Spanish Ladies
Homeward-bound Capstan Shanty
Traditional


SHANTY SINGERS AND BALLADEERS

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REVISED 02/07/08

 

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we have received orders to sail to old England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

Chorus: 
We'll rant and we'll roar like true English sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas;
Until we strike soundings in the Channel of old England:
From Ushant to Scilly 'tis thirty-five leagues.

We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'-west,  boys,
We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take;
T'was forty-five fathoms with a white sandy bottom
So we squared our main yard and up channel did make  (Chorus)

Now let every man drink up his full bumper,
Let every man drink up his full glass;
We'll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy,
And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass  (Chorus)


I first heard this in the film, "Jaws!"  Diane Hayes-Rügger made this a standard song for apprentices at King Richard's Faire in 1985.  This arrangement is different from some versions that I've seen or heard, including Hugill's, but is one that I prefer.

Ushant & Scilly are pronounced "OO-shant" & "Silly," respectively.  

LAURIE & WHITTLE "A New Chart of the British Channel from the Mouth of the Thames to Ushant and the Scilly Islands; from an actual survey revised, corrected and improved by John Stephenson, A Master in the Royal Navy." London. 1794. 20½X41. B/W as issued. (Two charts joined). A fine chart of the English Channel that includes the coast of France and the Channel Islands. The Straits of Dover, the Isle of Wight and the Solent and the entrance to the Bristol Channel. Detailed soundings appear throughout, bottoms and shoals. Tides & currents. Navigational notes indicated. All harbors & bays are located, with points and capes, & lighthouses. Rhumb lines cross the chart from a compass rose. Includes a decorative title cartouche with leaves, scroll and shell motifs. Two anchors with lighthouse and fishing boat offshore. A finely engraved chart, by two prominent chartmakers of the 18th century.