das Matrosenleben

Doch nicht nur eine eigene Sprache sondern auch eine eigene Musikgattung haben die Matrosen von damals entstehen lassen: Shanties. Das sind Seemannslieder, die ohne oder nur mit sehr wenigen Instrumenten (weil selten vorhanden) gesungen wurden. Meistens hatten die Lieder auch einen bestimmten Takt, der sich an der Tätigkeit orientierte, die zu dem Shanty ausgeführt wurde, sei es dass kontinuierlich am Spill oder ruckweise am Fall geholt wurde. Deswegen sind Shanty viel mehr auf den Rhythmus orientiert und weniger auf den melodischen Teil eines Liedes.

Die originalen Shanties sind meistens auf englisch und handeln von allem, was Seemänner so bewegt oder was sie erlebt haben. Viele haben ihre spezielle Melodie oder Rhythmus, den ich natürlich hier nicht aufzeigen kann, doch ein Link führt zu einer Audioversion. Und hier könnt ihr euch die Shanties in einem Dokument zusammen gefasst runter laden, wenn ihr sie selber zum Besten geben wollt.

[Link zu Youtube]

When first I landed in Liverpool

I went upon the spree

While money lasts, I spent it fast

Got drunk as drunk could be

And when me money was all gone

On liquors and the whores,

I made up me mind that I was inclined

To go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more,no more

To go to sea no more

I made up me mind that I was inclined

To go to sea no more

As I was walking down the street

I met with Angeline

She said: ”come home with me, my lad

And we’ll have a cracking time”

But when I awoke it was no joke

I found I was all alone,

My silver watch and my money to

And my whole bloody gear was gone

Chorus:

Was gone, was gone

My whole bloody gear was gone

It was when I awoke it was no joke

For my whole bloody gear was gone

As I was walking down the street

I met Big Rapper Brown

I asked him if he would take me in

And he looked at me with a frown,

He said: “last time you was paid off with me

You chalked up no score

But I’ll take your advance

And I’ll give youse a chance

To go to sea once more

Chorus:

Once more,once more

To go to sea once more

I’ll take your advance

And I’ll give youse a chance

To go to sea once more

He sent me aboard of a whaling ship

bound for the arctic seas

where cold winds blow

and there’s frost and snow

and jamaica rum would freeze

but worst of all; I’d no hardweather gear

for I’d lost all my dunnage ashore

it was the that I wished that I was dead

and go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more,no more

To go to sea no more

It was then that

I wished that I was dead

And go to sea no more

Sometimes we’re catching whales me lads,

but mostly we get none

with a twenty foot oar in every paw

from five o’clock in th mor’n

and when daylights gone

and the noghts coming on

we rest upon our oars

and o’boys you wish that you was dead

or snug with the girls ashore

Chorus: Ashore, ashore

Or snug with the girls ashore

O’boys you wish that you was dead

Or snug with the girls ashore

Come all you sea-faring lads

that listen to me song

when you go a-big boating,

boysmake sure you do not go wrong

You take my tip when you come off a trip

Don’t go with any whores

But get married instead,

and have all night in bed

And go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more, no more

To go to sea no more

Get married instead

and have all night in bed

And go to sea no more

[Link zu Youtube]

When first I landed in Liverpool

I went upon the spree

While money lasts, I spent it fast

Got drunk as drunk could be

And when me money was all gone

On liquors and the whores,

I made up me mind that I was inclined

To go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more,no more

To go to sea no more

I made up me mind that I was inclined

To go to sea no more

As I was walking down the street

I met with Angeline

She said: ”come home with me, my lad

And we’ll have a cracking time”

But when I awoke it was no joke

I found I was all alone,

My silver watch and my money to

And my whole bloody gear was gone

Chorus:

Was gone, was gone

My whole bloody gear was gone

It was when I awoke it was no joke

For my whole bloody gear was gone

As I was walking down the street

I met Big Rapper Brown

I asked him if he would take me in

And he looked at me with a frown,

He said: “last time you was paid off with me

You chalked up no score

But I’ll take your advance

And I’ll give youse a chance

To go to sea once more

Chorus:

Once more,once more

To go to sea once more

I’ll take your advance

And I’ll give youse a chance

To go to sea once more

He sent me aboard of a whaling ship

bound for the arctic seas

where cold winds blow

and there’s frost and snow

and jamaica rum would freeze

but worst of all; I’d no hardweather gear

for I’d lost all my dunnage ashore

it was the that I wished that I was dead

and go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more,no more

To go to sea no more

It was then that

I wished that I was dead

And go to sea no more

Sometimes we’re catching whales me lads,

but mostly we get none

with a twenty foot oar in every paw

from five o’clock in th mor’n

and when daylights gone

and the noghts coming on

we rest upon our oars

and o’boys you wish that you was dead

or snug with the girls ashore

Chorus: Ashore, ashore

Or snug with the girls ashore

O’boys you wish that you was dead

Or snug with the girls ashore

Come all you sea-faring lads

that listen to me song

when you go a-big boating,

boysmake sure you do not go wrong

You take my tip when you come off a trip

Don’t go with any whores

But get married instead,

and have all night in bed

And go to sea no more

Chorus:

No more, no more

To go to sea no more

Get married instead

and have all night in bed

And go to sea no more

[Link zu Youtube]

Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm

A drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm

And we’ll all hang on behind.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

we’ll roll the golden chariot along.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll all hang on behind!

Oh, a bottle of rum wouldn’t do us any harm

A bottle of rum wouldn’t do us any harm

And we’ll all hang on behind.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll roll the golden chariot along.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll all hang on behind!

Oh, a tight waisted girl wouldn’t do us any harm

A tight waisted girl wouldn’t do us any harm

And we’ll all hang on behind.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

We’ll roll the golden chariot along.

We’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll all hang on behind!

Oh, big breasted girl wouldn’t do us any harm

A big breasted girl wouldn’t do us any harm

And we’ll all hang on behind.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll roll the golden chariot along.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll all hang on behind!

Oh, a night with the girls wouldn’t do us any harm

A night with the girls wouldn’t do us any harm

And we’ll all hang on behind.

So we’ll roll the old chariot along

We’ll roll the golden chariot along.

We’ll roll the old chariot along

An» we’ll all hang on behind!

[Link zu Youtube]

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack

Chorus

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main, now we’re safe ashore, Jack.

Don’t forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound, four years gone, or nigh, Jack.

Was there ever chummies, now, such as you and I, Jack?

Chorus

We have worked the self-same gun, quarterdeck division.

Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission.

Chorus

Oftentimes have we laid out, toil nor danger fearing,

Tugging out the flapping sail to the weather earing.

Chorus

When the middle watch was on, and the time went slow, boy,

Who could choose a rousing stave, who like Jack or Joe, boy?

Chorus

There she swings, an empty hulk, not a soul below now.

Number seven starboard mess misses Jack and Joe now.

Chorus

But the best of friends must part, fair or foul the weather.

Hand yer flipper for a shake, now a drink together.

Chorus

[Link zu Youtube]

Oh, Sally Brown, she’s a nice young lady,

Way, hay, roll and go.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

Oh, Sally Brown, she’s a bright mulatto.

Way, hay, roll and go.

Well, she drinks dark rum,

and she chews tobacco.

Way, hay, roll and go.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

Well, her father likes a tarry sailor.

Way, hay, roll and go.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

Ah, Sally Brown, she likes a good Scrumpy.

Way, hay, roll and go.

She likes a bit on a Rumpy-pumpy.

Way, hay, roll and go.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

Oh, Sally Brown, she’s a nice young lady,

Way, hay, roll and go.

Yeah, Sally Brown, she’s a fine young lady!

Way, hay, roll and go.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

And we rolled all night,

And we rolled all day,

Spend our money on Sally Brown.

[Link zu Youtube]

They took us jolly sailor lads

A-fishing for the whale

On the fourth day of August in 1864,

Bound for Greenland we set sail.

The lookout stood on the crosstrees high

With a spyglass in his hand

«There’s a whale, there’s a whale, there’s a whale fish,» he cried,

«And she blows at every span.»

The captain stood on the quarterdeck

And a sod of a man was he

«Overhaul, overhaul, let your davitackles fall

And we’ll launch them boats to sea.»

We struck that whale and the line played out

But she gave a florish with her tail

The boat capsized, we lost seven of our men

And we never caught that whale

Now the losin» of seven fine seamen

Oh, it grieved the captain so

That the losin» of the bloody sperm whale

Oh, it grieved him ten times more

Now Greenland is a horrid place

Where us whaling lads have to go

Where the rose and the lillies never bloom in spring

Oh there’s only ice and snow

The winter star doth now appear

So boys we’ll anchor a-weigh

It’s time to leave this cold count’ry

Now let’s homeward sail away

[Link zu Youtube]

O I thought I heard the old man say,

Leave her, Johnny, leave her!

Tomorrow ye will get your pay!