“Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor”

Description

"Jack was every inch a sailor... He was born upon the bright blue sea." Having been brought up as a whaler, one day Jack is swept overboard and swallowed by a whale. He escapes by pulling the whale inside out

Notes

This is almost certainly a cleaned-up bawdy song. - PJS

The versions I know all seem more in the Paul Bunyan vein -- extraordinary exaggerations. (But maybe I don't have imagination enough.) I suspect Paul is referring to "Jack Is Every Inch a Sailor," which is similar only in its first line and metrical form, and which IS sexual in theme. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Ambletown" (occasional floating lyrics)
• cf. "Paddy and the Whale" (theme)
• cf. "The Catfish" (Banjo Sam) (fish story)

Recordings

• Omar Blondahl, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (on NFOBlondahl01,NFOBlondahl05)

References

1. Greenleaf/Mansfield 125, "Jack was Ev'ry Inch a Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Fowke/Johnston, pp. 40-41, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Doyle2, p. 13, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Doyle3, p. 33, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Blondahl, p. 56, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Silber-FSWB, p. 84, "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor" (1 text)
7. DT, EVRYINCH
8. Roud #4541
9. BI, FJ040