Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory

Subject: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 07:32 AM

Aboard our gallant ship the Victory one day
While anchored in harbour she lay
A sailor all marked with scars got in war
Was up for insulting his captain while on the shore

...

My temper grew hot and I quite forgot
That I was only a common sailor

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Schantieman
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:07 AM

This looks like it might be interesting....is there more? What are you asking?


Steve

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:19 AM

My athritic fingers make typing the rest of this, apparently Victorian,morality tale.The sailor is finally cleared of the offence
as his captain admits to trying it on with Ned's (the sailor's)wife.

I'm trying to find where the song came from.

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 11:26 AM

try an early shellac recording

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:50 PM

We really need to know some more clues about this one to be helpful.

As others have said, this could be an interesting search.

It seems likely to me that this one first appeared as a broadside.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 06:01 AM

Full available text:

Aboard our gallant ship the Victory one day
While anchored in harbour she lay.
A sailor all marked with scars got in war
Was up for insulting his captain while on the shore.

Are you guilty he was asked when his charge was made ready
Are you guilty Ned his old shipmate said.
I am guilty of knocking him down it is true
For insulting my wife my own darling Sue.
My temper grew hot sir and I quite forgot
That I was only a common sailor.

Now I just left my wife to go back to my ship
When I heard Sue cry out so I back made a trip.
Through the dark misty night like a madman I ran
And I found my dear wife in the arms of that man.
So being her husband my duty was plain
I kock-ed him down, why hang it, I'd do it again.

Now the captain he was asked if the sailor's words were true.
He replied yes what else could he do.
His only excuse he had been out to dine
And along with some friends he had drunk too much wine.
Discharged said the court with your character clear
It is not you Jack but your captain should have stood here.

But are you guilty he was asked when his charge was first made ready
Are you guilty Ned his old shipmate said.
I am guilty of knocking him down it is true
For insulting my wife my own darling Sue.
My temper grew hot sir and I quite forgot
That I was only a common sailor.

The stanzaic form is somewhat uncertain.

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:34 AM

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to post this one. I'll see what I can find.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:44 AM

No sign of the first line in the Broadside Index.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Scrump
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:01 AM

Not the same song, but related, in case it's of interest to anyone: On Board The Victory

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:52 PM

Perhaps 'Aboard our gallant ship' was an opportunist attempt to cash in on the continuing reputation of the Victory by a later hack.The poetry is not even up to usual broadside standard.

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 01:30 PM

I agree that the poem was probably trying to cash in on currents events, associating itself with the ship-of-line Victory. However, it may not be atyphical of other broadsides in that they were often composed to take advantage of current events to attract sales.

There is no sign of this one in John Ashton's collection of broadsides entitled REAL SAILOR SONGS (1905) nor in DIBDIN'S SEA SONGS (1854).

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 07:59 PM

Not in "Sea Songs and Ballads," 1906, coll. Christopher Stone, Oxford Press.
I don't think this one will be found in the usual naval- seaman collections. I would guess that the song is not older than 20th c.

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 07:26 AM

Thanks to all who replied to this one.Not an old song then?

Subject: RE: Origins: Aboard our gallant ship the Victory
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 10:57 AM

Probably not. Where exactly did you get the words you quoted? Do you have a tune for it? Knowing those things might help a little.