songs:

Trooper Cut Down In His Prime
Ratcliffe Highway
Locke Hospital
Pills of White Mercury
Streets of Laredo
Unfortunate Rake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 07:39 PM

Haslar is an island in Portsmouth Harbour, where there was a navy hospital. Could be that?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 08:14 PM

Does he indicate his source? The song is extremely widespread in a great many forms. A little more information as to where he got it would help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Roberto
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 03:46 AM

Louis Killen writes he got the song from Cyril Tawney, and says it is a Royal Navy version. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 04:37 AM

There is a version in the "Marrow Bones" (English Folk Songs)book.

The first line reads:

'One day as I strolled down by the Royal Albion.'
Otherwise the lyrics are more or less the same as the version printed here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Roberto
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 05:54 AM

Royal Albion is generally the place where the singer of this song, in its sailor variant, meets his unfortunate shipmate. Louis Killen's version talks about another place, .... Seawall. If somebody has this CD, maybe I'll get to know where did Louis Killen met the sailor cut down in his prime. I wait in hope. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 06:44 AM

I still think it has to be on the seawall at Haslar, especially as it's a Royal Navy version

From Bartholomew's Survey Gazetteer of the British Isles, including summary of 1951 Census:

Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hants, for men of the Royal Navy.
Haslar Barracks is also in the vicinity.

Sounds like just the place to take a dying sailor. Other versions have other hospitals (Locke Hospital and St James' Infirmary).

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Roberto
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 07:10 AM

Snuffy, I hadn't read well your previous post. Yes, I think Haslar could be the right answer.Thank you very much. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Louis Killen's The Sailor Cut Down
From: Anglo
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 02:26 PM

Cyril Tawney (from whom Louis learned the song) writes in the notes to his LP "Between Decks":

To suit my shipmates I often used to place the scene of this song on the seawall at Haslar Hospital, Gosport, a Naval Establishment that was familiar to them, in order to get their attention at the beginning of the song.