Blow the Man Down

Hugill says Blow the Man Down originated in the Western Ocean sailing packets – it was the war cry of the packet rats. “The Western Ocean law was the rule of the Fist, with a capital F. A man could even work his way up to be mate without a ticket, so long as he could handle himself and a tough crew.” A traditional halyard shanty, Hugill gives six versions, some mentioning Radcliffe Highway (London), some Paradise Street or Great Howard Street (both Liverpool). Most have had to be cleaned up considerably! Ours is a Liverpool variant, in which a “flying fish sailor” was somebody who preferred the warmth of the trade winds to the cold and misery of the Western Ocean.

Blow the Man Down
 
As I was a-walking down Paradise Street
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
A pretty young damsel, I chanced for to meet
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
I asked, "Where're you bound", she said, "Nowhere today"
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
I told her "That's fine, for I'm headed that way"
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
We entered an ale-house looked down on the sea
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
There stood a fat policeman who stared right at me
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
Said he, "You're a pirate that flies the black flag"
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
"You've robbed some poor Dutchmen, and left them in rags"
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
"Oh, officer, officer, you do me wrong"
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
"I'm a flying-fish sailor just in from Hong Kong"
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
But they jailed me six months in Old Walton Town
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
For fighting and kicking and knocking him down
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
This adorable damsel, when she saw me fall
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
Took off with her hero, so handsome and tall
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
Come all you brave sailors who follow the sea
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
And join in a-singing this shanty with me
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down
 
Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
To me Way! Hey! Blow the man down
Blow him right back to Liverpool Town
Oh, Give me some time to blow the man down.