Old Swansea Once More (B) [432-434] (324-326)

Sing along on the chorus!

This is the more-or-less "standard" variant of the Welsh sailor's traditional song. I have already given the possibly-more-authentic chantey version, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzVY2yY7B6o
This now, is maybe a more polished version -- certainly the melody is prettier. Hugill writes: "This version has obviously been 'toned down' from original sailor singing, but it is the version that is current and accepted throughout the folk-song world."

Compare the less polished language of the sailor version (A) to this one (B), for example,
A: "But all I'm livin' in hopes to see is ol' Swansea town"
B: "But still I live in hopes to see old Swansea town."

Incidentally, this version uses the world "girl" consistently, whereas almost all chanteys I know use "gal."

Hugill never does claim this version to have been a shanty, but rather a forebitter.

This of course is the basis from which another famous variant sprung, the Irish song, "The Holy Ground," or, in its salty version, "The Cobh Sea Shanty":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzxSnMNrxpk

Please check out the whole chanteys project playlist, at
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=58B55DD66F22060C

Category:

Music

Tags:

• swansea
• wales
• welsh
• sea
• song
• forebitter
• deep
• water
• holy
• ground
• once
• more
• sailor

[Letitshine1]

That's realy very nice!

[hultonclint]

Thanks, friend!