{"id":4925,"date":"2018-03-02T15:12:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-02T19:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=4925"},"modified":"2019-08-20T11:12:30","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T15:12:30","slug":"blackthornes-chantey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=4925","title":{"rendered":"Blackthorne’s Chantey"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wonderful \u201csailor\u2019s song\u201d performed by a tipsy Captain Pilot John Blackthorn in the 1980 movie-mini series Shogun, based on the novel by James Clavell.\u00a0 Eric Bercovici was one of the producers for the series and when it came time for the scene Bercovici composed this little ditty for Richard Chamberlain (Blackthorn) to perform.\u00a0 It appears in a scene during which Blackthorne sits with three pretty, giggling servant girls and he is getting drunk on sake.\u00a0 He feels happy and he gets to his feet to sing this song and dance a “sailor’s hornpipe”; the door suddenly slides open and the high lord Toranaga and entourage appear, curious about the noise coming from the room.\u00a0 Blackthorne is subsequently obliged to perform the whole of the dance and ditty… Although of recent creation the song has the hallmarks of older folk songs and I think it worthy to add to the repertoire!<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, since I recorded this song on my CD, this song has been cited as traditional and printed in songbooks relating to chanteys; it is in fact NOT a traditional chantey and if you should have gotten your information about this song and lyrics through me, I would appreciate it if you cite me as your source.<\/p>\n

Jos. Morneault<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I promised her rings for her fingers
\nsparkling flowers for her flaxen hair
\nI swore that I’d never
\nbut stay by her side at the shore<\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fare-thee-well, oh you Barbary merchants
\nFare-thee- well to the Spanish blockade
\nFare-thee-well to the straits of Gibraltar
\nand the treacherous seas of Cathay<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I gave her my promise to marry
\nand took her sweet vow in return
\nI swore that I’d never
\nset sail in foul weather
\nbut stay by her side at the shore<\/p>\n

Chorus:
\n<\/strong>
\nI built her a cottage in Chatham
\ngave her children to sit by the fire
\nI swore that I’d never
\nset sail in foul weather
\nbut stay by her side at the shore<\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n

But our cottage is too small for a sailor
\nwithout the blue sea and the sky
\nThough I swore that I’d never
\nset sail in foul weather
\nI left her behind at the shore<\/p>\n

Final Chorus: 2x<\/strong><\/p>\n

|: Take me back, oh you Barbary merchants
\nlet me risk the Spanish blockade
\ncarry me to the straits of Gibraltar
\nand the treacherous seas of Cathay <\/em>:|<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n