Dans cette chanson assez répétitive, il est question de montagne, chose rare dans les chants de marins.
We'll heave him up an away we'll go
'Way, me Susiana!
We'll heave him up an away we'll go
We're all bound over the mounten!
We'll heave him up from down below
'Way, me Susiana!
That is where the cocks do crow
We're all bound over the mounten!
An'if we drown while we are young,
'Way, me Susiana!
It's ye growl too hard yer head they'll bust
We're all bound over the mounten!
Oh, growl ye may but go we must,
'Way, me Susiana!
It's ye growl too hard yer head they'll bust
We're all bound over the mounten!
Up sox, you cocks, hand her two blocks,
'Way, me Susiana!
An' go below to yer ol' ditty box
We're all bound over the mounten!
Oh, rock an shake 'er, one more drag
'Way, me Susiana!
Oh, bend yer duds an' pack yer bag
Cette chanson, apparemment employée lors de la manœuvre à bord, parle de Billy Riley, bon danseur et propriétaire ou capitaine de navire, et de sa fille, que tous aimeraient courtiser.
Old Billy Riley was a dancing master.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Old Billy Riley's master of a drogher.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Master of a drogher bound for Antigua.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Old Billy Riley had a nice young daughter.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Oh Missy Riley, little Missy Riley.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Had a pretty daughter, but we can't get at her.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
Screw her up and away we go, boys.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!
One more pull and then belay, boys.
Cette chanson raconte la cour menée depuis sept ans par un marin auprès de la jolie Sally, qui n'a toujours pas cédé à ses avances. Mais le marin compte bien l'épouser à son retour à terre.
(refrain)
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Sally is the girl that I love dearly,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
Sally is the girl that I spliced dearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!
(refrain)
For seven long years I courted little Sally,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
But all she did was dilly and dally.
Bully down in shinbone al
(refrain)
I ever get back, I'll marry little Sally,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
Have six kids and live in Shin-bone Alley.
Bully down in shinbone al.
Cette chanson raconte, à la première personne, l'histoire du capitaine Kidd, ses exploits et sa mort.
O, my name was Captain Kidd,
as I sailed, as I sailed,
O, my name was Captain Kidd,
as I sailed.
My name was Captain Kidd
And God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did
as I sailed, as I sailed.
So wickedly I did
as I sailed.
I murdered William Moore,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
O, I murdered William Moore
as I sailed.
I laid him in his gore,
Not many leagues from the shore,
O, I murdered William Moore,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
I murdered William Moore
as I sailed.
I spied three ships from Spain
as I sailed, as I sailed,
O, I spied three ships from Spain
as I sailed.
I spied three ships from Spain,
and I fired on them a-main,
And most of them I slain,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
And most of them I slain
as I sailed.
Come all you young and old,
see me die, see me die.
Come all you young and old,
see me die.
You are welcome to my goal,
And by it I lost my soul
Come all you young and old,
I must die, I must die.
Come all you young and old,
Cette chanson rythmée évoque les déboires sentimentaux d'un marin avec un certain nombre de jeunes personnes.
Oh, Nancy Dawson, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
She rubbed the Bo'sun, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
That was a caution, Hi-oh!
(refrain)
Cheerly, man,
O! Haulee, Hi-oh,
Cheerly, man.
Oh, Sally Racket, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Pawned my best jacket, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
And sold pawn the ticket, Hi-oh!
(refrain)
Oh, Kitty Carson, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Jitted the parson, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Married a mason, Hi-oh!
(refrain)
Oh, Betsy Baker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Lived in Long Acre, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Married a Quaker, Hi-oh!
(refrain)
Oh, Jenny Walker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Married a hawker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
That was a corker, Hi-oh!
(refrain)
Oh, Polly Riddle, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Broke her new fiddle, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Cette chanson raconte les prouesses inventées d'un bélier rencontré au marché, le refrain précisant qu'il s'agit de mensonges.
As I was going to Derby, 'twas on a market day,
I met the finest ram, sirs, that ever was fed upon hay.
(refrain)
That's a lie, that's a lie
That's a lie, a lie, a lie!
This ram and I got drunk, sir, as drunk as drunk could be,
And when we sobered up, sir, we were far away out on the sea.
(refrain)
This wonderful old ram, sir, was playful as a kid;
He swallowed the captain's spyglass along with the bo'sun's fid.
(refrain)
One morning on the poop, sir, afore eight bells was struck.
He climbed up to the sky's I yard an' sat down on the truck.
(refrain)
This wonderful ol' ram, sir, he tried a silly trick,
He tried to jump a five-barred fence and landed in a rick.
(refrain)
This wonderful ol' ram, sir, it grew two horns of brass,
One grew out o' his shoulder blade, t'other turned into a mast.
(refrain)
An' when this ram was killed, sir, the butcher was covered in blood.
Five and twenty butcher boys was carried away the flood.
(refrain)
An' when this ram was dead, sir, they buried it in St. Joan's,
It took ten men an' an elephant to carry one of its bones.
Ce chant accompagnait les tâches à bord, en particulier celles réclamant un rythme soutenu. Il était notamment employé au moment de lever l'ancre.
(refrain)
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Early in the morning!
What will we do with a drunken sailor,
What will we do with a drunken sailor,
What will we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?
(refrain)
Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Early in the morning!
(refrain)
Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Early in the morning!
Cette chanson évoque les créatures marines, la navigation et le mauvais temps, ennemi des marins.
Come all you young sailor men, listen to me,
I'll sing you a song of the fish in the sea;
(refrain)
And it's...
Windy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys,
When the wind blows, we're all together, boys;
Blow ye winds westerly, blow ye winds, blow,
Jolly sou'wester, boys, steady she goes.
Up jumps the eel with his slippery tail,
Climbs up aloft and reefs the topsail.
(refrain)
Then up jumps the shark with his nine rows of teeth,
Saying, "You eat the dough boys, and I'll eat the beef!"
(refrain)
Up jumps the whale... the largest of all,
"If you want any wind, well, I'll blow ye a squall!"
Des marins évoquent le bon temps qu'ils vont prendre avec les jeunes femmes qu'ils trouveront à destination, comme avec celles qu'ils retrouveront au retour à leur port d'attache de Bristol.
We are outward bound for Mobile town With a heave-o, haul! An' we'll heave the ol' wheel round an' round Good mornin' ladies all! An' when we get to Mobile town With a heave-o, haul! Oh, 'tis there we'll drink an' sorrow drown Good mornin' ladies all! Them gals down south are free an' gay With a heave-o, haul! Wid them we'll spend our hard-earned pay Good mornin' ladies all! We'll swing around, we'll have good fun With a heave-o, haul! An' soon we'll be back on the homeward run Good mornin' ladies all! An' when we get to Bristol town With a heave-o, haul! For the very last time we'll waltz around Good mornin' ladies all! With Poll and Meg an' Sally too With a heave-o, haul! We'll drink an' dance wid a hullabaloo Good mornin' ladies all! So a long goodbye to all you dears With a heave-o, haul! Don't cry for us, don't waste yer tears
Good mornin' ladies all!
Cette chanson rythmant l'effort évoque les différentes tâches du bord et leur difficulté selon la clémence des éléments.
Why can't ye be so handy-o! Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, aloft this yard must go. Handy, me boys, so handy! Ooh! Up aloft from down below. Handy, me boys, so handy! Growl ye may, but go ye must. Handy, me boys, so handy! Growl too much an yer head they'll bust. Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, a bully ship an' a bully crew. Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, we're the gang for the kick 'er through. Handy, me boys, so handy! Yer advance has gone, yer at sea again. Handy, me boys, so handy! Hey, bound round the horn through the hail an' rain. Handy, me boys, so handy! Sing an' haul, an' haul an' sing. Handy, me boys, so handy! Up aloft this yard we'll swing. vHandy, me boys, so handy!
Up aloft that yard must go. Handy, me boys, so handy! For we are outward bound, ye know. Handy, me boys, so handy! A handy ship an' a handy crew. Handy, me boys, so handy! A handy Mate an Old Man too.
Handy, me boys, so handy!
Une autre chanson incitant à l'effort et rythmant les manœuvres.
England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
Hauley Hauley Ho!
Paddy M'Ginty
Paddy, Jock and Jackie too,
Oh Paddy M'Ginty,
Hauley Hauley Ho!
Shamrock an' Rose, boys,
Shamrock, Rose, and prickly Thistle too,
Shamrock an' Rose, boys,
Hauley Hauley Ho!
England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
Cette chanson évoque différentes tâches du bord selon le nombre croissant d'hommes nécessaires : un pour piquer la cloche, deux pour tenir la barre, etc.
Why don't you blow
High-O! cume roll me over
Why don't you blow
High-O! cume roll me over
One man to strike the bell
High-O! cume roll me over
One man to strike the bell
High-O! cume roll me over
Two men to man the wheel
High-O! cume roll me over
Two men to man the wheel
High-O! cume roll me over
Three men, to gallant braces
High-O! cume roll me over
Three men, to gallant braces
High-O! cume roll me over
Four men to furl t'garns'ls
High-O! cume roll me over
Four men to furl t'garns'ls
High-O! cume roll me over
Five men to bunt-a-bo
High-O! cume roll me over
Five men to bunt-a-bo
Cette chanson évoque le voyage du retour d'un navire et ce que comptent faire les marins en arrivant à destination.
Oh, don't yiz hear the old man say?
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Oh, don't yiz hear the old man say?
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
We're Homeward bound to Liverpool Town,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Where all them judies, they will come down
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
An' when we gits to the Wallasey Gates
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Sally an' Olly for their flash men do wait
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
An' one to the other ye'll hear them say,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Here comes Johnny with his fourteen mont's pay!
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
We meet these fly gals an' we'll ring the ol' bell,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
With them judies, we'll raise merry hell
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
We're homeward bound to the gals o' the town.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
And stamp up me bullies an' heave it around.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
An' when we gits home, boys, oh, won't we fly round.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
We'll heave up the anchor to this bully sound.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
We're all homeward bound for the old backyard.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Then heave, me bullies, we're all bound homeward.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
Heave with a will, boys, oh, heave long an' strong.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Sing a good chorus for 'tis a good song.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!
We're homeward bound, we'll have yiz to know.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
An' over the water to England must go!
Cette chanson passe en revue un certain nombre de membres d'équipage et de tâches à bord. Il est amusant d'y trouver la mention de "rock and roll"...
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
Come rock and roll me over.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The skipper is a rover.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The mate he's never sober.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The Bo'sun is a tailor.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll all go on a jamboree.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The Packet is a Rollin'.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll pull and haul together.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll haul for better weather.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,v
And soon we'll be in London Town.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!
Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
Come rock and roll me over.
Il s'agit ici de l'un de ces chants de travail que les marins entonnaient pour se donner du courage lors d'un effort soutenu (tirer sur l'ancre ou tourner le cabestan) ou d'une tâche monotone (actionner la pompe de cale).
I thought I heard the Old Man say:
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
Tomorrow you will get your pay,
and it's time for us to leave her.
(refrain)
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her.
Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
She shipped it green and none went by.
And it's time for us to leave her.
(refrain)
I hate to sail on this rotten tub.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
No grog allowed and rotten grub.
And it's time for us to leave her.
(refrain)
We swear by rote for want of more.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
But now we're through so we'll go on shore.
And it's time for us to leave her.
Chant rythmant l'effort des marins, qu'il s'agisse de faire tourner le cabestan, d'actionner la pompe ou de tirer sur des cordages.
I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
My love she came, dressed all in white
Lowlands away
I dreamed my love came in my sleep
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Her cheeks were wet, her eyes did weep
Lowlands away
She came to me at my bedside
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
All dressed in white, like some fair bride
Lowlands away
And bravely in her bosom fair
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Her red, red rose, my love did wear
Lowlands away
She made no sound, no word she said
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
And then I knew my love was dead
Lowlands away
Then I awoke to hear the cry
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Oh watch on deck, Oh watch, ahoy
Cette chanson très répétitive et incitant à l'effort était apparemment utilisée pour carguer et serrer les voiles.
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
We'll pay Paddy Doyle for his boots!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
We'll all drink brandy and gin!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
We'll all shave under the chin!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
We'll all throw muck at the cook!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
The dirty ol' man's on the poop!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
We'll bouse her up and be done!
To me, Way-ay-ay yah!
Cette chanson qui invite au voyage raconte le départ d'un navire et les différentes manœuvres associées.
It's time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It's our sailing time.
Get some sail upon her,
Haul away your halyards,
Haul away your halyards.
It's our sailing time.
Get her on her course now,
Haul away your foresheets,
Haul away your foresheets,
It's our sailing time.
Waves are surging under,
Haul away down Channel,
Haul away down Channel,
On the evening tide.
When your sailing's over,
Haul away for Heaven,
Haul away for Heaven,
God be by your side.
It is time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
Cette chanson invitant à l'effort, entre autres pour lever l'ancre, évoque, comme beaucoup d'autres, les jolies filles laissées à terre.
Now we are ready to sail for the Horn,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Our boots and our clothes, boys, are all in the pawn,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O!
(refrain)
Heave a pawl, O heave away!
Weigh hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board and the cable's all stored,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O!
Soon we'll be warping her out through the locks,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Where the pretty young girls all come down in their frocks,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O!
(refrain)
Come breast the bars, bullies, heave her away,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Soon we'll be rolling her down through the Bay,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O!
Cette chanson évoque le contraste entre les richesses transportées à bord des navires (diamants et or) et le sort des marins (viande douteuse au menu et fréquentes noyades).
There was a ship, she sailed to Spain,
O ho, roll and go!
There was a ship came home again.
Tommy's on the topsail yard!
And what do you think was in her hold?
O ho, roll and go!
There was diamonds, there was gold.
Tommy's on the topsail yard!
And what was in her lazarette?
O ho, roll and go!
Good split peas and bad bull meat.
Tommy's on the topsail yard!
O, many a sailorman gets drowned,
O ho, roll and go!
Many a sailorman gets drowned.
Ce chant répétitif vante les divers charmes de Sally Brown, qui ont de quoi faire rêver plus d'un marin.
Oh! Sally Brown, she's the gal for me boys
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Oh! Sally Brown she's the gal for me, boys
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!
We're bound away, 'way down south, boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
We're bound away, 'way down south, boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!
It's down to Trinidad to see Sally Brown boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Down to Trinidad to see Sally Brown boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!
She's lovely on the foreyard, an' she's lovely down below boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
She's lovely 'cause she loves me, that's all I want to know boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!
Ol' Captain Baker, how do you store yer cargo?
Roll Boys! Roll boys roll!
Some I stow for'ard, boys, an' some I stow a'ter
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!
Forty fathoms or more below boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
There's forty fathoms or more below boys,
Cette chanson raconte la mésaventure d'un marin rencontrant une belle. Lorsqu'elle se rend compte qu'elle n'a pas le sou, elle le plante là et lui, dépité, prend la mer.
As I rolled out one mornin'
Away, you roller bowler!
As I rolled out one mornin'
I met a lady fair
(refrain)
Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good mornin', ladies all
Away, you roller bowler!
Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha!
Good mornin', ladies all
The first time that I saw her
Away, you roller bowler!
The first time that I saw her,
that saucy gal of mine:
(refrain)
But when she found that I was skint
Away, you roller bowler!
But when she found that I was skint
She left me standing there
(refrain)
I squared me yards an' sailed away
Away, you roller bowler!
I squared me yards an' sailed away
An' to the ship I went
(refrain)
She winked & flipped a flipper
Away, you roller bowler!
She winked & flipped a flipper
She thought I was a mate
Cette chanson évoquant un voyage vers Cuba à bord d'un navire chargé du transport de sucre fait aussi la part belle à l'alcool et aux filles peu farouches.
Running down to Cuba with a load of sugar,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Make her run you, lime juice squeezes,
Running down to Cuba.
(refrain)
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Running down to Cuba
O, I got a sister, she's nine feet tall,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall,
Running down to Cuba.
(refrain)
The captain he will trim the sails,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Winging the water over the rails,
Running down to Cuba.
(refrain)
Give me a gal can dance Fandango,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Round as a melon and sweet as a mango,
Running down to Cuba.
(refrain)
Load this sugar and home-ward go,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Mister mate, he told me so,
Running down to Cuba.
Cette chanson évoque les désirs simples des marins : à boire, de quoi fumer, une femme, un toit, un manteau et, par-dessus tout, une chanson à boire.
The mate was drunk and he went below to take a swig at his bottle o
(refrain)
So early in the morning the sailor likes his bottle o
The bottle o, the bottle o, the sailor loves his bottle o
A bottle of rum, a bottle of gin, a bottle of Irish whiskey o
(refrain)
The baccy o, tabaccy o, the sailor loves his baccy o
(refrain)
A packet of shag, a packet of cut, a plug of hard terbaccy o
(refrain)
The lassies o, the maidens o, the sailor loves the judies o
(refrain)
A lass from the 'pool, a girl from the Tyne, a chowlah so fine and dandy o
(refrain)
A bully rough house, a bully rough house, the sailor like his rough house o
(refrain)
Tread on me coat, and all hands in, a bully good rough and tumble o
(refrain)
A sing song o, a sing song o, the sailor likes a sing song o
(refrain)
A drinking song, a song of love, a ditty of seas and
shipmates o
Spanish Ladies est un chant de marins traditionnel britannique racontant le voyage de marin anglais vers l'Espagne.
Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain,
For we've received orders for to sail for old England,
And we may never see you fair ladies again.
(refrain)
We will 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 Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.
We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'west, bo
ys
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 steer.
(refrain)
Now let every man drink off his full bumper,
And let every 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!
Ce chant d'hommage aux camarades disparus exprime plus un souhait qu'il ne reflète la réalité, puisqu'il y est question de creuser une tombe avec une pelle en argent et de lester un corps avec une chaîne en or... ce que bien peu de marins pouvaient se permettre.
Oh, poor old Stormy's dead and gone
Storm along boys! Storm along John!
Oh, poor old Stormy's dead and gone
Ah-ha, come along get along
Stormy along John!
I dug his grave with a silver spade
Storm along boys! Storm along John!
I dug his grave with a silver spade
Ah-ha, come along get along
Stormy along John!
I lower'd him down with a golden chain
Storm along boys! Storm along John!
I lower'd him down with a golden chain
Ah-ha, come along get along
Stormy along John!
I carried him away to Montego Bay
Storm along boys! Storm along John!
I carried him away to Montego Bay
Ah-ha, come along get along
Cette chanson de marin britannique remonte, semble-t-il, à la toute fin du XVIe siècle. Elle raconte l'histoire d'un équipage qui parvient à triompher d'un navire pirate, malgré le subterfuge utilisé par les flibustiers.
Look ahead, look a-stern
Look the weather in the lee!
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we.
I see a wreck to windward,
And a lofty ship to lee!
A-sailing down along
The coast of High Barbary.
"O, are you a pirate
Or a man o' war?" cried we.
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we.
"O no! I'm not a pirate
But a man-o-war," cried he.
A-sailing down along
The coast of High Barbary.
We'll back up our topsails
And heave our vessel to.
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we.
For we have got some letters
To be carried home by you.
A-sailing down along
The coast of High Barbary.
For broadside, for broadside
They fought all on the main;
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate
Shot the pirate's mast away.
A sailing down along
The coast of High Barbary.
With cutlass and gun,
O we fought for hours three;
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin
And their grave it was the sea.
A-sailing down along
Dans cette chanson, des marins à terre voient passer un pauvre homme et son cheval mourant et disent à l'homme ce que son cheval deviendra une fois mort.
A poor old man
Came riding by.
And we say so,
And we know so.
O, a poor old man
Came riding by,
O, poor old man.
Says I, "Old man,
Your horse will die."
And we say so,
And we know so.
And if he dies
we'll tan his hide.
O, poor old man.
And if he don't,
I'll ride him again.
And we say so,
And we know so.
And I'll ride him
'Til the Lord knows when,
O, poor old man.
He's dead as a nail
In the lamp room door,
And we say so,
And we know so.
And he won't come
Worrying us no more
O, poor old man.
We'll use the hair of his tail
To sew our sails
And we say so,
And we know so.
And the iron of his shoes
To make deck nails,
O, poor old man.
Drop him down
With a long long rope
And we say so,
And we hope so.
Where the sharks have his body
And the devil takes his soul!
Cette ballade fort morale raconte la mésaventure d'un homme qui conte fleurette à une femme d'Amsterdam, mais se fait corriger par le mari de la belle. La chanson se termine sur une invitation à ne pas courtiser la femme des autres.
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
And she was mistress of her trade.
I'll go no more a-roving with you fair maid!
(refrain)
A roving, a roving,
Since roving's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I asked this maid to take a walk,
Mark well what I do say!
I asked this maid out for a walk,
That we might have some private talk.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
(refrain)
Then a great big Dutchman rammed my bow,
Mark well what I do say!
For a great big Dutchman rammed my bow,
And said "Young man, dees ees meine frau!"
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
(refrain)
Then take fair warning boys from me,
Mark well what I do say!
So take fair warning boys from me
With other men's wives, don't make too free
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
Dans cette chanson, des marins font leurs adieux et annoncent qu'ils partent vers le Rio Grande et ses richesses présumées.
O say was you ever in Rio Grande?
A-weigh, you Rio!
It's there that the river brings down golden sand,
For we're bound for the Rio Grande
(refrain)
And away, boys, away.
A-weigh, you Rio!
It's fare-you-well my bonny young girls,
And we're bound for the Rio Grande
It's fare well to you all the girls of the town.
A-weigh, you Rio!
You got our half-pay for to keep you around,
And we're bound for the Rio Grande!
(refrain)
She's a deep water ship and a deep water crew.
A-weigh, you Rio!
You can keep to the coast but we're damned if we do,
And we're bound for the Rio Grande!
(refrain)
We was sick of the beach when our money was gone.
A-weigh, you Rio!
And sign in this packet to drive her along,
And we're bound for the Rio Grande!
Cette chanson de marins est assez grivoise : les marins du Malarkey rêvent d'être rejoints à bord par leurs compagnes.
Please tell me, what is this sailboat's name?
The sailboat Malarkey.
Tell me now what is this good boat's name?
It's the sailboat Malarkey.
Well now, me boys, we are bound out to sea!
In the sailboat Malarkey.
O when will Caroline come down to me?
In the sailboat Malarkey.
She's lovely aloft and she's lovely below.
Is the sailboat Malarkey.
But she's best on her back as you very well know!
That sailboat Malarkey.
Away, away in St George's Town,
In the sailboat Malarkey.
The rats come batting the houses down,
Of the sailboat Malarkey.
I'd give the world boys and all that I know.
In the sailboat Malarkey.
To turn and to roll with my Lucy-oh!
In the sailboat Malarkey.
You pick her up, boys, and lay her down, In the sailboat Malarkey. And hang on tight as she bounces around!
In the sailboat Malarkey.
Cette chanson compare les charmes des jeunes filles au vol gracieux de l'oie sauvage.
Did you ever see a wild goose
Sailing o'er the ocean?
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!
They're just like them pretty girls,
When they gets the notion.
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!
The other morning
I was walking by the river.
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!
When I saw a young girl walking
With her topsails all a-quiver.
Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!
I said, "Pretty fair maid
And how are you this morning?"
La nature des paroles laisse penser qu'il s'agit d'une chanson destinée à rythmer l'effort, en particulier à la pompe. Il y est en effet question du plus mauvais navire ayant jamais vogué et de son manque d'étanchéité.
The worst old ship that ever did sail
Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Waitin' for the day that we get our pay.
She was built in Roman times,
Held together with bits of twine.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Waitin' for the day that we get our pay.
Nothin' in the galley, nothin' in the hold,
The skipper's turned in with a bag of gold.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Waitin' for the day that we get our pay.
Off Orford Ness she sprang a leak,
Hear her poor old timbers creek.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Waitin' for the day that we get our pay.
We pumped our way round Scalby Ness,
When the wind backed round to the west-norwest.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Waitin' for the day that we get our pay.
Into the Humber and up the town,
Pump you blighters, pump or drown.
Waitin' for the day, waitin' for the day.
Dans cette chanson, un jeune marin se demande où il doit aller et d'autres lui répondent, évoquant une destination aussi lointaine que le cap Horn.
Where am I to go me Johnnies, where am I to go?
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
Ho where am I to go me Johnnies, oh where am I to go?
For I'm a young sailor boy and where am I to go?
Way up on that t'gallant yard, that's where you’re bound to go
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
Way up on that t'gallant yard, the gans'l for to stow.
For I'm a young sailor boy, and where am I to go!
Way up on that t'gallant yard and take the gans'l in
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
Way up on that t'gallant yard the rabbit for to skin.
For I'm a young sailor boy, and where am I to go!
Where am I to go me Johnnies, where am I to go.
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
You're bound away around Cape Horn, thats where you're bound to go.
For I'm a young sailor boy and where am I to go!
You're bound away around Cape Horn all through the ice an' snow
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
You're bound away me bully boys, that's where you're bound to go.
For I'm a young sailor boy, and where am I to go!
You're bound to be a sailorman, when you have served your time.
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
You're bound to be a sailorman all in the blackball line
For I'm a young sailor boy, and where am I to go!
Where am I to go me Johnnies, where am I to go?
Timme way hey hey, high roll and go,
Ho where am I to go me Johnnies, oh where am I to go?
Cette chanson de travail fait l'apologie de l'alcool fort, manifestement consommé sans modération, malgré les mésaventures qu'il peut causer : le chanteur avoue s'être fait casser le nez et avoir mis ses vêtements au clou pour s'acheter du whisky...
Whiskey is the life of man,
Whiskey, Johnny!
O, whiskey is the life of man,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
O, I drink whiskey when I can
Whiskey, Johnny!
Whiskey from an old tin can,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
Whiskey gave me a broken nose!
Whiskey, Johnny!
Whiskey made me pawn my clothes,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
Whiskey drove me around Cape Horn,
Whiskey, Johnny!
It was many a month when I was gone,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
I thought I heard the old man say:
Whiskey, Johnny!
I'll treat my crew in a decent way,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
A glass of grog for every man!
Whiskey, Johnny!
And a bottle for the Chantey Man.