Rounding the Horn - sailor's song of a trip to Valparaiso.wmv

Rounding the Horn appears to be about the journey of HMS Conway to Valparaiso in 1835. Darwin sent letters and specimens back to England on her just prior to embarkation on The Beagle in Valparaiso, though the song suggests that the sailors were more concerned with simple pleasures than profound thoughts on evolution and the Origin of Species. In this song the ship is often named as the HMS Amphitrite, but this was a brig that never rounded the horn. Sung by Alan Rosevear in Exeter. Roud No. 4706.

ROUNDING THE HORN
The gallant frigate, Conway, she lay in Plymouth Sound,
Blue Peter at the foremast head for we were outward bound;
We was waiting there for orders to send us far from home;
Our orders they come for Rio, and thence around Cape Horn.
Next day, we weighed our anchor, boys, and waved goodbye all round,
And some of us we knew would never more see Plymouth Sound;
But still our hearts were light and gay, and when all was taut and snug
We foraged out the bumboat grog and each man filled his mug.
When we arrived in Rio we prepared for heavy gales;
We bent on all the rigging, me boys, bent on all new sails.
From ship to ship they cheered us as we did sail along,
And they wished us pleasant weather in the rounding of Cape Horn.
In beating off Magellan Strait it blew exceeding hard;
Whilst shortening sail two gallant tars they fell from the topsail yard.
By angry seas the ropes we threw from their poor hands was torn
We were forced to leave them to the sharks that prowl around Cape Horn.
Now when we got round the Horn, my boys, we had some glorious days
And very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso Bay.
Them pretty girls came down in flocks; I solemnly declare
That they're far before the Plymouth girls with their long and curling hair.
Because they love a jolly sailor when he spends his money free,
They'll laugh, they sing, they merry, merry be, they enjoy a jovial spree.
And when your money it is all gone they won't on you impose,
They are not like them Plymouth girls that'll pawn and sell your clothes.
So it's farewell to Valparaiso and farewell for a while,
Likewise to all them pretty Spanish girls all along the coast of Chile;
If ever l live to be paid off l'll sit and I'll sing this song:
"God bless them pretty Spanish girls we left around Cape Horn."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• English
• traditional
• folk
• song
• unaccompanied
• acappella

[rosevear99]

Thanks for the comment - our kitchen has very flattering acoustics - the angled skylight reflects the sound back and the stone floor just keeps it ringing, so people love to sing there.

[brightphoebus]

Lovely! Very Nice! And I love your choice of rooms to sing in as well, great reverb! ANd you hold that last note so well. : ) Ya know... you could cut an album Mr. Rosevear.