Our Halliford Sea Shanty

The Halliford musicians could not miss the opportunity to record their very own sea shanty. They have suddenly become very popular following the hit by Scottish postal worker Nathan Evans.

Coordinated by our Director of Music, Mr Wright with highlights from Mr Shales and Mr Slocock, our students had great fun recording ‘Spanish Ladies’. This is a traditional British naval song, describing a voyage from Spain to the Downs from the viewpoint of ratings of the Royal Navy.

You can follow the lyrics below. Do enjoy!

Spanish Ladies

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies

Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;

For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England

But we hope in a short time to see you again

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues

We hove our ship to with the wind from sou’west, boys

We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take;

‘Twas forty-five fathoms, with a white sandy bottom

So we squared our main yard and up channel did make

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues

The first land we sighted was calléd the Dodman

Next Rame Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight;

We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover

And then we bore up for the South Foreland light

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor

And all in the Downs that night for to lie;

Let go your shank painter, let go your cat stopper

Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly!

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues

Now let ev’ry man drink off his full bumper

And let ev’ry man drink off his full glass;

We’ll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy

And here’s to the health of each true-hearted lass

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues

We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors

We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt seas

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues