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Whiskey Johnny / Whiskey Is the Life of Man
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Whiskey Is the Life of Man
Whiskey Johnny / Whiskey Is the Life of Man
[
Roud 651
; Ballad Index Doe015
; trad.]
Thames barge skipper Bob Roberts sang the halyard shanty Whisky Johnny in a recording made by Peter Kennedy in the 1950s on the Saydisc CD Sea Songs & Shanties. He also sang Whiskey Johnny in on his 1978 Topic LP Songs from the Sailing Barges. A.L. Lloyd commented in the album's sleeve notes:
… As for the work-shanties, Haul Away, Joe, Whiskey Johnny and Leave Her, Johnny, Bob converts them into lyrical social songs for the sake of their choruses.
Ewan MacColl sang Whiskey Johnny with A.L. Lloyd singing chorus in 1957 on their Tradition album Blow Boys Blow. A.L. Lloyd commented in the album's sleeve notes:
Devoted antiquarians who imagine the shanties are ancient songs (in fact, few are more than a century-and-a-quarter-old) declare that originally it was malmsey that had the serious effects outlined by the shantyman. Chapter and verse for this statement are not given, however. Sailormen, interrogated on the point, have given the enquirer a sidelong glance and passed on. This halyard shanty was most often sung when the men were working aft near the skipper's quarters, in the enduring hope that his heart might melt, and he would order a tot for all hands.
Louis Killen sang this shanty as Whiskey Johnny in 1970 on his South Street Seaport Museum LP 50 South to 50 South and in 1973 with the Clancy Brothers as Whiskey Is the Life of Man on their album Greatest Hits (which was reissued in 2000 with a few extra tracks as the CD Best of the Vanguard Years).
Danny Spooner sang Whiskey Johnny on his 1988 album We'll Either Bend or Break 'Er.
Bellowhead sang Whiskey Is the Life of Man in 2008 on their CD Matachin. Jon Boden commented in the album notes:
Another shanty sung in both England and North America, this is based on the version sung by singer, Yorkshireman, international jet-setter and bearded legend Mr Graham Metcalfe to whom we dedicate the track.
Lyrics
Ewan MacColl sings Whiskey Johnny | The Clancy Brothers sing Whiskey Is the Life of Man |
---|---|
Oh whiskey is the life of man |
Oh whiskey is the life of man |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Oh whiskey is the life of man |
Now whiskey made me pawn me clothes |
Whiskey made me pawn me clothes |
Now whiskey is the life of man |
I thought I heard the old man say |
I thought I heard the first mate say |
I treat me crew in a decent way | |
A glass of whiskey all around |
A glass of whiskey all around |
Bob Roberts sings Whisky Johnny | Bellowhead sing Whiskey Is the Life of Man |
O whisky is the life of man |
Whiskey is the life of man I like whiskey hot and strong |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Chorus (after each verse): |
O whisky made me pawn my clothes |
I'll drink it hot, I'll drink it cold |
O whisky killed my poor old dad |
Some like whiskey, some like beer |
O whisky hot and whisky cold |
Whiskey killed my sister Sue |
O whisky up and whisky down |
Whiskey killed my poor old dad |
O champagne's good and rum is free |
If whiskey comes too near my nose |
A glass of grog for every man |
Danny Spooner sings Whiskey Johnny | |
---|---|
Whiskey is the life of man, Chorus (after each verse): Whiskey giv me this red nose, When whiskey comes so near me nose, whiskey makes me friends, me foes, A tot of whiskey for each man, Whiskey stole me brains away, |
Links
See also the Mudcat Café thread Origins: The Parting Glass.