New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-13
CHANTIES.
QUEER WORK. SONGS OF SAILORS.

QUEER WORK SONGS OF SAILORS.
From Black and White
CAanties are songs sung by sailors to tighten the
tedium Of their worn some are used while at the
windIass in heavlng up an anchor Others In making
sail or sweating up ropes and there also chantics
that are sung at The pumps ranging from the light
ard frivolous used when the ordinary blge water IS
s SsrT R%%P eaS E Nhe hall de the are
keep ship afoat and the other half have TO clear he
As sailor Of many years experience. NAV safely
state thai the chanty bears relationship whatever
.Yeo.' or "Hillee Haullce," and its illusions to
Polly and Nancy In fact cannot can to o. MIND MI Ene
sailors heroine in the chanty is generally certain
sally Brown. who appears in great many on mem
In one che figures hshelman's dauehler ~
another as bright mulatto and In all as Jacks
darling and the object Of his E conp 6 sTe bo %d
windass ehanty in which an ahection"te adicu Is
We're outward bound. heard hin say
To suke, and sal, and Kitty. too
Good-by, fare you we'll,
We're Outwartbound'
This song with little transposuon, does also for
hind and bid farewell to in every port Kitty Is also
immortazed In beautiful old ehanty
:" Haul on the bovine,
Kitty is my darling"
But the Polles and Nancies of the drawing room room
nautical dites are quite unknown in the saihs SHIPS
In "chantying,' one man sings the air, and is
called the chaayman. while the others , take ap tle
songs are necessarily long, to suit the time taken 10
heave up anchor hoist sail the verses nave 10
be sda sSd reS or become Somewhat dvens
ward the close. though have heard set re, oa -t
length of time. Many sarcastic illusions are made
to such current events happen on board especalv
Than usually loathsome. But these illusions are gen
eIaily tackled on after the old story has been thor
ou1Tb es Words Of these old songs often historical
Where of them have come from Is SSonfs
thew aude to: but occasionally We IND one me
SfR % C Tnn Which, tells the story of the retreat
OF Napoleon l. from Moscow though the chantyma a
spirit moved him does not appear to have been much
Of a poet.
solo: "Old Boney warrior,
Chorus To way-Ay-oh
Old Boney was warrior,
John Francois
We follow the warrior to Moscow through endless
verses and numerous vcis,itudes, until we find that
Moscow blazing
To way-ay-ch."
After which a sudden end is put to everybody as
$50 they all died Of frost and cold
John Francois
Among the many topss hauy9d eha ant IS, very very
of the difficulties of one Reuben Ranzo," who, having
was taken to the gargwAy where he was severely
& Sc ws sd a sa Gr few To o 9svs
We find him excellent skipper
"Now Ranzo is our old man Captain
RanzO-bOyS-hanzO."
This lyric goes on TO say that Ranzo was captain
who supplied his men with generous amount OF
grog, whiGl probably accounts for his popularity
and the lines audlng 10 this trait In his character
are sung In very pointed manner when the captain
IS near, on ship where no grog or very nttie Is
historical songs refer 10 America, some OF them, no
doubt. dating before the War Of Independence
fell desperately in love with the daughter OF Shan
nador," whoever he may have been.
"Oh, shannador love your daughter.
HOOrOar, Rolling T1Vcfi
Oh, siapnador l love your daughter.
For the bright Missouri
1t goes on with the ordinary story Of how Jack tried
eDT 1 long M the s sn Of nf that me h at s h
had forsaken him for soldier very common chnnty
some American light nero. follows:
on 1is santi-A ma, gained gained the day
oh! >aCt-Annas gained the day,
All on the plain, Of Mexico"
Many, refer to sandy Hook and New York, and more
sailors Ratcife Highway is by no means forgotten
in the songs they Sing when very far away from 1t.
as JACK was a-walking down Radcliffe Highway,
A fair pretty maiden he CHANGED to espy;
Wv' he hosted his opsa and for her gave chase
To me low dow derry way"
After relating the sailors adventures with this damsel,
me- tion In the politeS m, II refined society, the
song goes on TO point It's moral
"Now all you young sailors take warning by me,
And all you young maidens take warning pray,
Don't rattle your rigging down Ratclife Highway.
To me low dow derry way"
SupelsutIons are not by any forgotten IN
these sea-SOngS. One alludes with great di>tincness
TO the bad effects o, setting sail a Friday, and
that In bad weather Is used when furling 4 tOresau
mains4 the bunt" IS being rolled, tells
strange tale. IL runs
"Away-ay- ay-ay-Oh!
Well pay Paddy Doyle for his boots"
II is supposed originate the ide: that man once
sailed without paying his bootinaker. Hence this
token OF pentence and promise Of amendment which
j. sung 10 prOpiuae the fury Of the storm King
fend who. In answer 10 the curses Of Paddy Doyle
che disappointed shoemaker, Is imagined 10 be pur
suing the Ship. Fsnciful and really poeical ideas
not wanting In these relics Of the remote nautical
ages. While making sail after gale the following
IS sung:
cold Storm-along IS dead and gone;
Ay-ay- ay-is the seimen's cry;
which has for refrain in second and third verses,
"we'l dig his grave with golden spade;n
"WeI lower him down with a silver chain;n
with the planiive chorus,
"Ay-ay-ay-is the seamcns cry;'
between the lines.
have only gwen a few specimens OF the most popa-
lar ctanties Nearly all the tunes must date back
very long way. The music IS generally sweet and
painuve. though often rather weird and savage and
with a decided GregOrian tendency. Long may these
quent songs b. preserved, they do much TO tighten
the heart Of Jack at his hard toll Or he himself
expresses 1t. TO grease the ropes"