Included here are some of the Royal Naval songs collected by the author
(Barry Scott) during his twenty eight years naval service. This primary
collection has been expanded from reference to various autobiographical
sources, books and collections. Also by the kind assistance of
you, my Naval Shipmates. Who, in noting that I had gone adrift have
brought me back on course.
These songs are here because you and other ex-Matelots have seen fit
to help preserve them for future generations, yet there are still many
gaps and omissions particularly with respect to tunes.
Please help to complete this project. If you remember singing any of
these, please write and tell me, when and in what context it was used.
Fleet Canteen, at work etc.
If I have been able to give a tune - BUT it is'nt the one you remember
please tell me or better still send me a tape (no matter how poorly
sung), so I can get the details right. I would be very grateful as would
all the sprogs of the latest generation of sailors.
Of course, you may also know of other songs, that are not mentioned
on these pages, please please tell me of those as well. Remember, all
these songs often had there own particular lives and there are sometimes
many versions circulating with extra or different verses. We need those
extra verses or examples, as it helps date the song and shows how widely
it was known. So please always email and tell me, what you might remember
and please mention in whay context it may have been heard. i.e. on HMS
??? in 1956 or whether it was the Atlantic or China Fleet favorite etc.
We are also interested
in whether, you sing a song to yourself whilst dhobying or perhaps think
to yourself something like "Away
the Noo - The Seaboats crew"
as you leave the house these short one liners are very very important,
as so few of them have been preserved, and no you are not odd, if you
come out with such short quips, this was part of that Naval doctrine,
which encouraged us to rattle out a dit about losing spoons over
the side or getting a feel of your oppo's burberry as
he stepped off ashore. What about those little songs you sang as the
bugle blared out its various calls.
If
you know the UCKERS song can you get in touch!!!
Don't
forget to check out the GAMES pages where Tombola calls and Uckers rules
are explained.
As
you will see certain songs can be quite bawdy, so although, I have
moved most of these to a seperate PAGE,
which you younger sprogs must stay away from, otherwise you may never
grow old enough to draw tickler coupons or tot...
However on occasion, when in our cups, some
of us do like to sing some of these very old favorites, that can contain
very explicite sexual material. So of course, if we are to talk about
and consider all naval songs, they must be featured here. But I asure
you, these are only usually heard on - Sports runs - In pussers
busses - or in the Royal Tournament bar at
he end of the show. But naturally MUM never on the messdeck. These
rude pieces can be found on the ODs
Page with a little explanation as to their origins
and use in the RN.
But
beware if
MUM is right, they can make you blind!
