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What is a Sailor

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The
aim of this site is to illustrate the songs, music, ditties and musical
yarns that have actually been sung and used by
the sailors of the Royal Navy in past centuries.
This
project has originated, because these naval ditty songs along with
the unique language associated with them, are in danger of being lost
for ever. - I therefore challenge all ex RN sailors to contribute
to this project and thereby save our heritage for future generations.
Although
there are many songs on the web with a maritime theme, very few of
them can truthfully be said to have ever been used by sailors of the
Royal Navy.
- In the 'Andrew', we have our own traditions, which musically
speaking, are structured upon certain types of song. Songs that are
in popular use, either in our Sods Opera concerts and messdeck song
sessions, or in our everyday life.
- The
Sods Opera or entertainment song, can feature the humorous, sentimental
ballad, folk or story song, and the bawdy items so loved on a sports
run.
-
The latter type tends to express the 'moment' of a situation
or the mood of the singer, and often incorporate spoken one-liners
or short dits.
-
Finally and closely related to the pevious group, there is a third
type, which is often used in a work or play situation. Not as some
might think to regulate the rate of work, but more to comment upon
the situation. Such songs are used to comment on an oppo's misfortune,
an anticipated run ashore, might be sung by a steamy, whilst
locating pipe runs, the navigator to spot the headlands of
bonny England, the leadsman to mark his effots with a heaving
lead and the Gunner to time his salutes.
In such context we can think of the sailor setting of ashore,
another doing his dhobying and a third singing an accompniment
to the bugle call for 'flying stations' etc.
In order to illustrate these properly it is our general intention
to provide information on the complete usage of any song or ditty,
noting how and when it would generally be performed.
In order that this might be done with
any authority, my own memories and observtions within the service
are insufficient and I desperately need your assistance, to provide
depth and colour to that information. So please enjoy a couple of
hours, wandering around these pages. Yet on reflection as your mind
inevitably travels back to those halcyon days - When you sat on the
focsle in the evening watch with flying fish landing amongst the links
of the anchor chain etc. Or remember, that sudden flash you get as
the tropic sun sets in its majestic array of colour. Recall those
glorious banyans spent on an idyllic afternon on deserted islands,
then remember, please remember that we need to know the songs you
sang.
On the other hand, Your memories may
recall those prickly sweaty times, you crawled in the bilges, cursing
the chef for putting sweetcorn on the menu, as you freed a blockage
in the sludge tank.
What ever the situation, misfortunate or trials.we need to pass these
songs and idyllic moments on to your grandchildren. Also don't forget
those shoert one liners , that tumbled off
the tonque during moments of stress; as we queued for our scran or
as we accidentally threw the cutlery into the gash chute. Perhaps
you recall those calls at the Crown & Anchor board or the Tombola
session.
So Please as you recall those
moments, send your fragments and odd verses and words into us here.
Don't assume somebody else will know a more complete version. THEY
DON'T
In
every case the songs illustrated here on this site, have either been
taken directly or auto biographically from the 'voice' of the Royal
Navy sailor. Each one is compiled in time and situation of performance,
so that we might attempt to date and catalogue there usage. So
please! if you recall any song, dit. etc. being used, please
email me with its details, hopefully
telling me where and when you sang it.
Also most importantly if you recall any song being used in the execution
of your duties. PLEase PLEAse PLEASE tell me about it - songs like
'She has a Face Like a Mess Deck Scrubber', (of which I only have
fragments) or perhaps it was something very saucy, performed at the
work face.
If
anybody recalls -
- Coaling
Ship please tell me about it!
- Did
you like myself ever sing a Shanty for a special task!
- Has
anybody out there holystoned the quarterdeck.
- Crossed
The Line.
- Sung
Naughty Words at Church Parade or to a Marching Tune.
- What
songs were sung at a Banyan
- Or
on Tropic Evenings with Flying Fish coming over the bow.
- Do
you have a description of how - or a scan of a photo of when the Hornpipe
was danced.
- Uckers
Shouts - See Games Section
- Names
we called the Scran - Tinkle Tinkle little Spoon,
- Tombola
Calls - Games Section
Please
any input no matter how seemingly trivial is bound to be the missing
piece of this jigsaw.
PS
Does Anybody know the full text of the Gunners call "Fire One
.etc. etc..."
I
welcome contact wih all of you and would enjoy hearing your opinion
on the site. Remember communication is a two way thing - I am also
here to help you remember those lost lyrics - We do extra-ordinarly
well at it.
Finally
- Remember even well known songs existed in many different variations.
As some ships have their very own version of 'Uckers', so they also
had their own songs and versions of songs.
So you old China fleet and Home Fleets hands. Please help with this
information, which probably only now rests with you,
and may well passover the bar without being recorded for future generations.
~~~
You
can
pass any information on to me here at this site to info@navysong.co.uk
or see the CONTACTS
page for more details -
Just
to have the information on why a song was sung would be sufficient,
but to have a few words or even a poor rendition of the tune would
be the equivalent for me of once again, participating in an up-harbour
night at sea after a long deployment.
Thanking
you in anticipation, Yours Aye,
Barry
E. Scott
Who Am
I -
Barry
E. Scott is both the Editor and Author of this site. He Served in
the Royal Navy between 1964 and 1993, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer
. During his time in the Andrew, he collected the Naval Ditty Songs
that were being sung around him. Since 1980, he has been actively
contacting other ex RN's for assistance in preserving the songs and
ditties of the Navy for future generations and has amassed information
on several hundred items from biographical sources.
What
Happens to this Collection -
Please
Follow the link - COLLECTION
on the Navigation Bar
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