An English song that has American and Canadian versions equally as popular today, and many more variations besides.  It is also sometimes referred to as “Yankee Whalermen”, and other people include verses with references to the harbour in New Bedford, or along the Massachusetts coast, or whatever.

The song “Spanish Ladies” was registered in the English Stationer’s Company; 14 December 1624. It appears again in the 1796 logbook of HMS Nellie; it has been postulated that the mention in the Nellie‘s logbook is proof that the song as we know it was created during the War of the First Coalition (1793–96), when the Royal Navy carried supplies to Spain, who at this time was an ally to Britain against France.  The ballad gained general popularity within many Naval circles but crossed over to the merchant service and even reformed as a homeward-bound chantey sung while stomping ’round the capstan, and one reference stating that it found itself as a pumping chantey, as well.  In the time honoured tradition, different people utilized different lyrics and even wrote some of their own.  Below is how Cliff presents the song.

Jos. Morneault

 

Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
For we’ve received orders to sail for New England
And we hope for to see you in a short time again.

Chorus:

.     We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true Yankee Whalermen
.     We’ll rant and we’ll roar on deck and below
.     Until we sight Gayhead off old Martha’s Vineyard
.     And straight up the channel to New Bedford we’ll go.

 

Well, I’ve been a sea cook and I’ve been a whalerman
I can dance, I can sing, I can walk a jibboom.
I can handle the harpoon and cut a fine figure
Whenever I’m up in a ship’s standing room

Chorus:

I went to a dance last night in old Tomby.
There were plenty of girls there as fine as you wish.
There was one pretty maiden a chewin’ tobacco
Just like a young kitten a chewin’ fresh fish.

Chorus:

Come all you young men; drink up your full bumper.
Come all you young men; drink up your full bowl.
Let’s drink, and be merry, and drown melancholy.
Here’s a health to each jovial and true hearted soul!

Chorus:

Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
For we’ve received orders to sail for New England
And we hope for to see you in a short time again.

Final Chorus: