Mister Stormalong [71-75] (65-68)

[viennashade]

By the way, you've whetted my appetite to see the 1956 Moby Dick with one of your clips. Do you know if there's a streamable version online anywhere? I could only find the Patrick Stewart version, but I'd rather see the other.

[hultonclint]

No, sorry, I've not run across a streaming version on-line. I borrowed the DVD from my local library.

[viennashade]

That is a great idea, which believe it or not I would not have thought of myself!

[viennashade]

Yeah, I figured it was something like that, only I was thinking more a corruption of 'tell me.' All shanties vary, of course, but what amazes me more is how much they're the same! With no iPods, or even radio, still this stuff got passed around and around, in at least a recognizable form. Meaning a sailor not only survived a voyage but went on to other ships, becoming a carrier. If they didn't get sung on shore much, or written down, well, you know the reputation of whisper down the lane...

[hultonclint]

yeah! That is definitely a part of the fascination, I think, at least for me. To make a reverse point though, too -- the fact that, at some point certain versions were notated down in print probably gives a little too stable a picture. it varies a lot, because some were just so widespread that they were very consistent -- especially since a lot were based on pre-existing songs. Others are so variable that we can hardly make sense out of one person's version versus another.

[viennashade]

Hey thanks for demonstrating this song. Along with the way hey's and rye-o's one of the calls sometimes heard between lines in shanties sounds something like tibby or timmy, as in the rendition here - wondering if anyone knows where that comes from, or can shed some light.

[hultonclint]

Thanks for your interesting comment. I don't know where it "came from" per se, but I do have an understanding of how it works (at least I think so). I assume it to be a reduction of "to me", something equivalent to saying "and a" as in "and a 1, and a 2". It is like a musical "pick-up" that leads into and cues the chorus phrase that comes after. Like, "HERE IT COMES...." In all cases it leads up to the word/note that is emphasized (where the effort occurs).