Ballad of a Female Shanty Singer - Talitha Claypool Nelson

    I can't say I've been sailing long - ten years is not that much
    But I know the ropes o' the ol' big boats -b' God I know the songs
    I've hauled on many a halyard, and I've sailed up and down the coast,
    But ye seem t' think that a gender change is what I need the most!
    I'm a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts;
    I may not have the register - at least I've got the guts

    I started out in Mystic - a museum by the shore,
    And they all said; "What a natural! Never heard such a voice before!
    You may be the best shanty-man that we ever had,
    And when it comes to being authentic - well it really is too bad that
    You're a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts;
    You haven't got the register -at least you've got the guts!"

    When I sailed on board the Unicorn as Festival Shan
    I took the place o' the bo'sun's mate, and I worked as a deck hand;
    I had an idea as I worked on board, to record some songs at sea.
    But when it came to the recording - of course they couldn't use me!
    For I'm a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts;
    I haven't got the register - at least I've got the guts.

    When I signed on Young America I tried to play down my sex,
    I went out drinking with the boys, and I did my work on deck;
    I tried to prove I was in their league, and to impress them all
    I worked day and night seven days a week, but even then they'd call ;
    "You're a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts
    Ye haven't got the register, and ye haven't got the guts! "

    The engineer came out on deck, he thought to give us a hand,
    But when I showed him what to do -this he could not stand!
    So he went and got a gang of men, and threw me overboard,
    And as I swam back to the pier the anger in me roared:
    "You're a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts,
    You may not have the register -at least you've got the guts!"

    And when I got back to the ship - Oh I began to fume!
    I found that blackguard cowering down in the engine room;
    It made me loose my temper, and I drew out my knife --
    I may be a woman but I'm man enough to threaten your life!
    I'm a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts;
    I may not have the register -but at least I've got the guts

    Well, the first mate brought uS both to terms and I finished out the season
    I was happy to get off that boat -ye know I had good reason!
    I moved up north to Boston, to finish my degree
    In History of Music- Ethnomusicology
    I'm a female shanty-singer, no ifs ands or buts
    I may not have the register - at least I've got the guts

    And now I'm settled on the land - I've married the second mate
    I'm happy with my family, but there is one thing I hate
    To hear my favorite shanty songs sung in Glee Club style
    By men who've never been to sea - to me the sound is vile!
    For I'm a female shanty singer, no ifs ands or buts
    I may not have the register, but at least I've got the guts!

    © 1984 Talitha Claypool Nelson

    Disk

    Marco Giunco
    Work Basket Music Words