“John Dameray”

Description

Shanty, with chorus, "John come down the backstay... John Dameray." The singer's mother urges him to come home; he decides to do so, for he has "no money and no clothes." He vows, "From sea I will keep clear, and live by selling beer"

Supplemental text

John Dameray
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From William Main Doerflinger, Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman,
revised edition (1972), pp. 8-9. Apparently from a manuscript by
Nathaniel Silsbee.

Aloft we all must go-oh,
  John come down the backstay,
In hail and frost and snow-oh,
  John come down the backstay,
  John Dameray!

  John Dameray -- John come down the backstay,  \
  John Dameray -- John come down the backstay,   |- TWICE
  John Dameray!                                 /

(4 additional stanzas)

References

1. Doerflinger, pp. 8-9, "John Dameray" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Hugill, pp. 272-273, "John Dameray," "Johnny, Come Down the Backstay" (2 texts, 1 tune) [AbEd, pp. 201-202]
3. ST Doe008 (Partial)
4. Roud #9439
5. BI, Doe008