Category: songs

trad 

Wikipedia: New Zealand-based music teacher and folk music compiler Neil Colquhoun claimed to have collected the song around 1966 from one F. R. Woods. Woods, who was in his 80s at the time, had allegedly heard the song. In 1973, "Soon May the Wellerman Come" was included in Colquhoun's book of New Zealand folk songs, New Zealand Folksongs: Songs of a Young Country.

There was a ship that put to sea
And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea.
The wind blew up, her bow dipped down,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

Chorus:
Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us-sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
We’ll take our leave and go.

She had not been two weeks from shore
When down on them a right whale bore.
The captain called all hands and swore
He’d take that whale in tow.

Before the boat had hit the water
The whale’s tail come up and caught her.
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her,
But she dived down below.

No line was cut; no whale was freed.
The captain’s mind was not on greed.
He belonged to the whaleman ‘s creed:
She took that ship in tow.

For forty days or even more
The line went slack, then tight once more.
All the boats were lost ( there were only four),
But still that whale did go.

As far as I know the fight’ s still on,
The line’s not cut and the whale’s not gone.
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the captain, crew and all. 

Edgar Dowell 1924

Charlie Ipcar's website says "From the singing of Ella Madison and Esther Bigeou, 1920's". Charley Noble on Mudcat says "By Edgar Dowell, Transcribed from Piron's New Orleans Orchestra, vocals by Esther Bigeou, recorded December 14, 1923; From The Complete Works of Esther Bigeou, Lillyn Brown, Alberta Brown & the Remaining Titles of Ada Brown in Chronological Order (1921-1928)"

Been all over this doggone world, Been as far as China;
Worst place I ever did see Was Charleston, South Carolina.

Chorus:
I’m going home, won’t be long,
Going home, as sure as you’re born
I’m going home, won’t be long,
Got them West Indies Blues

Got my grip and trunk all packed, The ship, I’m going to take her;
Say goodbye to Charleston Town, I’m going to Jamaica.

Them Charleston folks eat alligator meat, Fried with rice and potatoes;
Best eating I ever did have Was monkey hips and tomatoes.

Now when I get to Kingston Town, Gonna hang around the water;
Make my living, sure as you’re born, Diving after quarters.

And when I get to Kingston Town, Going to get myself a carriage;
Roll on down to Sally’s house And ask her hand in marriage.

So goodbye, dear old Charleston Town, My packet sails tomorrow;
Goodbye, all you dance hall girls, I leave you without sorrow. 

Archie Fisher 1976

Fisher wrote "A combination of partially fulfilled pipedreams. There's still time?" Last two verses tweaked by Alex Ellis

Chorus:
I came to a western island as far as a man can walk is my land
Cleared ten acres and a house I built, into the side of the hill

One cow and a lean-to bier, a spring close by and a driftwood fire
A clear view of the setting sun and 12 gauge hammer gun

I keep sheep, I fish deep water in a high bowed boat called the Neptune’s Daughter
She’ll ride any western gale and can carry a stack of sail

Some nights when the bright lights flicker I sail to the mainland for my liquor
I haven’t got a bed there to call my own but I never wake up alone

We all need to feel the ground and wind to tell us that the world spins round
To watch the stars and taste the sea, and village to keep us free 

Tom Paxton 1964

Chorus:
What did you learn in school today Dear little boy of mine? (x2)

I learned that Washington never told a lie
I learned that soldiers seldom die
I learned that everybody’s free
And that’s what the teacher said to me
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned the policemen are my friends
I learned that justice never ends
I learned that murderers die for their crimes
Even if we make a mistake sometimes
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned that war is not so bad
I learned about the great ones we have had
We fought in Germany and in France
And some day I might get my chance
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned our goverment must be strong;
It’s always right and never wrong!
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school 

The Vox Hunters: "A million-dollar question, and first related to us by locomotive Irish fiddler Alison Perkins, one half of a groovy-as-all-get-out duo with her uilleann-piping gentleman husband, Nicolas Brown. The Muskerry Queen of Song herself, Elizabeth Cronin, learned this from the aforementioned Mary Delaney. Sung in the unison as influenced by two of our favorite singers, Will Duke and Dan Quinn."

The Vox Hunters: https://thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com/track/what-will-we-do-if-we-have-no-money

What will we do if we have no money? (All true lovers, what will we do then?)
Only hawk through the town for a hungry crown (And we’ll yodel it over again)

What will we do it I marry a tinker?
Only sell a tin can and walk on with my man

What will we do if I marry a soldier?
Only handle his gun and we’ll fight for the fun

What will we do if I have a young daughter?
Only take her in hand and walk on with my man

Si Kahn 1981

Written for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Last line rewritten by Alex Ellis.

You must know someone like him He was tall and strong and lean
With a body like a greyhound And a mind so sharp and keen
But his heart, just like a laurel Grew twisted ’round itself
‘Til almost everything he did Brought pain to someone else

Chorus:
Well, it’s not just what you’re born with It’s what you choose to bear
It’s not how big your share is It’s how much you can share
It’s not the fights you dreamed of It’s those you’ve really fought
It’s not what you’ve been given It’s what you do with what you’ve got

Oh, what’s the use of two strong legs If you only run away?
And what’s the use of the finest voice If you’ve nothing good to say?
What’s the use in strength of muscle If you only push and shove?
And what’s the use in two good ears If you can’t hear those you love?

Between those who use their neighbors And those who use the cane?
Between those in constant power And those in constant pain?
Between those who run to glory And those who cannot run?
Who makes our country weaker And which ones touch the sun? 

Phil Ochs

What’s that I hear now ringing in my ears?
I’ve heard that sound before
What’s that I hear now ringing in my ears?
I hear it more and more
It’s the sound of freedom calling
Ringing up to the skies
It’s the sound of the old ways a-falling
You can hear it if you try (x2)

Oh, what’s that I see now shining in my eyes?
I’ve seen that light before
Hey, what’s that I see now shining in my eyes?
I see it more and more
It’s the light of freedom calling
Shining up to the skies
It’s the light of the old ways a-falling
You can see it if you try (x2)

Hey, what’s that I feel now beating in my heart?
I’ve felt that beat before
Hey, what’s that I feel now beating in my heart?
I feel it more and more
It’s the rumble of freedom calling
Climbing up to the sky
It’s the rumble of the old ways a falling
You can feel it if you try (x2) 

Leon Rosselson 1991

Nancy Kerr: "'Nannerl' is Maria Anna Mozart (1751-1829) and I'd always heard this as an 'ignored woman genius' biography. Deeper listening also uncovers the speaker's subtle disdain not just for the wayward brother but for art itself. 'In the end, what good did all that music do?' Of course, this should really be played on the clavier, but I decided to use viola - the ignored genius of the string section." Rosselson: "The bicentenary of Mozart's death in 1991 seemed to me to be worth a small song. Nannerl, like her younger brother, was a wonder child on the clavier. Both were paraded round Europe by their proud father for the entertainment and amusement of the aristocracy."

Nancy Kerr: https://nancykerr.bandcamp.com/track/whatever-happened-to-nannerl

Chorus:
Whatever happened to Nannerl, Nannerl?
She showed such promise as a girl
With her nimble little fingers
Racing up and down the keyboard
Why do we never hear her name, her name?
And we thought she was bound for fame.

Sitting playing duets at the harpsichord
What a pretty pair they made
She was so demure she hardly said a word
He was such a show-off, always on parade
Expecting to be worshipped like a god
He was a cocky little sod

She showed no resentment that her father lavished
All of his attention on the boy
Spoiled him so that if he felt he wasn’t loved
Tears would be the girlish weapon he’d employ
While she was always smiling, being good
Behaving as a daughter should

(talent as a girl)

Trouble was he didn’t understand the times
Never learned to bend of knew his place
Always telling smutty jokes and playing games
Mocking his superiors, such a disgrace
To say that the Archbishop was a prick
The man was definitely sick

(talent as a girl)

Nannerl married well and was her pa’s support
Settled down to lead a useful life
Her brother went his own way, broke his father’s heart
With his wilful ways and foolish choice of wife
Lived it up as if he was a lord
You don’t spend what you can’t afford

(promise, for a girl)

Arrogance, in my view, was what brought him low
Thought that he could make it on his own
And in the end what good did all that music do
Spent his last days scrounging, begging for a loan
You must obey the rules, work hard and save
Or end up in a pauper’s grave

(talent, for a girl) 

trad 1850-52

Appears with very similar text in 3 broadsides. Epic dating of the song on Mudcat based on the historical references.

Come all you true sons of Erin; attend to these few simple lines:
I’ll sing you a song about spinning. It was a good trade in old times.
Some they spun worsted and yarn, and others they spun flax and tow.
By experience, my friends, you may learn how the wheels of the world they do go.

Chorus:
So these are the wheels of the world, my friends, you must all understand.
For three hundred years, they’ve been spinning destruction all over the land.

Lord Nelson he was a good spinner on board of the ship Victory.
He was counted the greatest of spinners that ever set sail on the sea.
His shipmen were all famous spinners. For Nelson they spun very well,
But the French spun a ball in Trafalgar, and on the ship deck Nelson fell.

Napoleon he was a good spinner, for freedom did always advance.
Over deserts and great lofty mountains, he led on the brave sons of France.
Old Wellington he went a-spinning. His wheels they were at Waterloo;
But if Grouchy had never been bribed, the French would have split him in two.

The factory masters are spinning. Their wheels they are turning away,
And now they are wanting their hands for to work thirteen hours a day.
They don’t care a fig for the poor. They heed not their sighs nor their moans.
They don’t care a pin if you work till you spin all the flesh off your bones.

The rich they are all famous spinners, and you are very well sure
They are always contriving a scheme to crush down the rights of the poor.
So if you’re compelled to go spinning, let each of your spindles be steel.
Let “Liberty” then be your motto, and glory will turn your wheel. 

trad

When first I came to Caledonia And I got loading at number three,
And I got lodging with Donald Norman, He had a daughter could make good tea.

And it was me and my brother Charlie, Two bigger shavers you ne’er did see,
We’re spearing eels in the month of April And starving slaves out on Scatarie.

I went to Norman to buy some brochan, A cake of soap and a pound of tea.
But Norman said that I could not have them Till fish got plenty on Scatarie.

So I went over to the big harbour, I only went for to see the spray.
I saw a maid from Boularderie over, She looked to me like the Queen of May.

If I had pen from Pennsylvania, And I had paper so snowy white,
And I had ink of rosy morning, A true love letter to you I’d write.

I put my foot on the deepest ocean As far from land as once I could be,
A-sailing over the deepest water A woman’s love’d never bother me.

I set my head to a cask of brandy And it’s a dandy I do declare,
For when I’m drinking I’m sad and thinking How I could gain that young lady fair?