Blow the Man Down

A widely-known halyard shanty with several references dating at least to the 1860s. Countless versions of the song exist with seemingly endless variations in lyrics and verses, some overlapping significantly with other songs, such as Fish in the Sea.

The Longest Johns' version appears as track 12 on Between Wind and Water.

## Factoids

The **Black Ball** Line was trans-Atlantic shipping line running between Liverpool and New York City. Originally founded in 1817 as the Wright, Thompson, Marshall, & Thompson Line, the company was known for being the first to provide regularly scheduled service, rather than varying departures based on the dictates of winds and cargo availability.

**Kicking Jack Williams** refers to Capt. John E. Williams, a noted officer on the Black Ball Line with a reputation as a demanding taskmaster. As captain of the clipper *Andrew Jackson* in 1859-60, he gained fame for a record-setting trip between New York and San Francisco, making the trip in 89 days and 4 hours.

The tune is the basis for the *Spongebob Squarepants* theme song, and the Johns have occasionally referenced this fact in performances of the song by including the verse:

>
> Who lives in a pineapple under the sea
>
> (Wey hey, blow the man down)
>
> Absorbant and yellow and porous is he
>
> (Give me some time to blow the man down)
>
>
>
>
>

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album Between Wind and Water. Too many variations of this song exist to even guess at an original version of the lyrics.

>
> Come all ye young fellows who follow the sea
>
> (To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
>
> And pray pay attention and listen to me
>
> (Give me some time to blow the man down) [continues throughout verses]
>
>
>
> I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
>
> If you buy me a drink, then I'll sing you a song
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
>
> Wey hey, blow the man down
>
> Blow him right back into Liverpool town
>
> Give me some time to blow the man down
>
>
>
> There's tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all
>
> They all ship for sailors on board the Black Ball
>
>
>
> You'll see those poor devils, how they will all scoot
>
> Assisted along by the toe of a boot
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> It's starboard and larboard on deck they will sprawl
>
> For kickin' Jack Williams commands the Black Ball
>
>
>
> Lay aft now, ya lubbers, lay aft now I say
>
> I'll none of yer dodges on my ship today
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> So I'll give you fair warning before we belay
>
> Don't ever take heed of what shantymen say
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Bandcamp
* Deezer
* Pandora
* Spotify

#### Youtube Videos

* Between Wind and Water version
* Blow The Man Down (Bottle Cover)
* Musical Trolls | Open Crewsing in Sea of Thieves
* Home Stage: Tuesday Folk People

#### Gig Videos

* XXXIX Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki Żeglarskiej (22 Feb 2020)
* Kraków, Poland (26 Feb 2023)

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns, Album Launch gig/party (19 Jun 2018)
* The Longest Johns Singing Stream from Newcastle (+special guests) (8 Dec 2018)
* We Built This Stream(y) on Shant and Folk | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (11 Nov 2020)
* Stream America | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (15 Mar 2022)

#### Gaming Streams

* Ocean of Larcenists! - Sailing & Singing with Jd, Andy & Dave (21 Feb 2019)
* Party Boat with Krotukk! - 01/02/2020 Full Stream VOD
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity : Full VOD Part 1 (24 Jun 2020)
* GHOST SHIP! And some singing I guess... - 19/06/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! With Dave, JD and @Krotukk - 05/03/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Give it away, give it away, give it away now! | Sea of Sings - 15/03/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings with Kharites\_! Let's help her celebrate reaching 7k followers! - 19/03/2021
* Singing and Sailing with BehavingBeardly and KroTukk - 21/03/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Singing and Sailing in Sea of Thieves! With @RobRaven - 29/03/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Shanties?!?! On the sea?!?! Why yes it is... With Krotukk and Kharites\_ - 02/04/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Giveaway Giveaways on the Waves! - 12/04/2021 Stream Full VOD
* It's Monday, Monday, Singing and Sailing on Monday! - 26/04/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Lets hope the internet is fixed... - 19/07/2021 Stream Full VOD

1. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/roudnumber/2624
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black\_Ball\_Line\_(trans-Atlantic\_packet)
3. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Doe017.html