The Wild Goose/Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her

Original Track ID

SA1953.242.A4

Original Tape ID

SA1953.242

Summary

Two examples of shanties used by sailors as rhythmic songs to help their work:

Did you ever see a wild goose floatin on the ocean?
[Refrain:] Ranzo, Ranzo, way-a-way.
It's just like them pretty girls when they take a notion.
[Refrain:] Ranzo, Ranzo, way-a-way.

O times are hard and the wages low.
[Refrain:] Leave her, Johnny, leave her.
I'll pack me bags and go below.
[Refrain:] It's time for us to leave her.

[Likewise:]
I pray that we may never be ...
On a hungry bitch the like of she ...

We're shiftin green, and we're shiftin hard ...
From Brooklyn Docks to the Liverpool Yard ...

Item Notes

For 'The Wild Goose' (Roud Folk Song Index no. 328) see:
'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' (W. M. Doerflinger, 1972) pp. 32-33

For 'Leave Her Johnny' (Roud 354) see:
'American Songbag' (C. Sandburg, 1927) p. 412
'Sam Henry's Songs of the People' (G. Huntington, 1990) p. 96
'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' (W. M. Doerflinger, 1972) pp. 89-90

Recording Location

Language

English

Genre

Song Information

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R328 R354

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good