> A.L. Lloyd > Songs > Whiskey Johnny
> Louis Killen > Songs > Whiskey Johnny / Whiskey Is the Life of Man
> Bellowhead > Songs > 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 Always was since the world began	Oh whiskey is the life of man Always was since the world began
Chorus (after each verse): Whiskey-o, Johnny-o Rise her up from down below Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o Up aloft this yard must go John rise her up from down below	Chorus (after each verse): Whiskey-o, Johnny-o Rise her up from down below Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o Up aloft this yard must go John rise her up from down below
Oh whiskey is the life of man Whiskey from an old tin can	Now whiskey made me pawn me clothes And whiskey gave me a broken nose
Whiskey made me pawn me clothes Whiskey gave me a broken nose	Now whiskey is the life of man Whiskey from an old tin can
I thought I heard the old man say I treat me crew in a decent way	I thought I heard the first mate say I treats me crew in a decent way
I treat me crew in a decent way Give them whiskey twice a day
A glass of whiskey all around And a bottle full for the shanty man	A glass of whiskey all around And a bottle full for the shanty man
Bob Roberts sings Whisky Johnny	Bellowhead sing Whiskey Is the Life of Man
O whisky is the life of man Whisky—Johnny O I'll get whisky where I can Whisky for me Johnny	Whiskey is the life of man Whiskey from an old tin can I like whiskey hot and strong And I'll drink whiskey all day long
Chorus (after each verse): O whisky here and whisky there, Whisky—Johnny O I'll get whisky everywhere Whisky for me Johnny	Chorus (after each verse): 𝄆 Whiskey-o, Johnny-o Rise him up from down below 𝄇 Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o Up aloft this yard must go Come rise him up from down below
O whisky made me pawn my clothes And whisky gave my this red nose	I'll drink it hot, I'll drink it cold I'll drink it new, I'll drink it old
O whisky killed my poor old dad And whisky drove my mother mad	Some like whiskey, some like beer I wish I had a barrel here
O whisky hot and whisky cold O whisky new and whisky old	Whiskey killed my sister Sue And whiskey killed by brother too
O whisky up and whisky down O whisky all around the town	Whiskey killed my poor old dad And whiskey drove my mother mad
O champagne's good and rum is free But whisky's good enough for me	If whiskey comes too near my nose It's up she comes and down she goes
	A glass of grog for every man And a bottle full for the shanty man

Danny Spooner sings Whiskey Johnny
Whiskey is the life of man, Bin this way since time began. Chorus (after each verse): Whiskey oh, Johnny oh, Rise her up from down below, Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey oh, Up aloft this yard must go, John rise her up from down below. Whiskey giv me this red nose, Whiskey make me pawn me clothes. When whiskey comes so near me nose, It's up it comes and down it goes. whiskey makes me friends, me foes, It makes me fight the mate also. A tot of whiskey for each man, And a bucketful for the shantyman. Whiskey stole me brains away, But I can 'ear the bosun say.

Danny Spooner sings Whiskey Johnny

Whiskey is the life of man,
Bin this way since time began.

Chorus (after each verse):
Whiskey oh, Johnny oh,
Rise her up from down below,
Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey oh,
Up aloft this yard must go,
John rise her up from down below.

Whiskey giv me this red nose,
Whiskey make me pawn me clothes.

When whiskey comes so near me nose,
It's up it comes and down it goes.

whiskey makes me friends, me foes,
It makes me fight the mate also.

A tot of whiskey for each man,
And a bucketful for the shantyman.

Whiskey stole me brains away,
But I can 'ear the bosun say.

Links

See also the Mudcat Café thread Origins: The Parting Glass.