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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Steve Gardham Date: 11 Sep 23 - 01:33 PM Jon, is there much more to that LA Express article please? Looks very interesting. BTW I know it's 20 years ago since Malcolm mentioned Fred Clausen of Stoneferry. It might be worth mentioning that Bert also gave a totally bogus text to a version of 'Heave Away Me Johnnies' also alleged to be from Fred Clausen. I have explained elsewhere why Bert's made-up version is very suspect. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Brian Peters Date: 12 Sep 23 - 03:07 PM Good to see this thread revived. Going back over it has opened my eyes to the fact that the Lloyd/Clausen/'Singing Englishman' version is much closer to the one from Hugill copied above (notably in the second stanza and absence of chorus) than is Lloyd/Howard/'Leviathan'. Which is interesting. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 11 Sep 23 - 02:53 PM Steve, the author speaks generally about "chanteys" - which he uses to mean any sea songs sung by old sailors, then speaks briefly about songs known to "Pop" McKinney, whom he had met in 1917, and who had gone to sea not long after the Civil War ("fifty years ago"). Besides "Off to Sea Once More," Swift gives a stanza and the chorus of "Mainsail Haul," which I posted to that thread ("Valparaiso/Paddy Lay Back") on Aug. 30. He also gives a text of "Leave Her, Johnny": "The times are hard and the wages low, Leave her, Johnny, leave her. The times are hard and the wages low, And now it’s time to leave her. Since the day we sailed from Birkenhead, They whacked us out of a pound of bread. Our work was hard and the voyage was long, The seas were high and the gales were strong. The food was bad and the wages low, But now ashore again we’ll go. The sails are furled and our work is done, And now on shore we’ll have our fun." Most of these lines are familiar, showing that chanteying was not all improvisation all the time. (I suspect "of" in line 2 is an error: "whacked out a pound" means "gave a pound out.") Swift also gives part of what's pretty clearly a stage song, "The Jolly Tar": "When a man of war or merchant ship comes sailing into port, The jolly tars with joy sing 'a land, ahoy!' [sic] For there's money in their pockets and a parrot in their cage, And a smile for all the pretty girls upon the landing stage. CHORUS Away, hawl away. Oh, hawl together, oh! Away, hawl away - oh hawl, hawl together, Jo! Swift also mentions that McKinney knew "Reuben Ranzo," but regrettably doesn't quote it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 10 Sep 23 - 03:53 PM Perfectly welcome! Glad someone notices! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 05 Sep 23 - 12:26 PM Otis Peabody Swift, “Old Sea Chanteys Cheer Sailors of Today,” Los Angeles Express (Jan. 26, 1919) 'Here is one of ‘Pop’s’ favorites: "I met with a gay young Frisco girl, and my heart was not my own, But when I kissed her goodby at last, my money and watch was gone, As I was walking down the street and people was gazing at me, Said they, ‘There’s a brave young sailor lad who’s off once more to sea.’ CHORUS Once more, once more, he’s off to sea once more, Oh, there’s a brave young sailor lad who’s off to sea once more. "A boarding master picked me up, his name was Shanghai Brown, And I’ll tell you the truth, he wasn’t so ill, for he gave me half a crown, ‘Look here, my brave young sailor lad, there’s no more work ashore, But here’s your chance, take £10 advance, and go to sea once more. "So I shinned me aboard of a whaler that was bound for the Arctic seas, Where ice and snow and the cold winds blow, froze all my toes off’n me. And the worst of it was I had no clothes to keep me dry and warm, And I did swear if I ever got ashore I’d go to sea no more. "Look here, my brave young sailor boys, take this as a warning from me, Steer wide of the gay young Frisco gals and do not go to sea. Drink no more whisky, smoke no more cigars, and go with no more girls, But get married, my boy, and stop ashore, and go to sea no more. "(It gets a bit lame in parts, and there’s where ‘Pop’ improvised when his memory failed him.)” |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Anglo Date: 10 Sep 23 - 03:11 PM I always wondered whether the chorus was a folk revival addition. So I find this post very useful in that regard. Thank you, sir, your research is always enlightening. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Brian Peters Date: 12 Sep 23 - 03:07 PM Good to see this thread revived. Going back over it has opened my eyes to the fact that the Lloyd/Clausen/'Singing Englishman' version is much closer to the one from Hugill copied above (notably in the second stanza and absence of chorus) than is Lloyd/Howard/'Leviathan'. Which is interesting. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 11 Sep 23 - 02:53 PM Steve, the author speaks generally about "chanteys" - which he uses to mean any sea songs sung by old sailors, then speaks briefly about songs known to "Pop" McKinney, whom he had met in 1917, and who had gone to sea not long after the Civil War ("fifty years ago"). Besides "Off to Sea Once More," Swift gives a stanza and the chorus of "Mainsail Haul," which I posted to that thread ("Valparaiso/Paddy Lay Back") on Aug. 30. He also gives a text of "Leave Her, Johnny": "The times are hard and the wages low, Leave her, Johnny, leave her. The times are hard and the wages low, And now it’s time to leave her. Since the day we sailed from Birkenhead, They whacked us out of a pound of bread. Our work was hard and the voyage was long, The seas were high and the gales were strong. The food was bad and the wages low, But now ashore again we’ll go. The sails are furled and our work is done, And now on shore we’ll have our fun." Most of these lines are familiar, showing that chanteying was not all improvisation all the time. (I suspect "of" in line 2 is an error: "whacked out a pound" means "gave a pound out.") Swift also gives part of what's pretty clearly a stage song, "The Jolly Tar": "When a man of war or merchant ship comes sailing into port, The jolly tars with joy sing 'a land, ahoy!' [sic] For there's money in their pockets and a parrot in their cage, And a smile for all the pretty girls upon the landing stage. CHORUS Away, hawl away. Oh, hawl together, oh! Away, hawl away - oh hawl, hawl together, Jo! Swift also mentions that McKinney knew "Reuben Ranzo," but regrettably doesn't quote it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Steve Gardham Date: 11 Sep 23 - 01:33 PM Jon, is there much more to that LA Express article please? Looks very interesting. BTW I know it's 20 years ago since Malcolm mentioned Fred Clausen of Stoneferry. It might be worth mentioning that Bert also gave a totally bogus text to a version of 'Heave Away Me Johnnies' also alleged to be from Fred Clausen. I have explained elsewhere why Bert's made-up version is very suspect. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 10 Sep 23 - 03:53 PM Perfectly welcome! Glad someone notices! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Anglo Date: 10 Sep 23 - 03:11 PM I always wondered whether the chorus was a folk revival addition. So I find this post very useful in that regard. Thank you, sir, your research is always enlightening. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Lighter Date: 05 Sep 23 - 12:26 PM Otis Peabody Swift, “Old Sea Chanteys Cheer Sailors of Today,” Los Angeles Express (Jan. 26, 1919) 'Here is one of ‘Pop’s’ favorites: "I met with a gay young Frisco girl, and my heart was not my own, But when I kissed her goodby at last, my money and watch was gone, As I was walking down the street and people was gazing at me, Said they, ‘There’s a brave young sailor lad who’s off once more to sea.’ CHORUS Once more, once more, he’s off to sea once more, Oh, there’s a brave young sailor lad who’s off to sea once more. "A boarding master picked me up, his name was Shanghai Brown, And I’ll tell you the truth, he wasn’t so ill, for he gave me half a crown, ‘Look here, my brave young sailor lad, there’s no more work ashore, But here’s your chance, take £10 advance, and go to sea once more. "So I shinned me aboard of a whaler that was bound for the Arctic seas, Where ice and snow and the cold winds blow, froze all my toes off’n me. And the worst of it was I had no clothes to keep me dry and warm, And I did swear if I ever got ashore I’d go to sea no more. "Look here, my brave young sailor boys, take this as a warning from me, Steer wide of the gay young Frisco gals and do not go to sea. Drink no more whisky, smoke no more cigars, and go with no more girls, But get married, my boy, and stop ashore, and go to sea no more. "(It gets a bit lame in parts, and there’s where ‘Pop’ improvised when his memory failed him.)” |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: GUEST,Rosemary Tawney Date: 08 Jan 11 - 10:17 AM This thread seems to have dried up, but here's the required information, taken from the Folktrax cassette: They shipped me aboard of a whalin' pack bound for the Arctic Sea Where cold winds blow both frost and snow and icicles hang you'll see No clothes had we to put on, no money to get 'em, you know And I often wished that I was back in my dear old home once more. That is: whalin' [not whaler] icicles hang had we to put on I hope this helps someone Rosemary |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: GUEST,Rosemary Tawney Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:13 AM Roberto: I think I may be able to help, but it will take a while to check material. It would be better if you email me, then you can pass on the info.ti this thread if I find what you need. rtawney@btinternet.com I'm always happy to answer queries if I can, but best to contact me direct, as I only pick up on Mudcat threads when alerted Rosemary T. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: Reiver 2 Date: 07 Dec 10 - 06:55 PM A fine book on sea songs is Stan Hugill's "SONGS OF THE SEA: The Tales and Tunes of Sailors and Sailing Ships." The song "Go to Sea No More" is described as an "American/English forebitter." A forebitter defined as a 'longer, ribald or forlorn" song so called "after the metal bollards on the fo'c's'lehead." The book has words, music, notes, anecdotes and comments on over 100 "sea songs and chants in half-a-dozen languages." There is an "Historical Introduction" plus notes on "The Age of Sail and Song. 1818-1920s," and "Outward and Homeward Bound." Published by McGraw-Hill Book Co., [UK], Maidenhead, England, 1977. The notes for this song state: "When this old forebitter was sung as an anchor shanty at the capstan-head the following chorus would be used: 'No more, no more, we'll go to sea no more, A man must be blind for to make up his mind, To go to sea once more!'" Because of it's theme it was a favorite among Pacific whalers. In the song, the sailor is shipped aboard one of the Arctic Right or Bowhead whalers which worked from 'Frisco up to the Bering Straits. Shanghai Brown, one of the most notorious of 'Frisco crimps, does not shanghai him in the usual way -- doped with laudanum in his beer -- but ships him aboard stone-cold sober, all official and correct. Life in such ships was hell. Sometimes after passing through the Bering Straits heading for Point Barrow and the Beaufort Sea, they would be caught in the ice and find it impossible to return. This happened in 1871 when 32 out of a fleet of 40 whalers became trapped in the ice off Northern Alaska. Beyond belief, everyone escaped by hauling their slim whaleboats over the ice until they reached the open sea and the safety of the other 8 ships which had heeded the ice warnings of Eskimos. Many captains had their wives and children with them on this terrible voyage." 6 verses are given to "Go To Sea No More" using the above chorus: 1.When first I landed in Frisco, I went upon the spree, Me hard-earned cash, I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be. An' when me money was all gone, 'twas then I wanted more, But a man must be blind for to make up his mind, For to go to sea once more. 2.That night I slept wid Angeline, too drunk to roll in bed. Me clothes wuz went an' me money, too, next morn wid them she'd fled. An as I rolled a-down the street the whores they all did roar, There goes Jack Ratcliff, poor sailor boy, who must go to sea once more. 3.Now as I wuz rollin' down the street, I met ol' Shanghai Brown. I axed him for to take me in, he looked at me wid a frown. Sez he,'last time yiz wuz paid off, wid me you chalked no score. But I'll take yer advance an' I'll give ye a chance an' I'll send ye to sea once more. 4.He shipped me aboard of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic Seas. Where the cold winds blow an'there's ice an'snow an' Jamaiky Rum do freeze, "I can't stay here, I have no gear, I've spent all me money ashore" Twas then that I said that I wished I wuz dead so I'd go to sea no more. 5.Sometimes we caught them bowheads, boys, some days we did catch none. Wid a twenty foot oar stuck in yer paw, we pulled the whole day long. An' when the night it came along, an' ye dozed upon yer oar, Yer back so weak, yiz never would seek a berth at sea no more. 6.Come all ye bold seafarin' men and listen to me song. When yez come off them damn long trips, I'll tell yiz what goes wrong. Take my advice, don't drink strong drink, nor go sleepin' wid any ol' whore, But get married lads, an' have all night in, an' go to sea no more! The flyleaf says of the author, " Stan Hugill truly has sailed the seven seas, man and boy, for most of his 71 years. He has rounded the Horn under canvas,been shipwrecked on a fourmaster, and sung many a shanty at work... Born in Hoylake, Cheshire, England, he attended London University and lives now beside the sea in Aberdovey, Wales. Four earlier books... have established him as a leading authority on the history of life at sea -- and as an entertaining, thoroughly informed 'Ancient Mariner' who can splice a rope or spin a story with equal dexterity." Reiver 2 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: kendall Date: 07 Dec 10 - 01:55 PM Its rigging is what makes it a Barque, not its purpose. The Coast Guard cutter EAGLE is a Barque. This is just another of hundreds of songs that I can no longer sing. :-( Don't mean to be pedantic Charlie, I'm sure you knew that. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: bubblyrat Date: 07 Dec 10 - 08:01 AM Known in England as a "Barque" rather than "Bark" . |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go to Sea No More (from Paddy Walsh) From: GUEST Date: 07 Dec 10 - 06:22 AM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Paddy Walsh's 'Go to Sea No More' From: Charley Noble Date: 07 Nov 06 - 03:31 PM Roberto- It seems to me that what Q has posted iis close to the recording you have. However, I may be able to help with one line you cited above: "They shipped me aboard of a whaler pack bound for the Arctic Sea" Which is probably: "They shipped me aboard of a whaler BARK bound for the Arctic Sea" a "Bark" being a common type of whaling vessel. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OFF TO SEA ONCE MORE (from Ted Howard) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 06 Nov 06 - 05:04 PM OFF TO SEA ONCE MORE (2) Version from Ted Howard; A. L. Lloyd 1950 When first I landed in Liverpool, I went upon the spree. While money lasts, I spend it fast; got drunk as drunk could be. But before my money was all gone on liquor and the whores, I made up my mind that I was inclined to go to sea no more. No more, no more, to go to sea no more, I made up my mind that I was inclined to go to sea no more. As I was walking down the street, I met with Angeline. She said, "Come home with me, my lad, and we'll have a cracking time." But when I awoke, it was no joke; I found I was all alone. My silver watch, and my money too, and my whole bloody gear was gone. Was gone, was gone, my whole bloody gear was gone. When I awoke, it was no joke, for my whole bloody gear was gone. As I was walking down the street, I met with Rapper Brown. I asked him if he would take me in and he looked at me with a frown. He said, "Last time you was paid off with me, you chalked-up no score, But I'll take your advance and I'll give youse a chance to go to sea once more. Once more, once more, to go to sea once more. I'll take your advance and I'll give youse a chance to go to sea once more." He shipped me aboard of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic seas, Where cold winds blow and there's frost and snow and Jamaica rum would freeze, And worse to bear, I'd no hard-weather gear, for I'd lost all my dunnage ashore. It was then that I wished that I was dead so I'd go to sea no more. No more, no more, I'd go to sea no more, It was then that I wished that I was dead so I'd go to sea no more. Sometimes we're catching whales, my lads, but mostly we get none, With a twenty-foot oar in every paw from five o'clock in the morn, And when daylight's gone and the night coming on, you rest upon your oar, And, oh, boys, you wish that you was dead or snug with the girls ashore. Ashore, ashore, snug with the girls ashore. Oh, boys, you wish that you was dead or snug with the girls ashore. Come all you seafaring lads and listen to my song. When you go a-big-boating, boys, I'll have you not go wrong. You take my tip when you come off a trip. Don't go with any whore, But get married instead and have all night in bed and go to sea no more. With score, 3/4, and French translation. P. 60-61, 1995, Le Chasse-Marée, "Cahiers de chants de marins." (Available from Amazon.ca) Not too different from the MacColl-Seeger text posted above but 'Giok,' but worth comparing with it. The Chasse-Marée books are profusely illustrated with old photographs and drawings, large size with excellent print-work. They have produced many CDs of chanteys and marine songs. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 11 Aug 04 - 06:47 PM The text Giok posts is in the DT (see links above), though there it is transcribed from a commercial recording and contains typos and some rather odd spelling in places. Giok's transcription is accurate and should probably replace the existing file. Evidently, Ryan's Fancy recorded an arrangement of the same version (very well known in the folk clubs back in the 1960s, and not a shanty), though with a few words changed. Although the common set isn't what Roberto wants, I'll just add the notes from The Singing Island (p 53): "A L Lloyd writes: 'I learned this song from Fred Clausen of Stoneferry, Hull, meat-cutter in the whale factory Southern Empress, in 1940. In 1954, I collected another version from Ted Howard of Barry, which is so close to Clausen's as to make me think that perhaps there was a broadside of it in circulation at some time. The American version calls the boardinghouse-master Shanghai Brown. Clausen called him Jackie Brown, while Ted Howard had it as Rapper Brown. Howard, an old sailing-ship sailor, full of very accurate sea-lore, swore that Rapper was the man's name so I usually sing it that way.' " |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: Roberto Date: 11 Aug 04 - 05:47 PM Joe, I have bought a customer CD-R of many of the Folktrax LPs and cassettes from Folktrax. I thank them that tried to help, but as you see the text sung by Paddy Walsh is much more simple than the common set. I need someone to listen to Paddy Walsh's recording to get the exact text. Thanks. R |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: GUEST,Lighter at work Date: 11 Aug 04 - 05:23 PM Joe, Folktrax offers CDs now. I've purchased several. Looks like I'll have to get this one too. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: Joe Offer Date: 11 Aug 04 - 04:36 PM Roberto, is there a CD available of these recordings of Paddy Walsh? Looks like Folktrax may have a cassette, but I hate to buy cassettes? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: GEST Date: 11 Aug 04 - 04:33 PM The traditional sea shanty titled Go To Sea No More, was featured on one of the early CBC Television shows created by Ryan's Fancy, and published on the album, Songs From The Shows © 2001, Avalon Music. :-) |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OFF TO SEA ONCE MORE (from MacColl/Seeger From: John MacKenzie Date: 11 Aug 04 - 03:41 PM This is in The Singing Island a compilation of songs by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. It is listed under the name 'Off to Sea once More' When first I landed in Liverpool I went upon the spree My money at last I spent it fast got drunk as drunk can be And when my money it was all gone it was then I wanted more But a man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more. I spent that night with Angeline too drunk to roll in bed My watch was new and me money too in the morning with them she'd fled And as I roamed the streets about the whores they all did roar Here comes Jack Spratt the poor sailor lad he must go to sea once more As I was walking down the street I met with Rapper Brown I asked for to take me in and he looked at me with a frown He said last time you was paid off with me you chalked no score But I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance and send you to sea once more. He shippped me on board of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic seas Where cold winds blow through the frost and snow and Jamaica rum would freeze And worse to bear I'd no hard weather gear for I'd spent all my money ashore It was then that I wished that I was dead so I'd go to sea no more Sometimes we were catching whales me boys and sometimes we were catching none With a twenty foot oar stuck in our hands from four o'clock in the morn And when the shades of night came on we rest on our weary oar It was then that I wished that I were dead or safe with the girls ashore Come all ye bold seafaring men that listen to my song When you come off them long trips I'd have you not go wrong Take my advice drink no strong drink don't go sleeping with no whores But get married lads and have all night in and go to sea no more. It is listed as contributed by A L Lloyd ref Doerflinger p107 Giok |
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Subject: Lyr Req: paddy walsh's GO TO SEA NO MORE From: Roberto Date: 11 Aug 04 - 02:46 PM Paddy Walsh, Devonport Sailor, recorded by Cyril Tawney in 1960, published by Folktrax. I've problems with the second stanza, please, help. Thank you. Roberto O when first I went to Frisco, boys, I went on a jolly good spree We drank and gambled all night long, as drunk as drunk could be We drank and gambled all night long, from night till early morn When I made a mistake and I got quite a shake coming 'round Cape Horn Once more, once more, once more, once more, once more I made up me mind to feel inclined to go to sea once more They shipped me aboard of a whaler pack bound for the Arctic Sea Where cold winds blow both frost and snow and .... you'll see No clothes ..., no money to get 'em, you know And I often wished that I was back in my dear old home once more No more, no more, I'll go to sea no more I made up me mind to feel inclined to go to sea no more |
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