Eliza Lee

from Dancing Cranes by Whistling Treason

/

about

I got the lyrics for this traditional shanty from Stan Hugill's classic Shanties from the Seven Seas, and then altered them for the Crane Dance performance. Hugill writes that it was a capstan shanty, with Irish and African American influences. Most of the multitudinous versions around sing the praises of some clipper or packet boat. Here we've altered it to sing the praises of the Balmoral. I meant to alter it back to singing the praises of my own fly boat, Border Raider, but never quite got round to it!

lyrics

Eliza Lee

Oh, the smartest ship you e'er will find,
Ah hey, ah, are you most done?
Is the old Balmoral of the White Funnel Line,
Clear away the track and let the bulgine run.

CH:
To me hey, rig a jig in a jaunting car,
Ah hey, ah, are you most done?
With Eliza Lee all on my knee,
Clear away the track and let the bulgine run.

Oh, the old Balmoral of the White Funnel Line,
She's never a day behind her time.

Oh, we're outward bound for New York town,
Them Bowery girls we'll waltz around.

When we've stowed our freight on the Broad Quay Pier,
It's homeward bound for Bristol Beer

Oh them Bowery girls will give us fun,
Chatham Square dives is home from home.

When we all gets back to Bristol town,
I'll stand ye ciders all around.

Oh in Bristol town them girls hang round,
It's there me Liza will be found,


Oh when I gets home across the sea,
Eliza will you marry me?

credits

from Dancing Cranes, released October 3, 2015
Vocals, tenor guitar, mandolin and percussion by Whistling Treason
Recorded and produced by Dog & Lion Studios.

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Whistling Treason Bristol, UK

Dubplate-folk, Soundsystem Trad, Acoustic or Valve Powered, Global Confusion. Whatever I feel like.

As guitarist with RSVP Bhangra and Malarchy, I've played countless major festivals across Britain and Europe, including Glastonbury & Womad.

What started out as a strictly folk project has expanded wildly, to incorporate tunes from around the world, original compositions, and a whole lot of dub. ... more

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