Lyr Req/Add: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay

15 Nov 96 - 10:29 PM (#395)
Subject: Lyrics
From: [e-mail]

Looking for lyrics to "Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay" or any Baltimore/Maryland related songs Also Peter Case chords.

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15 Nov 96 - 10:49 PM (#396)
Subject: Peter Case Chords
From: JW

Need Peter Case Tunnings/Chords.Sings like Hell.

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18 Nov 96 - 08:19 AM (#427)
Subject: RE: Lyrics
From: [e-mail]

Back in the late fifties/early sixties Lonnie Donegan sang a version which went something like this.

But the song is a lot older than that. My dad used to sing it to us when I was a Kid.


'Round the bend I hear the chuggin' of the steamboat dear,
Heading here for this pier,
You’ll catch it if you hurry don't you ever fear,
It’s that Old Dominion line.
We'll she seems real pretty as she hugs the shore,
Heading for Baltimore.
Everybody's yearning
To hear the paddles churnin'
She's the Queen of the Chesapeake Bay.

Come on Miss Nancy put your best dress on
Come on Miss Nancy 'fore that steamboat's gone.
The banjos are strumming the same old tune
Up on the deck there's a place to spoon
Settle down close 'neath the silvery moon
Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Come on Captain we must catch that boat,
We can't swim and listen we can't float
The banjos are strumming the same old tune
Up on the deck there's a place to spoon
Settle down close 'neath the silvery moon
Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

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22 Nov 96 - 05:39 PM (#513)
Subject: RE: Lyrics/Baltimore/Maryland
From: [e-mail]

A couple of songs I've heard pop to mind. One is about a clipper ship called the Baltimore. If memory serves, the chorus is:

Hurrah for the cruiser Baltimore and all her gallant ships of yore The Baltimore, the Baltimore, the gallant cruiser Baltimore

The other is called - I think - 'The Dregder' or 'The Lucky Dredger' and goes something like this:

Just lay me in the cold(?) peat with my face toward Baltimore Praying I never get shanghai'd again down on the Eastern Shore Where they feed you on corn dog and sowbelly twice a day And you're counted a lucky dredger if you ever get your pay.

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23 Nov 96 - 03:30 AM (#524)
Subject: RE: Lyrics
From: Bill

There is a Bob Zentz song done on a Magpie recording. The Zentz recording said "This old world has seen a lot of living." The Magpie version about the Chesapeake said instead, "This old bay has seen a lot of living."

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29 Nov 96 - 07:33 PM (#614)
Subject: RE: Lyrics
From: Ian

JW,

There is an earlier posting in this forum that may be of interest, containing the lyrics to 'Maryland, My Maryland'. It is from mid-October (15th?) and is listed as "Seeking and Searching for a few song lyrics". (Set your search parameters for more than 30 days to go back that far.)

I will see what else I can find. - Ian

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09 Oct 06 - 09:49 PM (#1854584)
Subject: Lyr Req: Sailin on the Chesapeake Bay
From: GUEST,Richie

Hi,

Does anyone have the lyrics to:

Sailin' Down the Chesapeake Bay by Jean B.Havez and George Botsford, written in 1913.

Just want to make sure my lyrics are right.

Thanks,

Richie

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10 Oct 06 - 01:14 AM (#1854633)
Subject: Lyr Add: SAILING DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
From: 12-stringer

SAILING DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
Words by Jean C. Havez, music by George Botsford, ©1913.

1. 'Round the bend I see the steamer comin', dear,
Headin' here,
To this pier.
If you hurry, we will make it, never fear,
On the Old Dominion Line.
Ain't she sailing pretty as she hugs the shore,
Steamin' for Baltimore?
Hear the paddles turnin'.
Hear the water churnin'.
She's the queen of Chesapeake Bay!

CHORUS: Come on, Nancy; put your best dress on.
Come on, Nancy, 'fore the steamboat's gone.
Ev'rything is lovely on the Chesapeake Bay.
All aboard for Baltimore,
And if we're late, they'll all be sore.
Now look here, Captain; let us catch that boat.
We can't swim and, listen, we can't float!
Darkies hummin' a good old tune,
Up on deck, is the place to spoon.
Cuddle up close, beneath the silv'ry moon,
Sailing down the Chesapeake Bay.

2. Hurry, dear; the steamer ain't a mile away,
Down the bay,
On her way.
See the smoke a-pourin' from her funnels gay.
Honey, ain't that picture grand?
Put your bib and tucker on and come with me.
Sights we'll see, you'll agree.
Hear the darkies hummin',
While the steamer's comin'.
She's the Belle of Chesapeake Bay.—CHORUS
First verse and chorus from the text here http://www.jbott.com/saildwn.html
(which gives "banjo strummin'" instead of "darkies hummin'")

Second verse is from a cylinder by the American Quartet, which I downloaded from the UCSB archive of old cylinder recordings. Text of this one is clearer (to my ear) than the other version I have, by Clayton McMichen.

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10 Oct 06 - 08:30 AM (#1854811)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
From: GUEST,Richie

Thanks 12-stringer,

Gr8 song!

Richie

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31 Aug 10 - 08:44 AM (#2976604)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Has this ever been recorded? Or are there dots available? I would love to learn this song!!

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31 Aug 10 - 09:04 AM (#2976614)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
From: greg stephens

The great Lonnie Donegan recorded this song.

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31 Aug 10 - 09:06 AM (#2976616)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
From: greg stephens

Here you are Chesapeake Bay by Lonnie

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31 Aug 10 - 03:05 PM (#2976857)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
From: shipcmo

Also on "A Chesapeake Sailor's Companion" with John Townley & The Press Gang.

Cheers,

Geo

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31 Aug 10 - 09:38 PM (#2977159)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay
From: Padre

Bard,

"The Cruiser Baltimore" and "The Shanghied Dredger: were collected and sung by the Boarding Party on 'Tis Our Sailing Time, Folk Legacy CD 97

Padre - who was there at the recording session

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08 Feb 11 - 10:55 AM (#3091144)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay
From: GUEST

bob the sax

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11 Apr 11 - 11:48 PM (#3133453)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay
From: GUEST

Questions:

a) why Sailing DOWN the Chesapeake Bay, when Baltimore is UP?
b) why The Old Dominion Line, which ran from new York to Norfolk, when the old Bay Line ran from Norfolk to Baltimore?
c) which ship was "the Queen of Chespeake Bay" in 1913?

MRW

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11 Dec 13 - 09:24 PM (#3583433)
Subject: Headin' Down the Chesapeake by Ben H. Evans
From: GUEST,Nephew, J. T. Charnock

Headin' down the Chesapeake, headin' home again to you
The Wind if fair,the sails are full, The Sky is bluest blue

Headin' down the Chesapeake to the good old Eastern Store,
The catch was good; all hands are safe; we're sailing home once more.

There's Kent Island dead a-head, with Cambridge lights in view;
Tangier Sound is next in sight, I'll soon be seeing you

Meet me dear at sunset on the old Wicomico shore;
Headin' down the Chesapeake, back home to you once more.

copyright 1961 by Benjamin H. Evans

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