Musical question for the Greybeards

[Capt Thighbiter]

From what I have been able to research, there are lots of songs circa 1700 or so that are ABOUT pirates, but precious few tunes that may have logically been sung BY pirates.

My thoughts:

Whaling songs and shanties are out.

Possibly some few broadside ballads may have trickled aboard.

For those British ships and men that went on account, possibly some songs popular in Royal Navy may have been sung, though it's hard to imagine men who are now wanted for piracy singing songs about hearts of oak and british tars.

Any comments on the above or better yet a lubber line in the right direction from the august body of knowledgeable folk here?

[blackjohn]

What you really need are songs by or collected by Thomas D'Urfey in Pills to Purge Melancholy. For instance:

http://www.immortalia.com/html/records-and...waits/index.htm

That stuff is all period... more tavern songs than working sailor songs, but hey, somebody was singing them.

Same goes for this:

http://www.immortalia.com/html/records-and...-song/index.htm

But not this, it seems like later period (though still amusing):

http://www.immortalia.com/html/records-and...songs/index.htm

[Fox]

I think you're probably right to a certain extent about the whaling songs and shanties - simply because the vast majority of those which survive now are no older than the very late 18thC, most of them come from the mid 19thC or later. However, there's no reason why earlier shanties should not have been sung by pirates.

With regards to former naval songs, I don't think it would have been such an issue. For the most part this whole "declaring war against the world" idea is a myth - there is some evidence of some pirates holding such sentiments, but it certainly wasn't universal. At the end of the day, most pirates were English (or from English speaking colonies) in the GAoP, and when all was said and done they were still English seamen. The kind of rousing Brittania Triumphant, Jolly Jack Tar songs which you've probably got in mind are mostly post-GAoP anyway. A lot of the GAoP era songs are just about the lives of seamen, their loves, battles they've been in and giving the French a good drubbing.

Also, there are some really good filthy comic songs from the period, which I'm sure few pirates would have shrunk from singing! Along with drinking songs and the like they probably made up a large part of any seaman's repetoire.

***********************************************************

ADMIRAL BENBOW

We sailed from Virginia and then'st to Fayall

Where we watered our ship and then we weighed o'er

All in view on the seas boys seven sails we did espy

We man-ned our capstan and weighed speedily

Oh The first we come up with was a Brigantine sloop

And we asked if the others was as big as they looked

Ah, but turning to windward as near as we could lie

We saw there were ten men of war cruising by

We drew up our squadron in very nice line

And boldly we fought them for a full four hours time

But the day being spent boys and the night coming on

We let them alone til the very next morn

Now The very next morning the engagement proved hot

And brave Admiral Benbow received a chain shot

And as he was wounded to his merry men he did say

Take me up in your arms boys and carry me away

Now the guns they did rattle and the bullets did fly

But brave Admiral Benbow for help would not cry

Take me down to the cockpit there is ease for my smarts

If the merry men see me It will sure break their hearts

Now the very next morning by the break of the

They hoisted there topsails and so bore away

We bore to Port Royal were the people flocked much

To see Admiral Benbow carried to Kingston church

Come all of you brave fellows wherever you've been

Let us drink to the health of the king and the queen

and another good health to the girls that we know

and a third in remembrance of brave Admiral Benbow

(Benbow was a national hero and the ballads about him were numerous and popular)

*********************************************************

The Praise of Sailors

As I lay musing in my bed,

full warm, a well at ease,

I thought upon the lodging hard

poore sailors have at Seas.

They bide it out with hunger and cold,

and many a bitter blast,

And many a time constrain'd they are

for to cut down their Mast.

Their victuals and their Ordinance,

and ought else that they haue,

They throw it overboard with speed,

and seeke their liues to saue.

When as the raging Seas doe fome,

and loftie winds do blow,

The Saylors they goe to the top,

when Land-men stay below.

Our Masters Mate takes Helme in hand,

his Course he steeres full well,

When as the loftie winds do blow,

and raging Seas doe swell.

The Master to his Compass goes.

so well he plies his charge:

He sends a Youth to the Top amaine,

for to vnsling the Yeards.

The Boatson he's under the Deck,

a man of courage bold;

To th'top toth'top, my liuely Lads,

hold fast my hearts of gold.

The Pilot he stands on the Claine,

with Line and Lead to sound,

To see how farre and neare they are

from any dangerous ground.

It is a testamonial good,

we are not far from land,

There sits a Mermaid on the Rocke,

with Combe and Glasse in hand.

Our captain he is on the Poope,

a man of might and power,

And lookes when raging seas doe gape

our bodies to devour.

Our royall Ship is runne to racke,

that was so stout and trim,

And some are put unto their Witts,

either to sinke or swim.

Our Ship that was before so good,

and eke likewise so trim,

Is now with raging Seas grown leakt,

and water fast comes in.

The Quarter master is a man,

so well his charge plies he,

He calls them to the Pumpe amaine,

to keepe their leake-ship free.

And many dangers likewise they

doe many times endure,

When as they met their enemies,

that come with might and power:

And seeke likewise from them to take

their lives and eke their goods:

Thus Saylors they sometimes endure,

upon the surging floods.

But when as they doe come to Land,

and homewards safe returne,

They are most kinde good fellowes all,

and scorne ever to mourne.

And likewise they will call for Wine,

and score it on the post:

For Sailors they are honest men,

and will pay well their Hoast.

For Saylors they be honest men,

and they doe take great paines,

When landed men and rufling lads.

doe rob them of their gaines.

Out Saylors they worke night and day,

their manhood for to try,

When landed men and ruffling Jacks,

doe in their Cabines lye.

Therefore let all good minded men,

give eare unto my Song,

And say also as well as I,

Saylors deserve no wrong.

This have I done for Saylors sakes,

in token of goodwill:

If ever I can doe them good,

I will be ready still.

God blesse them eke by Sea and land,

and also other men;

And as my Song beginning had,

so must it have and end.

(early 17thC song)

************************************************************

Portsmouth's Return

Our Monarch's whore from France is come

Since Vandom's Bugg'ring Tarse

Has fallen foul on Crequy's Bum,

Instead of Portsmouth's Arse

So great affront would make one run

From such a wicked place

Where Arse has had such honour done

And Cunt in such disgrace

Now she's return'd bright as the Sun

So sparkish & so fair

And brought great Charles a butter'd Bun

A present from Navarr:

She had not gone, but to contrive

New fashions for the Court;

Both how to Dress, and how to Swive,

And to improve that Sport

Buckley obligingly has brought

Both for herself, and Friends,

New swinging Dildoes, richly wrought

With Satin & Velvet ends:

With Furling water, to draw't up streight,

And Rowels to heighten delights

New-fashion'd Springs, to Scour her Twat

From slimy sperm, & whites.

Now Nelly you must be content

Her grace begins her Reign

For all your Brat, you may be sent

To Dorset back again

Your Hagged Carcase yeilds no delight,

As Grafton of late has said

Nor Jennings, nor betraying Knight

Can bring you to Charles's Bed

Portsmouth has play'd so damn'd a trick

Mazarine is sore distrest

She's taken to herself his Prick

Bought Dildoes for the rest

But Stallion Pilty swears by Cunt

He'll Fuck with all his might

For to avenge the great affront

And set his Dutchess right

(1682, apologies to those of tender gentility)

[blackjohn]

I've always been particularly fond of...

The Famous Ratketcher,

with his travels into France,

and of his returne to London

To the tune of the Ioviall Tinker

(also known as Fly Bass or Tom a Bedlam)

There was a rare Rat-catcher,

Did about the Country Wander,

The soundest blade of all his trade,

Or I should him greatly slander,

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

His talke was all of India,

The Voyage and the Navie;

What Mise or Rattes, or wild Polcats;

What Stoates or Weesels have yee;

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

He knew the Nut of India,

That makes the magpie stagger;

The Mercuries, and Cantharies,

With Arsnicke, and Roseaker.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

Full often with a Native,

The Iuice of Poppies drunke hee;

Eate Poyson franke with a Mountebanke,

And Spiders with a Monkie,

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

In London he was well knowne;

In many a stately House.

He layd a Bayte, whose deadly fate

Did kill both Ratte and Mouse.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

But on a time, a Damosell,

did him so farre intice,

That for her, a Baite he layd straight,

would kill no Rats nor Mice.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

And on the baite she nibled,

so pleasing in her taste,

She lickt so long, that the Poyson strong,

did make her swell i'th waiste.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

He subtilely this perceiving,

to the Country straight doth hie him;

Where by his skill, he poysoneth still,

such vermine as come nie him.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

He never careth whether

he be sober, lame, or tipsie;

He can Collogue with any Rogue,

and Cant with any Gipsie.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

He was so brave a Bowzer,

that it was doubtful whether

He taught the Rats, or the Rats taught him

To be druncke as Rats, together.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

When he had tript this Iland,

from Bristow unto Dover,

With painefull Bagge and painted Flagge

to France, he sailed over.

And still would he cry, a Ratt, tat, tat,

tara rat, ever:

To catch a mouse, or to carouse,

such a Ratter I saw never

Source: broadside, printed circa 1615, contained in the Pepys Collection. Reprinted in A Pepysian Garland: Black-Letter Broadside Ballads of the Years 1595-1639, Chiefly from the Collection of Samuel Pepys., (ed. Hyder E. Rollins, Cambridge University Press, 1992) Volume I, p. 60.

[Red Maria]

As shanties go well there were period ones but we just don't reliablely what they were (see the New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians). As to pirate songs Captian Kidd is a period broadside ballad that appeared at the time of Kidd's execution in 1701. The Downfall of Piracy is a bit later but does have the distiction of being possibly penned by a very young Ben Franklin (gotta love ol' Ben).

To be honest almost any period song would be appropiate. From all the primary source documents I've pirates sang or played anything that was popular at the time. One thing that could be definately said is that music was important to pirates. Even to the point of pressing musicians into service aboard pirate vessels.

Ooops! I don't have a greybeard!

Edited April 6, 2006 by Red Maria

[Capt Thighbiter]

Thanks to all. Some good info here and food for thought.

I still cant see a pirate crew singin a rousing round of Capt Ward, lol. The pirates get caught ( at least in some versions).

THe research continues!

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

Well... Foxe doesn't have one at all!

As my half-beard is only half-grey, then I'm only 25% qualified.

What about my favorite drunken rabble rousing ballad... BARNACLE BILL THE SAILOR! What's the date on this one ? Capt. Bo

[Fox]

How could you possibly know that I finally shaved off the last bit of my beard not two hours ago? Are you that funny looking guy who lives in my mirror?

Since Ward was never captured there's no reason for him to be caught in the ballads. Try this one.

Come all you gallant seamen bold,

All you that march to drum,

Let's go and look for Captain Ward,

Far on the sea he roams.

He is the biggest robber

That ever you did hear,

there's not been such a robber found

For above this hundred year.

A ship was sailing from the east

And going to the west,

Loaded with silks and satins

And velvets of the best;

But meeting there with Captain Ward,

It was a bad meeting;

He robbed them of all their wealth,

And bid them tell their king.

O then the King proved a ship of noble fame,

She's call'd the Royal Rainbow

If you would have her name;

She was as well provided for

As any ship can be,

Full thirteen hundred men on board

To bear her company.

'Twas eight o'clock in the morning

When they began to fight,

And so they did continue there

Till nine o'clock at night;

Fight on, fight on, says Captain Ward

This sport well pleases me,

For if you fight this month or more,

Your master I will be.

O then the gallant Rainbow, she fired

She fired in vain.

Till six and thirty of her men

All on the deck were slain;

Go home, go home, says Captain Ward

And tell your king for me,

If he reigns king all on the land

Ward will reign king on the sea

Bo, I believe Barnacle Bill the sailor started life as a four-part round in 1673

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

Nah... I'm that dark outline that goes wherever you go in the daylight or from artificial sources, so I know E-VERY-THING!!! BWAAAHAHAHAHA!

Actually, you weren't sporting a beard in yer suit photo that I could see, so I figured it was a safe bet you still don't.

So, who's up for a couple of lines from BARNACLE BILL!?!

Capt. Bo

[Cire]

Is this version of the Bay of Biscay-o period, or is it just the tune that is?

So if I got really well informed on a subject, would I get shadow stalkers too?

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

Maybe

Nah, I was just feelin REALLY good today and I've been messin with everyone I can. Spring fever or something I guess.(?)

Later... Capt. Bo

[Fox]

Cire, sadly, I don't think that version can be authentic for the GAoP

HMS Ramillies (Ramely in the songs) was named after the battle of that name, fought in 1706. However, the first Ramillies in the RN was the former Royal Katherine, but was not renamed Ramillies until 1749.

Interestingly, she was wrecked in a storm.

[Rumba Rue]

I have been very fortunate to have been graced by Boat's mother a mint condition book called 'Salt Water Poems and Ballads by John Masefield, orignially printed in 1916. Illustrated by Chas. Pears

It has quite a listing in its contents of songs and poems, here's the contents:

Ballads:

A Consecration

The Yarn of the "Loch Achray"

Sing a Song o' Shipwreck

Burial Party

Bill

Fever Ship

Fever-Chills

One of the Bo'sun's Yarns

Hell's Pavement

Sea-Changer Harbour Bar

The Turn of the Tide

One of Wally's Yarns

A Valediction (Liverpool,Docks)

A night at Dago Tom's

Port of Many Ships

Cape Horn Gospel I

Cape Hor Gospel II

Mother Carey

Evenin-Regetta Day

A Valediction

A Pier-Head Chorus

The Golden City of St. Mary

Trade Winds

Sea-Fever

A Wanderer's Song

Cardigan Bay

Christimas Eve at Sea

A Ballad of Cape St. Vincent

The Tarry Buccaneer

A Ballad of John Silver

Lyrics from 'The Buccaneer'

D'Avalon' Prayer

Poems:

The Ship and Her Makers

The New Bedford Whaler

Cargoes

Captain Stratton's Fancy

Third Mate

Posted as Milling

Ships

Roadways

The "Wanderer

The River

Many of these writings are just incredible! I hope to in the future read some of these at events that PoTC will be doing.