So Handy, My Boys/ Hand O'er Hand/ Handy, Me Boys (B) [482-483] (360-361)

These are just short, comparative examples of variant versions collected of the widespread chantey, "So Handy, Me Boys." My performance of Hugill's main version, (A), is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaKzDV5Fu8&fmt=18

In addition to that, he gives one line of a form he learned in Australia. It has a sort of contrary rhythm (I wonder if it's a mistake), but otherwise sounds the most "classic" chantey-like to my ear.

Hugill also reproduced samples from Davis & Tozer's collection (1887), and from the Shell Book of Shanties (1952). Tom Sullivan, for the recording made aboard the brig UNICORN, seems to have used the Shell version.

I'm not sure just what Hugill's rational was; if one is comparing, there are (were) other variable versions worth noting. Harlow (1948) and Colcord (1924) gave versions that were similar to each other's and yet different from all of these. Doerflinger's (1951) is closest to theirs. It was immortalized on record by his informant, Dick Maitland (on a Smithsonian album). LA Smith's (1883) was quite similar. Odd that Hugill did not use this latter strain of variant for comparison.

Incidentally, it is the version (from the singing of Maitland) in Doerflinger's book which has become the "standard" Revival version. The Critics Group in the 60s record a somewhat disappointing verbatim rendition of this book version.

The Shell example is called "Hand O'er Hand," but I see no indication that it was necessarily used as a hand over hand chantey, and it's unclear why it was titled that!

See the whole "Shanties from the Seven Seas" project, here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=58B55DD66F22060C

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sea
• shanty
• chantey
• chanty
• song
• example
• hand
• over
• so
• handy
• dandy
• randy

[raymondcrooke]

Another excellent educational video from Ranzo!

[philipsmovies]

Excellent. Thanks Ranzo.