Randy Dandy-O

A traditional capstan or pump shanty with somewhat murky origins. Shore songs are well-referenced from as early as the 1810s using the phrase "randy dandy o" as a refrain, and an unknown tune by the name of "Hey Randy Dandy" was in use at least by 1810, but it is unclear whether the shanty came earlier or was a later derivation. The earliest known evidence of the modern shanty version comes from Capt. John Robinson's *Songs of the Chantey Man*, published in 1917, which places it in the mid-to-late 19th century,. The popular version of the song sung today by The Longest Johns (and others) was first recorded by The Young Tradition on their 1967 album *Chicken on a Raft*.

This song is one of the Longest Johns' most common performances, with several video and livestream appearances, and it appears as the eighth track on the album Written in Salt.

### Factoids

Stan Hugill claims that "rollicking" (sometimes also rendered "galloping") is a stand-in word, likely taking the place of bollocking, vulgar slang meaning a "dressing down" or a "telling off". The original lyrics are suggested to have been an unsubtle mockery of ships officers, with randy-dandy referring to "dandies" (see also 'fops'), as naval officers were often required to maintain uniform dress at sea. Effectively, every verse and the chorus ends in a (sometimes not so) subtle mockery of the authority of the ship's officers. However, both "rollicking" and "galloping" are attested in printed variants from the 1810s and 20s, so it is possible that all of these were in free variation from the earliest versions of the song.

**The Horn** - Cape Horn

**Pawl** - The hinged bars attached to the capstan which the sailors would push to turn it, and which prevented it from turning backward.

**Parish-rigged** - Slang meaning poorly equipped. A ship that was said to be parish-rigged usually had a miserly captain; a sailor who was parish-rigged usually ended up onboard with nothing but the clothes on his back.

**Warping** - Nautical term for moving a ship along by hauling on a rope.

**Vallipo Bay** - Valparaíso, Chile. A common stop for ships that voyaged around Cape Horn.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the versions performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams, though they don't always sing the same verses, nor in the same order, making it impossible to identify a "definitive" version.

>
> Now we are ready to head for the Horn
>
> (Way hey, roll and go!)
>
> Our boots and our clothes, boys, are all in the pawn
>
> (To me, rollicking randy dandy-o!)[continues throughout]
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Heave a pawl, and heave away!
>
> Way hey, roll and go!
>
> The anchor's on board and the cables all stored
>
> To me rollicking randy dandy-o!
>
>
>
> Man the stout capstan and heave with a will!
>
> Soon we'll be driving her 'way down the hill!
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Heave away bullies, ye parish-rigged bums!
>
> Take yer hands out yer pockets and don't suck yer thumbs
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Come breast the bar bullies, heave 'er away!
>
> Soon we'll be rolling away down the bay
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Soon we'll be warping her out through the locks
>
> where the pretty young girls all come down in flocks
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> We're outward bound for Vallipo Bay
>
> Get crackin' me lads, 'tis a hell of a way
>
>
>
> {Chorus 2x}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music (Written in Salt version)
* Amazon Music (Commodore 1864 version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Written in Salt version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Commodore 1864 version)
* Bandcamp (Written in Salt version
* Deezer (Written in Salt version)
* Deezer (Commodore 1864 version)
* Pandora (Written in Salt version)
* Pandora (Commodore 1864 version)
* Spotify (Written in Salt version)
* Spotify (Commodore 1864 version)

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* Written in Salt version
* Commodore 1864 version
* What happens when shanty singers play Sea of Thieves
* Updated music video
* All Shanties from AC4 Black Flag Supercut / Playlist
* Collab with The Dreadnoughts

#### Gig Videos

* Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival, 2015
* Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival, 2018
* Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival, 2019
* Shrewsbury Folk Festival (27 Aug 2021)
* Whelan's - Dublin (3 Dec 2021)
* The Studio at the Factory - Dallas, TX (23 Nov 2022)
* Jimmy’s, Liverpool (9 Dec 2022)
* Cursus Festival 2023 (with The Dreadnoughts)

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns, Album Launch gig/party (19 Jun 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
* The Longest Johns Singing Stream from Newcastle (+special guests) (8 Dec 2018)
* Surviving the first month of 2019 with The Longest Johns!!! (New donation system) (30 Jan 2019)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
* Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement... (7 Aug 2019)
* The Longest Johns Streamtember 4 Sep 2019)
* Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Oct 2019)
* 100k Subscriber Thank You Stream | Full Band Live Stream!! (19 Aug 2020)
* Carry On My Wayward Stream | Full Band Live Stream!! (16 Sep 2020)
* Boulevard of Broken Streams | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (17 Feb 2021)
* All Aboard the Stream Locomotive | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (2 Jun 2021)
* Nice Stream Sundae (Wednesday) | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (1 Sept 2021)
* THE SING ALONG! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 6! w/ The Longest Johns (9 Dec 2021)
* Cadbury Stream Egg | The Longest Johns Band Singing Stream (13 Apr 2022)

#### Chill Streams

* The Longest Johns - Andy and JD sing some folk songs and shanties! (2 Jun 2018)
* Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020 Stream Full VOD
* It's music stream time, everybody loves music stream time... - 11/05/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Welcome to Chillville. Drive safe! Playing mostly folk music... - 15/05/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Look out i'm doing a music! - 22/05/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Friday morning super folk music time with Andy! - 19/06/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Look out! It's a music! Playing mostly folk... - 21/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Shut the front door! It's a music! - 18/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Just one tired man and a banjo... - 17/01/2021 Stream Full VOD

#### Gaming Streams

* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018)
* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018) (Yes, they did it twice on this stream)
* Adventures on the Sea of Thieves with Andy and JD (29 Aug 2018)
* Anyone for a Shanty? | Sea of Thieves Singing Live Stream!! (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Ocean of Larcenists! - Sailing & Singing with Jd, Andy & Dave (21 Feb 2019)
* Party Boat with Krotukk! - 01/02/2020 Full Stream VOD
* Sail and Sing! Sea of Thieves Stream - 18/05/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sail and Sing! Sea of Thieves Stream - 18/05/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity : Full VOD Part 1 (24 Jun 2020)
* 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 on a Monday afternoon, oh what a splendid sight to see - 29/06/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings on a Friday evening, oh what a salty sight to sea - 03/07/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings: Sing harder! - 06/07/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings: Sing harder! - 06/07/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Let's ride the waves like majestic manatees! - 17/07/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Let's get boaty! - 20/07/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 10/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Hoist Up The Thing! - 14/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* I like big boats and I cannot lie - 17/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! - 21/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! - 21/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings, Arena edition! w/ KHARITES\_ & xSHUMBAx - 24/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* It's Sea of Sings! Featuring Krotukk! Huzzah! - 28/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Tunes and Topgallant Sails - 31/08/2020 Stream Full VOD
* 4 Sloops 4 Furious - 04/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Super Monday Afternoon Singing Time On The Sea! - 07/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* \*bangs table\* boat boat dogs vaults sing boat! - 11/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 14/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sing! Sail! Support friends! - 18/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings? Sea of chaos! - 25/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Yarr harr fiddley dee and all that. Sea of Sings! - 28/09/2020 Stream Full VOD
* SHANT! - 02/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Singing you say? On the sea you say? Sea of Sings! - 12/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Yarr and all that... - 16/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sailing, Wailing and Failing with Captain Falcore! - 19/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Let's Shant! With Kharites & TeachCourage! - 23/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! 3 2 1 SHANT! - 26/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* DROPS! Sea of Sings! with BehavingBeardly! SHANT! - 30/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! with AsylumGC8! SHANT! - 31/10/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! with Spammals! SHANT! - 1/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! with Captain\_Falcore! SHANT! - 2/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! with KroTukk! SHANT! - 3/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Welcome to the Shantydome! - 6/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! - 13/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Full Friendship followed by Battle Royale! - 23/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Adventure with BehavingBeardly - 27/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Joviality with KroTukk and KHARITES\_ - 28/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Hijinks with Freyline - 29/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Good Tidings - 30/11/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 7/12/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Let's do a sing and get in the sea !drops - 11/12/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Let's do pirate stuff - 12/12/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Music and boats and stuff - 13/12/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Jingle Drops Jingle Drops - 15/12/2020 Stream Full VOD
* Get in the sea! it's Sea of Sings! | - 6/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Let's get piratical! Sea of sings! - 8/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings in the morning! - 11/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Pirate malarkey afoot! - 15/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Virtual Pirate Concert with Krotukk - 16/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Boo! Surprise Sea of Sings! - 21/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* It's yarr time! Sea of Sings! Set sails to 100% - 22/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Seasons or something! - 29/01/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Yarr? - 01/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Let's get splashy! - 06/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings with Teachcourage and TheSneakyBeagle - 09/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Let's get splashy! - 12/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings! Boats and stuff! - 15/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings - It's boat time - 22/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* It's Friday Funtimes! Let's get in the sea! - 26/02/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Giveaway giveaways - Let's get in the sea - 01/03/2021 Stream Full VOD
* It's time to get in the sea and do a music! - 30/04/2021 Stream Full VOD
* How many pirates does it take to change THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT?!? - 07/05/2021 Stream Full
* Four men and a baby. (The baby is our ship) - 10/05/2021 Stream Full VOD
* A Stream! Ho! Stream away, we'll Sea of Thieves together, with Kharites - 04/06/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sea of Sings LIVE | The Longest Johns Sea of Thieves Stream
* Something something pirate pun - 26/07/2021 Stream Full VOD
* \*\*Insert Stream Title Here\*\* - Sea of Sings with SneakyBeagle - 30/08/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Sailing with friends and singing shanties? I'd ship that! with Krotukk - 15/10/2021 Stream Full VOD
* SING OF THIEVES! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 14! - THE LONGEST JOHNS (17 Dec 2021)
* Bananas! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew... - 25/10/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Say "A shoddily shod ship" 3 times fast... - 29/10/2021 Stream Full VOD
* Bo.........@? - 15/11/2021 Stream Full VOD

1. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=147952
2. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Hugi167.html
3. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=147952#3431818
4. ↑ "pawl, n.1." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/139140. Accessed 14 December 2022.
5. ↑ "parish, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/137918. Accessed 14 December 2022.
6. ↑ "warp, v." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/225819. Accessed 14 December 2022.