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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: GUEST,The Dutchman Date: 13 Jun 03 - 11:56 PM Actually, I'm afraid that I can trace it only back to a very old Burl Ives album from which I learned it....'tis always a big hit when I perform it! "Twas also performed by a good friend, Robbie O'Connell who claims he taught it to me...(I deny it but he may be right...). |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: radriano Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:28 PM "I've got the Josie Walker besides the Kangaroo," is a line from the capstan shanty "Heave Away My Johnnies." This is from F.P. Harlow's book, "Chanteying Aboard American Ships, 1962." Hello Martin, hope you're doing well. Regards, Radriano |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: nutty Date: 25 Apr 03 - 09:58 AM Harry Clifton 1832 - 1872 was a writer and performer of broadside ballads. There are a number of broadsides accredited to him in the Bodleian Library, this probably being his most well known Polly Perkins Although there are copies of the songs listed above .... including, On Board the Kangaroo, I can't find a direct reference that they were written by Clifton |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: A Wandering Minstrel Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:10 AM Probably completely unconnected but in my minds ear I can hear Artie Tresize singing The man at the docks he told me I have two ships for you The one is the "Georgie Walker" and the other "The Kangaroo" But where and when momentarily escapes me |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Melani Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:48 PM I recently got hold of a book about Myles Keogh, a captain in Custer's Seventh Cavalry who for many years was best known for the fact that his horse Comanche survived the Little Bighorn (Keogh didn't). Turns out he "sailed away from Liverpool quay on board of the Kangaroo" on March 19, 1862, headed for the American Civil War, where he made a name for himself fighting with McClellan, Buford and Stoneman. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ABOARD THE KANGAROO From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Apr 03 - 09:27 PM What our group Roll & Go sings is somewhat different than what's in the DT: ABOARD THE KANGAROO (Composed by the music hall performer, Harry Clifton and published in 1856 As sung by Bob Roberts and adapted by Norris Dale, 1998) C--G7---------------------C----G7--C Oh, once I was a wa-ter-man and lived a life of ease, -------------F—C-------F------C----G7---C But now I am a mar-in-er and plow the ang-ry seas. Chorus: G--------C I ne-ver thought she would be false, F Or ever prove un-true, ----C As we sailed away from Bristol Quay -----------G7------C A-board the Kan-ga-roo! I thought I'd like seafarin' life, so I bid my love adieu, And shipped aboard as bosun's mate, aboard the Kangaroo... My love, she was no foolish girl, her age is was two score; My love she was no spinister, she'd been married twice before... You would not think it was her wealth that stole me heart away; She was starcher at a launderer's for eighteen pence a day... Paid off, I sought her dwelling place, 'twas high on Munjoy Hill; Where an ancient dame upon the stoop was tossing out the swill... "Where is my love?" "She's married, sir, about six months ago, To a smart young man who's skipper of a bark that trades the coast in coal..." Farewell to dreams of married bliss, of soapsuds and the blue; Farewell to all you Bristol gals, you're fickled minded too... I'll seek some distant foreign shore, no longer will I stay; An' on some Chinese Hottentot I'll waste my life away... Note: Munjoy Hill is the site of a traditional watchtower in Portland, constructed in 1807 to keep track of USO's, Unidentified Sailing Objects. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: GUEST,Glyn Davies Date: 24 Apr 03 - 09:01 PM PS: I forgot to say that "Kangaroo" et al were all "Written Composed and Sung with Immense Success by Harry Clifton"! |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: GUEST,Glyn Davies Date: 24 Apr 03 - 08:50 PM Plus of course: "Work Boys Work (And Be Contented)", "Up With The Lark In The Morning (Merry And Wise)", "I Am One Of The Olden Time (Fifty Years Ago)", "Bear It Like A Man", "My Rattling Mare And I", "It's Better To Laugh Than To Cry (or, Careless Joe)" which features a coloured lithograph on the front cover, and "The Way To Be Happy". Most of these seem to have been published by Hopwood & Crew of 42 New Bond Street, London, including the version of the song I've got which is called "On Board Of The Kangaroo". They all retailed at 3 shillings, but the only dated copy I have (which is of the Musical Million re-issue of "Silent The Shadows Fall, a vocal serenade by N S Gilbert"), is 1898 and that's hand-written on the cover. Does anyone have any idea of the chronology of these songs? I'd be interested to hear any information. |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: GUEST,bigJ Date: 19 May 00 - 02:52 PM According to Michael Kilgarriff's book 'Sing Us One of the Old Songs' Harry Clifton (1824-1872) was also responsible for 'The Calico Printer's Clerk'; 'Dark Girl Dressed in Blue';'I'll Go and Enlist for a Soldier';'Lannigan's Ball'; 'Paddle Your Own Canoe';'Ten Minutes Too Late';'The Watercress Girl' and 'On Board the Kangaroo'. |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: MartinRyan Date: 19 May 00 - 02:31 PM Thanks John! |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: John Moulden Date: 18 May 00 - 05:05 PM Gotcha! Greig-Duncan Volume 6 pp 365-367: five versions or fragments all collected around 1906. The notes say "Composed by the music hall performer, Harry Clifton and published in 1856" The first of Greig's notations bears a note "Composed by Harry Clifton" |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: John Moulden Date: 18 May 00 - 05:05 PM Gotcha! Greig-Duncan Volume 6 pp 365-367: five versions or fragments all collected around 1906. The notes say "Composed by the music hall performer, Harry Clifton and published in 1856" The first of Greig's notations bears a note "Composed by Harry Clifton" |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: John Moulden Date: 18 May 00 - 04:32 PM The Burl Ives recording was Decca DL8444. The ballad printer Sanderson (Edinburgh) had it in his catalogue but I have never seen a print. Stanley Slade was recorded and the recording is avalable on Folktracks 30-207 "Mister Shellback" When I was helping Daibhí Ó Cróinín with references and background he gave me a draft copy of the Elizabeth Cronoin book. It contains an American ref which was left out of the substantive volume because it had not been seen. Henry De Marsan (New York Publisher & Printer) Singers' Journal vol 31 p 213. |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: MartinRyan Date: 18 May 00 - 04:49 AM The recent publication of Bess Cronin's songs reminded me of this thread. The book mentions that Burl Ives recorded it at one stage - but the author coluldn't trace details. Anyone got any idea of the album/date? A web search produced THIS which quotes Ives's "Irish Song Book". Now that I think of it - I'm sure there's a copy of that in the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Martin Ryan. Date: 12 Jan 99 - 09:32 AM Thanks Alison. I'd be interested in the details from the Journal, if anyone has them to hand. I presume its the (English) Folk song and dance society? Regards |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: alison Date: 12 Jan 99 - 06:51 AM Hi, The tune is in the database.. Here is some info taken from "Folk songs and ballads popular in Ireland -book 4".
At the back of the book it says "Rediscovered by Christy Moore, the song was origianlly (field) recorded by Elizabeth Cronin of Macroom Co Cork......" It also mentions a collection of songs made by Martin Freeman and published in 4 volumes in the journal of the Folk Song Society between January 1920 and September 1921. Slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Bob Bolton Date: 11 Jan 99 - 04:59 PM G'day all, I know that I have this on a few Australian LPs - appropriated to the Australian canon on the basis of having the word 'kangaroo'... almost as good as the way that songs get appropriated in to the Irish fold ... if they contain the word 'green' (or rhyme with it), mention whisk(e)y or end up in a fight. If no other mudcatter comes up with a good source, I will get the words (and maybe transcribe tune to produce an ABC?MIDItext). Regards, Bob Bolton |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Martin Ryan. Date: 11 Jan 99 - 04:57 PM And I hadn't returned home to check! Thanks, bigJ. Mind you, the Harding songster still holds the record. I suspect Mrs. Cronin (who was a well read teacher) may have got it there. Now that I think of it, I remember a relative of hers (nephew?) talking about publishing a book on her life and songs. Haven't heard of it yet. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Liam's Brother Date: 11 Jan 99 - 04:53 PM Got me! Blast it! And I was on such a roll! |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: bigJ Date: 11 Jan 99 - 03:39 PM Hey Dan, Try Stan's 'Shanties from the Seven Seas' again pp474-475, where it's under'Aboard the Kangaroo' & 'On Board of the Kangaroo' and credited to a Mr Elwell of the Isle of Man, Stanley Slade from Bristol and Elizabeth Cronin via Seamus Ennis. |
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Subject: RE: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Liam's Brother Date: 07 Jan 99 - 01:00 PM Hi Martin! I looked in Stan's "Songs of the Sea," "Sea Shanties" and "Shanties from the Seven Seas" for you without success. You are quite right about Mrs. Cronin. However, I did see some mention of it elsewhere within the last couple of weeks. I will put the little grey cells to work and reply when I when I come up with a lead for you. All the best, Dan |
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Subject: Good Ship Kangaroo? From: Martin Ryan Date: 07 Jan 99 - 03:15 AM Anyone got any background on this one? In Ireland it is usually traced back to Elizabeth Cronin of Cork (as mentioned in the DT version). I have seen it in one 19 c. songster (Hardings) published in Ireland. I think "Shanties from the Seven Seas" also mentions it but I can't remember if he gives sources. Regards |
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