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07 Mar 16 - 06:02 PM (#3777236) Subject: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Severn A friend of mine is doing research for a project/presentation that he wants to do and needs to find Naval songs from WW1 and asked me to help him find some. Is there anyone among you that could help steer me to some? US or UK. Thanks in advance. |
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07 Mar 16 - 07:28 PM (#3777251) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,Lighter I used to sing "Destroyer Life" till I realized it had mostly been written by John Jacob Niles and Doug Moore after the war. That may not deter you. The best lines are It's roll and toss and pound and pitch And creak and grown you son of a bitch, Oh boy, it's a hell of a life on a destroyer! There are couple of other, similar songs in "Songs My Mother Never Taught Me," by Niles, Moore, and USMC cartoonist Wally Walgren (1929). There was also a Royal Navy song about the base at Scapa Flow, to the tune of "A Little Bit of Heaven." If you're into the truly bawdy, there's the amusing "The Sailor's Wives," beginning, "Then up and spoke the Captain's wife,/ And she was dressed in blue..." It antedates WW1, however. |
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07 Mar 16 - 09:11 PM (#3777273) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,# info@navysong.co.uk Severn, the person/people at that email have been collecting Navy songs/ditties/etc for quite a while. I think a message to them might prove to be fruitful. |
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08 Mar 16 - 05:09 PM (#3777462) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST Thank you #, I'll check it out. |
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08 Mar 16 - 05:12 PM (#3777464) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,Severn That was me. |
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08 Mar 16 - 05:31 PM (#3777473) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Teribus There was one that was a supposed conversation between Sir Francis Drake and Horatio Nelson as they looked down on the Navy of 1914, that I once heard many years ago and I can only remember snatches of it. "What hearest thou Sir Francis I hear thin wires a-speakin' What see you now Lord Nelson I see great lights a flashin' They are fighting in the heavens They're at war beneath the sea Aye their ways are mighty different From the ways of you and me" Lots missing then "Three leagues that shot hath carried Lord that that could ever be It's clear to me Lord Nelson They have done with you and me Look one more time Sir Francis I see the flags a flappin' Hark once again Sir Francis I hear the sticks a-tappin' It's a sight that calls us hither And a sound that bids us come For it's my old Trafalgar Signal It's the beating of my drum Are you ready good Sir Francis See they wait upon the quay Praise be to God Lord Nelson They remember you and me |
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09 Mar 16 - 08:48 AM (#3777615) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,Lighter Teribus' poem is "Called Up," by Dudley Clark, published in the _Times_ of London, October 21, 1914. I can post the complete original, if anyone is interested. |
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10 Mar 16 - 03:05 AM (#3777782) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Ian As a guess I would think they would be singing 'Modern' of the time, songs. ie songs from the music halls. They would also sing songs that had been passed down by older members of the crews. I know that in WW2 sailors were singing recent, music hall and traditional shanties. |
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11 Mar 16 - 02:14 AM (#3777954) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Long Firm Freddie This looks promising: Navy-Themed Sheet Music of the WWI Era (1914-1919) LFF |
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11 Mar 16 - 05:25 PM (#3778117) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Charmion My father knew an RN version of "They're Moving Father's Bones to Build a Sewer" that probably dated from about 1918. There was also the following ditty, most likely sung to a music-hall tune (Dad was tone-deaf), which can be dated to the tag-end of the Great War by the slang -- Jago's Mansion was Portsmouth Naval Barracks. "I was walking through the Dockyard in a panic, When I met a matelot old and grey. On his back he had his kitbag and his hammock, And this is what I heard him say. "I wonder, yes I wonder, Has the Jossman made a blunder, When he made this draft chit out for me, I've been a barrack stanchion, The pride of Jago's mansion, And I do not want to go to sea. "Oh I like my tiddy oggie , And I like my figgy duff, And I always say good morning to the Chief. (Chorus, very loud: GOOD MORNING, CHIEF) Oh, I wonder, yes I wonder, Has the Joss-man made a blunder, When he made this draft chit out for me." Another variant: "I was wand'ring through the Dockyard bright and early, When I met a sailor old and grey. On his back he bore his bag and hammock, And this is what I heard him say: "Oh, I wonder, yes, I wonder if the Jaunty made a blunder When he sent this draft chit down to me. I've been a barracks stanchion in the house of Jago's mansion, And I do not want to go to sea." |
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12 Mar 16 - 04:09 AM (#3778216) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Keith A of Hertford Cyril Tawney gives a version of that song in his collection of naval songs from his era. I have it somewhere. Bear with. |
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12 Mar 16 - 07:03 AM (#3778252) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Keith A of Hertford Cyril says that it was well known with many versions, but says it was written in the 1920s by a John Bush. He gives some songs about coaling that could date from WW1. The 100th anniversary of Jutland is in May. I know of no contemporary songs, but at least two modern songs in the forum. |
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12 Mar 16 - 08:03 AM (#3778259) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Keith A of Hertford Cyril gives these songs from WW1. I will transpose if anyone wants. Dardanelles Patrol Song, Battle of the Falkland Islands, The Noble Eighth of December, Harwich Naval Force Song, Never Mind, and We're Looking for the Kaiser. |
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15 Mar 16 - 06:19 AM (#3778942) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Keith A of Hertford Sevem, you asked for lyrics of WW1 naval songs US or UK. I offered you several. Are you not interested after all? |
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15 Mar 16 - 06:33 PM (#3779083) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,Severn Still very much interested, thanks. I'm seeking them out for a friend doing a project, though I'll probably learn a few for my own use. I am very interested, so please keep them coming. I'll try to get a copy of my friend's presentation when he puts it together. A friend borrowed my old Cyril Tawney tapes and is getting them back to me, and hopefully, they'll have some of those songs mentioned on them. |
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16 Mar 16 - 09:17 AM (#3779183) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: GUEST,JenBurdoo Just discovered the following website while searching for folk music in Gibraltar. It's mostly fragments and mostly dirty, but it's all Royal Navy material largely collected from veterans. There are a few WWI ditties in there. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/navysong/homepage.htm |
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16 Mar 16 - 09:25 AM (#3779184) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: World War One Naval Songs From: Ged Fox There may be a gap between what was written in WW1 and what sailors actually sang. A quick glance through "Naval Occasions" a 1914 collection of sketches of naval life, includes reference to the singing of "comic songs," Kipling's Recessional, "Spanish Ladies," "Sailors Wives" as mentioned above, and "I know of two bright eyes." " I KNOW OF TWO BRIGHT EYES - Clutsam I know of two bright eyes watching for me, I know of two white arms waiting for me, I know of cheeks that bum To greet me when I return. Oh, Myra! Oh, Myra, I soon will come to thee! I know a tender heart weeping for me, I know of two red lips praying for me, I know a paradise, A haven from tears and sighs. Oh, Myra! Oh, Myra, I soon will come to thee! Victor Record 18021 Copyright 1901 by Hatfield & Co., London, England" |