Blow the Man Down

Blow the Man Down

Blow the Man Down is a sea shanty. The lyric "Blow the man down" refers to the act of knocking a man to the ground.
Contemporary publications and the memories of individuals, in later publications, put the existence of this shanty by the 1860s. The Syracuse Daily Courier, July 1867, quoted a lyric from the song, which was said to be used for hauling halyards on a steamship bound from New York to Glasgow. In 1879, George Haswell was passenger aboard another steamship, from London to Sydney, at which time he noted some of the shanties of the crew. These were published in the ships own fortnightly newspaper, The Parramatta Sun, and they included a full set of lyrics for "Blow the Man Down." The lyrics take up the theme of a ship of the Black Ball Line, and include the refrains, "Wae! Hae! Blow the man down / Give me some time to blow the man down." Although Haswell's article did not receive wide circulation, it did find its way into the hands of Laura Alexandrine Smith, whose own large collection of sailors' songs, The Music of the Waters (1888), was one of the first to be widely available. Smith reprinted the lyrics gathered by Haswell. She also presented a different version of the song that she herself presumably collected, and which was said to be used for hoisting topsail yards. Its lyrics include reference to a sailor coming home to England from Hong Kong, as well as meeting a girl on "Winchester Street."

Like most chanties of this type, "Blow the Man Down" was sung to a flexible combination of customary verses, floating verses from within the general chanty repertoire, and verses improvised in the moment or particular to individual singers. The song was of indefinite length, and created by supplying solo verses to an invariable two-part refrain. The structure is as follows:







and here is Lyric of Blow the Man Down



Lyrics for kid:


I'll sing you a song, a good song of the sea
With a way, hey, blow the man down
And trust that you'll join in the chorus with me
Give me some time to blow the man down

There was an old skipper I don't know his name
With a way, hey, blow the man down
Although he once played a remarkable game
Give me some time to blow the man down

His ship lay be-calmed in the tropical sea
With a way, hey, blow the man down
He whistled all day but in vain for a breeze
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Lyrics from Songs of the American Sailormen


Traditional - Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord

As I was a-walking down Paradise Street,
To me way-aye, blow the man down!
A Liverpool bobby I chanced for to meet,
Give me some time to blow the man down!

Says he, "You're a Blackballer by the cut of your hair;
To me way-aye, blow the man down!
I know you're a Blackballer by the clothes that you wear.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

"You've sailed in a packet that flies the Black Ball,
You've robbed some poor Dutchman of boots, clothes and all."

"O policeman, policeman, you do me great wrong;
I'm a `Flying Fish' sailor just home from Hongkong!"

They gave me six months in Liverpool town
For kicking a p'liceman and blowing him down.

Traditional - Lyrics from Songs of The Sailor and Lumberman, by William Doerflinger


Oh, blow the man down, Johnny, Blow him right down,
To me way - ay, blow the man down,
Aw, blow the man down for a half a crown,
Gimme some time to blow the man down!

As I was a-walking on Paradise Street,
To me way - ay, blow the man down,
A sassy policeman I chanced for to meet,
Gimme some time to blow the man down!

Says he, "You're a Yank by the cut of your hair,
And you've robbed some poor Dutchman of the clothes that you wear."

"Oh no, Mister Policeman, I know you are wrong!
I'm a deep-water sailor just home from Hong Kong."


Traditional - Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay


Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down,
Way ay - blow the man down,
O Blow the man down in Liverpool town.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

As I was walking down Paradise Street,
Way ay - blow the man down,
A brass-bound policeman I happened to meet.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Says he, "You're a Black-Baller by the cut of your hair."
"I know you're a Black-Baller by the clothes that you wear."

"O Piliceman, O Piliceman, you do me great wrong."
"I'm a Flying Fish Sailor just home from Hong Kong."

They gave me three months in Walton Gaol,
For booting and kicking and blowing him down.

Traditional - Lyrics mailed to me by Steven Pla


Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down!
Way, hey, blow the man down,
Oh, Blow the man down, bullies, blow him right down!
Oh, gimme some time to blow the man down.

As I was a-rollin' down Paradise Street,
Way, hey, blow the man down,
A big Irish copper I chanced for to meet,
Oh, gimme some time to blow the man down.

"Oh, you're a blackballer by the cut of your hair,
And you're a blackballer by the clothes that yez wear!"

Policeman, policeman, you do me great wrong,
I'm a flying-fish sailor just home from Hong Kong.

"No, you're signed on some packet that flies the black ball,
And you've robbed some poor Dutchman of boots, clothes, and all."

So, I smashed in his face and I stove in his jaw,
Sez he, "Look here, young fella, you're breakin' the law."

Well, they gave me six months in Liverpool town,
For a-beatin' and a-kickin' and a-blowin' him down.

A Liverpool ship and a Liverpool crew,
A Liverpool mate and a Scouse skipper, too.

We're Liverpool born, boys, and Liverpool bred,
Thick in the arm, boys, and thick in the head.

Traditional - Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord


Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down!
To me way-aye, blow the man down.
Oh, Blow the man down, bullies, blow him right down!
Give me some time to blow the man down!

As I was a-walking down Paradise Street,
To me way-aye, blow the man down.
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow,
So I took in all sail and cried "Way enough now."

I hailed her in English, she answered me clear,
"I'm from the Black Arrow bound to the Shakespeare."

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow,
And yardarm to yardarm away we did go.

But as we were going she said unto me,
"There's a spanking full-rigger just ready for sea."

That spanking full-rigger to New York was bound;
She was very well manned and very well found.

But soon as that packet was clear of the bar,
The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar,

And as soon as that packet was out on the sea,
`Twas devilish hard treatment of every degree.

So I give you fair warning before we belay;
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say.

Traditional - Lyrics from Capstan Bars, by David Bone


Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies. Blow th' man down.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh! Blow th' man down bullies. Blow 'im right down.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

As I was walkin' down Paradise Street,
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
A smart little clipper I chanced for to meet.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Her flag was three-coloured, I couldn't tell which.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' from her appearance, I took 'er for Dutch.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

She was round in th' corner an' bluff in th' bow.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' I hailed her in English, an' took 'er in tow.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

I tipped 'er my flipper an' off we did go.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
To th' "Anchor an' Crown" where my money did show.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh, it's "Are ye a rouster from off th' Black Ball?"
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
"An' robbed some poor sailor o' boots, clothes an' all."
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

"Oh, no, Missus Harty. You do me quite wrong."
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
"I'm a flyin'-fish sailor, just in from Hong Kong."
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Traditional - Lyrics from Songs of The Sailor and Lumberman, by William Doerflinger


Come all you young fellows who follow the sea,
To me way, hay, blow the man down,
Now, please pay attention and listen to me,
Give me some time to blow the man down!

I'm a deep-water sailor just come from Hong Kong.
To me way, hay, blow the man down,
If you give me some whiskey I'll sing you a song.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

On a trim Black Ball liner I first served my time.
On a trim Black Ball liner I wasted my prime.

When a trim Black Ball liner's preparing for sea,
You'd split your sides laughin', such sights you would see.

There's tinkers and tailors, shoemakers and all,
They're all shipped for sailors on board the Black Ball.

When a big Black Ball liner's a-leaving her dock,
The boys and the girls on the pierhead do flock.

Now, when the big liner is clear of the land,
Our bosun he roars out the word of command.

"Come, quickly lay aft to the break of the poop,
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot!"

"Pay attention to orders, now you one and all,
For see, right above you there flies the Black Ball!

"`This larboard and starboard on deck you will sprawl,
For `Kicking Jack' Rogers commands the Black Ball!"

Traditional - Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord


Come all you young fellows that follow the sea.
To me way-aye, blow the man down!
Now pray pay attention and listen to me.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

I'm a deep-water sailor just come from Hongkong;
To me way-aye, blow the man down!
If you'll give some whiskey I'll sing you a song.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

On a trim Black Ball liner I first served my time,
And in that Black Baller I wasted my prime.

It's when a Black Baller's preparing for sea,
You'd split your sides laughing the sights you would see,

At the tinkers and tailors and sojers and all,
For you'll seldom find sailors aboard a Black Ball.

'Tis when the Black Baller is clear of the land
The crew musters aft at the word of command.

"Lay aft," is the cry, "to the break of the poop,
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot."

"Pay attention to orders, now you one and all,
For see, right above you there flies the Black Ball."

'Tis larboard and starboard on deck you will sprawl,
For Kicking Jack Williams commands that Black Ball.

Traditional - Lyrics from Capstan Bars, by David Bone


Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies. Blow th' man down.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh! Blow th' man down bullies. Blow 'im right down.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Come all ye young fellers that follows th' sea.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
I'll sing ye a song if ye'll listen t' me.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

'Twas in a Black Baller I first served my time.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
And in a Black Baller I wasted my prime.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

'Tis when a Black Baller's preparin' for sea.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Th'sights in th' fo' cas'le is funny t' see.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Wi' sodgers an' tailors an' Dutchmen an' all.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
As ships for prime seamen aboard th' Black Ball.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

But when th' Black Baller gets clear o' th' land.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
It's then as ye'll hear th' sharp word o' command.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh! It's muster ye sodgers an' tailors an' sich.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
An' hear ye're name called by a son of a bitch.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

It's "fore-topsail halyards", th' Mate he will roar.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Oh, lay along smartly, you son of a whore.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Oh, lay along smartly each lousy recroot.
W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!
Or it's lifted ye'll be wi' th' toe of a boot.
Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

Traditional - Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay


'Twas on a Black-Baller I first served my time,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
And on that Black-Baller I wasted my prime,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller's preparing for sea,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
You'd split your sides laughing at the sights you would see,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

With the tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
That ship for prime seamen on aboard a Black Ball,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller is clear of the land,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
Our boatswain then gives us the word of command,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

"Lay aft," is the cry, "to the break of the poop!"
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
"Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot."
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
For "Kicking Jack Williams" commands that Black Ball.
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller comes back to her dock,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
The lasses and lads to the pierhead do flock,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

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