"Doodle Let Me Go" also known as "Yeller Girls" "Yallar Gals" and other variations, sung by the RX Shantymen.

Doodle Let Me Go

THE GRIMSBY LADS
Words and music by John Conolly and Bill Meek.

Written in the 60s, the composers wrote the following notes on the song:

 "This is one of the first songs we ever wrote together...and it is more popular in 1998 than it was over thirty years ago! We have recently received recordings of it from Holland, Germany, Denmark and Poland. It is a simple tribute to the men who did the toughest job in the world...the deep-sea trawler men whose triumphs and disasters were an integral part of our growing up, and whose lives we have tried to chronicle in many of our songs."

And here are the notes about this song from Roy Palmer's book the Oxford Book of Sea Songs:

"Distant water fishing has greatly declined since 1966 when John Conolly and Bill Meek wrote this song, but the skill and hardiness of trawler men remain the same. Both writers were brought up within smell of Grimsby Docks. Conolly, born in 1941, had a grandfather who was a local shipwright. Meek was born in 1937, and his father worked on the docks as a 'lumper' (fish-handler). They set out to write of the trawling industry since they felt that 'the men who did the most dangerous job in the world deserved to be celebrated in song'.

The Grimsby Lads

Hanging Johnny
Long Drag Shanty

LYRICS:
They call me hanging Johnny,
Away, boys, away!
They say I hang for money!
So hang, boys, hang down!

2. They say I hanged my mother,
Away, boys, away!
My sisters and my brothers
So hang, boys, hang down!

3. They say I hanged my granny,
Away, boys, away!
I strung her up so canny
So hang, boys, hang down!

4. They say I hung a copper,
Away, boys, away!
I gave him the long dropper
So hang, boys, hang down!

5. I'd hang the mates and skippers,
Away, boys, away!
I'd hang 'em by their flippers
So hang, boys, hang down!

6. A rope, a beam, a ladder,
Away, boys, away!
I'll hang ye all together
So hang, boys, hang down!

7. Hang `em from the yardarm,
Away, boys, away!
Hang the sea and buy a pigfarm
So hang, boys, hang down!

8. They say I hang for money,
Away, boys, away!
Hanging ain't bloody funny
So hang, boys, hang down!

9. They call me hanging Johnny,
Away, boys, away!
Ain't never hanged nobody
So hang, boys, hang down!


Hanging Johnny

Ranzo Ray

There has been renaissance in Shanty singing and maritime music generally in recent years, Hastings in East Sussex has been at the forefront of this renaissance. Partly responsible for the re-emergence of this maritime tradition in Hastings – a small fishing town with one of the few beach-launched fleets remaining in the UK - have been the individuals who together make up the RX Shantymen - Mick Bovee, Tom Kelly, Scott Reid & Jon Tigwell.

They got together after having been heard singing individually, it was suggested that they would make a great sound together (public opinion was right!!). Their mission is quite simply to spread the gospel of Shanty singing and maritime music, entertain their audience and have a good time doing it.

For bookings and inquiries contact scott@rxshantymen.com

RX Shantymen

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