BLOW THE MAN DOWN (trad./ALMANAC SINGERS) (1800s/1941)

THE ALMANAC SINGERS, 1941: WOODY GUTHRIE, LEE HAYS, MILLARD LAMPELL, PETE SEEGER
(left to right)

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Lyrics as reprinted (with minor corrections by Manfred Helfert) in Ronald D. Cohen & Dave Samuelson, liner notes for "Songs for Political Action," Bear Family Records BCD 15720 JL, 1996, p. 87.
ORIGINAL ISSUE: "DEEP SEA CHANTEYS AND WHALING BALLADS," General Album G-20
(Gen 5016-A), 1941. [WOODY GUTHRIE, lead vocal]

As I was out walkin' down Paradise street,
To me way, hey, blow the man down!
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet,
Give me some time to blow the man down!

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow...
So I took in all sail and cried "way enough now"...

I hailed her in English, she answered me clear...
"I'm from the Black Arrow bound to the Shakespeare"...

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow...
And yard-arm to yard-arm, away we did go...

But as we were a-going she said unto me...
"There's a spankin' full rigger just ready for sea"...

That spankin' full rigger to New York was bound...
She was very well mannered and very well found...

But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar...
The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar...

As soon as that packet was out on the sea...
'Twas devilish hard treatment of every degree...

So I give you fair warning before we belay [sic]...
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say...

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