Off to Sea

A traditional forebitter warning of the dangers of dissipation and unscrupulous boarding masters. The first known written evidence of the song appears in a London newspaper in 1896,^[1], though it likely originated in the United States. Broadly popular as a folk song, it has been sung by numerous performers ranging from the Dubliners to the Grateful Dead.

The Longest Johns' version appears as track 7 on Between Wind and Water.

Factoids[]

American versions of the song often place the onshore action in San Francisco, rather than Liverpool, and Rapper Brown appears to be a variation on "Dixie Brown", a notorious San Francisco boarding master. Boarding masters were people who would provide sailors with room and board while ashore in exchange for some or all of the advance pay for their next round at sea; they also earned a fee from the ship's captain for the sailors they recruited. Though some were relatively honest, others resorted to deceit and outright crime to part sailors and their money and to get men on ships. (Paddy West gives a humorous take on such shenanigans.)

According to Robert B. Waltz, Dixie "Shanghai" Brown was "noted for not only supplying sailors for the whalers (the least desirable sort of service for a sailor, since it was hard, cold, and dirty) but going so far as to lure, rob, or trick sailors into his hands. Even among San Francisco boarding masters (who in this period were little better than slavers), he stood out as a particularly bad seed."^[2]

Lyrics[]

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Between Wind and Water. The original lyrics can be found here.

When first I landed in Liverpool, I went upon the spree
With money at last, I spent it fast, I got drunk as drunk could be
But when my money was all gone, it was then that I wanted more
But a man must be blind to make up his mind, to go to sea once more

Once more, once more, go to sea once more
But a man must be blind to make up his mind
To go to sea once more

And as I walked down London Road I met with a Rapper Brown
I asked him if he'd take me in and he looked at me with a frown
He said: "Last time you was paid off, to me you chalked no score
But I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance
And I'll send you to sea once more."

Once more, once more, send you to sea once more
But I'll give you a chance and I'll take your advance
And I'll send you to go to sea once more

I shipped on board of a whaling barque, we were bound for the Greenland seas
Where cold winds blow through frost and snow, why Jamaica rum would freeze
And worst to bear, I'd no hard weather gear, as I'd spent all my money ashore
It was then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more

No more, no more, go to sea no more
It was then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more

Some times we're catching whales, me lads, some times we're catching none
With a twenty-foot oar stuck in your paw, from four o'clock in the morn
And as the shades of night roll on and you rest on your weary oar
It was then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more

No more, no more, go to sea no more
It was then that I wished that I was dead and could go to sea no more

So come all of you hard weather sailing lads, who listen to my song
When you get back from those long trips, I'd have you not go wrong
Take my advice, drink no strong drink, don't you knock on that brothel door
But get married instead and spend all night in bed, and go to sea no more

No more, no more, go to sea no more
But get married instead and spend all night in bed, and go to sea no more

Recordings[]

Streaming/Purchase[]

YouTube Videos[]

Gig Videos[]

Full Band Streams[]

Chill Streams[]

Gaming Streams[]

[1] ttps://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S489740

[2] ttps://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LD07.html

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