Origins: Timmy (David Robertson)

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy (David Robertson)
From: treewind
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 07:26 PM

It's on Thaine and Robertson's "Nearly Gentry" which was on sale at the Sarah Morgan Concert. You missed it!

I have a few copies of the CD here, as Mary and I were in the chorus for the recording of that very song (as well as adding instrumentals to a couple of other tracks).

Yours for a fiver - PM me or email [e-mail] if you want one.

That applies to anyone else who wants a copy. Only limited numbers available...

Anahata

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy (David Robertson)
From: Janet Elizabeth
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 07:58 AM

I just heard this at the Sarah Morgan memorial concert, thought it was great. Might even learn it.
I'd love to have a copy to listen to; seems the Laners CD with it on would be the one to buy but I can't find it on the web (in thelaners.com. Did you record it in the end lads?
If not, is there a recording around by someone else?

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Hrothgar
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:40 AM

Was his barque worse than his bight?

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Schantieman
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:35 AM

Thank you, David!

I heard you sing this at the Mersey festival last year and I think I took your e-mail address and lost it!

All we need now is the tune!

Steve
(feeling smug coz I wuz sailing last week!)

Subject: Lyr Add: TIMMY (David Robertson)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 08:28 AM

My fellow Mollyhawk, Sue Griffiths, came across your enquiry, and passed it on to me. She knew I could tell you about "Timmy", because I wrote it.
I can't claim credit for the basic idea - that came from Vinny, of Landlocked. Nor can I claim the tune - it's loosely based on a version of "The Plains of Waterloo" In fact, I can hardly claim credit for the words, either, given that they consist of a series of hoary old jokes crudely spliced together. But apart from all that, the song is entirely mine!
The words are as follows - please feel free to do what you will with the song.

TIMMY
(David Robertson)

We sailed away from Barking creek, this old sea dog and me,
The roughest, toughest mongrel you could ever wish to see,
Not what you'd call a handsome dog, but one of noble fame,
Where'er you sail, the shantyman will always know his name.

Chorus
Timmy! Get down, boy!
Timmy! Get down, leave it!
Timmy was a dog of noble fame,
Timmy! Get down, boy!
Timmy! Get down, leave it!
Every shantyman will know his name.

While Tim was chewing on a bone, the bo'sun's mood was black,
He was barking and a-growling - and the dog was growling back!
"Oh make him drop it! cried the bo'sun, Call him off, I beg!"
For the bone that he was chewing on was in the bo'sun's leg.

In all his natural functions, Timmy took a special pride.
He'd never cock his leg but that was on the leeward side,
And when he'd squat, he'd pick his spot, on sloops and square-sail traders,
And you couldn't walk the poop-deck without pulling on your waders.

One sunny day, on deck he lay, a-licking of his tackle.
The mate looked on with envious eyes, which raised old Timmy's hackles.
"If I could do that, cried the mate, I'd die a happy man!"
Says I, "Give me a fiver, and I'll ask him if you can!"

The mate on board a Yankee barque once gave old Tim a bone,
He gnawed upon it half an hour, then wandered off alone,
To bury it was his intent, the daftest dog afloat,
For he's dug right through the bilges, and he's sunk the bloody boat!

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 08:56 AM

Sue-

Thanks. We await the lyrics with breath baited with the hair of a dog.

Tell us more about your intrepid group.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: GUEST,Mollyhawks
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 12:23 PM

David Robertson a member of Mollyhawks wrote Timmy - as yet we have not recorded it, I will ask him if I can post the words.

Sue Griffiths

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 11:52 AM

Forebiter or backbiter?

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:05 AM

Clearly, this song is not about a "ship's" dog. It's about a dog's "bark." But maybe we should "curtail" the puns before this gets out of hand, or the hand gets bitten.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Dead Horse
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 02:20 PM

Pb, you are bound to hell.
"Timmy Way Hey Blow the Man down"

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 06:08 AM

I heard this song at the Mersey Shanty Festival, and was mightily impressed by it. On asking the shanty crew performing it where it came from, one of their members said he'd written it. Unfortunately, I can't now remember the name of the crew...

Joan

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 09:22 PM

Hi - can you post the words you have for "Timmy"? Is he related to Bunts (click)?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:26 PM

Any relation to the dog on "The Good Ship Venus"?

The ship's dog's name was Rover,
The whole crew did him over,
They ground and ground the faithful hound
From Singapore to Dover.
(Oscar Brand had a version)

Subject: RE: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 06:58 PM

I always thought that a song HAD to have a Timmy in it to qualify as a shanty. as in Blow the Man down Bullies, Blow the Man Down ,Timmy Way Hey Blow the Man down.

Subject: Origins: Timmy - Ships Dog
From:
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 06:23 PM

Hi
The Laners are looking to make a new CD in the new year. We'd really like to include the track "Timmy" A song about a ships dog originally heard sung by The Mollyhawks in a "booze fueled" session at Ipswich, but have no wish to infringe copyright.... Does anyone know who wrote this song?

For more details on The Laners forthcoming CD to be released in Feb 2004 or info on "Timmy" please contact Cheryl/Dave on email [e-mail]/ tel: [phone]