The Limerick Shanty [512-513]

"Obviously any limerick could be adapted to this shanty," writes Hugill. And that is the fun of it. Limericks, however, unlike the typical rough couplets of most chanties, take a little bit of time to think up; one can't really improvise them on the spot.
Well, "for the record," I have used the "authentic period" limericks given by Hugill, which he gets via a "Captain Eric Atterling, 1907." Added a few of my own, of course (replete with mistake/memory slip). I omitted the very first "verse" limerick that Hugill gives, as it seems to be a ridiculous bowdlerization. It neither corresponds to the classic "clean" (word-play) version, nor the "dirty" version. It is obvious that some bad language and/or "dirtiness" is being covered up, but it still seems kind of lame. I rejected it, but for the historical record, here it is:

" There was a man of Kentucket
He came across in a bucket
When they thought he was dead
He shot up his head
'Go to blazes you suckers!' "

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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• limericks
• sea
• shanty
• chantey
• chanties
• sailor
• songs
• nautical
• bawdy
• funny

[hultonclint]

@yugandali I didn't know either, but apparently...possibly...limeri­cks were originally sung. Thanks!

[hultonclint]

@oopspaw Hi Katie, thanks.

[yugandali]

That's funny! I'd never heard a limerick sung before.

The elephants walked around, the band began to play, hurrah! Well done.

[oopspaw]

i had no idea that limericks don't lend themselves well to improvisation. very cool ... =}