Trapper

The other thing you can try is www.gothicauctions.com. They have great deals. I got an International Male shirt with ruffled front for $5 instead of the $75 they want for it new. AND, it's in great shape.

Fair winds,

Trapper

Yep! Love 'em! They actually play their music on the local "top 40' stations here in Seattle.

Trapper

Actually, the Thayer and the Balclutha are at the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. The Thayer is undergoing some extensive restoration at the moment, so all music concerts for the next year and a half will be on the Balclutha. San Diego has the incredibly lovely ship, Star of India.

It's great to see communities that appreciate and maintain their maritime heritage, unlike Seattle. We have Thayer's sister ship, the Wawona, docked at the south end of Lake Union. She's in sad shape, and the city would like her to move, because she's "not pretty". So, some of us have been trying to raise money (and media attention)for the restoration. We've already had one benefit which netted us a bit of money (thanks in no small part to the Pyrates of the Coast, who squeezed the audience within an inch o' their pocketbooks), and we're plannin' another on April 16th. Anyone interested in attendin' or playin' can email me.

Fair winds,

Trapper

The verses I was always partial to were:

Hit 'im in the face with a nasty salmon

Put 'im in bed with the Captain's daughter

You've never seen the Captain's daughter

There she is," friggin'" in the riggin'.

The last one was always requested by the Navy guys.

Trapper

I am still looking for someone who could crochet me a Jolly Rogers....

I'd have to think about that one. My bandmate, Evie, knits jolly roger socks, though.

Trapper

Ah, and another one, that's a great (if obscure) song.

Trapper

THE PIRATE'S SONG

My boat's by the tower, my bark's on the bay

Both must be gone by the dawn of the day

The moon's in her shroud, and to light thee afar

On the deck of the "Daring's" a love-lighted star

CHORUS:

So, wake, lady, wake, I'm waiting for thee

On this night, or never, my bride thou shalt be

Wake, lady, wake, I'm waiting for thee

On this night or never my bride thou shalt be

Forgive my rough mood, unaccustomed to sue

I woo not, perhaps, as the landlubbers do

For my voice is attuned to the sound of the gun

Which startles the deep when the combat's begun

Oh, islands there are on the face of the deep

Where the leaves never fade and the skies never weep

So haste, love, make haste, while the fair breezes blow

And an ocean bird poses on pinions of snow

A hundred shall serve, the best of the brave,

The chief of a thousand shall kneel as thy slave

And thou shalt reign queen, and our empire shall last

'Til the black flag, by inches, is torn from the mast

Excellent choice!! Thank ye fer postin' it!

Trapper

whoops, and that was BY Martin Carthy's band.

Trapper

A great piece, "The Highwayman". Phil Ochs originally recorded it back in the '60s, a killer version.

If we were to continue on that theme, I'd recommend Sovay as well, as sung my Martin Carthy's band, "Brass Monkey". This one's about a female highwayman....highwaywoman? Highwayperson? Well, anyway...

Sovay

Sovay, Sovay all on a day

She dressed herself in man's array

With a sword and a pistol all by her side

To meet her true love, to meet her true love, away did ride

And as she was a-riding over the plain

She met her true love and bid him stand

“Your gold and silver, kind Sir,” she said

“Or else this moment, or else this moment, your life I'll have”

And when she'd robbed him of his store

She says, “Kind sir, there is one thing more

A golden ring which I know you have

Deliver it, deliver it, your sweet life to save”

“Oh that golden ring a token is

My life I'll lose, the ring I'll save”

Being tender-hearted just like a dove

She rode away, she rode away, from her true love

Oh next morning in the garden green

Just like true lovers they were seen

Oh he spied his watch hanging by her clothes

And it made him blush, made him blush like any rose

“Oh what makes you blush at so silly a thing

I thought to have had your golden ring

It was I that robbed you all on the plain

So here's your watch, here's your watch and your gold again”

“I did intend and it was to know

If that you were me true love or no

For if you'd have given me that ring," she said

"I'd have pulled the trigger, I'd have pulled the trigger, and shot you dead”

An' the followin' as well:

Farewell me lovely Nancy

Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy

Sail Away (a great song by Mary Benson)

John's Gone to Hilo

Shallow Brown

Shenandoah

an' many many more.

Trapper

Actually, "The Female Smuggler" is a good example of a pirate love song. She ends up with the very commodore that finally captures her. Chris Roe of the chantey group, "Broadside" does a stirring rendition of this song:

The Female Smuggler

O come list a while, and you shall hear,

By the rolling sea lived a maiden fair.

Her father had followed the smuggling trade,

Like a war-like hero.

Like a warlike hero that never was afraid.

Now, in sailor's clothing young Jane did go,

Dressed like a sailor from top to toe

Her aged father was the only care

O this female smuggler.

Of this female smuggler who never did despair.

With her pistols loaded she went aboard.

And by her side hung a glittering sword,

In her belt two daggers; well armed for war

Was this female smuggler,

Was this female smuggler, who never feared a scar.

Now they had not sail-ed far from the land,

When a strange sail brought them to a stand.

'These are sea robbers,' this maid did cry,

'But the female smuggler,

But the female smuggler will conquer or will die.

Alongside, then, this strange vessel came.

Cheer up,' cried Jane, 'we will board the same;

We'll run all chances to rise or fall,'

Cried this female smuggler,

Cried this female smuggler, who never feared a ball.

Now they killed those pirates and took their store,

And soon returned to old Eng-a-land's shore.

With a keg of brandy she walked along,

Did this female smuggler,

Did this female smuggler, and sweetly sang a song.

Now they were followed by the blockade,

Who in irons strong did put this fair maid.

But when they brought her for to be ter-ied,

This young female smuggler,

This young female smuggler stood dress-ed like a bride.

Their commodore against her appeared,

And for her life she did greatly fear.

When he did find to his great surprise

'Twas a female smuggler,

'Twas a female smuggler had fought him in disguise.

He to the judge and the jury said,

'I cannot prosecute this maid,

Pardon for her on my knees I crave,

For this female smuggler,

For this female smuggler so valiant and so brave.'

Then this commodore to her father went,

To gain her hand he asked his consent.

His consent he gained, so the commodore

And the female smuggler,

And the female smuggler are one for evermore.

Fair winds and fair music,

Trapper

Did you know that "Tanglefoot" guests on Tom Lewis' new CD? Check it out at www.tomlewis.net. It's called "360 degrees All Points of the Compass" and has some wonderful stuff on it.

Trapper

Go to www.displayandcostume.com

They've lovely feathers an' plumes o' all colours, an' lots of other lovely loot as well.

Trapper

Trapper, where be I goin'te find out more bout'this shanty singin'? I live in Kingston (Wa!) and would love to hear some songs of the sea!

Here be the website for the seaport. http://www.nwseaport.org

Be pointin' yer mouse t'wards music and then sea chanties for the exact locations and tymes. If'n ye wants t' be on the mailin' list, or fer more info, email seaport@oz.net. We always have a grand tyme, and it's an opportunity t' hear a lot o' different songs, as well as buy em in the gift shop, if there be some ye can't live wit'out. We'll be gearin' up for another Wawona benefit soon, as well, and I'll be keepin' the list updated as to the particulars.

If'n ye do come t' the next sing, I'll be there. I'll be the one wearin' the ridin' boots 'n' spurs.

Fair winds,

Trapper

A damn shame, me lad. It's high time ye were dustin' off that old guitar and usin' yer pipes t' sing some roarin' chanteys.

If ye are ever up Seattle way, ye're always welcome at the Wawona chantey sing, 2nd Friday of every month. We have a great time and love pressin' people inta singin'. :)

Fair winds,

Trapper

I used to play a mean Stairway on the guitar.

And now? Still mean or semi-congenial?

Trapper

Well now, let me see. Tom Lewis has several CDs out with traditional chanteys, and can be checked out at www.tomlewis.net. Broadside has a CD of traditional chanteys, two of which have been loaded in the mp3 forum under sea shanties here, and can be ordered by sending an email to broadsidedivas@yahoo.com. William Pint and Felicia Dale have several wonderful CDs out; check 'em out at www.pintndale.com. This is only the tip of the maritime music iceberg, but all are worth a listen.

By the by, if anyone's on the east coast, Tom is doing several concerts there in March. As one-fifth of Broadside, I'll be there as well, backing him up. It'd be lovely to see a few o' me fellow pirates.

Fair winds,

Trapper

So....if anyone needs a bagpiper in the Southern/Northern maybe even AZ. he's for hire.

Well, blast. It be too bad ye're not closer t' Seattle. I'd be havin' pipin' work long about August.

Trapper

I be a singer, in 2 groups: Broadside, an all-woman chantey group and Coventry, a celtic/rock band. I started singin' coz o' me Mum singin' Scottish songs 'round the house, an' haven't stopped since. I leave the instrumentation to me mates. I posted two o' the Broadside songs in the mp3 forum here.

By the by, another great source for sea songs and their tunes is Stan Hugill's "Shanties from the Seven Seas". A truly wonderful book, jam-packed wi' songs collected by the last real chanteyman. An' a true gentleman he was on 'is last trip to Seattle, many years ago.

Fair winds,

Trapper

http://www.darsie.net/tuneweb/ is another good site for tune sheet music. In some cases, they have midi files of the pieces, so you can hear it first.

If you go to www.coventry-music.com and hit the links button, you'll come to several music lyric , sheet music and search sites.

Fair winds,

Trapper

For all ye here, a wee bit of a song to toast all of the holidays at this tyme o' the year.

Silly Solstice

(words by the Flying Karamozovs,

sung to the tune of Sentimental Journey)

We would like to wish you Merry Christmas

But we're not all Christians here.

Hannukah would raise the same objections,

What's universal at this time of year?

New Year, we could wish you Happy New Year,

But it's not the same as Jew Year,

Or of the Chinese.

It's hard as heck to be politically correct.

Guess that all that's left is Winter Solstice.

For all the others, it's the cause.

Everybody have a Silly Solstice,

Ritually sacrifice a Santa Claus.

Im open to suggestions

Have you thought of "Henry Martin"? Joan Baez does a great version of it on an old album, and the words and tune are available on the Mudcat site, a wonderful resource for all kinds o' folk music. 'ere's the link:

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2591

Otherwise, I'd be suggestin' "Being a Pirate", originally written by Canadian singer/songwriter Don Freed (on his tape, "Live ARR", available on Bushleague Records), and adapted by Canadian singer/songwriter/shantyman and allaround great guy, Tom Lewis.

http://gamgee.acad.emich.edu/~tomlewis/

Unfortunately, he hasn't recorded his version and prefers that his words stay out of print, but if you're ever in port 'round Seattle or Portland, and can catch me band, Broadside, chances you'll hear us perform it. We've been doin' Tom's version o' the song since last Folklife, wi' his kind permission, of course, an' he had us onstage at his album release to back him up when he sang it. Tom's a truly wonderful performer, an' if ye ever gets a chance t' see him, don't be missin' it.

Fair winds,

Trapper

Well, it went remarkably well for the first one. Just on Ginger from the Pirates of the Coast passin' the pitcher (and of course, her obvious charms), we made $481.00. We be savin' the auction items (a complete set of Tom Lewis CDs, including the unreleased one, and a limited edition nautical print) fer Tom Lewis' CD release party, November 1st, also at the Highliner. All be welcome t' that as well.

Fair winds, fair lads and a full bumper o' rum

Trapper

Sure'n I be thankin' ye. Ye're a noble merchant o' the seafarin' trade.

Trapper

Sure'n it'll be good t' see anyone what cares t' show up. We'll have Pirates, rollickin' sea chanteys and good drink. What more d'ye need?

Trapper