The Songs

1. Fire Down Below
2. Blow The Man Down
3. Roll The Old Chariots
4. South Australia
5. Cape Cod Girls
6. Bully In The Alley
7. Whiskey Johnny
8. Mingulay Boat Song
9. Rollin' Down To Old Maui
10. Haul Away Joe
11. Roll The Woodpile Down
12. All For Me Grog
13. Boney Was A Warrior
14. Fire Marengo
15. A Rovin'
16. Bold Riley-O

Who are The Eddies?


How To Purchase:

We will have CDs for sale at all of our gigs. You can also send an email with your mailing address and we'll make arrangements. The price is $15, which includes shipping and handling.

MP3 excerpts are coming soon. I think they're in the digital pipeline somewhere.

Thanks for your support.

Special thanks to: Barb Rose, Barb Jennetta, Maria McNamara, Ann Holt, Owen & Grace, Liz Miller, Kris and Art, Kia, Barra, John Kerr, Louie Killen, Bob Walser, MBOTMA, Steve Cerkvenik, the Irish Fair, and others to be named when I have more time. Let me know if your name should be on this list!

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Notes to the Songs

Fire Down Below (trad.) Sometimes the third song in our “fire” medley, this shanty has roots in the Caribbean. We learned it from renowned sea song scholar Bob Walser; coincidentally also a resident of the Twin Cities. One of the lines refers to the Midway Plaisances in San Francisco which is said to have been one of the first entertainment venues to feature hoochee coochee dancers. This song refers to them as “hula” dancers. In performance, Baker and Wabasha have been known to do an interpretive dance on this one. (2:32)

Blow the Man Down (trad.) This is one sea song that most people have heard. There are many versions that are sung. Most can be categorized as either stories about “sailor on shore gets drunk and gets in trouble with the law” or poetic musings that disguise references to women with descriptions of ships. Our version falls into the second category. (2:59)

Roll The Old Chariots (trad.) A shanty that provides almost a limitless opportunity to sing about the things guys think about. We take turns on the verses. This was the second song we learned together, back when we were a Book Club. See FAQ for additional details. (2:52)

South Australia (trad.) Another shanty. We once had the pleasure of singing this with Louis Killen, one of world’s best singers of traditional song. He has recorded many collections devoted to sea music. (2:03)

Cape Cod Girls (trad.) This shanty is notable because the verses do not refer to drinking, bending, rolling, women or the robust pursuit of pleasure ashore in any way. It is a sea song that we like the sound of and that we learned really quickly. It pretty much came out good the first time we sang it. Curtice learned in near the source. (2:45)

Bully In the Alley (trad.) This song is said to be of Caribbean origin. There is a lively debate as to the exact meaning of “bully” in the context of this song. We generally take the view that it refers to an alcoholically impaired state of being. (3:06)

Whiskey Johnny (trad.) A shanty with many verses about the allure and destructive power of drink. Stan Hugill thought this was one of the older shanteys to be passed down to the present. Kids love this one. It's a lovely morality ditty. (2:24)

Mingulay Boat Song The lyrics were penned by Sir Hugh S. Roberton (1874-1952) in the 1930s. The original tune was a pipe tune, "Creag Guanach"; from Lochaber. Moreover, the isle itself was abandoned in 1912, and therefore the song is not, as popularly fancied, authentic to the isle's fishing community. We love singing this one. (3:20)

Rollin’ Down to Old Maui (trad.) A rousing story describing the joys of a respite in Hawaii from the rigors of the north Pacific whaling grounds. Our version is mostly from Stan Rogers. (3:31)

Haul Away Joe (trad.) Our version of this shanty comes from Liam Clancy and Louie Killen. (2:14)

Roll The Woodpile Down A worksong that appears to have been from the southern U.S. Stan Hugill suggests this may originally have been a river song. (2:42)

All for Me Grog A.L. Lloyd recorded this song in 1956 for his Riverside album English Drinking Songs. He commented: "Here we have a sailor's song from the last bitter days of sail; a hard-scrubbed, threadbare relic of hearty “Yo-ho-ho” songs of old. Jack Tar is no longer jolly - his boots are scuffed, the rags of his shirt-tail flog him in the breeze, the alcoholic horrors are not far off and it's time to look for a ship again." We do a rollicking version. (4:07)

Boney Was a Warrior (trad.) The history of the Napoleonic era is summarized in nine simple verses. Some audience members are pleased and surprised they can speak French. Jean François has a prominent rôle. (1:28)

Fire Marengo (trad.) This shanty was almost certainly sung on ships at port in the southern U.S. It is likely of African-American origin. Although Marengo was the site of one of Napoleon’s many famous battles, that does not appear to be what the title refers to. In fact, no one seems to know for sure what it means. But is sure is fun to sing. (1:44)

A Rovin’ (trad.) This is a well-known tale of a sailor ashore looking for sexual gratification. Said to be one of the oldest known shanties. Is there a connection there? (2:58)

Bold Riley-O (trad.) Our version of this song is sung at a slow tempo. Less as a work song than a heartfelt song of farewell. It is our prettiest sea song. (3:39)

All songs are traditional and arranged ("eddy-fied") by The Eddies.