“Paddy, Get Back”
Alternate titles:
“Mainsail Haul”; “The Liverpool Song”; “Valparaiso Round the Horn”
Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1898
Found in: US(MA) Canada(Mar) Britain(England(Lond))
Description
Shanty, with long chorus, "Paddy, get back, Take in the slack, Heave away your capstan," etc. The song details how the poor boy has to go to sea to earn money, then suffers at the hands of weather, mate, and a long voyage
Cross references
- cf. "The Liverpool Song" (form, lyrics)
Recordings
- George Ling, "On Board the Leicester Castle" (on Voice02)
- Richard Maitland, "Paddy, Get Back" (AFS, 1939; on LC26)
References
- Doerflinger, pp. 54-55, "Paddy, Get Back" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Colcord, pp. 121-122, "Paddy Get Back" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Hugill, pp. 321-327, "Paddy Lay Back" (3 texts, 3 tunes with variants) [AbEd, pp. 241-244]
- Shay-SeaSongs, pp. 68-70, "Paddy Get Back" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Smith/Hatt, pp. 42-43, "Lay Out, Tack Sheets and Haul" (1 text)
- DT, PADLAYBK
- Roud #653
- BI, Doe054
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008
by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.