Lyr Req: Jack the Jolly Tar (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: Lyr Add: JACK THE JOLLY TAR (from Ewan MacColl)
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 12:38 PM

I'd like to correct this transcription of Ewan MacColl singing JACK THE JOLLY TAR (on Ye Mariners All, The Critics Group, More Shanties and Forebitters, ARGO ZDA 138, 1971). Please, someone who has the LP, check it. I've put a question mark where I have more doubts about what I've written down. Thank you. Roberto

Oh, I am Jack and a jolly tar, O
Let me return from the sea so far, O
Oh, I am Jack and a jolly tar
Let me return from the sea so far
Fal-lal-la-doo, Fal-lal-le-ro
Right, fal-lal-la-day

As I was walking through London city
I found meself all in great pity
For I heard them say as I passed by -
Poor Jack all in the streets must lie

The squire he courted for his fancy
A merchant's daughter whose name was Nancy
And I heard them agree as I passed by
That they to meet that very night would try

Oh, tie a string 'round your little finger
And let it hang down from your window
And I'll come by and pull the string
And you come down, love, and let me in

Damn me - says Jack - if I don't venture
To pull that string hanging from the window!
So he came by and he pulled the string
And she came down and she let him in

So Jack became master of that craft, O
And she was well found (?) both fore and aft, O
With Jack at the wheel her course was through (?)
For he was an able seaman through and through

Now when the morning it was at hand, O
Jack safely brought his little craft to land, O
And there in his tarry ol' shirt he lay
And Nancy saw him by the light of day

Oh then – she cried – you're a thieving (?????) tar, O
For you boarded me and you robbed me cargo
Oh no –says Jack – I just pulled the string
And you came down and you let me in

Then let it be for it is no matter
For Jack's the lad I will follow after
Come calm or squall or winter gale
With Jack aboard I will freeley sail

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ewan MacColl's Jack the Jolly Tar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 08:55 PM

Roberto-

These are the changes I'd suggest from what I hear or what makes more sense to me:

I'VE JUST RETURNED from the sea so far, O

And she was well found (OK) both fore and aft, O
With Jack at the wheel her course was TRUE, O

Oh then ? she cried ? you're a thieving (DIRTY?) tar, O

With Jack aboard I will FREELY sail

There are many versions of this song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ewan MacColl's Jack the Jolly Tar
From: Roberto
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:21 AM

Thank you, Charley. "TRUE" instead of "Through" is surely OK. "Freeley" was a typing error. "I've just returned from the sea" makes more sense, but I'm sure McColl sings "Let me return from the sea", and I've found this same verse in the version published in Still Growing, sung by William Nott in 1904. Of "Thieving tar" I'm not sure at all, but "dirty" is not the word. Thank you again. Roberto