Old Swansea Town Once More (A) [431-432] (323-324)

This is the sailors' chantey version (quite different actually) of the Welsh song by the same name. Hugill says that it was especially popular as a homeward bound chantey in Welsh ships of the Copper Ore Trade in the 1870s-80s especially. For the windlass or capstan.

(oops, I accidentally metathesized "Farallones")

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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• swansea
• town
• shanty
• sea
• chantey
• windlass
• bristol
• channel
• frisco
• cape
• horn

[osullivanbere]

What bothers me about this version of the tune/lyric is this: The Swansea Cape Horners were in their height in the 1860s to 1890s. But these lyrics refer to the Golden Gate, San Francisco? which was build as late as 1930s. Also did the Cape Horners sail to Frisco? No for all the records show the Swansea Cape Horners never went further north than Chile.

This leads me to conclude this version (which I do like) of the tune/lyrics are relatively modern; i.e. 20th century .

[hultonclint]

Thanks for the great comment. Well, the Golden Gate refers to the strait or channel that leads into the Bay...not the bridge :)

You make a good point about Chile. They did go to Frisco too (tho perhaps a lot less, as you suggest). The metal ores were brought to the coast from as far inland as Utah, it seems. Maybe also sailors from other ports in the Bristol channel (who went to Frisco more) adopted it as a general Welsh reference.

[raymondcrooke]

Good to hear an authentic rendition of this song. Most people, including me, are more familiar with the Irish version.

[hultonclint]

Thanks for the response, Raymond. I, too, was previously only familiar with the Irish "drinking song" type version. It's been hard to learn the others with that one in mind! So far I've found these others:

-Sailor's version of the Irish "Holy Ground", which focuses on the port town of Cobh

-Sailor's version of Welsh "Swansea Town" (this one), which has a definite shanty "feel"

-the "standard" Welsh "Swansea Town," which I have yet to learn -- but soon!

[hultonclint]

ooh, and also a Scottish one, "Campbeltown Once More"