Author Topic: Add: Ratcliffe Highway


dmcg

Posted - 14 Nov 02 - 02:07 pm

Ratcliffe Highway

As I was a-walking down Wapping
I stepped into Ratcliffe Highway,
And there I went into an alehouse
To spend all that night and next day.

Two charming young girls sat beside me.
They asked me if I'd money to sport.
"bring a bottle of wine, change a guinea."
"I see you are one of the sort."

The bottle was placed on the table
With glasses for every one;
When I asked for the change of my guinea
She gave me a verse of a song.

The old woman she flew in a passion,
And placed her two hands on her hip,
Saying, "Young man, you don't know our fashion.
You think you're on board of your ship."

"If that is your fashion, to rob me,
It's a fashion I don't much admire.
So tip me the change of my guinea,
Or a broadside into you I'll fire."

The bottle that stood on the table
I quick at her head did let fly,
And down on the ground she did tumble
And loudly for mercy did cry.

The gold watch that hung on the mantel
I into my pocket did slip;
And, darn my old shoes, didn't I trick her,
And soon got on board of my ship.

Our anchor being weighed at our bow, boys,
Out tops'ls being well sheeted home,
We soon bid adieu to fair London
And all the flash girls in the town.


Source: Palmer, Roy (ed),(1986),Oxford Book of Sea Songs,Oxford, OUP


Notes:

ISBN 0-19-282155-5

Collected from William Bolton by Anne Gilchrist in 1906


Database entry is here




Ed

Posted - 14 Nov 02 - 07:14 pm

A version of this is printed in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. The words are quite similar, but the tune (although related) seems different enough to justify Ratcliffe Highway(2) in the database.

Here, I'll just quote some background information from the Penguin book.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, Ratcliffe Highway, Stepney, was the toughest thoroughfare in London. It was the place of sailors' lodging-houses, sailors' pubs, sailors' ladies. Henry Mayhew has given us vivid descriptions of the Highway, with tall brazen-faced women dressed in gaudy colours, sly pimps and crimps, roaring sailors out for a good time, bearded foriegn musicians from the fifteen dance halls of the locality, and the intrepid Policemen of H division walking through the throng in twos. The Ratcliffe Highway song may have been made for performances in ships foc'scles, or it may have been made to impress the patrons of the Eastern Music Hall, the British Queen, the Prussian Eagle, or another public house licensed for music. In any case, it now has something of the ring of tradition and much of the ring of truth.

Ed




Jon Freeman

Posted - 14 Nov 02 - 08:43 pm

Thanks Ed, that's pretty much the version I learned. The tune is a little different though. Using your abc but changing the key to Dm to give:

X:1
T:Ratcliffe Highway (2)
Q:1/4=90
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Dm
z4zA|A A A A B c|B A zz2(A/2G/2)|FED DEF|G3z(AG)|FDD DDD|C D2z2A|ABA GEF|D3z3||

Gets closer to the tune I know.

Jon







Ed

Posted - 14 Nov 02 - 08:43 pm

Here's a view of Ratcliffe Highway in the 1850 or so




Ed

Posted - 14 Nov 02 - 09:16 pm

Interesting Jon.

That tune seems closer to the 'Earsdon Sword Dance Song' which the Watersons sang, and Ashley Hutchings turned into a 'calling on song' on one of the early Steeleye albums (can't remember which).

A L Lloyd, referring to 'Earsdon Sword Dance' notes on the Watersons CD 'Frost and Fire' that 'The curious tune has been used for several songs, including the old sailor ballad of The Ratcliffe Highway.

Pure speculation, and with nothing to back myself up, but I wonder if that Watersons' album (and later the Steeleye version) encouraged singers to re-remember that particular tune variantion of Ratcliffe Highway?

Ed

Edited By Ed - 11/14/2002 9:50:26 PM




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