Today's song is Rob's take on the shanty Bold Riley:
"'Oh the rain it rains, all day long' - how English is that. The English folk tradition is rich in nautical songs, notably The Shanty, although most have come a long way since being sung by the Jolly Jack Tars of yesteryear. To paraphrase the great Tom Lewis, if the sailors in those days had sung 'em at the pace we sing 'em now, they'd have died of exhaustion within the hour!
Shanties were work songs, and there were three main types, short haul, halyard and capstan, some were only ever sung on the outward voyage, others on the homeward leg, sailors being very superstitious. On the other hand, singing "Goodbye my darling" when you're on your way home does seem a bit daft.
Bold Riley is a great favourite at the Sunday Star session, backed here by Ali singing harmony and Tim's beautiful guitar work filling in the spaces.
And who was bold Riley? We don't know, and we don't care, but we do hope he made it safely back home to Mary."
Oh the rain it rains all day long,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
And the northern wind, it blows so strong,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Chorus
Goodbye my sweetheart,
goodbye my dear-o
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Goodbye my darlin',
goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Well come on, Mary, don't look glum,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Come White-stocking Day you'll be drinkin' rum
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Chorus
We're outward bound for the Bengal Bay,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Get bending, me lads,
it's a hell-of-a-way,
Bold Riley-o has gone away
Words taken from Kate Rusby's Bold Riley on the album Hourglass
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