BLOW THE MAN DOWN
(19th Century Traditional Sea Shanty)

The Almanac Singers (Lead Vocal: Woody Guthrie) - 1941
Jack Teagarden & His Orch. - 1941

Also recorded by: Louis Killen, Burl Ives; Pete Seeger;
Roger Chartier; Tom Lewis; Tommy Faile; Richard Holmes;
Bill Smith; Norman Luboff Choir: ....... and others.




Come all ye young fellows that follow the sea
to my way hay, blow the man down
And pray pay attention and listen to me
Give me some time to blow the man down

I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
to my way hay, blow the man down
if you'll give me some grog, I'll sing you a song
Give me some time to blow the man down

'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time
to my way hay, blow the man down
And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime
Give me some time to blow the man down

'Tis when a Black Baller's preparing for sea
to my way hay, blow the man down
You'd split your sides laughing at the sites that you see
Give me some time to blow the man down

With the tinkers and tailors and soljers and all
to my way hay, blow the man down
That ship for prime seaman on board a Black Ball
Give me some time to blow the man down

'Tis when a Black Baller is clear of the land
to my way hay, blow the man down
Our Boatswain then gives us the word of command
Give me some time to blow the man down

"Lay aft," is the cry, "to the break of the Poop!
to my way hay, blow the man down,
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot!"
Give me some time to blow the man down

'Tis larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl
to my way hay, blow the man down,
For "Kicking Jack" Williams commands the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down

Pay attention to order, now you one and all,
to my way hay, blow the man down
For right there above you flies the Black Ball
Give me some time to blow the man down


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As recorded by THE ALMANAC SINGERS:


As I was out walkin' down Paradise street,
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet,
Give me some time to blow the man down!

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
So I took in all sail and cried "way enough now"
Give me some time to blow the man down!

I hailed her in English, she answered me clear
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
"I'm from the Black Arrow bound to the Shakespeare"
Give me some time to blow the man down!

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
And yard-arm to yard-arm, away we did go
Give me some time to blow the man down!

But as we were a-going she said unto me
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
"There's a spankin' full rigger just ready for sea"
Give me some time to blow the man down!

That spankin' full rigger to New York was bound
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
She was very well mannered and very well found
Give me some time to blow the man down!

But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar
Give me some time to blow the man down!

As soon as that packet was out on the sea
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
'Twas devilish hard treatment of every degree
Give me some time to blow the man down!

So I give you fair warning before we belay
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say
Give me some time to blow the man down!


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ALTERNATE VERSION (1):


Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
Give me some time to blow the man down

As I was a-walking down Paradise Street
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
A saucy young maiden, I happened to meet
Give me some time to blow the man down

I asked,"Where're you bound", she said, "Nowhere today"
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
"Now that's fine", I told her, "I'm headed that way"
Give me some time to blow the man down

We entered an ale-house looked down on the sea
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
There stood a policeman who stared right at me
Give me some time to blow the man down

Said he, "You're a pirate that flies the black flag"
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
"You've robbed some poor Dutchmen, and left them in rags"
Give me some time to blow the man down

"Oh, officer, officer, you do me wrong"
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
"I'm a freshwater sailor just in from Hong Kong"
Give me some time to blow the man down

But they jailed me six months in Old Lexington Town
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
For fighting and kicking and knocking him down
Give me some time to blow the man down

The adorable damsel, when she saw me fall
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
Took off with her hero, so handsome and tall
Give me some time to blow the man down

All ye sailors take warning before you set sail
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
If he's strong as an ox and as big as a whale
Think twice before you blow the man down

Come all you brave sailors who follow the sea
Way! Hey! Blow the man down
And join in a-singing this shanty with me
Give me some time to blow the man down


***********************


ALTERNATE VERSION (2):


Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies, blow th' man down
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies, blow 'im right down
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Come all ye young fellers that follows th' sea
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
I'll sing ye a song if ye'll listen t' me
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

'Twas in a Black Baller I first served my time
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
And in a Black Baller I wasted my prime
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

'Tis when a Black Baller's preparin' for sea
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Th'sights in th' fo' cas'le is funny t' see
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Wi' sodgers an' tailors an' Dutchmen an' all
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
As ships for prime seamen aboard th' Black Ball
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

But when th' Black Baller gets o' th' land
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
It's then as ye'll hear th' sharp word o' command
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh! It's muster ye sodgers an' tailors an' such
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' hear ye're name called by a son of a bitch
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

It's "fore-topsail halyards", th' Mate he will roar
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh, lay along smartly, you son of a whore
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh, lay along smartly each lousy recruit
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Or it's lifted ye'll be wi' th' toe of a boot
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!


*************************


ALTERNATE VERSION (3):


Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies, blow th' man down
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies, blow 'im right down
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

As I was walkin' down Paradise Street
Way! Hey? blow th' man down!
A smart little clipper I chanced for to meet
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Her flag was three-coloured, I couldn't tell which
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' from her appearance, I took 'er for Dutch
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

She was round in th' corner an' bluffin th' bow
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' I hailed her in English, an' took 'er in tow
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

I tipped 'er my flipper an' off we did go
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
To th' "Anchor an' Crown" where my money did show
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh, it's "Are ye a rouster from off th' Black Ball?"
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
"An' robbed some poor sailor o' boots, clothes an' all"
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

"Oh, no, Missus Harty. You do me quite wrong"
Way! Hey? Blow th' man down!
"I'm a flyin'-fish sailor, just in from Hong Kong"
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!