Revels Sea Chantey Sing Song Sheet


April 3, 2024

SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME
Traditional Song

Chorus: 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
And bring us sugar and tea and rum. 
One day, when the tonguing is done, 
I'll take my leave and go. 



BLOW YE WINDS IN THE MORNING
Traditional Song

'Tis advertised in Boston, New York, and Buffalo:
Five hundred brave Americans a-whalin' for to go.

Chorus:
Blow ye winds in the morning,
Blow ye winds, heigh-ho!
Clear away your runnin' gear,
And blow, boys, blow!

They send you to Nantucket, that famous whaling port,
And give you to some land sharks to board and fit you out.

They tell you of the clipper ships a-runnin' in and out,
And say you'll take five hundred whales before you're six months out.

And now we're out to sea, my boys, the wind comes on to blow;
One-half the watch is sick on deck, the other half below.

The skipper's on the quarterdeck a-squintin' at the sails,
When up aloft the lookout spots a mighty school of whales.

Then lower down the boats, my boys, and after him we'll travel,
But if you get too near the fluke, he'll kick you to the Devil.

And now that he is ours, my boys, we'll run him alongside,
Then over with our blubber-hooks and rob him of his hide

When we get home, our ship made fast, and we get through our sailin',
A brimming glass around we'll pass, and damn this blubber whaling.



ROLL DOWN
by Peter Bellamy

Chorus:
And we will ro——-ll down!
Walk her round, me brave boys and roll down!



ROLLING DOWN TO OLD MAUI
Traditional Song

It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife we whaler men under go.
And we don't give a damn when the gale is done how hard the winds do blow.
We're homeward bound t'is a mighty fine sound with a good ship taught and free, 
And we don't give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls of old Maui.

Chorus:
Rolling down to old Maui me boys, rolling down to old Maui.
We're homeward bound from the Arctic ground, rolling down to old Maui.

Once more we sail with the northerly gale through the ice and wind and rain.
Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands we soon shall see again.
Six hellish months have passed away on the cold Kamchatka sea, 
But now were bound from the Arctic ground, rolling down to old Maui.

Once more we sail with a favorable gale towards our island home. 
Our main mast sprung our whaling done and we ain't got far to roam.
Our stun's'l bones got carried away what care we for that sound, 
A living gale is after us thank God we're homeward bound.

How soft the breeze in them island trees now the ice is far astern.
Them native maids in them tropical glades is a-waiting our return. 
Even now their big brown eyes look out hoping some fine day to see,
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gale, rolling down to old Maui.



BARRETT'S PRIVATEERS
by Stan Rogers

God damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns. Shed no tears.
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.



DEAR OLD STAN
by Nick Smyth

Arise and be merry, and sing out while you can.
The world will never see the likes of dear old Stan.



FIDDLERS GREEN
by John Connelly

Wrap me up in me oilskin and jumper.
No more on the docks I'll be seen.
Just tell me old shipmates, I'm taking a trip mates,
And I'll see you someday on Fiddlers Green.



FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA
Canadian Folk Song

Chorus:
Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
And when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?



HERE'S A HEALTH TO THE COMPANY
Traditional Irish Song

Chorus:
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass. 
We'll drink and be merry all out of one glass. 
We'll drink and be merry from grief we'll refrain, 
for we know not when we will all meet again.



LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
Traditional Irish Song

Fare thee well Prince’s Landing Stage
River Merzey fare thee well.
I am bound for California,
a place that I know right well.
 
Chorus:
So fare thee well, my own true love,
when I return united we will be.
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me,
but my darling when I think of thee.
  
I have shipped on a yankee clipper ship,
Davy Crockett is her name.
And her captain's name it is Burgess,
and they say that she's a floating Hell.
 
I sailed with Burgess once before,
and I think I know him well,
If a man's a sailor he will get along,
if he's not then he's sure in Hell.
 
The ship is in the harbor, love,
and you know I can't remain,
I know it will be a long long time
before I see you again.



SPANISH LADIES
Traditional English Song

Chorus:
We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true British Sailors
We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of Old England
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.