Spanish Ladies (A) [384-385] (292-293)

Farewell and Adieu to You...

This famous song is well known...though many don't get past the first verse! The bulk of the text is either shipboard jargon or the geography of the English Channel, so it is not so easy to remember if those things are unfamiliar! A British navy song in origin, it was sung also as a homeward bound capstan chantey.

There are two common tunes it is sung to, this being the one in a major key.

Errata: I said "Portsmouth" where I should have said "Plymouth."

Also found in:
LA Smith 1888, Sharp 1914

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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• spanish
• ladies
• shanty
• chantey
• sea
• song
• Hiszpańskie
• Dziewczyny
• mujeres
• españoles
• English
• Channel
• La
• Manche

[Beemerboy324]

I have listened to a dozen versions or so. Half are major and half are minor. I prefer the former. And thanks for all of the chanties. We are putting together an album - one day.

[hultonclint]

@Beemerboy324 Sounds good, and thanks. As for the tune, the minor one is what's found in the oldest sources, I believe (e,g, Chappell, William: Popular Music of the Olden Time). However, the major one seems to have become popular in tradition in a later period.

[Glorious80s]

like it - nice one!

[BongSao1979]

What a wonderfully true voice Mr. Hollom has.

Indeed.

[666jimmysmusicgirl]

@hultonclint Or airoplanes in english. Yeah, I just found out about how famous Joe actually was... I had no idea... I've just known him for ages and he drinks in a local pub!!

[hultonclint]

@666jimmysmusicgirl Of course I do. There are such things as airplanes.

[666jimmysmusicgirl]

@hultonclint In the States??? No, I don't think you mean the same Joe Stead.

[hultonclint]

@666jimmysmusicgirl yeah, it was at a small "house concert" in the States. Why do you ask?

[666jimmysmusicgirl]

@hultonclint Did he sing for you?

[hultonclint]

@666jimmysmusicgirl Yes, I've met him.

[666jimmysmusicgirl]

Have you heard of Joe Stead?

[hultonclint]

@Omegace Thanks! The English folklorist Cecil Sharp published a collection of chanties in 1914.