Words: traditional
Music: traditional arr. the London Sea Shanty Collective

A shanty of uncertain origin, possibly from an African-American minstrel song. Picked out for us by the legendary Jim Radford – D-Day veteran, peace activist and folk singer – when we had the honour of singing with him at Mycenae House in November 2018. He insisted we sing “Hoo-roar” not “Hoorah”, which is “too Royal Navy” for him.

As I walked out in Liverpool,
Hoo-roar, you roller bowler,
As I walked out in Liverpool I met Miss Do-do fair.

To me hi-rig-a-jig and a ha-ha,
Good morning ladies all.
And hoo-roar you roller bowler,
To me hi-rig-a-jig and a ha-ha,
Good morning ladies all.

I met her there in old Park Lane,
I met her there in old Park Lane, this pretty little girl of mine.

She winked and tipped her flipper,
She winked and tipped her flipper, she thought I was a mate.

But when she found that I was skint,
When she found out that I was skint, she left me standing there.

She left me there in old Park Lane,
She left me there in old Park Lane, so I went back on board.

I woke to hear the bosun call,
I woke to hear the bosun call: “All hands on deck and haul”.