Songs About Boats

https://youtu.be/GXFSK0ogeg4

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWBAwDh7MGY

 

Lots of naval and army action with music and a great message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj4ibGEYRS4

 

Original words to a traditional tune, it would seem. Not on Youtube yet. I heard it on the radio.



Bushes & Briars
Traditional, arr. Susan McKeown

In London so fair a lady she lived there
A lady of great beauty and great might
And unto this lady fair I became a servant there
And in me she took great delight

This lady had a son of mirth and beauty born
And he became a sailor on the sea
And he courted a fair maid 'til he had her heart betrayed
And then he was bound for the sea

It happened one day in the cabin where he lay
And the tears from her eyes they did flow
Saying "Young man you're going away so far from me to stray
And to leave me on the shore for to mourn"

"Ah no, no" says he "such things can never be
For as long as I'm a sailor on the sea
The ship that I command may she never reach the land
The day that I'd be false love onto thee"

She cut off her yellow hair that hung down her back so fair
For fear that anybody would know
And in a sailor's dress that very night she went
And straight to the captain she did go

She being neat and slim complete in every limb
And the clothes fitted tightly to her knee
As the crew did on her gaze the captain to her says
"Young man were you ever on the sea?"

"Ah no, no" says she "I was never on the sea
But fit me as a young sailor bold
For I now do choose to go where the stormy winds do blow
To purchase some silver and some gold"

It happened one day in the cabin where he lay
And the tears from his eyes they did flow
Saying "You're like a lover of mine I think of many's the time
I left on the shore long ago"

"Ah no, no" says she "such things can never be
For as long as I'm a sailor on the sea
The ship that I command may she never reach the land
The day that I'd be false love onto thee"

His own words he knew he spoke beneath the crew
And into her arms he flew like a dove
Saying "Do not shed a tear you followed me my dear
And it's married it's married we will be"

They sent for a clerk they sent for a mate
They sent for a clergyman likewise
And this couple they were wed and together they to bed
And now they're living happy on the sea

 

Phil, your source has mixed up some titles, the title of the above lyrics is In London So Fair ^Lyrics, the above given title Bushes & Briars ^Lyrics is also available on YouTube in many beautiful versions . .

 

I found this on "A Clockwork Orange": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKtEWB0WmDE

 

JJC and EC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2FNkWzeE_M

 

I only discovered Bill Callahan / Smog recently and can't believe I didn't know about him before.
Here's 'In the Pines.'
In truth, the boatiness of the actual song is preetty tenous, but the video makes up for that:

 

Ngalawa



Ngalawa Outriggers Regatta in Kenya



South Coast Regatta 2014

P.S. - - Below not a song, but Ngalawa info supported by some drum music with a nice rhythm and timbre . . .



Ngalawa Sailing at Bomani Beach, Tanzania

 

Reg Kear RIP 18 November 2015

SEA SHANTY


There was Port and there was Starboard,
But they used to call Port: Larboard.
And the two dogs on the fo'csle held the chain.
Then there's For'd and there's Aft
Which is (from A'beam,) A'baft,
And the Mizzen never stands A'fore the Main.

There were Farmers (without pigs,)
A-rabs, Lascars, Schooner Rigs,
Lots of (right hand,) feeding after Ramadan.
There was Panama and Mokes,
And a mob of red eyed blokes
From the 12 to 4 Watch, eyeing the Blackpan.

You could Heave To, Broach, Careen,
Two of fat and one of lean
Hungry Harrisons' (from out of Liverpool.)
Or 'buff with black on top'
Where the Bosun's name was Bop,
And both his thumbs were Fids, (a splicing tool.)

You could 'Stand By' or 'Turn To'
Take the Trick from twelve til two'
Rig a Jumbo or just Holystone the Deck;
Chippin'ammer 'cross the Atlantic,
Whitelead'n'tallow the Triatic,
Watch the Stemhead break the ice up near Quebec.

There were Tabnabs, there was Scouse,
Scuppers, Bulwarks, a Wheelhouse,
And drums were lashed A'baft the Lazerette.
You could 'Skin Out' of a Tanker,
Paint the Truck a'top the Spanker,
Soogie Funnels, hung on Gantlines, Fleet by Fleet.

You could 'Sign On' and 'Pay Off',
Turn your head away and cough;
Get the 'Channels' when the orders were Lands End.
Shackle to a Samson Post,
Blame the Liverpool Man's Ghost,
Or there's always an Allotment you could send.

There were Ratlines and Crosstrees,
No Blue Jeans, just Dungarees;
Fifteen hundred 'Girls' for hire down in Recife.
There were 'Plummers' down the 'Mouth',
One of Ropner's heading south,
Where the mail would go ashore at Tenerife.
There were Shifting Boards and Dunnage

And you knew the average tonnage
Of a Port Boat, steaming by at Fifteen Knots.
The Welsh Donkeyman from Hants
And the slack in Trimmer's pants,
And the 4 to 8 Watch, stinking in their cots.

Shonky Bum Boats at Port Said,
Gun'ls, Gimbals and Redlead;
Roaring Forties, Round the Horn and Abadan.
There were Palm and Needle Whippings,
Lots of Mother Carey's chickens,
And a Fine Bone China Tea Set, from Japan.

There were Doxfords and Twin Screws,
And the strangest looking stews
Came from Galleys' where the cook was often called
Names that questioned if his Dad
Had been married, or just mad,
Or just needed all his tackle overhauled.

The Red Duster, Carrick Bend,
Take a turn on the Drum End;
Starboard Helm, now, Steady As She Goes.
Port Side Bitts, Pacific Swells,
1 to 6 HEAVE, Seven Bells;
Get that Stopper on, LOOK LIVELY ON YOUR TOES.

Stockholm Tar and Cleaning Tanks,
Liberty Ships and Dogger banks,
Shifting Ship round to the Royal Edward Dock.
Monkey's Fist, Splice with the Lay,
First and Last, Logged two day's pay,
Last Pierhead Jump before She's through the Lock.

Hatchboards, Coamings, Bosun's Chair,
Bowsed right in under the Flare,
New Year's 16 Bells (in Denmark's Esbjerg Sound.)
Mouse that Hook and Masthead Light,
Malacca Straits, Australian Bight,
Sixteen Indian Rupees to the Pound.

Oakum, Sextant, Fo'csle Head;
Maracaibo, Swing the Lead;
Drop the Pilot, Single Up and Spit a'lee.
Capstan Full Strength, On the Rake,
Sounds that sailors used to make;
Merchant Seamen's sounds that floated on the sea.

All these strange sounds; now they're gone;
Merchant Seamen lost their song;
The Iron Ships rust; the Wooden Men quietly gaze,
Reminiscing in their beer,
"Remember: Elson...Hopton...Kear...??"
"I wonder what they're doing, now-a-days."


Reg Kear © 1992. Australia

 

Down to the waterline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1TlJGLzqs

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuRwpcJR6M

 

The Broach Boat by Ivor Cutler

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZfYtCLA23s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNS8ITe2DHk