Happy! - Sept 18 (Chile Independence, 1810)

Subject: Happy! - Sept 18 (Chile)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 09:46 AM


Happy Chile Independence Day!

Independence from Spain was proclaimed
9/18/1810

          To Chile's coast we are bound away,
                  Timme heave-ho, hang 'er Hilo!
          To Chile's coast we are bound away,
                  An' we'll dance an' all drink pisco!       [a local whiskey*]
          We are bound away, at the break o' day
          Where the little Spanish gals are so bright an' gay
                  Timme heave-ho, hang 'er Hilo!
                  Sing olay for them Dago gals!
  
                      "The Gals O' Chile," Shanties from the Seven Seas, Stan Hugill.

Hugill says this is one of those songs generally referred to as a "rare" song. Rare because it was rarely printed, not rarely sung. Seems collectors found it difficult to bowdlerize so many dirty bits.

*Pisco is also the unofficial national drink of Peru. Variously described, it is basically a local liquor distilled from fermented grape juice. From the information received, it is also an effective paint stripper and solvent. Thus, it is standard to order two, not just one shot. Seems the second shot is needed to anesthetize one's throat after the damage done by the first. It was also a favorite guzzle of "Serafina." (See Salty Dick's Uncensored Sailor Songs.)

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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