Sea Shanties
A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_shanty
Canti marinareschi: tipici canti di lavoro in lingua inglese dei marinai delle navi mercantili. Per saperne di più:
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canto_marinaresco
About Johnny Collins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Collins
Leave Her Johnny
Johnny Collins
This was, traditionally, the last chantey the crew would sing before disem-barking. It was used when warping (pulling) the ship into the pier, or when pumping the bilges for the last time. Although it at first sounds like the crew is sentimental about leaving the ship, the lyrics describe the horrible conditions that they suffered through during the voyage. Since it was the 1ast song of the journey, the sailors took the opportunity to vent their feelings about how they were treated without fear of reprisal.
“Leave her Johnny” è una capstan shanty o più propriamente una pumping shanty per il lavoro alle pompe. Una canzone marinarescatradizionalmente cantata al termine del viaggio, quando i marinai si preparavano a sbarcare, ma prima azionavano le pompe per esaurire l’acqua in sentina. (da Terre celtiche)
Oh, the times were hard and the wages low,
leave her, Johnny, leave her.
And now ashore we must go,
and it’s time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! 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
Well there’s no more voyages around cape horn,
Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Where you know the weather’s never warm,
and it’s time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! 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
We ate rotten meat and weevely bread,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
And it was pump or drown the old man said,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! 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
I thought I heard the first mate say,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Tomorrow you will get your pay,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! 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
Now the rats have gone and we the crew,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Why now ashore we’ll go, too,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! 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
Johnny Collins
traduzione italiana di Cattia Salto
Se non sbaglio il capitano ha detto
lasciala, Johnny, lasciala
‘Domani ritirerai la paga’.
ed è il momento per noi di lasciarla.
CORO
lasciala, Johnny, lasciala
lasciala, Johnny, lasciala
che il viaggio è finito
e il vento non soffia
ed è il momento per noi di lasciarla.
Il vento impazzava e il mare si sollevava in alto,
lei fendeva il verde e mai affondava.
Detesto navigare su questa bagnarola marcia,
niente grog e la sbobba marcia, giuriamo e ripetiamo che vogliamo di più
ora abbiamo finito così andremo a riva
Billy O’Shea
Johnny Collins
We all got drunk in Dublin city
Fall down me Billy
We all got drunk, sure more's the pity
Fall down Billy O'Shea
Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We're bound away for Americay
Fall down Billy O'Shea
We all lay down on Sir Rogerson's Quay
Fall down me Billy
And when we woke we were out to sea
Fall down Billy O'Shea
Oh! we are no sailors captain Drew
Fall down me Billy
And quite unwilling to sail with you
Fall down Billy O'Shea
Says the captain, "I've a cure for that"
Fall down me Billy
"And here for a start is a dose of the cat"
Fall down Billy O'Shea
So we sent him up to the top-mast yard
Fall down me Billy
And when he hit the deck, oh! he took it hard
Fall down Billy O'Shea
So we wrapped him in the Captain's sail
Fall down me Billy
And lowered him gently o'er the rail
Fall down Billy O'Shea
Over the side and down he goes
To Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose
Other version:
And we all got drunk in Dublin City
Fall down me Billy
We all got drunk and the more's the pity
And it's fall down Billy O'Shea
We lay ourselves down on Rogerson's Quay
Fall down me Billy
When we woke up we were out to sea
And it's fall down Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
We are no sailors Captain dear
Fall down, me Billy
And a bit unhappy to reef or to steer
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
The Captain said, "I've a cure for that"
Fall down, me Billy
"And here for a start is a dose of the cat."
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
He sent him up to the topmast yard
Fall down, me Billy
When he hit the deck he took it hard
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
We wrapped him up in a canvas sail
Fall down, me Billy
And we lowered him gently over the rail
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And over the side and down he goes
Fall down, me Billy
He's gone to Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
And it's fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away to Americay
And it's fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Fall down, me Billy
Fall down, Billy O'Shea
Rollin' Down to Old Maui
Johnny Collins
Niito Koi
It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo
And we don't give a damn when the gale is done
How hard the winds do blow
We're homeward bound from the Arctic Sound
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
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
Once more we sail with a Northerly gale
Through the ice, and wind, and rain
Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands
We soon shall see again
Six hellish months we passed away
On the cold Kamchatka sea
But now we're bound from the Arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
Rolling down...
Once more we sail the Northerly gale
Towards our Island home
Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done
And we ain't got far to roam
Our stans'l booms is carried away
What care we for that sound
A living gale after us
Thank God we're homeward bound
Rolling down...
How soft the breeze through the island trees
Now the ice is far astern
Them native maids, them tropical glades
Is awaiting our return
Even now their big, brown eyes look out
Hoping some fine to see
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales
Rolling down to Old Maui
Rolling down...
We'll heave the lead where old Diamond Head
Looms up on old Wahu
Our masts and yards are sheathed with ice
And our desks are hid from view
The horrid ice of the sea-caked isles
That deck the Arctic sea
Are miles behind in the frozen wind
Since we steered for Old Maui
Rolling down...
And now we're anchoured in the bay
With the Kanakas all around
With chants and soft aloha-oos
They greet us homeward bound
And now ashore we'll have good fun
We'll paint them beaches red
Awakening in the arms of an island maid
With a big fat aching head
Rolling down...
A-Roving
(The Maid of Amsterdam)
"A-Roving” also known as "The Maid of Amsterdam", is a very old traditional sea shanty.
The lyrics have many variations.
Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maid_of_Amsterdam
Paul Clayton
Sea Heritage
from Moby Dick (1956)
Robert Shaw Chorale (Men)
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say,
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Who was always pinching sailors' pay.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
A-roving, a-roving, since roving's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I took this maiden for a walk,
Mark well what I do say,
I took this maiden for a walk,
She wanted some gin and then to talk.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
Mark well what I do say,
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
When I got aboard, my money I missed.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
Plymouth Town
In Plymouth town there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say,
In Plymouth town there lived a maid,
And she was a mistress of the trade.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
A-roving, a-roving, since roving's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I took this maid out for a walk,
Mark well what I do say,
I took this maid out for a walk,
And we did have some loving talk.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I touched this maid upon her arm,
Mark well what I do say,
I touched this maid upon her arm,
She said, “Kind sir, don't me no harm!”
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I touched this maid upon her knee,
Mark well what I do say,
I touched this maid upon her knee,
She said, “Kind sir, you're awful free!”
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I touched this maid upon her thigh,
Mark well what I do say,
I touched this maid upon her thigh,
She said, “You're awful high!”
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I touched this maid upon her arse,
Mark well what I do say,
I touched this maid upon her arse,
She said, “Dear sir, you're awful fast!”
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
I touched upon her maidenhead,
Mark well what I do say,
I touched upon her maidenhead,
“That'll cost you three and six,” she said.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
Harry Belafonte version
A roving, a roving since roving's been my ruin
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
In Amsterdam there lives a maid
In Amsterdam there lives a maid
And she was mistress of her trade
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
A roving a roving since roving's been my ruin
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
Her eyes are like two stars so bright
Mark, well, what I do say
Her eyes are like two stars so bright
Her face is soft, her step is light
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
Her cheeks are like the rosebud's red
Mark, well, what I do say
Her cheeks are like the rosebud's red
There's a wealth of hair upon her head
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
A roving, roving, roving, roving, roving's been my ruin
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
A roving, a roving since roving's been my ruin
I'll go no more a roving from you, fair maid
