“So Handy”

Description

Shanty. Characteristic line: "Handy, me boys, so handy!" The song tells of how the good crew came together: "You've got your advance and to sea you must go, Handy... Around Cape Horn through frost and snow, Handy..."

Supplemental text

So Handy
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From William Main Doerflinger, Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman,
revised edition (1972), p. 12. From the singing of Richard Maitland,
Sailor's Snug Harbor.

Handy high and handy low,
  Handy, me boys, so handy,
Oh, it's handy high and away we'll go,
  Handy, me boys, so handy!

You've got your advance and to sea you must go,
  Handy, me boys, so handy,
Around Cape Horn through frost and snow,
  Handy, me boys, so handy!

(8 additional stanzas)

Recordings

• Richard Maitland, "So Handy, Me Boys, So Handy" (AFS, 1939; on LC27)

References

1. Doerflinger, p. 12, "So Handy" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Colcord, p. 76, "So Handy" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Harlow, pp. 142-143, "So Handy, My Boys, So Handy" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Hugill, pp. 479-484, "Handy, Me Boys," "Hand O'er Hand" (3 texts, 3 tunes) [AbEd, pp. 357-361]
5. Sharp-EFC, XLII, p. 48, "So Handy" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. ST Doe012 (Partial)
7. Roud #814
8. BI, Doe012