English & Other 289. The Mermaid
Gomme (Traditional Games 2, 1898, II, pp. 143)
This game is not mentioned by Halliwell or Chambers, nor, so far as I am aware, has it been previously printed or recorded in collections of English games. It appears in America as "Go round and round the Valley" (Newell, Games, p. 128). See "Thread the Needle."
Round and Round went the Gallant Ship
I. Round and round went the gallant, gallant ship,
And round and round went she;
Round and round went the gallant, gallant ship,
Till she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
Till she sank to the bottom of the sea.
All go down as the ship sinks. —Cullen (Rev. W. Gregor).
II. Three times round goes our gallant ship,
And three times round went she;
Three times round went our gallant ship,
Then she sank to the bottom of the sea.
As the players all "bob" down they cry out " the sea, the sea, the sea." —Aberdeen Training College
(Rev. W. Gregor).
CONTENTS:
--------------------
The praise of Sailors, heere set forth, with their hard
fortunes which doe befall them on the Seas, when
Land-men sleepe safe in their Beds
To a pleasant new tune.
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.
FINIS
Printed for I. Wright.[1605-32]
[John Wright started publishing in 1605, adding his street address to his imprint in 1632, so this is no later. Child, "The Mermaid", #289, completely neglected the 17th century version, but it is obviously the original form of the song.
Later, c 1640, Martin Parker reworked it as "Saylors for my money", (ZN728) and added a chorus line "How ere the wind doth blow". Later yet, about 1660, J. P. (probably John Phillips), again reworked it as "Neptune's Raging Fury", revising the first line to "You gentlemen of England", and chorus to "When the stormy winds do blow (ZN3028). The tune of this latter is "When the stormy winds do blow", B512 among the broadside ballad tunes) J. P.'s version was reprinted fairly often until the late 18th century, when it was again lightly reworked as "Ye Gentlemen of England".
However, Parker's version and J. P.'s version leave out the mermaid, the sailors skipping to the top, and the landsmen lying down below, so they are not in the line of descent of "The Mermaid".
------------------
Music of the Waters book, by Laura SMith. She's got on pg 64, this song called Te Stormy Winds Did Blow. Her notes state:
"The following song I also found in Mr. Chappell's book.
It is one of Charles Sloman's (1840)"
Page 63 of her book mentions this
"Mr. Chappell, in his invaluable " Music of the Olden Time,""
The way I read it, Charles Sloman sang a fragment, one verse and a chorus, printed with music on the following page. The text above was a different fragment, more complete obviously. Since Chappell noted it from Sloman's singing, he would presumably have been some acquaintance, or someone aware enough of his interests to have contacted him. The text reads:
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship
And a brave young man was he
I have 60 gallant seamen aboard of my ship
But none so gallant as he, as he, as he,
But none so gallant as he.
While the vivid lightnings flash
And the stormy winds do blow
While we poor seamen are up, up aloft
And the landsmen are all down below, below, below,
And the landsmen are all down below.
The tune is a close variant of the "usual" dotted tempo major one, with the indication "Right jovially, and moderately fast."
-------------
Songs of Ireland and other lands: being a collection of the most popular; 1847; Same as Forcastle Songster 1849 also De Marsan song sheet. Probably an earlier broadside source.
THE MERMAID.
One Friday morning we set sail,
It was not far from land,
Where I espied a fair mermaid
With a comb and glass in hand,
The stormy winds they did blow,
The raging winds do blow,
While we poor sailors go up to the top
And the land lubbers down below.
The boatswain at the helm stands,
Steering his course right well,
With tears a standing in his eyes,
Saying how the seas do swell.
Then up spoke a man of our gallant ship,
And a well spoken man was he,
I have married a wife in fair New York town,
And this night she a widow will be.
Then up spoke a boy of our gallant ship,
And a well spoken boy was he,
I've a father and mother in fair Boston town,
And this night they will weep for me
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,
And a valiant man was he,
For the want of a long boat we all shall be drown'd,
And sink to the bottom of the sea.
Now the moon shone bright and the stars gave light
And my mother is looking for me,
She may look, she may weep, with a watery eye,
She may look to the bottom of the sea.
Now three times around went our gallant ship,
And three times around went she,
And three times around went our gallant ship,
When she sunk to the bottom of the sea.
--------------------
THE MERMAID
Bronson 289.2
Duncan
Sung by Mrs. John Milne 1905
learned in girlhood
Three time roun' went our gallant ship,
and three time roun' went she;
Three times roun' went our gallant ship,
Till she sank to the bottom o' the sea, the sea, the sea,
Till she sank to the bottom o' the sea.
When the stormy seas do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow
And we jolly sailors are toiling up aloft,
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below,
While the landlubbers lie down below.
X:289.2
T:The Mermaid
C:Sung by Mrs. John Milne -1905
N:Duncan
I:abc2nwc
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
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G6z2"^|"c2c2c2E2|(F E) F G A2"^|"c3/2 A/2|
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-------------------------
THE SEAMEN'S DISTRESS
The Oxford Book of Sea Songs, Roy Palmer, ed.
As we lay musing in our beds
So well and so warm at ease
I thought upon those lodging beds
Poor seamen have at sea
Last Easter Day in the morning fair
We was not far from land
Where we spied a mermaid on a rock
With comb and glass in hand
The first came up the mate of our ship
With lead and line in hand
To sound and see how deep we was
From any rock or sand
The next came up the boatswain of our ship
With courage stout and bold
Stand fast, stand fast, my brave, lively lads
Stand fast, my brave hearts of gold
Our gallant ship has gone to wreck
Which was so lately trimmed
The raging seas have sprung a lead
And the salt water does run in
Our gold and silver, and all our clothes
And all that ever we had
We forced was to heave them overboard
Thinking our lives to save
In all the number that was on board
Was five hundred and sixty-four
And all that ever came alive on shore
There was but poor ninety-five
The first bespoke the captain of our ship
And a well-spoke man was he
I have a wife in fair Plymouth town
And a widow I fear she must be
The next bespoke the mate of our ship
And a well-bespoke man was he
I have a wife in fair Portsmouth town
And a widow I fear she must be
The next bespoke the boatswain of our ship
And a well-bespoke man was he
I have a wife in fair Exeter
And a widow I fear she must be
The next bespoke the little cabin boy
And a well-bespoke boy was he
I am as sorry for my mother dear
As you are for you wives all three
Last night when the moon shined bright
My mother had five sons
But now she may look in the salt sea
And find but one alive
Call a boat, call a boat, you little Plymouth boys
Don't you hear how the trumpet sound
For the want of a boat our gallant ship is lost
And the most of our merry men drowned
Whilst the raging seas do roar
And the lofty winds do blow
And we poor seamen do lie on the top
Whilst the landsmen lies below
X:1
T:THE SEAMEN'S DISTRESS
M:4/4
L:1/8
S:Oxford Book of Sea Songs
R:Sea Song
K:G
D2|E3F G2F2|(3(E2D2)E2 B,2zB,|E2E2 FG{A}d2|B4","z2(GA)|
(B>A) (GA) B2(EG)|
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----------------
OUR GALLANT SHIP
Bronson 289.25
Barry Eckstorm and Smyth
sint in by Mrs. James McGill
learned in scotland
On a stormy sea as we set sail
not far, nor far from land
...
...
Up spoke the Captain of our gallant ship
and a fine old man was he,
O I had a wife in auld Edinboro toon,
and this nicht she'll be lookin' for me, for me, for me,
and this nicht she'll be lookin' for me.
She may look, she may sigh wi' a watery eye,
She may look tae the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
She may look tae the bottom o' the sea.
Then Up soke the mate o' our gallant ship,
an' a brave young man was he,
O I had a wife in fair Edinborol toon,
an' this nicht she'll be lookin' for me, etc.
The up spoke the cabin boy on our gallant ship,
An' a fine wee boy was he,
O I had a sweetheart in aul Edinboro toon,
an' this nicht she'll be lookin for me, etc.
Then up spoke the cook on our gallant ship,
An' a cross old cook was he,
O I hae mair bother wi' ma keetles, pots and pans,
Then ye wil your wives all three, etc.
The three times round went our gallant little ship
An' three time round went she.
An three time round went the gallant little ship,
an' she sank to the bottom of the sea!
X:289.25
T:Our Gallant Ship
C:scotland
N:Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth
I:abc2nwc
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
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-----------------
Learned in Brisbane (by Musieta- mudcat post), Australia ca 1944 from a school songbook of traditional UK songs.
One Friday morning when we set sail on our ship not far from land.
'twas there we espied a fair pretty maid
With a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand,
With a comb and a glass in her hand.
Chorus:
And the raging seas did roar-or-oar (sung up the octave)
And the stormy wynds did blow
And we jolly sailorboys
were up, were up aloft
And the landlubbers lying down
below, below, below
And the landlubbers lying down below.
Then upspake the captain of our gallant ship
And an upright man was he,
I have married a wife in fair Bristol town,
And tonight she a widow will be, will be, will be
And tonight she a widow will be.
Then uspake the mate of our gallant ship
And fair spoken man was he
I have left me a sweetheart in fair London town,
And tonight she will weep, will weep for me, for me for me
And tonight she will weep, will weep for me.
And then upspake the little cabin boy
And very brave boy was he,
I've a mother and father in fair Boston town,
And tonight they will wait, will wait for me, for me, for me
And tonight they will wait, will wait for me.
Then three times round went our gallant ship,
And three times round went she,
And three times round went our gallant ship
As she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea
And she sank to the bottom of the sea.
------------------
The Mermaid
E. T. Wedmore
Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 3, No. 11 (1907), p. 139
THE MERMAID.
Mr. E. T. Wedmore kindly contributes the following very interesting version of
words (for tunes and other words see Journal, Vol. iii, No. 10, p. 47), which he noted
from Mrs. Anne Down, Brake Brook, Parracombe, N. Devon, in I899. Mrs. Down
was then considerably over eighty, and had known the song from childhood. Mr.
Wedmore noted no tune.
Come all you jolly seamen bold
That ploughs the raging main,
Come listen to my tragedy
That you may do the same.
I parted from sweet Molly dear,
The girl that I adore,
The raging main and stormy winds
And raging billows roar.
I had not sailed but seven months
The stormy winds did rise,
The waves they flowed in mountains high,
And dismal looks the sky.
As we were steering of our ship
Our Captain he did cry
" Lord have mercy on us all,
For in the deep we lie! "
The mermaid on the rocks she sat,
With comb and glass in hand,
" Cheer up, cheer up, you mariners,
You are not far from land!"
Aloft our bossin* climbs
Up the main top high,
He looks all round with watery eye,
No light nor land could spy.
" Let us steer our ship before the wind,
And from all rocks keep clear,
Upon the wide ocean we will remain
Till daylight does appear."
The first crack our ship did have
Our Captain he did cry
I Lord have mercy on us all,
For in the deep we lie ! "
The next crack our ship did have
In pieces went and never was seen more,
Out of eighty-seven seamen bold
Three of them got to shore.
* boatswain.
---
The Australian Folklore Society Journal No.24, Jan 1994
473
MERMAID, THE
or CLEAN SONG, THE. sec also DAY IN THE SUMMER, A
(Tunc; Sweet Violets)
l.'Twas Friday morn when we set sail,
2.There was a young sailor who looked through a glass.
1. Recalled from childhood by Ron Edwards, Ocean Grove, Vic, a 1945. It was a popular campfire song.
From Remembered Rhymes from Childhood 1991, page 38. Reprinted ^Australian Folklore Society Journal
No.24 1994 with the tune.
Chorus:-
Oh! the ocean waves may roll, may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow, (puff, puff!)
While we jolly sailors go skipping to the top,
And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below,
And the land-lubbers lying down below.
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,
And a well-spoken man was he,
"I have married a girl in London town,
"But to-night she a widow will be, will be, will be."
"But to-night she a widow will be" *
474
The Australian Folklore Society Journal No.24, Jan 1994
Then up spoke the cook of our gallant ship,
And a fat old cook was he;
"I care much more for my kettles and my pans
"Than I do for the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea."
"Than I do for the bottom of the sea."
Then up spoke the boy of our gallant ship,
And a well-spoken boy was he;
"I Vc a father and mother in Portsmouth town,
"But to-night they childless will be, will be, will be."
"But to-night they childless will be."
Then three times around went our gallant ship,
And three times around went she,
Then three times around went our gallant ship,
And she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
And she sank to the bottom of the sea.
2. Brad Tate sent the next version to me on 1 November 1993 with the following notes:
A Day in the Summer recalls another titled The Mermaid or The Clean Song. I recorded it from several
singers whilst collecting bawdy songs in Sydney during the 1960s, and also had it in holograph. Texts varied
little, the melody was Sweet Violets, popular in the early 1950s - itself derived from a bawdy item that elided
the crucial rhyme word. I suspect THE CLEAN SONG was spread by recordings of Oscar Brand, though
they were still banned in Australia then. The set he includes in Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads
(Dorchester Press, N.Y. 1960) concludes "with spleen", not "with steam".
See also A DAY IN THE SUMMER for a ballad based on the same pattern.
The Australian Folklore Society Journal No.24, Jan 1994
475
There was a young sailor who looked through a glass,
Spied a fair mermaid with scales on her —
Island, where seagulls fly over their nest,
She combed her long hair that hung over her —
Shoulders, and caused her to tickle and itch.
, The sailor cried out, therels a beautiful —
\ Mermaid, a sitting out there on the rocks,
The men came a "running, a'grabbing their —
Glasses, and crowded four deep to the rail.
All eager to share in this fine peace of—
News, which the captain soon heard from the watch.
He tied down the wheel and he reached for his —
Crackers and cheese, which he kept near the door,
In case he might someday encounter a —
Mermaid, he knew he must use all his wits.
Crying throw out a line, well lasso her —
Flippers, and then we will certainly find
If mermaids are better before or —.
Be brave my good fellows, the captain then said,
Good fortune will break through her —
Mermaid is heading to starboard, they tacked with despair,
Caught the fair mermaid just under her —
Elbow, and hustled her down below decks.
Each took a turn at her feminine —
Setting her free at the end of the farce.
She splashed in the waves landing flat on her —
After a while one man notices some scabs,
Soon they broke out with the pox and —
And the scratching was furious, cursing with steam,
This song may be dull but it's certainly clean.
--------------
The Australian Folklore Society Journal No.26, Oct. 1994_____________________________________________________543
But there was also a kind of singing game we played at Sunday School
picnics, forming a circle and with a boy and a girl in the middle who sang
alternate verses while the rest of us clapped, but I can only remember the
last verse now :
Boy - Ha ha ha: isn't she funny,
She doesn't want me but she wants my money
So I 11 not marry, marry marry marry,
I fll not marry her.
As for The Mermaid , we twerettaught that at school, about 1933 at the old
Caboolture State School. As I remember the words they ran :
On Friday morning we set sail and we were not far from the land
When we espied a fair mermaid with a comb and a brush in her hand, her hand,
A comb and a brush in her hand. b ^ * ^ ^ rtci <
Then the stormy winds did blow, and the tempest wild did roar
But we jolly sailor-boys were sitting up aloft
And the land-lubbers lying down below below below
And the landlubber^lying down below
..\'U) lip
Then up spoke the Captain of our gallant ship and a well-spoken man was he,
I've a wife and child in London Town but tonight she a widow will be, will be, will
be
But tqfeight she a widow will be. *
And the stormy winds (etc).
Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship and a fine little boy was he,
I've a mother and father in old Portsmouth Town and tonight they childless will be,
m . , x .. i.-.^,-, .-,-. ^ will be will be,
Tonight they childless will be.
And the stormy winds did blow (etc)
Then three times round went our gallant ship and three times round went she,
Three times round went our gallant ship then she sank to the bottom of the sea,
. * v i x +u v 4.4. 4- 4.v. tne sea the sea>
And she sank to the bottom of the sea.
And the stormy (etc).
This must have been available as sheet music, none of our teachers at
that time were folkies.