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about

In the nineteenth century, a fleet of merchant ships called the Black Ball Line sailed from Liverpool to New York and back again plying their cargo. What made the Black Ball Line famous was that their ships could, allegedly, do the round trip in seven weeks – a full week quicker than the rest. That meant that their crews got home and paid a week sooner than the rest and that, you would suppose, made the Black Ball Line extremely popular with sailors. So why would a song survive recounting a man ‘pressed’ to serve on such a successful operation? Search us! Maybe because it’s just a great tune.

lyrics

As I was out walking down Paradise Street – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down
So I upped and I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow
And yardarm to yardarm for New York away we did go.

But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down
Her mate knocked me out with the end of a spar – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down
Then it's starboard and larboard for fifty days straight I must haul
For Kicking Jack Williams the brigand commands the Black Ball.
Well there's tinkers, and tailors, and soldiers, and all – We say blow the man down…
We all shipped for sailors on board the Black Ball – We say blow the man down…
We gullible fools, we poor devils, how hard we must graft.
The cruel Captain orders “ye land lubbers lay fore and aft”

So it’s… Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down
Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down
A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down
A bonnie good ship and a bonnie good crew – give me some time to blow the man down

So rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – Blow the man down…
We will blow the man up and we’ll blow that man down – Blow the man down…
May I caution and give you fair warning before we belay,
Don't ever take heed of what Liverpool’s pretty girls say

Then at last, my fine boys, we are back round the rock – And it’s blow the man down…
And soon, very soon, we’ll be safe in the dock – And it’s blow the man down…
Older and wiser – our trials and our sentence complete
Then we’ll spend all our tin once again in old Paradise Street.

Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down
Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down
A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down
A bonnie good ship and a bonnie good crew – give me some time to blow the man down

Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down
Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down
A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down
Our tale being told it’s farewell and adieu…
– give me some time to blow the man down.

credits

from A Carousel for Fools, released June 21, 2015
Traditional - abridged and adapted by Mather & Robinson

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about

The Mather Robinson Band Salford, UK

Dave Mather and Pete Robinson grew up together in the north of England in the nineteen sixties and have been writing and performing music individually and as a team ever since. From Opera to rock to pop and now back to their roots in folk music. Mather & Robinson entertain audiences in the north west of England but if you ask them - they will hummmm. ... more

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