Music Of The Waters - online book

Sailors' Chanties, Songs Of The Sea, Boatmen's, Fishermen's,
Rowing Songs, & Water Legends with lyrics & sheet music

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	Music of the Waters.                   31 have found these same discrepancies over and over again, and many times have almost given up the idea of the col­lection, in consequence. It is the same amongst all nations of sailors. The writer of the letter just referred to, sent me some of the chanties he had taken down in secret in his cabin, and the versions both of music and words are different to mine. For instance, " Whisky Johnny " he gives as " Whisky " (hauling chanty), and though the sentiment is the same he gives it in quite other words :— Solo.—O ! Whisky is the life of man, Chorus.—Whisky, Johnny ! I drink whisky when I can, Chorus.—O ! Whisky for my Johnny. Solo.—I drink it out of an old tin can, Whisky killed my poor old dad, Whisky drove my mother mad, Whisky caused me much abuse, Whisky put me in the Calabouse, Whisky fills a man with care, Whisky makes a man a bear. The tune is also different, so I give that to which these words were sung. A query is appended to " Whisky," as to whether it be an anacreontic or a teetotal hymn ? The sentiment is mixed, and it might serve for both.
	He gives the same melody as I have done for a Blow the Man Down," but different lines. i. " Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down ; Blow the man down, bullies, pull him around.