Finn & Haddie, Yangtse River Shanty

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Yangtse River Shanty

as led by Barry Finn on Fathom This © 2007
Barry Finn and Neil Downey

by Hamish Maclaren, in Sailor with Banjo, © 1930
Capstan shanty adapted by Charlie Ipcar © 2002
Tune: Tommy's Gone to Hilo/Congo River

My lotus lady, I'll see no more,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
Since I left her on the China shore,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way!

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

When we first met, she was like a queen,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
Prettiest gal that I've ever seen,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way!

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

She'd flashin' eyes an' long black hair,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
All I could do was stand and stare,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

I bought her silks an' a golden comb,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
Trouble's o'er, now the anchor's home,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

I blowed my silver for to win her,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
There's nothing left but the donkey's dinner,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

We're homeward bound, cookie's in the galley,
A-way, boys, a-way-o!
Farewell, Young Moon, of the Yangtse Valley,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk a-way

A-way, boys, a-way-o,
Blow me down that Yangtse River,
A-way, boys, lift an' walk away!

Charlie Ipcar of Maine adapted the words of this shanty from Hamish Maclaren's 1930 folk opera Sailor With Banjo, then energized the song by setting it to a great tune (for which he's too modest to take credit); Barry readapted it to be sung at the capstan.