Maggie May [404-408] (307-311)

The unofficial "official song" of Liverpool, in true sailor fashion, eulogizes one of the archetypal denizens of Sailortown. Actually, the song may have first described such a character in London, but in becoming attached to Liverpool, the appropriate places are named, such as: Canning Place, Paradise Street, and Park Lane. Even the Beatles-- being the mouthpiece for Liverpool in later days-- paid homage to it with a brief recording of this song. However, their version puts the territory of Maggie May on Lime St. Now the center of Liverpool (inland), it only became the sailor hangout in much later days, not the time to which the song refers when criminals were "transported" to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) (1830s-1850s)!

It appears to be based on the form of the song, "Darling Nelly Gray," written in 1856 by American composer Benjamin Hanby; in that song, "Nelly Gray" is an African-American sweetheart that has been taken away as a slave in the Southern U.S. As a chantey, "Maggie May" was adapted for use at the capstan, claims Hugill. He cites many different lyrical variations, although they all tell the same story. In the variants, still more place names pop up.

The photos in the montage show a few glimpses of what is left of Liverpool's old time Sailortown(s). In fact, most of the old stuff has been torn up and replaced by modern apartments and shopping complexes.

The common references to Paradise Street comes here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF0QEuHIPNQ

and to Great Howard St., here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OInKfWlt29A


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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• maggie
• may
• shanty
• chantey
• liverpool
• judies
• sailortown
• paradise
• street
• lime

[milyfusco]

this is the right tune but diffrent words to what i know where did u get the words x ?

[hultonclint]

This version comes from Stan Hugill's book "Shanties from the Seven Seas," found on the page numbers given in the title. With shanties that are supposed to have words varied/improvised, I do that, but with others, like this one, I tend to stick with the lyrics that Hugill collected in his sailing days and interviewing of sailors. So if I remember right, this comes straight out of there. Thanks for the comment.

[hultonclint]

ha ha, no, that's me overdubbed. When I overdubbed, I used the tiny computer-speaker sound as a reference, so I had to do a lighter tone of voice so as not to overpower it...hence it sounds slightly different than my normal voice!

[slopbucket74]

Did you overdub yourself or is that Rev?