Revels Harbor Cruise and Sing Song Sheet - August 2021

Boston

From Harbor we set sail; “Bring me a glass that will make me cough; The wind was a-blowing the devil of a gale; It’s better here than it is up aloft.” … The ensign set all about the mizzen peak, The dolphin striker plowing up the deep. While we poor sailors are standing on the deck With a big bow-wow, to-row-row With the blasted rain all a-pouring down our Fol-de-rol-de-ri-do day! necks, Not a drop of grog would he to us afford, The captain he comes up from down below; But he damns our eyes with every other He looks a-loft and he looks a-low; word… He looks a-low and he looks a-loft, “Coil them ropes there fore and aft!” There’s just one thing that we sailors crave With a big bow-wow, to-row-row Is that he may have a watery grave; Fol-de-rol-de-ri-do day! So we’ll heave him down into some dark hole, Where the sharks can have his body and the Then back to his cabin he quickly crawls, devil have his soul… Unto his steward he loudly bawls,

Blow Ye Winds in the Morning

‘Tis advertised in Boston, New York and Buffalo: “Five hundred brave Americans a-whaling for to go.”

Singing, Blow ye winds in the morning, Blow ye winds, hi-ho! Clear away your running gear, and blow, boys blow!

They send you to New Bedford, that famous whaling port; And give you to some land-sharks to board and fit you out...

They tell you of the clipper ships a-going in and out, And say you’ll take five hundred sperm before you’re six months out...

It’s now we’re out to sea, my boys, the winds come on to blow; One half the watch is sick on deck, the other half below…

When our ship is full, my boys, and we don’t give a damn, We’ll bend on all our stu’nsails and sail for Yankeeland…

When we get home, our ship made fast, and we get through our sailing, A brimming glass around we’ll pass and damn this blubber whaling!...

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John Kanaka

I thought I heard the old man say We’re bound away round Cape Horn… John Kanaka, na-ka tu-rye-ay. We wish to God we’d never been born!... Today, today is a holiday John Kanaka, na-ka tu-rye-ay. Oh haul, oh haul, oh haul away… Tue-ry-ay, oh, tue-rye-ay! Oh haul away and make your pay.… John Kanaka, na-ka tu-rye-ay! The captain said, “Before I’m through,”… We’ll work tomorrow but not today!... You’ll curse your mother for having you.”… We’ll work tomorrow but not today!... I thought I heard the old man say… We’re bound away for ‘Frisco bay,… “You can go ashore and collect your pay.”… We’re bound away to the break of day,…

Haul Away, Joe

When I was a little boy, or so my mother told me, ‘Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe! That if I did not kiss the girls my lips would grow all moldy ‘Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!

Once I was in Ireland a-diggin’ turf and taters, ‘Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe! But now I’m on a Yankee ship a-haulin’ sheets and braces ‘Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!

Once I had a Spanish girl, she nearly drove me crazy… But now I’ve got a Yankee girl, and she is just a daisy…

King Louis was the King of France before the Revolu-shi-un,… But then he got his head cut off, which spoiled his constitu-shi-un,…

Now, up aloft this yard must go, we’ll pull ‘er free and easy,… Another pull and then belay, we’ll make it all so easy…

‘Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, together… ‘Way, haul away, we’re bound for better weather…

Final Chorus ‘Way, haul away, we’re bound for better weather, Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!

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A-Roving

In Town there lived a maid, I placed my hand upon her knee; Mark well what I do say, Mark well what I do say, In Plymouth Town there lived a maid, She said, “Young man, you’re rather free.” And she was mistress of her trade, I’ll go no more a-roving … I’ll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid! A roving, a-roving, since roving’s been my I kissed that girl and went away ru-i-in, Mark well what I do say, I’ll go no more a roving with you, fair maid! She said, “Young man, why don’t you stay?” I’ll go no more a-roving … I placed my arm around her waist, Mark well what I do say, I took her hand within my own; I placed my arm around her waist, Mark well what I do say She said, “Young man, you’re in great haste!” And said, “I’m bound to my old home.” I’ll go no more a-roving … I’ll go no more a-roving …

Away Rio

Oh, say was you ever in Rio Grande? And we’re bound for the Rio Grande... Away, Rio! It’s there that the river runs down golden The anchor is weighed and our sails are all strand set… And we’re bound for the Rio Grande. The girls that we’re leavin’ we’ll never And it’s away, Rio! Away, Rio! forget… So fare you well my pretty young girl, For we’re bound for the Rio Grande. So goodbye to Ellen and sweet Georgia Brown… We’ll man the good capstan and run her We left you enough for to buy a silk gown… around, Away, Rio! Our ship went a-sailing out over the bar… We’ll haul up the anchor to this bloody We pointed her head to the Southern Star… sound,

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Noah’s Ark

In ‘Frisco Bay there were three ships, To me way-ay-ay-yuh! But the bull put his horn through the side of In ‘Frisco Bay there were three ships, the ark… A long time ago-wuh! And the little black dog, he started to bark…

And one of those ships was Noah’s old ark… So Noah took the dog, shoved his nose in the All covered all over with hickory bark… hole… And ever since then, dog’s nose has been There were two animals of every kind... cold… There were two animals of every kind… And it’s a long, long time and a very long The bull and the cow, they started a row… time… The bull and the cow, they started a row… It’s a long, long time, and a very long time…

Then said old Noah with a crack of his whip… “Come stop this row or I’ll scuttle the ship”…

Can’t You Dance the Polka?

As I walked down the Broadway one evening in July. I met a maid who asked my trade and a sailor John says I. Then away, you Santee, my dear Annie! Oh, you New York girls, can’t you dance the polka?

To Tiffany’s I took her, I did not mind expense. I bought her two gold earrings, which cost me fifty cents. Then away, you Santee, my dear Annie! Oh, you New York girls, can’t you dance the polka?

Say she, “You lime-juice sailor, now see me home you may.” But when we reached her cottage door, she this to me did say...

“My flash man he’s a Yankee with his hair cut short behind. He wears a pair o’ long sea boots, and he sails in the Black Ball Line.”…

He’s homeward bound this evening, and with me he will stay. “So get a move on, sailor-boy, get crackin’ on your way.”…

So I kissed her hard an’ proper afore her flash man come, And fare ye well, my Bowery gal, I know your little game…

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Cape Cod Girls

Cape Cod girls don’t use no combs. Haul away, haul away! Cape Cod cats don’t have no tails… They comb their hair with codfish bone, The lost ‘em all in the Northeast gale… And we’re bound away for Australia So heave her up, my bully, bully boys, Cape Cod ladies don’t have no frills… Haul away, haul away! They’re plain and skinny as codfish gills… Heave her up and don’t ya make a noise, And we’re bound away for Australia! Cape Cod folks don’t have no ills… Cape Cod doctors feed ‘em codfish pills… Cape Cod boys ain’t got no sleds Haul away, haul away! They slide down hill on codfish heads, And we’re bound away for Australia...

Donkey Riding

Was ya ever in Quebec, Launchin’ timber on the deck, Was ya ever in Dundee? Where ya’d break yer bleedin’ neck, Bonnie laddie, hieland laddie, Riding on a donkey? Where some pretty ships ya’d see Way, hey, and away we go, Riding on a donkey... Donkey riding, donkey riding, Way, hey, and away we go, Was ya ever in Merrimashee? Riding on a donkey! Bonnie laddie, hieland laddie, Where ya’d make fast to a tree… Was ya ever in London town, Where the girls they do come down, Was ya ever in Mobile Bay? See the king in a golden crown, Screwing cotton by the day… Riding on a donkey Way, hey, and away we go, Was ya ever off Cape Horn? Donkey riding, donkey riding, Where the weather is never warm… Way, hey, and away we go, Riding on a donkey! Was ya ever in Bombay? Drinkin’ coffee an’ bohay… Was ya ever down ‘Frisco Bay Where the girls all shout, “Hooray! Here comes Johnny with his three year’s pay!” Riding on a donkey...

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Hullabaloo Balay

Me father kept a boarding house, A flash young fellow named Shallow Hullabaloo, balay, Brown… Hullabaloo, balah, balay He ogled my mother all over the town… Me father kept a boarding house, Hullabaloo, balah, balay. My father said, “Young man, me b’y”… To which he quickly made reply… The boarding house was on the quay Hullabaloo, balay, One day, when father was out of town… Hullabaloo, balah, balay Me mother ran off with Shallow Brown… The lodgers were nearly all at sea, Hullabaloo, balah, balay. My father slowly pined away… ‘Cause mother came back the following day….

Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy

Here’s adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu. I’m a-going around the ocean, love, to search for something new. Come change your ring with me, dear girl, come change your ring with me, That it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea.

When I am on the sea, dear girl, you’ll know not where I am. Kind letters I will write to you from ev’ry foreign land. The secrets of your heart, dear girl, are the best of my good will; So let your body be where it might, my heart shall be with you still.

There’s a mighty storm arising, see how it gathers round. While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the crown. Our officers commanding us, and them we must obey. Expecting every moment for to get cast away.

But when the wars are all over, there’ll be peace on every shore. We’ll return to our wives and our families and the girls which we adore. We’ll call for liquor merrily, we’ll spend our money free, And when our money it is all gone, we will bold-lye go to sea.

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Roll Down

Sweet ladies of Plymouth, we’re saying goodbye Roll down But we’ll rock you and roll you again bye and bye Walk around me brave boys and roll down. And we will roll down, Walk around me brave boys and roll down.

Now the anchor’s aweigh and the sails are unfurled, Roll down And we’re bound for to take you halfway round the world. Walk around me brave boys…

In the wide Bay of Biscay the seas all run high… And the poor sickly transports will wish they could die…

When the wild coast of Africa, it do appear… Those poor nervous transports will tremble with fear…

But when we set sail for old ’s shores... Those poor stranded transports, we’ll see them no more…

Then, sweet ladies of Plymouth, we’ll pay all your rent… And go roving no more till our money’s all spent...

The Greenland Fishery

‘Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty three, on June the thirteenth day, That our gallant ship her anchor weighed, And for Greenland bore away, brave boys, and for Greenland bore away.

The look-out in the cross-trees stood with his spyglass in his hand. “There’s a whale! There’s a whale! There’s a whale-fish,” he cried, “And she blows at ev’ry span, brave boys, and she blows at ev’ry span”

The captain stood on the quarter deck, and a fine little man was he. “Overhaul! Overhaul! Let your davit-tackles fall, And launch your boats for sea, brave boys, and launch your boats for sea!”

Now the boats were launched and the men aboard, and the whale was in full view. Resolvèd was each seaman bold To steer where the whale fish blew, brave boys, to steer where the whale fish blew. 7

We struck that whale, and the line paid out, but she gave a flourish with her tail; The boat capsized and we lost five men, And we never caught that whale, brave boys, and we never caught that whale.

Oh the losing of that sperm-whale fish, it grieved our captain sore, But the losing of those five jolly tars, Oh, it grieved him ten times more, brave boys, it grieved him ten times more.

“The winter star doth now appear, so, boys, we’ll anchor aweigh. It’s time to leave this cold country, And homeward bear away, brave boys, and homeward bear away.”

Oh, Greenland is a barren place; it’s a place that’s never green, Where there’s ice and snow, and the whale-fish blow, And daylight’s seldom seen, brave boys, and the daylight’s seldom seen.

I’s the B’y That Builds the Boat

I’se the b’y that builds the boat, And I’se the b’y that sails her, I took Lizer to a dance, I’se the b’y that catches the fish And faith! but she could travel And takes ‘em home to Lizer. Ev’ry step that she did take Was up to her knees in gravel… Hip your partner, Sally Tibbs, Hip your partner, Sally Brown. Susan White, she’s out of sight, Fogo, Twillingate, Morton’s Harbour, Her petticoat wants a border. All around the circle Old Sam Oliver in the dark, He kissed her in the corner… Sods and rinds to cover your flake, Cake and tea for supper; I’se the b’y that builds the boat, Codfish in the spring of the year, And I’se the b’y that sails her. Fried in maggoty butter! I’se the b’y that catches the fish, Hip your partner… And takes ‘em home to Lizer…

I don’t want your maggoty fish, That’s no good for supper. I can do as good as that Down in Bona Vista…

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The Leaving of Liverpool

Farewell, Prince’s Landing Stage, River Mersey, fare thee well; I am bound for California, that’s a place I know right well.

So fare you well, my own true love, When I return united we will be; It’s not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me, But my darlin’, when I think on you.

Oh I’m bound for California by the way of the stormy Cape Horn, And I’ll write to you a letter, my love, when I am homeward bound So fare you well…

Farewell to Lower Frederick Street, Anson Terrace and Park Lane; I’m sure it will be some long time before I see you again…

Oh, I’m bound on a Yankee clipper ship, Davy Crocket is her name. And the captain’s name is Burgess, and they say she’s a floating shame…

It’s me second trip with Burgess on the Crockett, and I think I know him well. If a man’s a sailor he can get along; if not then he’s sure in hell…

I’m bound away to leave you; goodbye, my love, goodbye. And there’s but one thing that grieves my mind, and it’s leaving you behind…

What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?

What shall we do with a drunken sailor? Keep him there and make him bail her…. What shall we do with a drunken sailor? What shall we do with a drunken sailor? Trice him up in a runnin’ bowlin’…

Ear-lye in the morning? Put him in the scuppers with a hose-pipe on

him… Way, hey, and up she rises, Way, hey, and up she rises, Pull out the plug and wet him all over… Way, hey, and up she rises, Ear-lye in the morning! Shave his belly with a rusty razor…

Put him in the longboat till he’s sober, What shall we do with the Queen of Put him in the longboat till he’s sober, Sheba?...

Put him in the longboat till he’s sober, Here we are – nice sober…. Ear-lye in the morning! Way, hey....

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Rolling Down to Old Maui

It’s a damn tough life full of toil and strife we whale-men under go, And we don’t give a damn when the gale is done how hard the winds did blow. For we’re homeward bound from the Arctic ground with a good ship taut and free, And we don’t give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls of old Maui.

Rollin’ down to old Maui, me boys, rollin’ down to old Maui; We’re homeward bound from the Arctic ground, rollin’ down to old Maui.

Once more we sail with the northerly gale through the ice and wind and rain. The coconut fronds, them tropical lands, we soon shall see again. Six hellish months we’ve passed away on the cold Kamchatka Sea, But now we’re bound from the Arctic ground, rollin’ down to old Maui…

And now we sail with a favorable gale towards our island home. Our mainmast sprung, our whalin’ done, and we ain’t got far to roam. Our stu’nsail booms is carried away – what care we for that sound? A living gale is after us; thank God we’re homeward bound!...

How soft the breeze from the island seas, now the ice is far astern. The native maids in their island glades are awaiting our return. Their big black eyes even now look out, hoping some fine day to see Our baggy sails runnin’ ‘fore the gales, rollin’ down to old Maui…

Spanish Ladies

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies, Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of ; For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England, But we hope in a short time to see you again.

We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors, We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of Old England; From to Scilly is thirty five leagues.

We hove our ship to with the wind from sou’west, boys, We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take; ‘Twas forty-five fathoms, with a white sandy bottom, So we squared our main yard and up channel did make. We’ll rant and we’ll roar….

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The first land we sighted was called the Dodman, Next Rams Head off Plymouth, off Portsmouth the Wight; We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and , And then we bore up for the South Foreland light…

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor, And all in the Downs that night for to lie; Let go your shank painter, let go your cat stopper! Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly!...

Now let ev’ry man drink off his full bumper, And let ev’ry man drink off his full glass; We’ll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy And here’s to the health of each true-hearted lass!...

The Fish of the Sea

Come, all ye young sailormen, listen to me, I’ll sing you a song of the fish of the sea. Then comes the porpoise with his short snout, Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow, He went to the wheel, calling, “Ready, We’re bound to the south-‘ard so steady she about!”… goes! Then comes the smelt, the smallest of all, Oh, first comes the whale, the biggest of all; He jumped to the poop and sung out, “Topsail He climbed up a-loft and let ev’ry sail fall. haul!”… The blow ye winds…. The herring comes, saying, “I’m king of the And next comes the mackerel with his stripèd seas, back. If you want any wind, why, I’ll blow you a He hauled aft the sheets and boarded each breeze.”…. tack…

Roll the Old Chariot Refrain And we’ll roll the old chariot along We’ll roll the old chariot along We’ll roll the old chariot along And we’ll all hang on behind

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Leave Her, Johnny

Oh, the times are hard and the wages low, Leave her, Johnny, leave her, Oh the times are hard and the wages low, And it’s time for us to leave her.

Leave her, Johnny, leave her, Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her! For the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow, And it’s time for us to leave her!

Oh, a leaking ship and a harping crew, Leave her, Johnny, leave her! Oh, a leaking ship and a harping crew, And it’s time for us to leave her. Leave her Johnny,….

Oh the bread is hard and the beef is salt… Oh, the bread is hard and the beef is salt…

I’ve got no money, I’ve got no clothes… I’ve got no money, I’ve got no clothes…

Oh, my old mother she wrote to me… I’ll send you money, I’ll send you clothes…

The winds were foul, and the work was hard… From the Liverpool dock to the Brooklyn yard…

Our sails are furled and the work is done… And homeward now we’ve made our run…

I think I heard the Old Man say… Tomorrow you will get your pay…

The old pierhead is drawing nigh… Now it’s time for us to say goodbye…

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