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about

A Fitting Out (1859)
Listing some of the many things you’d need to bring on a whaling voyage that might last three or more years. Gale Huntington, who published the 1859 text from a journal kept aboard the whale ship “Ocean Rover” in his “Songs the Whalemen Sang,” gave no melody, but it sings beautifully to the mid-19th century melody used for such songs as “Cod Liver Oil” and “Johnny Jump Up.”

lyrics

[Note: an essener keeps tobacco from drying out, a squill is a plant bulb with medicinal properties, and a podeldoe is a liniment made of camphorated soap, oil of rosemary, and alcohol.]

A chest that is neither too large or too small
Is the first thing to which your attention I’ll call
The things to put in it are next to be named
And if I omit some I’m not to be blamed

Stow first at the bottom a blanket or quilt
To be used on the voyage whenever you wilt
Thick trousers and shirts, woolen stockings and shoes
Next your papers and books to tell you the news

Good substantial tarpaulins to cover your head
Just to say, keep it furled, N. C., ‘nuff said
Carry paper and ink, pens wafers, and wax
And a shoemaker’s last, awls, and some small tacks

Some cotton and thread, silk, needles and palm
And a paper of pins as long as your arm
Two vests and a thimble, a large lot of matches
A lot of old clothes that will answer for patches

A Bible and hymn book of course you must carry
If at the end of the voyage you expect for to marry
Don’t forget to take esseners, pipes, and cigars
Of the sweetest of butter a couple of jars

A razor you will want a pencil and slate
A comb and a hairbrush you will need for your pate
A brush and some shaving soap and plenty of squills
And a box of those excellent Richardson’s pills

A podeldoe and pain killer you surely will need
And something to stop the red stream if you bleed
Some things I’ve omitted but never mind that
Eat salt junk and hard bread and laugh and grow fat.

credits

from Alone on the Wide Wide Sea, released August 9, 2022

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Craig Edwards New London, Connecticut

I play American roots music, from Appalachian fiddle and banjo tunes to Zydeco accordion. For nearly four decades i worked as a staff musician at Mystic Seaport Museum, demonstrating the use of chanteys, or sailor work songs, aboard the museum's collection of historic ships. I've plumbed the depths of sailor music, from the African American origins of chanteys to world maritime traditions. ... more

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